Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went

Author: Gayle Forman

My rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis (via goodread)

It’s been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future – and each other.

Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

My review:

My sister and I fell in love with “If I Stay”. Yes I was the one who cried constantly from the beginning of the book but we both came out of this book breathless and heartbroken. The idea of losing my family is unbearable and reading how she went through it? Just open up my heart and slice it will you?

Yes this isn’t a post about “If I Stay” but its sequel “Where She Went”. If you’ve read the first book you’ll know its told from the perspective of Mia, however I was surprised when I found out the second book is told from the perspective of Adam. That.Was.Awesome. I was SO bummed out when Stephanie Meyer stopped writing Midnight Sun which is the perspective of Edward. I always love it when I get to read both sides of the story so it was very refreshing.

“Where She Went” does not rip your heart out, it maybe pinches it but you recover automatically, I didn’t cry *shocker* so overall it was a ‘happier’ story. It’s set three years after the accident, Adam is a rock star and Mia is a classical music prodigy. There is the flashbacks and the hurt and confusion Adam has kept pent up in his heart because of Mia’s sudden disconnect from him. Again the whole book is set in one day of their life. I guess you can say Gayle Forman’s books are more about the emotions and internal conflicts and reality. So while if you think about it the story can be summarized in a couple of lines but the FEELINGS and EMOTIONS that the characters and yourself experience can’t be summarized, at all, trust me I’ve tried.

While I enjoyed the book but it wasn’t as emotionally deep and heart wrenching as “If I Stay” but it was nice to know what has happened to the two main leads for the long run. I didn’t understand the reason for Mia leaving Adam and also blaming him, but what do I know? I’ve never had to go through what she went through.

Adam truly loved Mia and it showed through this book. He might just be one of my top fictional character crushes.

Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Author: Laini Taylor

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Angels

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (via Goodread)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages–not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers–beautiful, haunted Akiva–fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Review:

I’m scared even saying this but I hated this book. Every blogger i follow and love has given it more than stellar reviews, some even went and boldly said it is their best debut of 2011. But…. it’s not for me. I tried enjoying it, and getting into this world  of angels and chimaeras but I just couldn’t bring myself to care enough to get invested.

When I read the beginning i was very confused, the names, the settings, all are foreign to me. I usually read books set in atleast an english speaking country but i got used to it, and to the weird names. I’m going to be totally honest here and say that i did not appreciate all the details written for everything in the book. It made me sort of detached from the characters. I was also confused, VERY confused. What are chimaeras, brimstone? who is Karou and what’s the deal with the teeth? i know ive said before i like mysteries but this just frustrated me. How was I supposed to continue reading a story I did not get AT ALL? But after 100 pages i started enjoying it, really enjoying it. Bits and pieces of the puzzle came together and i was happy, i can just mark this as a slow starting kind of book so everything was good.

Then the flashback. The 60 page flashback that basically ended this book for me. I am NOT a fan of flashbacks, especially if the story could live without it (and believe me this could) but 60 pages? happening exactly after a critical point of the story? I didn’t need to know the detailed past life of the protagonist since i’ve already found out most of these information from Akiva’s flashbacks (boy, many flashbacks here) and what i understood from what i’ve read so far of the present. Yes the flashback did clear up a few unclear points but it didn’t need to take 60 long pages.

The endings, i literally gasped out loud at the end. I was devastated since i might not have connected with the protagonist but there was a character i connected with, and its Brimstone. I have hope that the second book would be less confusing and more bearable to read so I will pick it up (at least to read the synopsis and see what i’ll be getting into).

NEW BLOG: ADD ME THERE PLEASE =)

Hey everyone! so Farah and i decided to make a joint book blog on blogspot so we’ve been working on it all day and its finally presentable! so please add us via GFC or follow us or just come browsing!!

 

Here is the blog link:  CLICK HERE =)

 

Thanks to all my lovely followers! hope to see you at the other blog =)

 

 

Books out this month, who’s excited?

Here are the books that I’ve been VERY excited for

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Eve by Anna Carey

Books that I’ve had my eye on and also excited about

 

If I Tell by Janet Gurtal

You Are My Only by Beth Kephart

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Books that the book blogging community is excited for and hence I’ll check them out when they’re out

 

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Variant by Robison Wells

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Which book are you anticipating and waiting to get your hands on for this month?

