Review & Giveaway: My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody's website here // $12.74 from {amazon}
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (June 7, 2011)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Source: Publisher (ARC)
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Summary: 

 

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

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My Thoughts:  

If you’re thinking MY LIFE UNDECIDED sounds like just about every other chick lit, then, hey, great minds think alike. The only reason I read MY LIFE UNDECIDED can be summed up in one word: blogging (which, FYI, is pretty freaking awesome).  So imagine my surprise when I found MY LIFE UNDECIDED to be a novel that, while light and occasionally over-the-top, revealed frank honesty and precious nuggets of wisdom.

If I had to pinpoint what makes MY LIFE UNDECIDED more than another read, it’s definitely the voice. Brooklyn has an undeniably strong 15-year old voice, whether it’s talking about burning homes, the elderly, clothes, or boys. On the plus side, it promises to be extremely relatable to pre-teens and younger teens, especially with a never-ending stream of humor. Some of Brooklyn’s ideas and actions are insane, but with willing suspension of disbelief, they make for a fast-paced and entertaining read. On the other hand, Brooklyn’s often superficial thoughts had me going “Really? Really. MAN UP.” Not out of true irritation, but it’s obvious Brooklyn’s a good kid; she just needs to make the right decisions.

Decisions, decisions. Jessica Brody really touches on the greatest fear and the greatest power that most, if not all, teens have – or anyone for that matter. In MY LIFE UNDECIDED, Brooklyn turns over the decision-making power to her blog readers, which is integrated in an aesthetically pleasing and easily readable format. I don’t want to ruin the story, but ultimately, your decisions are always right, even when you’re wrong. And it’s comforting to have that reminder, that it’s your life and whatever way you choose to live it is right.

That lesson, along with valuable others concerning friendship, forgiveness, and more, are what make MY LIFE UNDECIDED special. Its young voice and exciting plot will resonate with younger readers as it sneaks in some key lessons that even I am still struggling to come to terms with. Overall, MY LIFE UNDECIDED isn’t a contemporary bucketful of tears or fuzzies, but who really cares when you’ve got humor, life lessons, romance, and soul-searching wrapped in a cute package? I’ll take books over buckets any day.

(…God, I made myself sound like I’m 61 instead of 16 in this review.)

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Bottom Line: To quote CoverGirl: Easy, breezy, beautiful! Or just read the last line of my review.

Cover: It's simple, it's cute, and the bling really reminds me of Brooklyn's attitude. I can't say much on the physical accuracy, since there wasn't much physical description in MY LIFE UNDECIDED -- but that's a good thing. Jessica Brody puts just enough detail to satisfy and not enough to bore. (Maybe I've been reading too many epic fantasy stories lately...)

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GIVEAWAY

I have one ARC of MY LIFE UNDECIDED to giveaway, courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 

Rules: 
• To enter, please fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. and Canada addresses only
• Contest ends Friday, August 5th at 11:59 EST 
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

GIF Review: Flawless by Lara Chapman

I'm done, I'M DONE WITH JUNIOR YEAR. *throws cupcakes and confetti*  But I'm also in a review slump. (And a design slump... which is why it's taking me a while to update my layout.) When I try to put my bookish thoughts down, it comes out something like this: O@#$H*)F(_$%BR#@#! ASL#B$*YDF. (If that convinces you to buy a book, then it appears I am the master at button mashing.) But since I haven't done one in forever,  I feel obligated to at least try to review... in .gif's! ;)


Lara Chapman's website here // $9.99 from {amazon}
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (May 10, 2011)
Paperback: 272 pages
Source: Publisher... kind of. I lost the ARC *headdesk*, so I bought an e-copy on my Kindle.
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Summary:

Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.

On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?

This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.

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My Thoughts:

The reason I read FLAWLESS can be summed up in three words: Cyrano de Begerac [wiki page]. Aka the epitome of panache and the whole "macho self-confidence with inner vulnerability" concept. For your one-of-a-kind nose and musketeer-esque duels, I applaud you.

Cyrano's confidence and wit definitely transfer onto Sarah, whose intelligence and bravery I loved and respected. Did she live up to Cyrano's brilliant escapades? No, but who can, really? Given that Sarah is just a normal teen, her strength in dealing with family situations is admirable and, as a fellow teen, enviable. But, as necessary as it was for character growth, Sarah's fixation with her nose occasionally irked me... despite his insecurities, Cyrano accepts his nose from page one in the play, whereas Sarah repeatedly belittles herself through physical comparisons. It makes sense, but still, a nose is a nose, not a 24/7-operating measure of worth. 

The greatest difference between CYRANO DE BEGERAC and FLAWLESS was, of course, the modern times. Half of what made the play CYRANO DE BERGERAC so enjoyable was the setting, which kept me plowing forward despite impatience with Cyrano's devotion to Christian's cause. Replace war and Cyrano's extravagant challenges with dates and facebook messages, and I'm not nearly as accommodating. Maybe if I was more invested in the plot, characters, or relationships... but I wasn't. Other than Sarah, no one had enough depth -- or little enough stereotypical-ity -- for me to really care about. So it was mainly a mix of me going "ugh," "yay," and:

facepalm #2

My other main annoyance was that though I liked Rock for himself as a person and I could see Sarah did too, she never stopped bringing up his physical perfection. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The first few times, okay, but after knowing someone for weeks... it just degrades their relationship into something that seems more superficial. That being said, is Rock sensitive and hot? Yeah:

Ultimately, despite my complaints, Lara Chapman did a stellar job in translating CYRANO DE BERGERAC from a well-known classic to a modern, relateable read that teaches solid lessons about self-image, self-worth, and self-acceptance. FLAWLESS boasts a strong heroine and meh-okay everything else -- but that's okay. Everything pales in the light of its poignant message that will doubtlessly resound with many teens (or, really, anyone) out there.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Bottom Line: FLAWLESS is a quick but meaningful read that I would recommend to really strong CYRANO DE BEGERAC fans or readers looking for a book heavy on self-acceptance messages. The characters may not stick with you, but the message definitely will.

