Matched by Ally Condie

Review from the pulisher:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Thoughts:

I am first going to say that the summary of the book I read is not the publisher’s review. If I had read the publishers review I would have a different review for you. I am glad I did not read this before, because then the way I feel towards this book would probably be different. The summary I read was the one on the inside flap of the book and that was it. It does not go into much detail and leaves a lot open to wonder about.

When I first started this book I thought I knew what the main premise was, but I was wrong. This book totally surprised me and in a very good way. The way things happened made sense, and I wasn’t expecting things to happen the way they did. I can’t really compare this to Delirium (another YA dystopian novel that I thought would kind of resemble Matched); since they are totally different stories. This story takes you on a wonderful journey of self discovery. I learned things about the characters and I even learned things about myself. I don’t think I have ever read a book that I felt so much connection to the character as this one. I saw myself in Cassia a lot. Xander I liked from the beginning. He is a good friend to Cassia and has known her since they were young. He and Cassia have a very strong and true relationship and through everything that happens they still hold on to their friendship and love for each other.

Cassia and Ky had so much more to them then I could even imagine. I didn’t even know what to think. After the first couple of chapters when events start to unveil I knew this book was nothing like I expected it to be. Ky has a strong personality and knows how to blend in with the crowd. He starts to open up more with Cassia and she in turn opens up to him. The both reveal powerful secrets and share this intimate bond between just the two of them.

This book is not only a love story for Cassia but also a self discovery. She starts to figure out who she is and what she wants. Other characters in the story are also not what they seem and have more to their stories as well. All the sub-characters have their own secrets and play important roles in the story.

I can’t stress enough how much you should read this book. It was totally not what I was expecting. I went on this incredible journey with Cassia and was shocked when she was shocked, sad when she was sad, etc. The best part is that the second book Crossed comes out later this year, which I am equally excited to read. I can’t wait to continue this story with Cassia. I was a little disappointed in the ending (not as big of a cliff hanger as I was hoping for), but still a well thought out ending that definitely leaves the story unfinished.  Pick up your copy of Matched today and let me know what you think.

Happy Reading!

Meg

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Review from the publisher:


This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.


Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.


It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.
But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.


Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.


My Thoughts:



I have read a couple books about road trips, and especially with it being summer more and more seem to come up on my “to read” list. Two Way Street grabbed my attention mainly because it is told in both main characters’ point on view. I love it when authors don’t just tell the story from one character’s perspective. With Jordan and Courtney I don’t know how this story could exist with out them both narrating. I also liked that we got to get to know Jordan and Courtney from when they first met and how that builds up to what is going on in the present. The secrets that Jordan was hiding, I didn’t expect some of them. Others become more obvious as the story goes on, but for the most part the story keeps you in suspense. The ending left you with hope and in a way doesn’t seem so much like an ending, but a beginning. I would be interested to see if maybe a sequel would be created, but right now I don’t think one is in the picture.


I recommend this book to those wanting to learn about an unlikely couple who have their own set of challenges and need to overcome them in a matter of a few days on a road trip where it is just them and the open road.


Happy Reading!
Meg 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Review from the publisher:

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

My Thoughts:

There is something about a dystopian novel that really draws me in. I have never really read any dystopian novels until this past winter (Even growing up I somehow bypassed The Giver which was a common required read). The first ones I read were the Hunger Games series (which I will write about another time). I don’t know what makes me enjoy them so much, but I can tell you that there has not been one dystopian story I have read that I haven’t liked. The same goes for Delirium. Just from reading the description made me want this book. I would love to meet these authors to find out how they come up with these unique ideas. What is their thinking process like? How do you create the characters? Do you already know what the character will be like before you start writing? The list goes on and on.

Who would have thought to write a book all about love being a disease? I am a bit of a romantic and love the word “love” and the meaning behind it, what it feels like to love someone/something; so reading a book where love is bad really intrigued me. To see how the author would spin it and how a world like that could exist, and how someone could live in that world.

The two main characters Lena and Alex I really enjoyed. Lena at first kind of bugged me just because she was naïve and self-centered (to me). But, as the story continues you see Lena grow and mature. Alex he was a surprising character for me. A lot of things he believed in, who he was (or wasn’t) I wasn’t expecting when I read the book. I could feel the instant connection with Lena and Alex. The author did a good job building their relationship and trust towards each other. I could tell that Alex instantly liked Lena and was intrigued by her, but Lena was skeptical towards him.  

Without giving too much away I will tell you that if you don’t read the book for anything else, at least read it to read the ending. It is a very shocking ending and one I wasn’t expecting. It kind of ended abruptly, but definitely leaves room for a sequel (which thankfully there will be two more books in the series that I can’t wait to read!). I can’t stress enough how much I loved this book and highly HIGHLY recommend anyone looking for a good romance, dystopian novel, suspense story, character building, etc to pick up this book today. Trust me once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down.

Happy Reading!

Meg

P.S. There is another dystopian novel called Matched by Ally Condie that I am planning to read soon that I am equally excited to read as I was about Delirum! More to come!

Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi

Review from the publisher:

After Maddy’s parents divorce, she’s stuck starting over at a new high school. Friendless and nicknamed Freak Girl, Manga-loving artist Maddy finds refuge in the interactive online game Fields of Fantasy. In that virtual world, she reinvents herself as Allora, a gorgeous elfin alter ego, and meets a true friend in Sir Leo. Maddy can’t hide behind Allora forever, especially as a real-life crush begins edging in on her budding virtual romance. But would anyone pick the real Maddy, gamer girl and Manga freak, over the fantasy?