Cover Whore (1)

This is a new weekly meme hosted by Cristina at The Princess of Storyland. I am a huge fan of book covers. I sometimes tend to buy and read a book based on covers. This meme is for showcasing some new books that have covers i fell in love with.

 

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

how eye catching is this cover? i especially love the split at the end of her hair, reminds me of the tail of a mermaid. I love the simplicity of this cover!

 

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Just from the cover you can tell this book is about high school cliques and the drama that everyone has gone through at one point during their high school days. Love all the blue hues in it.

Eve by Anna Carey

Don’t you want to know what’s at the end of this bridge? I do. Again i love the rainbow like colors. Green then blue then purplish. Very pretty. Contrasts with the girl’s brown hair and dress (or is that red hair?)

What covers have got you drooling in anticipation over reading the books?

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Top Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open

Top Ten Tuesday: the weekly meme hosted by the lovely bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I basically spent a whole book in conflict with my inner self on whether i want the protagonist to just give up or to fight and live on. Then the LAST page, the decision is made. Really? i have to wait for the NEW book for the protagonist to be physically conscious? I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard

ARGH! making you think someone is the murderer throughout the whole book then again, last couple of pages. FALSE ALARM!

Queen of Babble Getting Hitched by Meg Cabot

I know this isn’t technically YA but it deserved to be put here. This is a trilogy and i LOVED the first two. Then someone, Meg Cabot was possessed and basically wrote this book that made me rethink whether im reading the sequel or just a another book all together. I am NOT a fan of its ending. Was invested for two books then BAM.

He’s So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

oh my god. The ending (even though i kind of predicted it towards the end), i seriously gasped when i read the last couple of lines. Can’t wait for the third book in this amazing trilogy

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

you broke my heart! now fix it please!

Abandon by Meg Cabot

I just got so into the story then it ended. Not fair, the second book can’t come out fast enough!

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I know Nicholas Sparks is known for his tragic endings, but i HATED this one. Why Sparks why must you make me love someone then kill him at the end?

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Does this even need explaining? Sector 13? the ending was a blur of confusion and eye popping revelations

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by J.K. Rowling

Must I really visit this saddening memory? I cried for days at the end of this book.

Favorite reads of 2011

This is a Princess Bookie contest. All you have to do is basically list your top favorite reads of 2011. Since I’ve read ALOT of books in 2011, more than half that WEREN’t published in 2011, many will be older.

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I don’t think i need to elaborate on WHY i loved this book so much right? but im going to quote Stephanie Perkins and say “It has funny bits and kissing, so you should totally read it”. Best YA contemporary read to DATE!

2. The Summer  trilogy by Jenny Han

This is hands down the best summer read i have read! it is three books in total and i loved them so much! it was cute, fun, and set on the beachside. Let me just point out that i lived for these beach reads this summer!

3. Hush Hush/Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Ive been trying to find a paranormal book that might make me get over twilight, even though i wasn’t 100% over twilight (i mean who can ever be over it?) they were still AMAZING. Fallen angels? i had my doubts, but i LOVED it. Silence (the 3rd book in the trilogy) is out in two days! *whoopie!* I can’t wait for more Patch and Nora loveness.

4. The Lying Game/Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard

I haven’t read pretty little liars though i watch the show and i LOVED the mystery in them. When i read the synopsis for the series i KNEW it was going to be amazing. I wasn’t wrong. Though the only downside is waiting atleast 6 months for every book to come out

5. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

This book was amazing. I borrowed it from my library expecting NOTHING. The synopsis was intriguing but i knew it was going to be sad and i try to stay away from it, but the cover won me over. I’m glad i read it. It was tragic, heartbreaking, but beautiful.

What are your favorite reads during the year 2011?

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis (via Goodread)

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit — more sparkly, more fun, more wild — the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket — a gifted inventor — steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My review and thoughts:

I would first like to point out that my expectations were SO HIGH for this book that i was actually scared to start reading it because i didn’t want to be disappointed. I’m telling you, Anna and the French Kiss set the standards so unbelievably high i thought my disappointment would be inevitable. BUT, i’m glad that this did not happen! while this is no Anna and the French kiss, it is definetly one of the top contemporary YA novels i’ve ever read.