Cover: It's okay, I guess. When I first saw it, I felt a strong sense of deja vu, like maybe I'd seen the cover somewhere else ... it's bold, but not thought-provoking or emotion-evoking (for me, at least, since I've seen others say the exact opposite). Either way, it does match the lack of character description in FLAWLESS, sigh.

the eyes & the eyebrows...

Review & Giveaway: OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

Amy Fellner Dominy's website here // $10.79 from {amazon}  
Publisher: Walker & Company (May 10, 2011)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Summary: 

Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moley.

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's sure that if she wins the final tournament, it'll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she's confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship's benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?

Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.

My Thoughts: I didn’t start OyMG with sky-high expectations, or with any, really. Hot boy competition and learning self-confidence? Light read, check. But don’t let the brief, innocent summary deceive you; even while swaddled in layers of fluff and goodness, OyMG teaches meaningful lessons in self-identity and self-discovery that, days after reading it, still linger pleasantly in the back of my mind.

In a society that so freely advocates equality, it’s sometimes easy to think of racial and religious discrimination as things of the past. Yet while no longer at the Nazi-level, prejudice still exists, and that’s what Amy Dominy capitalizes on in her debut novel. In OyMG, a seemingly insignificant prejudice against Jews leads to so much more: family splintering, teen relationship troubles, and the required internal struggle. It’s not soap opera drama and rivers of tears; rather, the magic lies in how this small prejudice slowly and subtly infiltrates Ellie’s life, growing from a little check-box on a pink scholarship application to a huge family affair.

Although the underlying religious tension carries the plot, OyMG is made awesome by Ellie’s strong voice and genuine main characters. Ellie and I are different on so many levels: she’s a debater while I can barely speak in public, she’s Jewish while I’m atheist, and so much more. Yet I could definitely relate as she struggled to define herself by her own standards. She’s like the best friend I never had who could chew out someone’s butt if she chose to – and quite literally. Her debate skills are sharp and she’s not afraid to use them, whether to intelligently flirt with dreamy Devon or to win herself a scholarship.

My only issue with Ellie (and my only issue in the entire book) was the discrepancy I saw between her age and her deep insight. As in, think (the movie, but I’m using it as a saying) “13 going on 30.” While her actions revealed the naivety of a young teen, Ellie’s intelligence, rhetoric skill, and collected aura all belied the fact that she was an incoming ninth grader. Half the time I forgot she’s only about 13 and was subsequently frustrated when she didn’t show the maturity I expect in someone older.* But if that’s what eighth/ninth graders are like these days, they are debate-refined beasts.

That’s not to forget Devon, who’s (a) pretty beast himself. He can match Ellie’s sass, no problem, as well as any physical expectations. Yet my second favorite character has to be Zeydeh, Ellie’s grandfather, who happens to be utterly fabulous. He’s like the blue flamingo in the room that you just can’t ignore because it’s unique, stubbornly ostentatious, and cares more about taking a dump than what other people think of him. It’s obvious Zeydeh cares deeply for Ellie as he introduces a whole new Jewish twist on tough love, and he’s such a macho cutie. The man has personality, and that’s hard to find in a light read.

Outside of Ellie and Zeydeh, the other characters, though not particularly standout, are still enjoyable and real. However, the book’s brilliance lies in how Amy Dominy is able to make such a fun, unassuming novel so meaningful and relatable. While almost unbearably cute (think Sean Griswold’s Head cute), OyMG really leaves a lasting impression on why we should always say “no” to discrimination and the importance of family. (/cue content sighs please.) In fact, if offered to me a few years back, reading OyMG would probably have been way more effective in reinforcing these lessons than any Martin Luther King speech my middle school forced us to watch. As inspirational as MLK’s speeches are, it was hard for my younger brain to personally connect and sympathize with a small, poetic (aka hard to understand) figure on a black-and-white screen.

With its young voice, clean humor, and relatable characters, OyMG is a feel-good, modern take on an age-old issue that’s depth shouldn’t be overlooked just because of a cute cover and a tad cliché summary.

Liked: Ellie & Zeydeh, nicely-paced plot, solid lessons, fuzzy feelings
Disliked: meh, Ellie's age wasn't that believable for me, but I suppose the plot wouldn't have worked so well otherwise.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Bottom Line: OyMG is a lovable read that skillfully mixes the harshness of reality with the drama of teen life. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light yet substantial read, or for a fun book to instill moral values in children (of whatever relation)**. Really, anyone, as OyMG isn't about religion per se as much as it is about discrimination as a whole. And Zeydeh is so darn sassy. Amazing debut!

Cover: Not stunning, but I think it matches the feel of the book perfectly and it has all the important components: mic, medal, Christian cross, etc. Though I imagined Ellie with curlier/frizzier hair...

* I seem to often have issues with naïve main characters, but I’m impatient and working on it, sigh.  
** I abused the parentheses button in this review, sorry. *pats my ( ) keys* 

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GIVEAWAY 
Courtesy of Bloomsbury Walker & Co., I have one finished copy of OyMG to giveaway to a lucky reader! :)

Rules: 
• To enter, please fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. only
• Contest ends Friday, May 27th at 11:59 EST 
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Lindsey Leavitt's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (March 1, 2011) 
Hardcover: 288 pages
Source: Publisher 
Summary:

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

Rating: View my rating system.




