The Truth About Books!

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

2011-08-30T00:06:00.002-04:00

I'm so, so, so, late on this one. Elizabeth Scott deserves better. College + work = Tricia being a bad person. Anyway, here is a description of Elizabeth Scott's newest book, Between Here and Forever.

Abby accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.
Until the accident.
Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.
She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she'd never seen.
Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

Well, Elizabeth Scott never ceases to amaze me. Her books are ALWAYS so full, real, captivating and intense. Between Here and Forever was not an exception.
I was immediately immersed in Abby's world from the first chapter. I felt for Abby so much, because like her, I have an older sister. Everyone always loved my sister more than me. She was prettier, had better grades, did more things. So even though Abby was already a real character, I definitely had a soft spot for her.
And of course Eli. OhmygodEli. He just sounds so beautiful I almost can't take it! I love how Elizabeth makes him sound so beautiful, but then also pairs him with an irreversible flaw.
This book was heart wrenching and intense and so real. Elizabeth is not one to cut corners and change a story just to make it a frilly, happy book. She is real. This book is real. Abby is real. Between Here and Forever will keep you turning pages, grasping for more. You will definitely want to buy this one!

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

2011-06-21T20:59:00.002-04:00

Hello again! I've got a review of the amazing Jennifer Echols's new book, Love Story, for you guys! It doesn't come out until mid-July, but I was lucky enough to have scored an ARC to review! Here's the description:

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Sounds completely awesome, right? Well, it was! Jennifer Echols never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful and sizzling chemistry between her two main characters. You feel as if you are in the story yourself, feeling what they feel. I told you guys how much I love, love, loved Going Too Far and Forget You, so you can guess that I was extremely excited to read her next romantic drama.
Erin and Hunter are two very real characters. Jennifer always develops her characters so well, making them feel like they're my real friends. Love Story adds a cool twist by sort of telling Erin and Hunter's past and feelings through stories they write for their Creative Writing class. Their stories add to the characters depths and ultimately shows you more of the character's soul.
I definitely had some laughs throughout this book, and like always, I was definitely on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happened between Erin and Hunter. Their attraction, confusion, chemistry and even hatred for each other made the ride interesting, beautiful, and true. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves YA. Love Story is a perfect example of what YA is all about.
Happy Reading!

Susane Colasanti Blog Tour! Win a signed copy of So Much Closer

2011-05-13T17:39:00.007-04:00

Hey everyone! I am so honored to be a part of Susane Colasanti's 2011 blog tour for So Much Closer. Today Susane stopped by for her last guest blog of the tour. Hope you enjoy! :)

Here is a description of So Much Closer, and a trailer!

Scott Abrams is the love of Brooke’s life. He just doesn’t know it yet. So when his family moves to New York City the summer before senior year, Brooke has no choice but to follow Scott. It’s her last chance to prove to him that they’re meant to be together.
But the city is full of surprises that Brooke never expected. Ever since a painful family trauma, she’s been closed off to her parents, to her friends, and even to herself. Now, inspired by the thrilling energy of the bustling and creative city around her, Brooke starts to explore her talents and become someone she never dreamed she’d be.
So what will she do when her biggest dream finally comes true . . . and instead, she wants something more?

Welcome, Susane!

Greetings, friendly neighbors! I’m stoked to share some of the inspiration for my fifth book, So Much Closer.

Realistic fiction is my thing. I like incorporating details inspired by my own experiences to make my books feel as realistic as possible. So Much Closer takes place in my neighborhood, the West Village. I had lots of fun including my fave New York City places and things in this book. For my blog tour, we thought it would be fun to share some of them with you. So here we go!

10. Look up

This last one isn’t a place or a thing, more of a philosophy. In So Much Closer, John encourages Brooke to look up. There are so many amazing things we miss because we don’t look up enough. Whenever I’m walking down the street with my friends, they’re always like, “Dude! That was Jon Stewart!” But I never see Jon. Okay, I saw him once – it took every bit of strength I could muster to not run after him. But I usually don’t see him or anyone else because I don’t look around enough. It’s freaking tragic.

When you look up in New York City, you discover this whole other level of awesome. Rooftop gardens, sick penthouse apartments you can see right into, gorgeous architecture – it’s all here, awaiting your adoration. But the Look Up philosophy is about more than just physically looking up. It’s about choosing to have a positive outlook. It’s about welcoming positive energy into your life. So wherever you are and wherever you go, please remember to look up.

Thank you so much, Susane! Congrats on your fifth, AMAZING book!