This fresh, geeky/cool novel includes online chats and exciting gaming, and features Maddy’s Mangastyle artwork.

My Thoughts:

This story I thought was unique just from reading the back of the cover. I don’t know much about manga style, but I do like to play computer and video games. The computer game reminded me a lot like World of Warcraft where it is an online environment and you can play with people all over the world. Maddy is your normal teenage girl. She is full of her own insecurities, has a dysfunctional family, and having an even harder time trying to fit in at her new school. Just like any high school there is the “cool crowd” who personally tries to make Maddy’s life miserable. There is one boy that seems different then the rest, Chad Murray (yes that is his name like Chad Michael Murray. Not sure if that was done on purpose or not..). Maddy spends her time on Fields of Fantasy and while she is discovering this new world she comes across someone named Sir Leo. The instantly have a connection and as the story goes on she comes to have a crush on him.

Part of a chat in Fields of Fantasy

This was a fun story to read because it breaks up Maddy’s real life and game life up nicely. There are fun dialogs within the game, and good descriptions of the virtual world which make you feel like you are there.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading/playing video games and/or has an interest in art. This book gives you a good look at the art of manga and virtual reality. If you are looking for a fun quest this is the adventure for you.

Happy Reading!

Meg

The Clearing by Heather Davis

Review from the publisher:

Amy is drawn to the misty, mysterious clearing behind her Aunt Mae’s place because it looks like the perfect place to hide from life. A place to block out the pain of her last relationship, to avoid the kids in her new town, to stop dwelling on what her future holds after high school.

Then, she meets a boy lurking in the mist—Henry. Henry is different from any other guy Amy has ever known. And after several meetings in the clearing, she’s starting to fall for him.

But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of the clearing, it’s still 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past, staving off the tragedy that will strike them in the future. Amy’s crossing over to Henry’s side brings him more happiness than he’s ever known—but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.

My Thoughts:

This book is a great story to get swept away into. To my surprise it is rather short  (a little over 200 pages), and the whole time I was reading my thoughts would drift to how the story ended. I don’t want to give anything away, but the story does have a nice ending to it, and wraps the story up nicely. The two main characters Amy and Henry I liked from the beginning. Amy left her old life in Seattle to live with her great aunt in a town. She left a bad boyfriend, a distant mother, and friends who didn’t care. I felt that Amy was a strong character from the beginning that had learned from her mistakes and was trying to re-invent herself in a new place. Henry was a sweet boy. From the beginning he was a true gentleman and would make any girl swoon. Together they grow stronger as individuals and build a wonderful friendship.

 The secondary characters I also enjoyed. Amy’s Aunt Mae and Henry’s Grandpa had their funny moments and Amy’s friends in her new town fit nicely in the story. If you are looking for a good read to get carried away in this is it. What really interested me was wanting to know how the story unfolded and how the author would end it. It kind of reminded me of the movie “The Lighthouse”, but this book had a much better ending. :-)

I highly recommended this book. It is a must read and one to have on your book shelf to go back to when ever you are in the mood for a good love story. Let me know your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

Meg

One Night that Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Review from Amazon.com:

Four dares. Two secrets. One night. Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen- the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend Cooper.

Like it’s not bad enough that Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online including the ones that aren’t just about her.

Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide…      

My Thoughts:

This book was a fun read for me and took place all within one night in Boston. It   was cool to learn about the city (I have never been there myself), while going on this adventure with Eliza to get back her notebook. Eliza travels with two friends to the city and the suburbs to do things from the list that she was always afraid to do. A few include: asking a stranger to dance and karaoke.

What I thought Eliza's notebook looked like

This is a fun story and something I would consider a light read. It’s not the most believable story (a girl being left alone with out supervision for a weekend), but that is also part of the fun. The sub characters are fun and have some of their own problems to work out throughout the story. Cooper I actually liked and believed his character and who he was at the beginning. Some of the scenes with Cooper and Eliza were entertaining and you get a good idea about what their relationship was like before the notebook fiasco. 

There were funny moments that made me laugh out loud and made me frustrated because I knew something but Eliza was still blind to see it (which is all part of her discovering certain things through out the story). If you are looking for a light read and want to a take a fun trip with Eliza in a matter of one night then this is the book for you.

Lauren Barnholdt writes some enjoyable books (I have also read Two Way Street which I will review in the future). Check out this author for some good summer reads. Let me know what you think. Are there any authors you like that write great summer reads?

Happy Reading!

Meg

Amy and Rogers Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Review from the publisher:

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

My Thoughts:

I usually read adult romance books, but have recently taken a detour of my own (pun intended), and have become involved in the YA genre.  

Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour is a debut novel for Morgan Matson. What a debut this is! I fell in love with the story just from the reviews on Amazon. What really pulled me into this book was that throughout the book there are pictures, play lists, menus, receipts, etc from the various states they visit which was an unexpected and nice touch. It really made me feel like I was on the trip with them!  

Part of one of their playlists

There are some deep issues that are brought up in the book (drugs, death, and sexual situations) but nothing too much in detail that it wouldn’t be appropriate for high school students. The secondary characters help bring the story to life as well. They have their own personalities and uniqueness that bring Amy and Roger closer together through out the trip.

I did have one negative thing to say. I felt that Amy started to piece her life back together more openly with the secondary characters then with Roger. I can see how it made sense with the story, but I still felt a little disappointed with some of the conversations that took place and who they took place with.

I recommend this book for teenagers and adults. I think everyone will get something out of this book. For me I learned fun facts about the different states they visited. :-) Pick up this book today and let me know your thoughts!

More reviews to come!

Meg