My Thoughts: When I think Sean Griswold's Head, I think cuteness wrapped in a bundle -- or, technically, between two hard covers and a couple hundred sheets of paper. It has it all: the nicest boy, the touching family trauma, and the inspirational self-discovery. Yet as cliché as those aspects may sound, Lindsey Leavitt adds her own spin with an authentic teenage voice and, of course, one very attractive male head. Overall, Sean Griswold's Head had me going "awww" at times from both romance and familial bonding, and I can honestly say the ending had me going banging my head a few times on my reading surface (which was, thankfully, a bed) out of sheer adorableness.

The only, and I repeat only, bothersome aspect for me was Payton's borderline annoying naivety. I could definitely see where she was coming from in having to deal with her father's MS and then with the fact that her parents hid the illness from her, but her reaction and avoidance seemed a little excessive. Yes, aversion is assured and a few tantrums granted, but for that long a time period... hm. And in the romance and friend departments, a couple times I just wanted to scream, "Can't you see the good thing right under your nose?!!!" Alas, all in the name of self-discovery, I suppose.

That being said, I still greatly admire Payton's strength and spunk. She definitely goes through some difficult times, and she falters, yet never backs down. Looking back, I can clearly track her growth throughout the book, from a girl who prided herself on her independence at the beginning to one who actually valued herself at the end. Even for a romance junkie like me, Lindsey Leavitt really conveys how beautiful self-acceptance can be, and does it all in Payton's snarky, genuine, and surprisingly relateable voice.

Me being me, how could I end this without mentioning Sean? Perfect, perfect Sean. Normally, that would be another strike on the negatives under the category of "unrealistic, untouchable," but Sean is just so darn lovable. Not only does he have the cute looks completely nailed, he teaches Payton to look past appearances, he bikes (I mean, gosh, who does that? Lindsey Leavitt has just introduced a prodigy here.), he's sweetly sensitive, and all-in-all, he's exactly what Payton needs. Whoever said "nice guys finish last?" For the record, I literally think "Sean" and biker shorts -- but that's a good thing, trust me.

Romance: PG - parent guidance suggested, but just a few kisses.
Cover: 3.5 -- I love how there's the little stick figure biker in the lower right, though I don't know why, the guy model's just not doing it for me. Maybe because that's not really how I imagine Sean in my mind?

Bottom Line: Sean Griswold's Head sends some mushy lessons about family, friends, and love -- but all the right ones. I recommend it to anyone looking for a light but heart-warming read that is guaranteed to leave an involuntary smile on your face. :)

Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Courtney Allison Moulton's website here // $10.31 from {amazon}

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (February 15, 2011)

Hardcover: 464 pages

Source: Publisher

Summary: 

First there are nightmares.

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Rating: View my rating system.

There have been tons of reviews for this one already, so here's just my (repetitive) two cents in a mini-acrostic poem. 'Cause those are all the vogue these days, no? *dons beret*

Accurate teen-speak. This is legit right here; Courtney Moulton writes like a native. (The key to teen-speak is not cussing, it’s cussing at the right places. Stay 133T, darlings.)

Never-ending action. For a squeamish person like me, I can honestly say Courtney Moulton has got the art of “intense, bone-breaking action without excessive gore” down pat. Everyone is kick ass to the trillionth degree.

Gripping characters. Quite a few of the secondary characters I would have liked to see fleshed out a more (namely her friends), though I know I few are being saved for future books in the series – and I CAN’T WAIT. As for Ellie herself, she’s brave but vulnerable. She doesn’t often breakdown, but when she does, it’s completely understandable. I love how she didn’t feel the need to spend eons experiencing “NOWAY.YESWAY... MAYBE? NOWAY.YESWAY...” that often accompanies the – surprise – astounding revelation of the paranormal. And can I say Ellie has excellent taste in clothes and cars (I can only guess at how rich she is...)?

Enigma-after-enigma. Courtney Moulton has created a rich history to the Preliator that we only get a tempting taste of in Angelfire. It does get a bit didactic at times, though only a few rare times in the 453 pages, and I’m not really bothered by it considering how much needed to be explained – which is A LOT. One of the two major reasons I’m continuing the series is the extremely intriguing plot, which almost never happens to me when reading a paranormal series – so that’s saying something.

LOVE WILLLL. Will of the green eyes and the tousled dark hair. Will of the sensitive heart and protective arms. Will of the awesomeness. <333

Overall, a very fast-paced, enjoyable read that’s one of the top paranormal romances I’ve read in a while. And did I mention it has a gorgeous cover? That never hurts. ;)

Great debut, Courtney, and for you, my little Preliator-to-be, pick Will Angelfire up now!

Taken from Courtney's website. They're commissioned some gorgeous CG art that I absolute LOVE. *o*

Review: The Half-Life of Planets by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Emily Franklin's website here, Brendan Halpin's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (June 15, 2010)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Source: ALA
Summary: from {goodreads}

Liana is an aspiring planetary scientist... and also a kissing addict. This summer, though, she plans to spend every kissworthy hour in the lab, studying stars. Hank has never been kissed. He’s smart and funny and very socially awkward, because he’s got Asperger’s syndrome. Hank’s plan for the summer is to work at a music store and save enough to buy the Fender Jazzmaster he craves. What neither Liana nor Hank plans for is their fateful meeting... in the women’s bathroom at the hospital. But their star-crossed encounter could be the very best kind. Two veteran YA authors tell, in alternating chapters, the story of two kids who discover that the best parts of people can’t be summed up easily.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: The Half-Life of Planets is a perfect summer read with a bit of depth and a lot of fun, adorable fluff. The unique perspectives and dual narration are strongly reminiscent of David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, though the sunny beach setting alleviates the tension and sense of urgency seen in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist; instead, soothing coffee shops and hand-holding teenage couples replace the dark streets and beach-side walking takes the place of frantic cabs. And ultimately, regardless of much you do or do not enjoy The Half-Life of Planets, it's tale of innocent and awkward first love is certain to leave you with a wistful smile on your face.