Okay guys, I have 1 copy of Susane's So Much Closer to give away to 1 lucky winner from the US. So all you have to do to win, is leave a comment here telling me what your awesome philosophy is. Something like Susane's "Look Up" mantra. You have until next friday, the twentieth, to enter. So get commenting! :)

Some awesome links for you guys:

-The Susane Colasanti Sampler (updated with an excerpt of SO MUCH CLOSER and a Q&A with Susane): http://www.scribd.com/doc/13828116/Susane-Colasanti-Sampler
-A link to Susane's website (www.susanecolasanti.com)
-A link to Susane's Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/susanecolasanti)

Susane Colasanti Blog Tour Announcement

2011-05-02T15:43:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to stop by and announce something VERY cool. Susane Colasanti started her blog tour today, and you can read that entry over at Alley of Books. The big announcement though, is that she'll be stopping HERE on May 13th for the last day of her blog tour! How awesome! So make sure you guys keep checking back, because I have reviews of Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott, Love Story by Jennifer Echols and We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han coming up. And definitely make sure you stop by on May 13th for the finale of Susane's blog tour!
Happy Reading guys :)

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

2011-04-26T18:44:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Today I've got a review of Cassandra Clare's very anticipated novel, City of Fallen Angels. I never posted my review of the previous three books in the series, but before I give you the summary of COFA, I want to tell you that the series is AWESOME. Paranormal heaven, really. Badass shadowhunters, sexy boys. Dear lord, you need to read them if you haven't already! Anywho, a description of City of Fallen Angels is here:

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.
Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

I was so excited to find out there was going to be an additional THREE books to this series. Mostly for two reasons. Jace is perfectly imperfect and the whole Shadowhunter world is amazing. I don't want to post any spoilers, so this review will be a little general and short, but ultimately, I couldn't NOT post a review of this awesome book.
Cassandra Clare's ability to create such a different and specific world is amazing. I never once questioned the powers or norms of this Shadowhunter universe. In fact, I just want to live there. Shadowhunters are completely badass and have such a diverse culture. All of the characters in this book are purely individuals. Jace, oh Jace. So witty, sarcastic, sexy, and amazing. I didn't think I could fall more in love with Jace, but COFA sure did it. I want him to be in every scene ever and even better, I want him to marry me. Clary is cool, but I think I'd rather have him for myself ;)
In short, this book is MAGNIFICENT. Go get it! And the other three! You will not be disappointed, I promise. Once you read it, you will not be able to figure out how you ever resisted the Shadowhunter world in the first place. Hope you guys enjoy!

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

2011-04-19T19:02:00.002-04:00

Hi! See, I told you I'd be back today. And, I have a super awesome review for you guys too, because my awesome friend Miranda from Just Read Books snagged an ARC of What Happened to Goodbye and let me borrow it! A description of the book is here:

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?

Miranda and I have this scale we use for the new Sarah Dessen books. Basically, we put all of her books in to catagories of Amazing, Great, or Good. So far, here are our thoughts:

Amazing: Just Listen, The Truth About Forever
Great: Along for the Ride, Lock and Key, This Lullaby
Good: That Summer, Someone Like You, Keeping the Moon, Dreamland

So the point of all that is to tell you what category I have placed What Happened to Goodbye in. I always wait until the last word to figure out how much I loved the book, and guys, this one felt Amazing. From the very first page you could tell this was a Sarah Dessen novel. I don't know if it was just me being me and being way too involved with fictional characters, but this book made my eyes swell with tears quite a few times. In a good way, though, I promise! I immediately related to Mclean, as we have similar home lives and I had to switch schools in the middle of high school before. Mclean is just a simple girl trying to deal with her parents divorce the best she can, meanwhile not trying to get close to anyone along the way. Luna Blu is the new restaurant her dad has to help save, and there in Lakeview she's forced to make relationships and finally deal with her problems.
Every character in this book is their own person and so different. No one has replaced Wes as my favorite Sarah Dessen boy, but Dave sure does pull in as a close second. Dave is just so different from any boy Sarah has written about. He's charming, adorable, funny, and so, so sweet. A lot of the parts I teared up for were because of him. Another character I loved was Deb. She is just so perky, organized, and completely badass. I'm glad she was part of Mclean's story.
Also, this book was filled with many, many more of Sarah Dessen's signature AMAZING quotes. So many insightful thoughts that I took to heart.
This book comes out May 10th so make sure you buy it!
There is a contest on Sarahland.ning.com where you can win an ARC of it, so if you want it sooner, make sure you head over there and enter the contest!
Happy Reading! :)

I am Sucktastic, I know.

2011-04-18T17:08:00.002-04:00

As you can see, I acknowledge the fact that I am a sucktastic blogger. However, I do currently have my hands on an ARC of Sarah Dessen's What Happened to Goodbye. That has to make up for a little, right? No? Oh, okay.
Anyway, I apologize AGAIN, and plan to update whenever I can. In fact, I believe you shall have a review of the book mentioned above some time tomorrow.
So, don't hate me? Please? Will a picture of a small kitten in a knitted sweater soften you up?
Go here: http://weheartit.com/entry/7000728
Doesn't it just make you want to forgive? I thought so too...

Happy reading, be back tomorrow!

Stay is coming out on Monday!

2011-04-03T01:00:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I know I already posted a review of Stay by Deb Caletti, but I wanted to re-post it to remind you guys that it's coming out on Monday and that it is AMAZING! So if you didn't see the review or you forgot about it, here it is! (Description included).

