Perfect Chemistry by Simone Eckles

This book was recommended to me by a friend in which who's taste I no longer trust. 

This story stated out okay, it wasn't great and it wasn't bad. I thought it was gonna get better as I read along. Long story short, it got worse. 

One of the main details of this story was the fact that Alex was Mexican and he was in a gang. That made me really exited because I too am Mexican and I enjoy reading other peoples portrayal of the Mexican culture. Not only was this portrayal more inaccurate than accurate, the parts that were accurate were hyperbolized. The slang, for example, was used in a somewhat correct context but it was so exaggerated that it made me uncomfortable. I kept imagining one of my three year old cousins picking up on the slang around them and trying to interpret them into their own life. That didn't bother me too much, it just disappointed me a little. There were also a few spelling mistakes for the Spanish, for example: 

That didn't bother me too much either, nobody's perfect I guess. 

I did hate the characters though. I hated every single one of them. Yes even Isa and Seirrra, and Doug, ALL OF THEM. They were all the annoying kind of annoying that doesn't only make you annoyed but makes you mad. I wanted to punch all of them in the face. 

I want to say there's more to this book and there's more I wanna talk about, but there isn't. This book was as shallow as Brittany's personality. 

Overall I would not recommend this book. I give it a two out of five stars because I like the concept of this book, and I had some potential that deserves to be rewarded. 

We Were Liars Review

We Were Liars

by: E. Lockhart

"A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE."

-Goodreads

From the hands of E. Lockhart and publishing company, Delacorte Press, out came We Were Liars a hooking novel full of sudden surprises and complex characters. We Were Liars is a standalone dedicated to, Daniel, a someone who E. Lockhart may only know. Text copyright took place in The United States, 2013.

The main plot of this novel takes place on a private island where aunts, cousins, and granddad (Sinclairs) could spend summer break. The aunts are known as Carrie, Bess and Penny. The story revolves around the character named Cadence, the only child of Penny. Cadence and the rest of the "Liars" (Gat, Johnny, Mirren) take on countless adventures on the island with the "Littles" (Will, Taft, Bonnie and Liberty). Everything is fun in the sun until the aunts start to argue over inheritance and a tragedy takes place that threatens strong bonds and spins Cadence's world upside down. As she takes on the journey to recover, people are lost in the process and Beechwood Island as she knew it registers in some way, foreign.

An interesting take on We Were Liars includes the fact that everything happened for a reason. Things were done and said that may have not made sense right of the bat, but in the end as the tragedy is explained to Cadence -who suffers memory loss- it is also revealed  to the audience. For example Carrie walking the island alone at night, or granddad's continuous mistake of calling Cadence, Mirren.

The story is very complex but understandable all the same. Cadence not being able to handle the truth of what happened on summer fifteen on the island, causes her to forget each time the story is told to her. Doctors and the aunts agree to allow Cadence to figure out the tragedy on her own, without the help of the "Liars". This frustrated Cadence, not being able to get answers out of her family or Gat on what happened. Towards the end, after a series of migraines and flashbacks, truths unravel and the dams break. All tears are set loose.

We Were Liars features an un-praised, almost secret love story of Cadence and Gat, an "Indian" boy who came to the island with his uncle Ed. Although, Gat may not blend with the Sinclair family, he is still tolerated by most. Allowing him and his uncle, who is dating Carrie a place on Beechwood.

With the absolute enjoyment of this novel, five stars would never be enough of a rating. I recommend We Were Liars to anyone seeking a Young Adult novel filled with joy, pain, suspense and tragedy with a touch of romance. I would like to thank We Were Liars for being such a great and fulfilling dish.

 

On A Hiatus!

We'll be back soon!

The Bad Boy Stole My Diary Review

Bad Boy Stole My Diary
by: Hayris Panchi

"Ever Imagine having the only thing where you put everything that has happened to you taken away? Imagine it being taken by the person you despise the most. The person who makes your life a living hell. Imagine The bad boy took your Diary? What would you do then? Take it back? Not me. I let him keep it. Because that way he'll know how much I hate him. But what happens when he doesn't get the point of this whole thing and takes it a whole different direction? Will I stop and lead him the right way or will I stupidly follow? Or should I say Fall?" (Wattpad)

 

Bad Boy Stole My Diary, is in it's draft stage, which can be read on Wattpad.com. BBSMD was awarded a place in the "Popular In Teen Fiction" section for quite a while, brimming an estimate of four-hundred-and-forty-eight-thousand reads.

Even in it's organic form, there was relatability, distinguishing character personalities, and humor. Each character was defined with their own set of interests and traits, making them all unique. Dallas was mystery and ambition, coconuts and a heart breaker. Jane, was innocence, naive, and longing. Together, they were excitement, spark, with a side of late night peanut butter sandwiches.

Through reading, BBSMD, I came across an unexpected plot twist that after reading became obvious. But if you see the world through Jane's eyes and imagine her predicament throughout the entire novel, you'll be just as shocked as she was. In my opinion the ending was very satisfying. In the moment where I met the end, there was a feeling of allowing the book to end. Bad
Boy Stole My Diary, is a standalone novel without a disappointing cliffhanger or an overrated happily ever after.

I can easily grade this book with five stars for its creativeness and for holding my attention throughout. I highly recommend it for all ages above thirteen.