There's Hank, the boy with Asperger's syndrome. There's Liana, the girl with a kissing fetish. Then there's them together. Hank and Liana came off as authentic teenagers with their understandable adolescent insecurities and family troubles - Hank with his dead father and normal brother and Liana with her distanced mother and preoccupied father. With their shaky past, Hank and Liana are both looking for normalcy and support and that's what they're tentatively trying to find in each other. However, it's not a smooth road and Hank and Liana's engaging voices and thoughts immediately drew me into their dilemmas. The writing is spot-on with my fellow teenagers' speech and mentality and proved to be my favorite aspect of The Half-Life of Planets; it kept me hooked on the book when the plot lulled. The dual narration also flows smoothly and efficiently. We get a glimpse of why Liana is skeptical of love and why Hank is unsure of it, and I loved seeing both of their perspectives on the same event with the slight narration overlaps at each transition.

Despite The Half-Life of Planets's light premise, it works in some depth with Hank's Asperger's syndrome and the resulting lessons. During Hank's narration, there's an evident lack of body language analysis and he speaks, outwardly and inwardly, in a blunt, archaic, over-formal, and hard-to-describe way. It's surprisingly endearing and as the book progressed, his tendencies become less-and-less noticeable; it just becomes Hank. I definitely felt more strongly for Hank than Liana, mostly because Hank is awkward but adorably quirky while Liana is kind of like every other girl I know - minus a kissing obsession. But maybe that's the appeal. However, while Hank and Liana were very strong characters, I would have liked to see more of their families. Their family members are there enough to cause drama and impart the intended message, but they felt a little two-dimensional; as in, Liana's dad is always worried about his health condition. And he flies around the country to give lectures. Period, done.

Still, The Half-Life of Planets had me completely engrossed for the majority of the book. There's nothing especially stand-out about it and the plot moves incredibly slow, but I still couldn't put it down. I suspect the main cause was the authentic YA voice, though the fact that it's just the right time for an idyllic, carefree summer romance can't hurt. The end wraps up very fast compared to the rest of the story but it's sweet, it's promising, and it's satisfying. Really, this is the perfect type of book for a "holding hands and walking along the beach and sunset" cover - with a guitar, of course (Hank's focus on music). Overall, The Half-Life of Planets is such a feel-good, enjoyable read with sprinkling of solid lessons about self-acceptance and self-identity.

Romance: Holding hands, light kissing. There's a bit of kissing, but that's about it. I'd say it's safe for the book recommend age range of 12 and up, though be mature to handle some mentions of sex, "slut," and masturbation. Mentions, not actual blow-by-blow descriptions of the event.
Cover: 2.0 -- The disc idea is cute and matches the large role music plays in the story, and I can envision Hank like that. But that is not what I imagine Liana to be AT ALL. Liana is depicted with a medium-big chest (model: small to none), "womanly hips" (model: super skinny), and dark brown hair with short choppy pieces at the front (model: light brown/dirty blond hair with bangs - I don't think the bangs are exactly what they were going for...).** The 33 1/3 I just find mysterious.
Writing: 4.5
Characters: 4.0
Plot: 3.5

Bottom Line: The Half-Life of Planets is definitely something I'd recommend if you're looking for a light, smile-inducing summer read that isn't complete fluff. Plot-wise, it is slow - so if you get frustrated with slow plots, you may want to skip this one - but the solid teenage writing kept me interested and if you're into music, Hank spews endless interesting facts about KISS, the Kinks, etc. I'm not a big chick-lit fan, and I loved The Half-Life of Planets much more than I expected to. Liked it to the extent that I almost want to say "why haven't I been hearing more reviews of this one?!"

** WHAT IS IT WITH SKINNY MODELS THAT DON'T MATCH THE CHARACTER?! *sigh* I still love you, Liana.

Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Anastasia Hopcus's website here // $12.23 from {amazon}
Publisher: EgmontUSA (July 13, 2010)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Shadow Hills is an intriguing mix of Greek mythology, mystery, romance, and a hint of suspense. From page one, readers will be sucked in to the captivating world

Rating: View my rating system.



My Thoughts:Shadow Hills is a prime example of YA paranormal romance; it has everything characteristic of the genre: the mystery, the intrigue, the swoon-worthy love interest, the conflicted and forbidden romance, with a unique twist, the Brevis Vitas. While Shadow Hills isn’t exactly a diamond in a densely-populated paranormal mine, the combination of tried-and-true aspects and a dash of Anastasia Hopcus’s originality make for an enjoyable and fast-paced read.

Shadow Hills opens with Persephone “Phe” Archer leaving sunny L.A. for Devenish Prep in damp Shadow Hills, Massachusetts. Phe’s haunted by vivid, strange dreams and her sister’s recent death and eighteen pages in, bumps into her handsome stranger. A little iPod incident with Zach, mysterious hottie, and she’s already suspecting the normalcy of some boarding school classmates. Shadow Hills plunges us head-first into the secrecy surrounding Shadow Hills, and though I felt a little woozy at first from the rapidity of events and pummeling of information – similar to Phe’s starting confusion – I soon found myself maniacally speculating with Phe over the hidden facets of Shadow Hills. Anastasia Hopcus definitely knows how to balance the romance and action, integrating the two elements and ensuring their quick development.