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is--and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.
Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

Deb Caletti has done it again. I fell in love with her books once I read Fortunes of Indigo Skye and this book is no different. This one is set up a little different, but I loved the new format! It switched back between past and present with each chapter and also added some footnotes. The footnotes made me think of E. Lockhart's Ruby Oliver series and I LOVE those books too.
I've always loved Deb's style of writing, but this book has to be new favorite. It really made me feel for Clara's character and everything she was going through. I also loved the way you learned the story of Christian through a flashback-type chapter that ended up being connected to the present.
Deb seems to have done A LOT of thinking about this book. It has been compiled beautifully and gracefully. Not only does she tell the story of Clara, Christian and Finn, but she also adds a complex family background to the story as well. This is the perfect example of an amazing Young Adult novel. This is the type of book that brings me back to why I love YA so much. The power of Deb's words in this novel make you feel like you are right there with Clara, experiencing everything along with her. Deb definitely knows how teens operate.
This book was a great read and I can't wait until it's published so I can buy my own copy and read it again and again!
Stay comes out in April 2011 so mark your calanders! Do not miss out on this novel-- you won't be disappointed! Reading this book will make your life better in some way, I promise.
Hope you guys get this when it's released! Happy Reading!

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

2011-03-22T16:22:00.002-04:00

Hello, Peeps! I just now noticed that my post about Part 2 of my top anticipated books never posted!! I'll get that fixed ASAP. It was supposed to have been on there two weeks ago! Anyway, this past week was the NYC Teen Author Festival and I got to go again! You guys know what that means... Author sightings! I will post a separate entry about the festival, but today's post is all about Susane Colasanti's newest book, So Much Closer. I didn't think I would be getting an ARC of this one, but Susane was so, so sweet and brought me a copy!
Here's the description:

Scott Abrams is the love of Brooke’s life. He just doesn’t know it yet. So when his family moves to New York City the summer before senior year, Brooke has no choice but to follow Scott. It’s her last chance to prove to him that they’re meant to be together.
But the city is full of surprises that Brooke never expected. Ever since a painful family trauma, she’s been closed off to her parents, to her friends, and even to herself. Now, inspired by the thrilling energy of the bustling and creative city around her, Brooke starts to explore her talents and become someone she never dreamed she’d be.
So what will she do when her biggest dream finally comes true . . . and instead, she wants something more?

Sounds awesome, doesn't it? Well, the book itself did not disappoint! Susane's fifth novel is a funny, relate-able, daring book about a girl who does what ever it takes to get what she wants. I was already in love with the book after reading the first chapter, but after the third, I knew I was in heaven. I related to Brooke in so many different ways, it was exhilarating. We have similar home lives, outlooks on life, and even similar dreams to chase after. On my review of Susane's fourth novel, Something Like Fate, I said that the book made me want to change my life. While that was true, So Much Closer has motivated me in even more ways.
The story is fast paced, with many well rounded characters. I loved how different John was, especially his awesome shirts. He has such an interesting outlook on life and a huge love for his city, New York. I loved every scene he was in.
I truly cannot think of a single thing in this book that I did not enjoy, and that is usually a hard thing to say! I think I might even go read it again...
You guys definitely do not want to miss this awesome novel! Even the cover is freaking amazing! The High Line is so beautiful and it works perfectly for this book. There is NOTHING on this cover that would turn me away :)
It comes out on May 3rd so make sure you either pre-order it or get it as soon as it comes out!
Happy Reading :)

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

2011-02-21T20:24:00.003-05:00

Yay! Computer is working again! I hope my list of anticipated books tied you guys over at least a little bit! I will post the second half of it tomorrow, but first I wanted to post a long over due review of Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Here's the description:

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn’t make it back.
John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won’t soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won’t be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge—and over...

First of all, GO GET THIS BOOK NOW! I mean it! Right now, I say. I'll wait for you to get back.
Okay, so you've got it, right? Good.
Seriously, peeps? This is the best book i've read since The Truth About Forever. And that is saying a lot because I NAMED MY BLOG AFTER THAT BOOK.
Going Too Far is so many things. It is hilarious. It is meaningful. It is intense. It is romantic. It is angering. It is beautuiful. I've read this one three times in the matter of three weeks. I just can't stay away from it!
In the book, Meg is battling her own demons from the past. She's a rebel and insanely sarcastic. This has got to be the funniest book i've ever read, along with A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker. Going Too Far, though, is more of my style. I feel like this book was written just for me. Meg has my exact sense of humor, and I can definitely relate to her in a way. Her inner quirky dialogue was so entertaining I could not even believe it. Jennifer Echols is one hell of a writer, that's for sure. And John, oh man. He is just so irrisitable and dreamy and scarred and lovable and sexy.
Other than all of the previous things I listed, Jennifer Echols is also VERY good at writing intense chemistry between characters. This book has one of the most intense chemistry love stories that I've read in a YA book. The story is all about dealing with your problems, and how love can sometimes find you in the most critical moment, helping you along the way. John and Meg are meant for each other.
This book was meant for everyone!! Go out and buy it if you already didn't. I promise you will not be dissapointed. Check you're library if you can't afford to buy it, you do not want to miss reading this book. It has changed my life and I hope it will for you as well!
Happy reading everyone :)

My 2011 Top Anticipated Books (Part 1)

2011-02-11T18:36:00.007-05:00

Hello, Peeps! Hope you are as excited about the weekend as I am. My computer is being a jerk AGAIN so that's why I've been absent. Today I thought I'd do something different for the blog and post a list of books that are on the top of my To-Read list. I thought it could be helpful to you guys so you know when certain books are coming out in case you're interested. There are so many that I'm going to do this list in two seperate posts. Today I am posting the first ten. Hope you enjoy!