Note: The image presented above has been approved by, Hayris Panchi 

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown Review

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown

by: Holly Black

    "Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave. One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black."  (Goodreads)

 
From the moment I read the summary for, The Coldest Girl In Coldtown, I knew it right then, I was going to love it. Even with my having high expectations for this novel, what came out of the gumball machine was far more tastier. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, still managed to impress me far more than I expected. I purchased this novel in the paperback version, in which my only regret is not reading it sooner. 

The structure of, Coldest Girl, consist of one continuous story, but different aspects of it. One chapter may feature the present while the next could go back in the past to get an understanding of a certain character, or view another perspective. The Coldest Girl In Coldtown, is written in third person point of view, allowing the readers the ability to grasp more about the personalities of the characters, than a first person point of view. My favorite thing about this novel were the details. The details pulled me in, into the pages, enabling me to envision a movie production in my brain. 

The monsters in this novel were so governed, with a stable way of living, unlike in most cases where they are depicted as brainless and heartless. This story makes the reader feel for their race and see a different aspect of what they were. Loyalty, and passion. Holy Black gave them a story, a back bone, a dark fascination. Even a, butterfly-caught-in-the-webs-of-stomach, connection between two unlikely characters. 

In a candy wrap, I could easily give, The Coldest Girl In Coldtown, five out of five stars. As it was filled with action, pretzel twists, monsters, and the improbable survival of humans. How much tempting can a plate look?

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters. (Rainbow Rowell)

*Carry On is not a sequel to Fangirl, you do not have to read Fangirl in order to read Carry On. It is not the book Gemma T. Lesley wrote, nor the fic that Cather wrote. It is Rainbow Rowell's view on the World of Mages. Spoilers ahead.* 

Before I read this book I had high, high expectations. It's a Rainbow Rowell book! When I finished I was glad to say my expectations were surpassed! Carry On is the best thing to happen in my YA fantasy reading life, it felt like five books in one, and not in a "dragging on" kind of way, in a kind of way that managed to tell an amazing story about fighting and magic and romance and self-discovery! It was something only Rainbow Rowell could ever write!

Firstly, I want to talk about Baz. I absolutely love Baz! He makes the perfectly misunderstood guy who likes guys and ahh! I can't even think of Baz without fangirling! His love for Simon is one of my favorite parts of the book! And the fact that Baz was realistic yet helplessly romantic about his situation made it even more relatable! I love the moments when Baz compares his vampirism to his sexuality! It is never a direct metaphor but to me it is! At first, I was worried that SnowBaz wasn't gonna happen because Simon seemed pretty straight to me, and Baz was nowhere to be found! When he came back was perfection! I loved how Baz's chapter ended with something like; "Simon Snow . . . the guy I'm in love with." (Something like that.) When they first kissed I didn't--I couldn't--I was so--ahh!! The kissing scenes with Baz and Simon were the best! And Baz's sense of humor is literally the sense of humor everyone wishes they had! His points of view were the best! Even better than Lucy's which were Amazing with a capital A!

Speaking of Lucy, that was a huge plot twist! The whole thing with the Mage being Simon's dad and all. That was mentioned in Fangirl but it still shocked the apple juice out of me! The Mage was such a backstabbing...person. I never trusted him one bit! I enjoyed the flashbacks we got from Lucy and the Mage and Penny's mom and Baz's aunt. I also liked that they were all connected in some way. I feel like not enough people realize how big of a part Ebb plays in the story, in all of Simon's childhood. I don't want to get too much into it because I myself didn't pay much attention to Ebb but I think it's important to regognize her and acknowladge that she was an imparative part of the story.

Overall I give this book five out of five stars. It was funny, sad, and kitchy and just plain brilliant. Plus the fact that Rainbow Rowell, a contemporary author, wrote this full on fantasy novel speaks for itself. Also, RAINBOW ROWELL.

Disclaimer: None of the pictures used in this post are mine, all rights reserved to their creators. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (DoSaB) Review

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

by: Laini Taylor

    "Around the world, black hand prints 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 grows dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly 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 beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery 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?" (Goodreads)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a great start to an sensational trilogy. It was action packed, filled with young love and ancient love, war, hope and fate bound un-coincidences.

As the book went on, different pieces of each characters' personality conjoined together forming each distinct puzzle. DoSaB, certainly did not shy away from humor as for Karou (main character) never failed to impress me, all the way down to her narcissistic yet harmless wishes. For Karou to be raised by monsters, it had no affect at all on her youthfulness. I also enjoyed the species established in DoSaB, each one had a unique background and something that made them special. But the bad blood between them created war and separation, even acts of casting out members of the same species. The species of DoSaB includes, Seraphim (angel) and Chimera (devils), and of course the human race who remained neutral throughout.

Laini Taylor made no compromises in her unparalleled way of writing. She made each page of words her own, creating unique form and structure. So as with all things unfamiliar, Daughter of Smoke and Bone made way of becoming fearlessly confusing at times. The casual flashbacks where at first hard to keep up with, especially when listening to it via audio book. The good thing is after a while of reading, the writing started to grow on me, flashbacks became more decipherable, and I started to get the hang of what was going on. 

Overall, I rate Daughter of Smoke and Bone four stars out of five as I will definitely be looking forward to continuing the series. And I hope you, who have read this review to even this point will join me on the journey. 

Note: The image presented in this post has been approved by Little, Brown and Company