Phe is a bit of an enigma, despite Shadow Hills being narrated in first person from her perspective. On one hand, she’s one of the most mature characters I’ve encountered when it comes to accepting the existence of the supernatural; on the other, she’s surprisingly immature for her fifteen years. I connected to her emotionally to an extent but her impulsive actions and words made me feel older and slightly condescending – when we’re really the same age. For instance, Phe easily becomes irked and her following comebacks often come across as elementary and cringe-worthy. As in the type of comebacks that made me think, “Oh, I’ve heard that somewhere before” but in a better form. Instead, Phe’s instinctive, sarcastic commentary is infinitely superior, in both maturity level and humor value, to her manufactured retorts. Her overreactions, rash decisions, and almost annoyingly frequent remarks on Zach’s sexual appeal notwithstanding, I applaud Phe’s determination and drive in uncovering Shadow Hill’s secrets, which are a refreshing change from the helpless heroine. And, overall, Anastasia Hopcus does a good job of capturing the teenage voice.

For the most part, Shadow Hills is an enjoyable but fairly average paranormal romance. It has an interesting and diverse cast, an exciting dose of action, and a climactic ending. Anastasia Hopcus’s unique and original ideas are the one area where Shadow Hills has the ability to stand out, and the Brevis Vitas and well-developed history certainly do make it a step above the run-of-the-mill paranormal read. By itself, Shadow Hills’s potential is stunted by a slightly baffling main character and the convenience of some events – is Zach a little too perfect? – but Anastasia Hopcus has created a solid foundation that allows for great potential in the following book(s). All I know for sure is that she has me hooked on discovering the deeper mystery Phe is left to solve at the end of Shadow Hills, and I’ll be eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Romance: Kissing, hugging, deep staring into the eyes, and not much else. Romance-wise, Shadow Hills is safe for young teens. However, there is rather liberal alcohol, and more subtly drug, usage which isn't condemned. There are also instances suited for more mature or slightly older teens, such as a (humorous) instance with Pictionary and "self-service"... I leave the judgment on age to you.
Cover: 3.0 -- Simple, mysterious, and aesthetically pleasing, but it tells next to nothing about the book itself. Sorry.
Writing: 4.0
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: Anastasia Hopcus's suspenseful debut provides original, fresh fodder for paranormal fans looking for something different than vampires and werewolves with all of the excitement, all of the mystery, and all of the juicy romance. Don't necessarily read Shadow Hills expecting something absolutely ground-breaking but do read it expecting an enjoyable, fast-paced, and thrilling ride.

Source: Thank you to Anastasia Hopcus and EgmontUSA for the review copy!

Review: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Heidi R. Kling's website here // $12.23 from {amazon}
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (June 10, 2010)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.
And Sea’s real adventure begins.

Rating: View my rating system.



My Thoughts: Have you heard Sea is amazing? Because so have I. And. It. Is. Amazing. Sea isn't one of those "edgy" reality books, nor is it a paranormal read, but its bittersweet love story holds its own brilliant torch. Sea isn't the type of book that's in-your-face with boundless originality and melodramatic tragedies; rather, the greatness lies in the quiet beauty of innocent love and pure hope. When I finished Sea, I didn't have one of those "wow" moments, but the more I reflect upon it, the more I am in awe of Sea's rich setting, vivid characters, and the intricacy hidden behind a simple plot.

I've never been in Indonesia, so I can't vouch for authenticity, but Sea definitely makes me feel like I have been there - and enjoyed it immensely. Heidi R. Kling quickly swishes us away into this exotic country, taking us from the cringe-worthy mandi (bathroom) to the delectable tempe (soybean cake). Sea subtly introduces interesting bits of Indonesian tradition, without ever seeming didactic, and allows us to form our own opinions about Indonesia. But regardless of opinion, I truly felt like I was there as Sienna and Deni visited an Indonesian temple and strolled through its humid streets. 

As for Sienna and Deni themselves, their insecurities yet underlying hope - Sienna's hope that her mother survived the plane crash and Deni's hope that his father is alive after the tsunami - make them believable and easy to relate to. Though it's hard to admit, it is human nature to keep on hoping and hypothesizing when there is a lack of closure, and Heidi R. Kling captures that perfectly in both characters. Yes, they're still fairly naive and idealist, but it's understandable; it cements the fact that Sienna and Deni are teenagers, despite the devastating tragedies they've undergone. The two are trying to discover themselves while just beginning to discover each other and the result is an outburst of emotions: grief, joy, confusion, anxiety, betrayal, and love, all jumbled up into a quickly-progressing yet tentative relationship. Sienna and Deni's relationship is beautiful in its intensity and has all the raw emotions of an Edward-Bella relationship, minus the possible stalker aspect.

Basically, I'm at a loss of words of what else I can say about Sea because the basic premise of it is simple: boy meets girl, they fall in love, they journey off together, and, ultimately, find themselves. So, apa (for those of you that have read Sea, you should know what I mean)? It's all of the little pieces - the exotic setting, the vivid writing, the strength of pure hope and love - that combine to form such a, not exactly "heart-rending" tale, but more of a heart-striking, true tale. Sea isn't technically a "perfect" book, but the way Heidi R. Kling weaves together emotions, the past, and promises for the future is perfect.      