1.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE by Sarah Dessen.
This one pretty much explains itself. Releasing in May.

2.
SO MUCH CLOSER by Susane Colasanti.
This one pretty much explains itself too. Releasing in May.

3.
DESIRES OF THE DEAD by Kimberley Derting.
This the sequel to the highly praised THE BODY FINDER. It comes out on Sunday, so if you loved TBF, you must get your hands on it!

4.
LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols. Releasing in July.
I have read GOING TOO FAR and FORGET YOU by Jennifer, and those were absolutely amazing. I will have reviews of those up soon too!

5.
THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin. Releasing in Fall.
As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to have it the day it comes out. Plus, look at that cover! It just screams amazingness. And sexyness, of course. This will be Michelle's debut novel, so make sure to check out her website!

6.
THE HIDDEN by Jessica Verday. Releasing in Fall.
This is the final installment of the highly praised THE HOLLOW series. I have read the sequel, THE HAUNTED, so I should have a review for you guys soon. I am dying to know how it all ends!

7.
SHIFT by Jeri Smith-Ready. Releasing in May.
This is the sequel to SHADE. I love, love, loved SHADE so I cannot wait to read this one!

8. LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins. Releasing in September.
Unfortunately, this one does not have a cover yet, but I am sure it will be beautiful. ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS was amazing (I don't think I have heard one bad thing about it yet!) so I know this one will blow my mind!

9.
BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER by Elizabeth Scott. Releasing in May.
This one pretty much explains itself.

10.
WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE SUMMER by Jenny Han. Releasing in April.
This is the final installment in the SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY series. I love these books to death. They are addictive.

Well, that's it for now. I will post the rest of the list soon! Are there any books you guys are looking forward to? Anybody going to get Desires of the Dead on Sunday? I know I will :)

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

2011-01-25T15:26:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-21T16:01:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-15T13:09:00.002-05:00

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

2011-01-11T23:09:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-10T16:21:00.002-05:00

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 :)

Author Interview: Sarah Ockler!

2010-12-02T23:52:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! I have another awesome author interview for you today! Today's author is Sarah Ockler. Her newest book, Fixing Delilah, recently just came out. I tried posting this earlier but my computer wouldn't let me for some reason. I have not had a chance to read the book yet, but If you guys want a review, go ahead and check out my friend Miranda's lovely book blog.
The link to her review is here: http://just-read-books.blogspot.com/2010/11/fixing-delilah-by-sarah-ockler.html

Now on to the interview!

1. Where did you get the idea for Twenty Boy Summer?

I was inspired to write Twenty Boy Summer by my work with the National Donor Family Council, an organization that supports families whose loved ones have died and donated organs or tissues. Through the Council’s programs and events, I metlots of teens who’d experienced the death of a sibling or friend, and their stories stayed with me always. When I started working on my first book, I knew that I wanted to share a little bit of the love, loss, and hope I saw through their eyes. I chose to do that by telling the story of two best friends struggling after the tragic and sudden death of someone they both loved very much. But I also wanted to show that life goes on, even when we don’t want it to — even when we don’t think it can. So in the book, while Anna and Frankie were trying to put their lives back together after the tragedy of losing Matt, they were also on summer vacation, which meant beaches, boys, makeup, best friend fights,
sunsets, toes in the sand, and all of those every day things that keep going on around us, even when our hearts are broken. I just kept thinking about how those two things would come together — tragedy and life, heartbreak and hope, love and loss — and the story grew from there.

2. Have you always been good at writing/wanted to be a writer?

I've wanted to write stories since I was old enough to read them, and I'm so glad I'm finally at a point in my life where I can do that. It took me a long time to accept that this was my destiny in life, no way to outrun it, but once I did, I haven't looked back.

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

I would love to work with someone who writes really funny but serious stuff, like Josh Berk or Frank Portman. I think it would be such a fun experience to team up on a project like that. Plus Josh is one of the best pranksters I know, which means we'd never be bored!

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

Not directly, but I do let a lot of my experiences shape and inspire my work. It's hard not to! Usually the stuff in the books ends up symbolizing something from real life rather than directly recounting it. I do borrow directly from my life with the little details, though. For example, there's this whole weird thing with a dog hair sweater
and dog ashes in Fixing Delilah, and that was all true stuff that happened during my grandmother's death. In Twenty Boy Summer, the characters' favorite band was my brother's band (which broke up right before the book released).

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

Once I finished the manuscript and started querying, it took about 3 weeks to find the right agent. After we went on submission to publishers, we had our first offer just a few days later, and we accepted a final pre-empt offer a few days after that. It was all kind of a whirlwind, actually. Some days I wake up and wonder if it really
happened!

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

Copy someone else. I'm serious. If you get totally stuck, and not even a few writing prompts can help you, start copying words from one of your favorite books. Let those words take you in a new direction. At some point, your own brain and heart will kick in, and you'll be
writing something original again. Just remember to delete those copied
words before you submit your work anywhere!

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

I love the part near the end when things look hopeless. There's so much emotional tension and potential there -- things can go either way for the main character, and I'm right there with her, hoping for the best.

