Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Hey everyone! Today I have an AWESOME book for you guys. It's by the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Elizabeth Eulberg! You guys may have already seen or heard about Prom and Prejudice already, which I hope you have. If you haven't though, here's the description:

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?
Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

Okay, so I have a confession to make. I've never read Pride and Prejudice. I know, by hearing that, most of you probably want to punch me in the face right now (Please don't!). I know there is basically no excuse for it, but it was never brought to my attention until I started really getting into books. My mom never told me about it, my school never mentioned it, only until I started trying to push my way into the publishing world did I really start to understand just how good and loved Pride and Prejudice is.
But now that I've read Elizabeth's wonderful Prom and Prejudice and loved it, I'm gonna go get my hands on a copy of the original story, I promise! Now, while I can't tell you if this book successfully represents the original, I can tell you how awesome it is. (If you want to hear what someone who has read the original thinks, you can find another review here).
From the very first chapter, I immediately felt for Lizzie. I could already tell we were alike, and that her story would be one I couldn't put down. One thing I love about Elizabeth's writing is that while it is elegant and wonderful, it is also simple. She has a talent to make the reader jump into the story and want to stay there without having to be over extravagant or over descriptive. It's just right.
I definitely found myself drawn to Will Darcy, even in the beginning. As the story went on, I fell more in love with his character and also related even more to Lizzie. Even though I have not been taunted about wealth or scholarships, I do know how it feels to be the outsider, the one people taunt. Whether it be for my height, or just for the fun of it, I was taunted, just like Lizzie. Elizabeth brings to life these characters and their stories, and I was sad to see the book end.
It was a great, great second novel and I can't wait for the third!
If you're looking for a book with in depth characters, a wonderful story, a dash of classics, and humor, this book is for you!
Hope you guys enjoy and happy reading!

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a lovely week. TGIF!
Today's book is by one of my favorite authors, Eileen Cook. It's her newest book, The Education of Hailey Kendrick. Here's the description:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.
Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.
They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Ever since I read Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, I've loved Eileen's books. So when I saw that her new book was finally released, I was so excited! Eileen definitely did not disappoint!
Right away, the first chapter gets you hooked. Hailey's character jumps right off the page and into your heart. This book's plot was very unpredictable. I thought Hailey would end up with one person, then I switched it to another person, and then it ended up being completely different from what I thought. It's a very refreshing story and is also very adorable.
Not only does Eileen create realistic situations and characters, but she also writes about very deep issues, like the loss of a parent and how each person deals with something like that differently. She paints the picture of a broken family perfectly, and I felt like I was right there with Hailey, taking it all in, good and bad.
Even though this book has serious issues included in it, it also made me laugh a lot. There were parts that were very comical and made me laugh out loud (much to my roommate's dismay).
If you're looking for a book with a little bit of everything, that is also a quick read, this one is for you. Pulse It! currently has it up on their website to read for free, but you can also go out and buy it! Hope you guys enjoy and happy reading :)

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Hello, friends. Hope everyone's having a lovely three day weekend! Today's book is Not that Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian. Here's the description:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things. But life is messy, and it’s very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they’re no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you want to sleep with yourself – but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out. Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices – and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

This is another book that my wonderful friend from Just Read Books gave me for Christmas. This was one of the top three that I wanted to read first, and I wasn't disappointed. This book is just so, so real. A lot of times I felt I was reading my own thoughts! Natalie and the rest of the main characters were all very well developed. I didn't find anything cliche in this book, and I never felt like I knew what was going to happen next. I assumed one thing and then something completely different would happen.
The issues explored in this book were also very real and very common things that high schoolers are going through today. There were so many elements to the story that I felt strongly about, and going along for the ride with Natalie throughout the story was refreshing. It made me feel like I wasn't alone. Something that a lot of teen readers strive for in a book. Two thumbs up to Siobhan in this department.
The only issue I had with this book (which is very minimal) was that the prologue kind of messed my head up a little bit. The main issue Natalie talks about implies that it happened to her, but a little later in the book you find out it actually happened to her best friend. Then for a few chapters I felt like the story should have been told by the best friend instead of Natalie because of how the beginning was set up. Other than that, I found the book to be amazing. This one's definitely a book you want to read! It's worth an impromptu purchase, so if they don't have it at your library then make sure you find it at your bookstore! Happy Reading :)

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

Hello there, peeps! I have another review for you today. This is one of the many books my wonderful friend over at Just Read Books sent me for Christmas! It is called Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. Before I get to the review though, just look at that cover! It's so cute and adorable! Whoever their cover designer is, they deserve an A++ and many cookies. Hooray for lovely book covers! Now here's the description of the book:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

I've heard many great things about not just this book, but about these authors, as well. I met David at the NYC Teen Author Fest, since he created the whole thing, and I also heard about the numerous books he has been a part of. I haven't read any of his other books but I knew they were highly praised.
Because of this, I was very excited to dive into a novel sounding so adorable. I did like the book and I thought the concept was very cute, but the book kind of just fell flat for me. Don't get me wrong, it had its good parts and I did laugh occasionally, but it didn't WOW me like others had.
For most of the book, I felt like Dash was a little arrogant and he kind of made me angry in some parts of the book. I did like Lily a lot though. This book dragged on a little bit, in my opinion. There were times where I wanted to stop reading but kept with it anyway.
That in mind, though, a lot of other people DO love this book, so don't be dissuaded by my review. If it sounds cool and you want to give it a try, go right ahead! Try your library or bookstore and I'm sure you'll find it.
Happy Reading everyone!

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Whoaa! Where did the time go? I had no idea it was that long since I posted! Sorry about that. I got caught up in all things holiday. BUT, I'm back at school now for the new semester, so everything will be on schedule. Thanks for hanging in there if you're still reading this blog. I have TONS of books for you guys and even more to read, so stay tuned!
Today's book is Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler. The description is here:

“We all long for what could have been.”
Things in Delilah Hannaford’s life have a tendency to fall apart. She used to be a good student, but she can’t seem to keep it together anymore. Her “boyfriend” isn’t much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family’s painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Man, oh man. This book was AWESOME! Sarah Ockler has done it again. Fixing Delilah was even better than Twenty Boy Summer, and you all know I loved that book, so that is saying a lot! From the very first page I was intrigued with Delilah's story. Coming from a shattered family myself, I could easily relate to Delilah. Sarah has truly, beautiful writing. Fans of Sarah Dessen will LOVE this, as it is very similar. As I was reading, I found myself wanting to figure out the mystery of Delilah's family more and more. Once again, Sarah described feelings of losing a loved one and family drama very well. I felt like I was right there with Delilah, feeling her pain and asking her questions.
But most importantly (well, in my case) was Patrick. Oh, dear lord is Patrick amazing! I fell in love with him as soon as I read about his eyes. The story of Delilah and Patrick is so adorable and real. Trust me, you will fall in love with him too!
I have decided that I need to find myself a Patnes. A guy who is a mixture of Patrick, Nate (from Sarah Dessen's Lock and Key) and Wes (from The Truth About Forever). That, my friends, would be one amazing guy!
Anyway, This book was all around lovely. It will break your heart and put it back together over and over. If you're looking for a truly amazing contemporary read, this one is for you. Check your local library or go out and buy it! This is one of those books that you will love to read many, many times!
Happy Reading :)