Romance: More emotional than physical. There are a few kisses, but Sea's pretty safe in terms of age appropriateness. Don't mistake lack of physical contact for lack of emotional depth though.
Cover: 4.5 -- The cover is beautiful, don't get me wrong. It combines the different aspects of Sea well, though the two people in the water made me first expect a mermaid story. Not really where it's supposed to go.
Writing: 5.0
Characters: 4.5
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: Sea is a quiet beauty: the story gradually and unexpectedly sucks you in, takes you for an emotional ride, then returns you content - only when the ride is over do you look back and marvel at the complexity. Its mundane $17.99 price tag deceptively hides a lush trip to Indonesia, an innocent, intense romance, and an extraordinary, stunning debut.

Source: Bought. It's worth it! :D

Mini-Review: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot's website here // $13.44 from {amazon}

Publisher: William Morrow (June 8, 2010)

Hardcover: 464 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

Sick of vampires?

So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, ould prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .

If she even has one.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: I'm only doing a mini-review of this one because, technically, it's an adult book. I was surprised by this one a couple weeks ago, and it was a good, if unexpected, surprise. I'll easily admit I've read (and own a couple!) a number of Meg Cabot's young adult novels, and enjoyed them, and having accidentally read one of her more adult books last year (link to my review of Ransom My Heart, which I just realized is a very HARSH review -- ouch), I was intrigued by Insatiable.

To keep this review short, I'm going to try and analyze the fundamental parts of the book as quickly as possible: I first thought Insatiable as promising and a step up on the maturity level from Meg Cabot's usually frivolous chick-lit (hey, that can be a good thing), but the ending quickly had me backtracking. The characters were okay, if stereotypical, and I could see myself sympathizing with Meena to some extent. Sympathy is different from esteem though, and I didn't really hold the three main characters (Meena, Lucien, and Alaric) in very high regard. The reason was that they all fell in and out of love extremely fast to the point where it seemed appearance-based and shallow, though they all claimed they had some "deep feeling." Right -- lust, maybe...? I can see promise in their backgrounds though, and I would definitely categorize each of the characters as "interesting." The redeeming point that made me see potential was the spatterings of truly enjoyable, intense action, which would ocasionally become confusing and anti-climactic, but overall revealed that perhaps Meg Cabot has a path in action-romance after all...

The two main points that I felt most strongly about are: 1) the whole concept of "this is not your average vampire read. vampires are sooo 19th century," and 2) Meena. At the beginning, I thought Meena was a strong, firmly grounded woman that truly was immune to the stereotypes of vampires, so kudos to Meg Cabot on that. But when she adds Lucien to the equation, my opinion of Meena quickly disintegrated. Because, yep, turns out Meena isn't as oblivious to the cold, brooding, mysterious combination (aka VAMPIRE) as she thought. She quickly consents to what could potentially be a one-night stand with Lucien, despite her repeated denials that she isn't "that" kind of woman and the fact that she really doesn't know Lucien -- well, besides that he smells good, looks good, is a gentleman, etc. Shallow stuff right there. However, when Lucien and Meena actually admitted they had feelings for each other and got together, I cheered for them. They just worked together: their personalities, their thoughts, their feelings. I can't say much without spoiling it, so I'll just say that I HATED THE ENDING. The end made me hate Meena, and I hate what happened. The ending seemed like Meg Cabot realizing that, opps, we actually have a vampire-human romance going on here and we need to make it different, but without considering the characters and plot line. UGH.

If you don't mind SPOILERS, here's my ranting (it's in white, highlight to read): Meena leaves Lucien. ASDASDJHAKSJDSD!!! Just because he turns into a dragon and she's scared of him now. For being a vampire, what she knows he is from early on. After he risked his life for hers and, thus, turned into a dragon....!! I'm tired of vampire relationships, but I still rooted for Meena and Lucien. *sigh* Meena falls out of "love" so fast that it's questionable whether it was ever really a feeling of love. Perhaps admiration or obsession would be closer to it.

Bottom Line: Despite my ranting, Insatiable was actually a decently enjoyable book. The romances felt insubstantial, but the interesting plot made up for it. The only part that really ruined it for me was the ending, which I absolutely hated, so I deducted .5 stars for that. Other than that, Insatiable shows Meg Cabot's potential in more serious subjects and definitely her development in writing over the years, from a very YA chick-lit writer to a reasonable adult writer. I'm intrigued to see futher development in Meg Cabot's future adult books, though, personally, I preferred her sticking to YA.

Read It? If you're a fan of Meg Cabot's more adult titles, you might like this one, or just like it more. If you're looking for a borderline chick-lit/action vampire book, this one will make for a quick, entertaining read, especially with summer just starting. But if you're just looking for a "different" vampire book, I don't think you've found it in Insatiable, sorry.

Thank you to Pamela from HarperCollins for the book!

**Side note: Please keep in mind I am a teenager, so I may have an idealist perspective. *shrug* Sorry.

Review: Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Claudia Gray's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Series: Evernight, #3
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 9, 2010)
Hardcover: 352 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—hiding is no longer an option.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything . . . but can it survive what's to come?

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: Okay, I’m going to start off with some things I feel need to be said: 1) It’s extremely hard for me to rate series books because I only buy series I really, really, REALLY love (for the record, the only series I have bought are: some children series, Harry Potter, Twilight, Perfect Chemistry, and L.J. Smith’s Night World), 2) I usually don’t have as much to say when talking about series books for some unknown reason, perhaps because I feel like my few thoughts have already been expended on the previous books, and 3) I am a COMPLETE Balthazar fan, if that means any difference to you at all. Sorry, Lucas.