(Now for a couple fun questions)

8. Favorite song?

This changes, but it's usually something by Radiohead. Right now, Thinking About You, off the Pablo Honey CD. Love it. Black Star is another one. Then there's Fake Plastic Trees... I'll stop now.

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take? Book: The Lord of the Rings trilogy, since that's actually one long book, and we could entertain ourselves by acting out scenes. Movie: I usually say Lord of the Rings, but if we have the book, I think I'll bring something with Johnny Depp. It really doesn't matter which movie, as long as it starts Johnny. Food? Navratan Korma. Person(s)? My husband, Alex. He's my favorite person in the world, after all. If for any reason he wasn't available, I would take um let's see yes Johnny Depp.

10. Five of your favorite things?

Walking in the woods, falling asleep on the couch and waking up with a
blanket covering me, cheese, coffee, and my Mac laptop.
Thanks, Trish, and big group hug to readers and bloggers everywhere. I
hope you'll check out Fixing Delilah, which hits the shelves any day
now! :-)

Sure, you can include a link to my site at http://sarahockler.com and
twitter at http://twitter.com/sarahockler

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

2010-11-27T17:13:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! I am back again today with ANOTHER review. Crazy, right? Today's book comes with an interesting (or, maybe not) story.
Do you guys remember me going to the NYC Teen Author Fest? (If you don't, a post about it is here). Well, Kieran Scott was there. At the time, I didn't think I read anything she had written, so I didn't go up to her. After the author fest, though, Susane Colasanti stated on her blog that Kieran Scott was also the author of The Private Series under then Pen name, Kate Brian. I was so mad when I heard this! I've been reading the private series since it first came out and had NO IDEA Kate Brian was a Pen name. I own about 9 of her books! I totally could have met with her and had her sign some stuff. I guess I'll have to go back next year, right? Hopefully she'll be there!
Okay, so back to the review. Here's the description:

When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?
Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends -- friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.
Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.
But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.
Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?

When I first picked up this book, I didn't really think it was something I'd like. I picked it up and put it back down on the shelf a few times, actually. But then, I figured, why not? So I got it from the library.
The book started off pretty interestingly. It starts as Ally Ryan first comes to town after moving away almost 2 years ago. It's told in alternating points of view, which I really liked. It is told in Ally's POV and Jake Graydon's POV.
At first, I did not like Jake at all. I thought he was an arrogant jerk. But as the story moved on, I got to see more of him and why he said/did the things he did. After that, I started to like him more.
I really love Ally's character, though. She's spunky, tough, and won't take anyone's crap. Not even her ex-bestfriends'. This story is pretty fast paced and is not completely predictable, but not unpredictable either. It was definitely different than stories I've read in the past, but overall I thought it was a great book. What I didn't realize, though, until the last few pages, was that it was a series! I got to the end and was like, whaaatttt?! That said, the ending will definitely leave you wanting more.
You'll love to hate the cresties, thrive on Jake and Ally's growing relationship and then find yourself waiting for book 2! If you love YA, romance, and drama, this book is for you. Once again, I found this book at my library, so make sure you check yours! Hope you enjoy and Happy Reading :)

Elixir by Hilary Duff

2010-11-26T20:10:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I know I am thankful for all authors out there, and of course, you guys for reading this blog even though I've been a poor host lately!
Today I have a review for you guys! You're shocked, I know. But anyway, today's book is Elixir by Hilary Duff. I know what you're thinking. You're probably all like, Hilary Duff wrote a book?! That has to be awful. I doubt I'd read that. But guys, you'd be surprised at how good this book is. I mean, read this description:

As the daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington D.C. politician, Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. And though she dreads the paparazzi who track her every move, she herself is a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world.
But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful young man begin to appear in Clea’s photos—a man she has never seen in her life.
When Clea suddenly encounters this man in person she is stunned—and feels an immediate and powerful connection. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance and discover the centuries-old truth behind their intense bond.
Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fate, together they race against time to unravel their past in order to save their future—and their lives.

Sounds intense right? Well, it is. I didn't even notice Hilary Duff wrote it before I read the description. Then, after I realized she wrote it, I got skeptical (Sorry Hilary!). As I started reading, though, I was delightfully surprised. This book was very, very good! It's just like any other amazing YA Paranormal Romance. It's very intense like I said before, and also mysterious, breathtaking, romantic, and fast-paced. I finished this all in one night because I just HAD to know what happened. And trust me, if you guys read this, you are going to be dying for the next book in the series once it ends! I'm so mad we have to wait another year for the next one! This book is full of surprises and is so different than any other book I've read. It makes you think one thing, and then something else happens, and then something else happens that makes you question what happened before! It's a wild read and is very refreshing in the fact that it's very unpredictable. Props to Hilary for her first novel debut.
If you guys like a drama, romance, mystery, and suspense in a book then this one is for you! This book is still available to read on the Simon and Schuster Pulse It website, but you only have 4 more days including today. They had it at my library though so I would check there too. Hope you guys enjoy and happy reading!

PS: Even though I haven't been posting, I have been reading a lot. I read 10 books just in the past two weeks so you guys will definitely have some more awesome reviews! Some books that are coming up: Wild Roses by Deb Caletti, Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales, The Midnighters series by Scott Westerfeld, The Awakening series by Kelly Armstrong, One Night That Changes everything and Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt, and many more!