Lola, my adorable lola. I enjoyed every single one of her creations! the dresses she wore and the wigs! they made me smile at their descriptions. I loved how Stephanie Perkins gave her this cute and creative personality, saying i adored her is an understatement! Now on to Cricket. Let me point out that when i read his name i instantly fell in love with him. I wasn’t a huge fan of the name St. Claire in Anna but his hair and accent made up for it at the first encounter, but Cricket? Cricket! *squeel* and he’s tall so the name totally applies to him. I loved how Cricket would do anything for Lola, and that he would come all the way from his university just to see her! and i especially loved their quality time while they talked through their room windows.

I remember, chapter 3. This is when i screamed “OH MY GOD” because that was when Anna and St.Claire appeared. You don’t understand how happy i was! thank you Stephanie Perkins <3. Even though they appeared through out the book i didn’t count the pages until they appeared again (you would think that because of my love for Anna), but i was totally invested in Lola land. I would love to wear one of Lola’s creations.

The story was wonderful, even though the settings and outcome are predictable (which is the case for most contemporary novels) but the HOW they got there is what’s so special about this book. I liked her best friend’s obsession with Nancy Drew and mysterious (I was a huge fan of the Anime Conan). Personally I didn’t find Lola’s birth mom interesting at all and she just made me frown for taking precious pages from the story but i loved Nathan and Andy. I’m a fan of Andy. They remind me of Modern Family’s Mitchell and Cameron ;). As for Alex (Lola’s boyfriend at the beginning), i was slightly heartbroken when they broke up because i truly thought that he did love her and treated her well, not like the usual douches in some contemporary YA novels. To round it up, i am a huge fan of Lola’s individuality and independence, i would never in a million years be courageous enough to wear clothes like hers and not be bothered about people’s opinions (well most of the time).

I was hesitant to write this review since it would mean that i am officially done with Lola and i have to wait another year for Isla *cries*. I’m going to miss Lola and Cricket’s window adventures. I believe Stephanie Perkins writes the most amazing, addicting books that nake you end up in withdrawal mode for days, MONTHS even. Stephanie Perkins, please never stop writing.

On My Wish List (1)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. This is where you write books you’ve been dreaming of owning but haven’t bought yet. 

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

This cover is absolutely GORGEOUS. The synopsis is also amazingly delicious *grins* I can’t wait to get my hands on it!!

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Tan Lines by Katherine Applegate (#2 of Beach Blonde series)

I’ve actually won the first Beach Blonde from a giveaway recently so now I’ve set my sights on Tan Lines. I’ve basically been pining away for this series since the beginning of summer when i was searching for summer reads. Couldn’t find it ANYWHERE where i live and unfortunately no ebooks.

She, Marquez, and Diana have already decided to get an appartment so they can spend the whole summer together. But even with her friends by her side, Summer is in for more boy trouble.

Summer’s boyfriend, Seth, is ready to take their relationship to the next level, but he’s all the way across the country in California. Enter Austin, the hottie from spring break whom Summer hasn’t stopped thinking about.

With Austin flirting 24/7 and Seth hundreds of miles away, Summer is about to learn about true love…

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

If I Stay was SO beautiful and sad and heartbreaking that i am still not over it and I’ve been waiting to get my hands on the second one “Where She Went” but my library doesn’t have it. Hopefully very soon when I’ve got enough money i’ll order it and break my heart all over again.

It’s been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future – and each other.

Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

I was recommended this book after i was looking for books similar to Jenny Han’s “The summer I Turned Pretty” trilogy and i’m glad they recommended it. It is not as light and happy (?) but it was a book that made me read it again less than two weeks after i finished it. I loved it and I SO want to own it and put it on my shelf

Hailey Abbott’s Summer Boys takes a weepy turn in this story of one girl’s attempt to tell her childhood friend how she really feels about him.

Alex thought she’d be spending the summer focused on her family’s rafting business, burying the memories of her father’s death last year, and leaving behind all the messes she made in its wake.

But when Sean returns to town, she is forced to reckon with her mixed-up crushy feelings for him – more powerful than ever before. It takes another tragedy to make Alex realize Sean has loved her, and forgiven her, all along.

What’s on your wishlist this week?

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Finally! today is the day Lola got released. I just got my ebook of it and now i am going to snuggle up with my ipad and read it!.

Will only be back after I am done.
*sniff*, i feel like crying, i never thought this day would come!
thank you stephanie Perkins. I love you!