On to the real review, Hourglass is definitely a paranormal read. There are the centuries-old yet undeniably attractive vampires, the fierce vampire hunters, and then an entirely new, chilling something introduced in this book three of the series. With this intense mix, there just has to be action – and there is. The aspect of the book I can find myself complimenting the most is the action, which was definitely non-stop with mystery and intrigue. Hourglass picks up right where Stargazer left off, with Bianca struggling to remain inconspicuous with Lucas and the gang. However, that turns out to be easier said than done when you’re on the verge of changing into a vampire, have a crazy vampire headmistress hunting your vampire hunter buddies down, and have a best friend that would kill you in a heartbeat if she knew what you really were. If that sounds crazy, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Hourglass certainly proves that Claudia Gray knows how to weave an intricate story, continually working in new twists and turns to make sure there’s never a dull moment.

Character-wise, Hourglass was “okay.” I liked seeing more of Vic and his new vampire friend, Ranulf, both of with are eccentric in their own, endearing ways; Ranulf is the centuries-behind vampire, where Vic is just Vic, for lack of better words. They’re close seconds to Balthazar in vying for the spot of favorite character, and make the perfect, strange match. Then, of course, I have to mention Balthazar, who is as Prince Charming as ever, swooping in and trying to save the day. I don’t see what charm Lucas has over him but, apparently, Bianca sees something there I don’t, and their relationship is actually what I struggled the most/am still struggling with. I’ve never been a huge Lucas fan, but his and Bianca’s love felt at times stereotypical and, frankly, a bit annoying. Bianca has no choice to feed on Lucas, he gets turned on, etc. and their extreme willingness to sacrifice for each other aggravated me, even if it was meant to be sweet. The way I look at it, there’s a line you have to draw for self-preservation regardless of how much you may love another, yet Lucas and Bianca lack this distinction and feel the need to constantly proclaim their undying love for each other. I’m not trying to degrade their romance, but, frankly, I did not see it standing out among the many other forbidden love relationships. Overall, I felt a degree of disconnect from Bianca and wish that there could have been a bit more emotional exploration along with the packed action.

Ultimately, after finishing Hourglass, the one thing I want the most is some form of closure. Hourglass flowed like the intense middle of a book, fortunate in that it came without the slow introduction though unfortunate in that it lacked the wrap-up conclusion. I arrived at the end expecting a mini-conclusion, but instead found myself confronted by a situation I never would have dreamed of. If you're looking for a suspenseful cliffhanger, you'll definitely find a great one in Hourglass.

Romance: 3.0. I'm sorry I'm biased here, but one word: Balthazar.
Cover: 3.5 - It matches the Evernight theme very well, though the full frontal shot is a bit bland.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 3.0  
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Hourglass is a fast-paced, action-packed blend of romance, mystery, and danger that will never fail to surprise with its sharp turns and twists.

Will I continue reading this series? It's not my favorite series, but yes, the ending has served it's purpose in sparking my interest to find out what happens next. I cannot rest in peace until this mystery is solved.

Source: Thank you to Jackie Jou and HarperCollins Children's Books for the copy!

Review: Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen

Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen

Anne Spollen's website here // $9.95 from {amazon}

Publisher: Flux (February 1, 2010)

Paperback: 216 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

Elizah Rayne is nothing like other fourteen-year-old girls. More interested in bird bones than people, she wraps herself in silence. Trying to escape the shadow of her gambler father, Elizah and her mother move into an old house that borders a cemetery. All her mother wants is for them to have "normal" lives. But that becomes impossible for Elizah when she finds a human jawbone by the river and meets Nathaniel, a strangely hypnotic and mysterious boy who draws Elizah into his world.

Only by forgetting everything she knows can Elizah understand the truth about Nathaniel—and discover an unimaginable secret.

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: I hate to give such a negative review, but the truth is I just didn’t “get” this book. I didn’t understand the role of the characters, the characters themselves, etc. and I still don’t even understand the plot. I had a hard time convincing myself to continue reading, and though I really, really wanted to love Light Beneath Ferns, that just didn’t happen.

I went in expecting chilling, supernatural story, and I admit that partially proved true. Or should I say: the promise of a supernatural plot was almost the only thing that kept from completely setting this book down. The beginning started off slow, and I continued reading in hopes that Anne Spollen would eventually reveal some big secret that would explain everything or churn out an unexpected plot twist. But I kept waiting and waiting and waiting... and waiting, you get the drill. The story constantly alternates between the supernatural aspects and Elizah’s social life, and the changing focus never really allowed time to go in-depth with the supernatural storyline. My main problem with the plot was that everything that happened just happened. No explanation, no reason; it's just there – period. I read the entire book feeling like I was missing some crucial piece of information, and that vital piece never revealed itself. The ghost plot felt generic and, quite frankly, boring, especially considering I could correctly predict almost everything from the very beginning. I can see the supernatural aspects being further expanded on in the future, but it just never reached its full potential in Light Beneath Ferns.

As for Elizah, she's simply an enigma I cannot figure out. The introduction portrayed her as slightly eccentric and unique, and I expected to find an intriguing, independent heroine. Unfortunately, I soon found that wasn’t the case. Or I should say I *think* Elizah was neither strong nor special, because I honestly don’t understand her. I felt like Anne Spollen wanted to create an unique character, but in trying too hard, Elizah's personality fell flat. Elizah is the typical, sarcastic teen when with her mother and quiet and brooding by herself and with others – making me question: who is she really? Elizah claims she just wants to be silent, but why? I can understand wanting to be solitary, but Elizah has this almost "need" to be alone, a desire I never saw a solid basis for. Because she just “feels” like she has to? It was extremely annoying to see Elizah push everyone away, even her friendly classmates that were always there to support her. I can understand kindly brushing someone off or just being up-front about it, but not only is Elizah unassertive, she also rudely ignores them and gives off a feeling of superiority. Maybe she’s supposed to be “above” high school and adolescence, but her behavior didn't give me that impression about her maturity.