Author Interview: Stephanie Perkins!

2010-11-06T20:20:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I finally got a handle on my computer issues, and I have been really sick lately so that's why there hasn't been many posts lately! But it's all better now, so we can finally get back on schedule! Today I've got an awesome author interview with you guys because I know I haven't posted one in a long time. Her name is Stephanie Perkins and she's the author of the phenomenal book, Anna and the French Kiss. Hope you enjoy the interview!

1. Where did you get the idea for Anna and the French Kiss?

"The idea arrived in a dream. I saw a beautiful boy sitting on the steps of the Panthéon in Paris, and I knew that I was deeply in love with him. It was impossible to resist! Or, more accurately, the boy was impossible to resist."

2. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"I'd love to do a project with either of my critique partners, Laini Taylor or Kiersten White. Amazing ladies, amazing writers."

3. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Sure! None of the big events are mine (for instance, unlike Anna, I've never been to boarding school in Paris), but a sizable chunk of the everyday situations are inspired by things that have happened to me or acquaintances of mine. It's difficult for me to imagine an author making EVERYTHING up!"

4. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your first book after finishing the manuscript?

"I was lucky. Once my manuscript was out in the world, things moved quickly. But I spent a LOT a LOT a LOT of time revising before submitting it to my future agent! I queried in the best fighting shape possible, and it paid off. After signing with my agent, I did one more revision that took about a month, and then she sent it out to two editors. I received offers from both of them that same month. I truly believe that things moved fast because I put in the hard work and time BEFORE sending it out into the world. (But I was also really darn lucky!)"

5. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"It happens to everyone. It sucks, but you have to work through it. Try writing a different section of the book, interviewing a character, revising an old scene, ANYTHING. If you stop working, guess what? The book doesn't get written. And the longer you stay away from a project, the harder it is to go back. The sucky truth is that most writers have more difficult days than easy days. As much as I love my job, it's still work. Work isn't always fun. And it's unfair to yourself to pretend that every day of writing will be fun, just because it's creative. Work is work, no matter what field you're in. It won't always feel magical, but it WILL get better. So keep going!"

Make sure to head on over to Steph's official website, www.stephanieperkins.com
And don't forget to buy her book when it comes out in December!

Stay by Deb Caletti

2010-10-12T23:12:00.002-04:00

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of updates-- my computer is still messed up! My charger is broke like I said, but my roommate is getting annoyed with me borrowing it soooo that's why I'm not on, haha. But! I am here with a new review of a book that doesn't come out until next year. It's Stay by Deb Caletti. The description of the book is here:

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is--and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.
Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

Deb Caletti has done it again. I fell in love with her books once I read Fortunes of Indigo Skye and this book is no different. This one is set up a little different, but I loved the new format! It switched back between past and present with each chapter and also added some footnotes. The footnotes made me think of E. Lockhart's Ruby Oliver series and I LOVE those books too.
I've always loved Deb's style of writing, but this book has to be new favorite. It really made me feel for Clara's character and everything she was going through. I also loved the way you learned the story of Christian through a flashback-type chapter that ended up being connected to the present.
Deb seems to have done A LOT of thinking about this book. It has been compiled beautifully and gracefully. Not only does she tell the story of Clara, Christian and Finn, but she also adds a complex family background to the story as well. This is the perfect example of an amazing Young Adult novel. This is the type of book that brings me back to why I love YA so much. The power of Deb's words in this novel make you feel like you are right there with Clara, experiencing everything along with her. Deb definitely knows how teens operate.
This book was a great read and I can't wait until it's published so I can buy my own copy and read it again and again!
Stay comes out in April 2011 so mark your calanders! Do not miss out on this novel-- you won't be disappointed! Reading this book will make your life better in some way, I promise.
Hope you guys get this when it's released! Happy Reading!

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

2010-09-23T17:02:00.004-04:00

Hey guys! I figured out what was up with my computer. For some reason my charger decided t stop working out of no where. I'm borrowing my roommate's charger now so I have a review for you guys! Today's book is The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti. The description is here:

Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, Jade DeLuna is trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That’s why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, and where she first sees Sebastian.
When she finally meets him, their connection is immediate, and soon Jade is drawn into Sebastian’s life with his son and his grandmother on their Seattle houseboat. Even though the situation is complicated, Jade hasn’t felt this safe in a long time.
Until she learns that Sebastian is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right, and what feels right...

This book was AMAZING! I think this book is in a tie with my favorite book of Deb Caletti's. The Nature of Jade and The Six Rules of Maybe are up for the number one spot but I can't choose! This book was very different from anything I've ever read. I loved the concept of the zoo. It made me even look up my local zoo and see if they had any job openings (they don't, unfortunately). From the description, I was a little iffy on what was going to happen with Sebastian but it turned out to be a very realistic and great plot twist. It reminded me a little of One Tree Hill, which I absolutely love.
Deb's writing never ceases to amaze me. She has such a way with words that makes her perfect for being an author, especially for YA. I think my favorite line in this book was, "Your sibling, after all, is the only other person in the world who understands how fucked up your parents made you." LOVE IT! It's something I can definitely relate to.
This book is all about first love, self discovery, and the all around hardships of being a teenage girl. Deb Caletti has definitely done it again with this one. I hope you all go out and rent or buy this one so you have a chance to read it. I can say that this book impacted my life. I hope you like it! Happy reading :)

EDIT:
Okay, I just have to add this. Does anybody watch Scrubs? If you don't, you should. If you do, you are living a full life. I have to share this awesome show finale. I mean, it doesn't get much better than this. Every time I watch all of the seasons back to back, this scene always makes me cry! If you watch the show, you know what I'm talking about. And I'm totally stealing this Book of Love song for my wedding someday. Hope you enjoy!

Wesley Scroggins/Book Banning

2010-09-20T15:58:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. I just hopped on one of the computers they have in my dorm's lobby so I could post about a serious issue going on in the YA book world.
Like I said on my previous post, there are some censorship issues going on with a couple YA books. Wesley Scroggins, an associate professor of management at Missouri State University, has called Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson filthy, immoral and PORNOGRAPHIC. That's right everyone, apparently, according to Scroggins, being raped is pornographic. He wants Speak, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut all banned from local schools and libraries.

First, I would like to talk about Speak and what it's about. Speak is about a realistic teenage girl going through things that EVERY REAL TEENAGE GIRL GOES THROUGH. Then, at a party, she gets raped. Yes, there are rape scenes but it's not overly detailed. And what if it was? What about those real girls who really did get raped? Since, according to Scroggins, these scenes are porographic, does that mean the girls who have been raped in real life are porn stars? Are you going to ban each girl, or guy for that matter, who has gotten raped from public schools and libraries also? Where does the line get drawn?
As many of you readers know, a lot of us turn to books to be comforted, to not feel so alone. There are so many girls out there who have been helped by books like Speak. Maybe they don't have the confidence to come out with what happened to them or don't know how to deal with it. What if they never got to read a book like Speak because it was banned? What if that book could have helped that girl like it helped so many others.
Speak is not about pornographic material and sex scenes. It's about realistic and serious problems that a lot of girls go through. Does Scroggins even know how many girls get raped in a year? Statistically, 1 in 3 girls have been sexually abused. 1 IN 3 PEOPLE. I just don't understand how he can say that this book is immoral and garbage when it has helped SO many girls out there. It's horrible.

Secondly, I want to talk about Twenty Boy Summer. WHAT THE HECK IS SCROGGINS TALKING ABOUT?! He says this about the book:
"This book glorifies drunken teen parties, where teen girls lose their clothes in games of strip beer pong. In this book, drunken teens also end up on the beach, where they use their condoms to have sex."
First of all, this book does not glorify anything. It's about 2 girls who lose a guy they love very deeply. This is just part of the story. And second, Sarah Ockler tells it how it is. That's how a lot of teens act now a days, with or without books being written about it. Is Scroggins blind? My cousin just went into ninth grade this year and barely reads anything at all. She has told me about people in her grade doing hard drugs, drinking, smoking, and having sex. They are not influenced by books like this. They are not going to read about parties and alcohol in a book and automatically just go crazy. Kids are doing things like drinking and having sex at younger and younger ages. Twenty Boy Summer only includes real life actions by teenagers. There is no glorifying in her book at all. Not once does she say it's a good idea or promotes the actions of her characters. And hey, at least her characters are using condoms.
This book is so much more than alcohol and sex. That is one minor detail in the whole entire book. I have reviewed this book in the past and I told you guys how much I loved it. It was about a girl and her best friend who go on vacation to try and heal their broken hearts after a dear friend has died. How many teenagers do you think go through things like this all the time? More than you'd think. So, to me, this book could be another way of feeling less alone and a way to figure out how to deal with your greif. This is another book that Scroggins wants to ban just because it's real. If he bans this book along with Speak, what's next? Banning books because of characters kissing or characters with divorced parents that act badly?

All in all, these books are about real life. That's why they are considered Contemp YA. Scroggins wants to ban these books because of one or two scenes with bad things in them. But like I said, what about those teens who actually have to DEAL with those problems EVERY DAY? Are we going to ban them too? For them, this isn't a story they can just pick up and finish whenever they want. To them, this is life. Very real life that they live through everyday. What about them, Scroggins?

If you guys want to share your thoughts, or learn more about the issue, go to Laurie Halse Anderson's blog, here: http://madwomanintheforest.com/this-guy-thinks-speak-is-pornography/

She needs our help, and so do the other YA authors getting attacked out there. We can all make a difference by showing our YA love. So do what you can and let your voices be heard!

Computer broken!