Romance-wise, there was definitely something there, but, again, it seemed so stereotypical. First we have Nathaniel, the mysterious, enticing boy that Elizah finds herself thinking about 24/7. I’m not going to lie, I would probably follow him too, but I didn’t see any foundation for their attraction. It seemed like they fell in “love” too fast, and the only time I really liked Elizah was when she asked Nathaniel where he planned on taking her instead of mindlessly following him. Elizah finally displayed some admirable resolve... or at least until Nathaniel was like “do you want to come or not” and Elizah just dropped it – what? She's not afraid of someone who, at that time, was practically a stranger? Though I didn’t like her obsession (sorry) with Nathaniel that much, I liked Elizah’s relationship with Kyle, Nathaniel's basketball-star-and-most-popular-guy-in-school competitor, even less. She obviously didn’t like him and considering how independent and defiant she was with her mother, why couldn’t she tell him she wasn’t interested instead of leading him on? I felt all of the other characters were generic as well, particularly Elizah’s well-meaning mother that just wants to fit into their new community but is constantly being discouraged by Elizah. *sniffle*

Despite all the flaws I saw in this book, again, there is definitely hidden potential here. Anne Spollen’s writing flows easily, and she subtly scatters beautiful imagery throughout the book. Though I mostly missed the concept as a whole, a number of less-known or less significant details sparked my interest that Anne Spollen skillfully tied into the plot. Light Beneath Ferns also integrates some solid lessons with Elizah’s broken family, and despite my mountain of complaints with Elizah, I admire her wit and resilience. And can I add that I like the name "Elizah Rayne?" :)

Romance: Mysterious and tentative. I didn't necessarily like the characters involved in the romance, but we're talking about first love here and with Nathaniel? Very mysterious.
Cover: 4.5 -- A little monotone, but very, very pretty. It fits the mood perfectly, and it's soft.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 1.0
Plot: 1.0 - The plot felt like an introduction; there's an interesting setting, but nothing really happens.

Bottom Line: If you haven't noticed the numerous question marks in my review, Light Beneath Ferns constantly made me wonder "why, why, why?" I didn't feel myself connecting with any of the characters, and, overall, there was nothing in the book that stood out to me as extremely original or a step-up from the usual ghost story. If ghosts strongly appeal to you, you might want to give this book a spin, but though I might still try Anne Spollen's books in the future for her lyrical writing, I won't be be first in-line buying her books anytime soon.

Source: Thank you to Tricia from Flux!

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Simone Elkele's website here // $9.99 from {amazon}.

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (December 23, 2008)

Paperback: 368 pages

Summary: from {goodreads}

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Rating:

My Thoughts: My new religion? Worshiping Simone Elkeles. Perfect Chemistry is the traditional story of love on two sides of the track: the rich girl, Brittany Ellis, and the guy from the slums, Alex Fuentes, but Simone Elkeles retells the classic tales with a riveting voice that kept me from putting this book down. I wanted a love story, and I got one. Perfect Chemistry caught me right of the bat with its real characters, heartbreak, and, yes, intense chemistry.

What really set apart Perfect Chemistry was the authenticity of the narration and characters. Technically, Brittany and Alex are "ideals" in that they represent the extremely caring but gorgeous girl and the poor guy striving to make something of his life. However, Simone Elkeles develops them into two unique people - distinct voices, perspectives, desires, and dreams; the greatness comes not in the originality, but in the modern approach to this age-old plot. If anything, my financial situation is a lot like Brittany's, but I immediately found myself drawn to Alex. I sympathized with his evident conflict between duty to his family and personal aspirations and loved his cocky, sexy front - though that's exactly what it was, a front. Alex does have that raw, bitter edge, but he could also make the sweetest boyfriend ever. But what I really want to convey more than anything is the fact that the characters were real. The dialogue is spot-on, complete with innuendos and endearing love confessions, the characters' thoughts seem entirely plausible, and there is a clear progression from fear and contempt to true love. I still can't fully express how much I loved the characters, but what I can express is how amazing it is to not read another story where the characters fall in love so quickly to the extent that it feels like they "pretend" to hate each other.

But love's not always a smooth road, and Brittany and Alex prove that. Perfect Chemistry is just that, the perfect chemistry you can have with that one special person, and the two both struggle to reconcile themselves to their new, intense feelings. I loved how much Brittany and Alex changed each other, and Simone Elkeles knows how to throw in some comic relief at just the right time. The bathroom scene with Paco? Priceless; it still cracks me up everytime I read it. The only concern I have with this total character immersion is what other readers thought about the smatterings of Spanish. I take Spanish classes, so I know what Alex and his relatives were saying, but I wonder if it'll come easily to others that aren't acquaintanced with Spanish. There's context, but not much. The only other possible complaint I have is that the ending seemed rushed and wrapped up a bit too quickly, though that's partly because I didn't want Perfect Chemistry to end. Overall, the final scene was cute and left me with a smile on my face.

Romance: Sweet, flirtatious, and intense. Sensitive, gorgeous girl + Struggling, hot guy = perfect chemistry.
Cover: 4.0 -- Simple but I like the contrast, and it helped me envision Brittany and Alex. :)
Writing: 5.0
Characters: 5.0
Plot: 4.5

Bottom Line: If you still do not grasp how much I loved Perfect Chemistry by now, let me say it again: I LOVED PERFECT CHEMISTRY. The chemistry was truly perfect, and it came with all the delicious boys conflict of first real love. The plot's not very original, but the amazing characters and Simone Elkeles manages to tailor it, iron it, and make it hers. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a sweet romance minus all the tears. As for the sequel, Rules of Attraction, coming in April, I'm definitely pre-ordering it! :D