2010-09-20T00:00:00.002-04:00

Ahhhh! My computer battery is completely dead, even on the charger. My computer won't turn on at all. I am doing this post from my iPod touch but I can't do reviews from this thing. And I was just about to post my review of The Nature of Jade for you guys! Ughh, well, I'm not sure when it'll be fixed but I'm trying to get a new battery. I'm sorry for the inconvenience guys :(

In the meantime, have you guys heard about the banning of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler?! People are crazy now! If you have a Twitter account and want to speak your mind, tweet your message with #speakloudly at the end of it. Also, Sarah Ockler and one or two other authors are having a contest to win these banned books. If you're interested, go to their blogs or Twitter for more info. Have a great day and happy reading!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2010-09-05T02:25:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone! Yes, I know it is 2:30am but I am leaving for vacation in about an hour so I figured I'd post a last minute review for you guys. This one is Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The description is here:

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.
But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Holy Frick! First of all, look at that GORGEOUS cover! B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L is all I have to say. Second of all, this book was amazing! I was so excited to read this book that I started reading it as soon as I got home and finished it that night. I'm a big sucker for love stories, and this one was definitely one of my favorites. Stephanie Perkins' writing is like a mixture between Sarah Dessen, Susane Colasanti, and Kristen Walker, which are all amazing authors. This book is full of comedy, love, and a bunch of Parisian goodness! I would definitely let Stephanie write my life if she was going to make it like this. This book was very refreshing and made me remember why I love reading so much.
Unfortunately, this book doesn't come out until December, but you guys have to get your hands on it when it comes out. You will not be disappointed, I promise!

Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones

2010-09-03T12:48:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! Today I have a review for you :) I stayed up until 2am to finish it! It's called Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones. I never heard of the author or the book until I found it in my library, so I was happy to have found it. The description is:

It isn’t every day that my high school boyfriend, Eastbrook High School’s Harvest King, tells me he’s gay. It’s not every day that the Harvest Queen is dumped in the middle of a road with the stars watching the humiliation and the dogs barking because they want to come help tear my heart out and leave it on the cold gray ground. It isn’t every day that my entire world falls apart.
Belle believes that Dylan is her true love—maybe even her soulmate. Until one cold night when Dylan drops the ultimate bomb: he’s gay. Where, Belle wonders, does that leave her? Should she have somehow been able to tell? Is every guy that she loves going to turn out to be gay?

My friend ended up reading this book first, so when she told me it was good I knew I had to read it. I thought it turned out pretty good! I was hoping the book would be funny but it really only made me laugh once. Other than that, it was a good story. I absolutely fell in love with Tom as soon as I saw his sweet side. I need to get me one of him! The book as a whole was pretty moving, in a way. It really makes you think about who you are and what choices you make. I felt bad for Belle in a lot of the book but then again, she found Tom, like, 5 seconds after the whole Dylan-is-gay thing. Wouldn't it be awesome if handsome, romantic, sweet, and tall guys popped out of no where, just when we need them to in real life?
Anyway, I loved this story and I am definitely going to get the sequel when I go back home. I hope you guys give this book a chance, even if it doesn't sound like your cup of tea. Happy reading and expect ANOTHER review tomorrow because I just finished The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti!

Update + YA Contemps blog

2010-09-01T14:56:00.006-04:00

Sorry everyone! I haven't posted anything in almost a month! I have been working on getting back into the groove of school work. First I had to move back into my dorm and then I had to get a hang of my classes. But all is well now and I can finally get back to reviewing!
Exciting news for today though! I just got a new ARC in the mail. It's called Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. It sounds really cool so I'm excited to start reading it. Especially because my sister has a boyfriend who lives in Paris!
I also got a Sarah Dessen Lock and Key necklace! I won it in a book cover contest on one of her official websites I told you guys about-- Sarah-land. I will post a picture of it as soon as I get my hands on it, but unfortunately the book and necklace are at home and I'm at school!
Thanks for everyone who has been hanging in there and checking the blog for more reviews! Now that I'm back at school I'll have more time to get you guys some reviews. I'm currently working on reading Tips on Having a Gay Ex-boyfriend, Imaginary Enemy, The Nature of Jade, and Anna and the French Kiss!

Now on to the next part of today's post. There is a new and very awesome website up called YA Contemps. I'll post the linked image at the bottom of this post and also on the sidebar of this blog so you guys can check it out anytime! This website is hosted by a bunch of YA contemperary authors, such as Sarah Ockler and Elizabeth Scott. It is definitely worth checking out so make sure you head over there! They have stuff going on almost every day of the week, including contests and personal high school stories and pictures.

PS: If you guys want to follow me on twitter, here's the link: http://twitter.com/trishuhhhr
I mostly just write to authors and will update on when I have a new post on the blog. I'll also be adding links to cool author contests where you can win free stuff. Also, let me know if you want me to post and links for information on the publishing industry.
Here is the YA Contemps link banner:

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

2010-08-07T13:55:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I figured it was about time for another SD review, especially since I still haven't finished Imaginary Enemy. I swear I'm trying, but One Tree Hill won't stop nagging me! Anyway, here's the description of This Lullaby:

When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He
certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

This book seems to be a favorite of SD readers. I can definitely see why. This book starts off with a very relatable subject: Fear of falling in love. In this book, Remy makes sure that if she dates a boy, she won't get too attached. But then she meets Dexter. Dexter is absolutely adorable. I mean, the first thing he says to her is just pure adorable-ness. I could definitely relate to Remy in a lot of ways, especially with the bad parental examples. This book is definitely one of Sarah's best and I'm sure you guys will love it! This is a definate must read for the end of summer. It makes me excited to go back to school to see who I, myself, might bump into.
Like most SD books, this one is full of wonderful, real, and captivating characters that pull you in and don't let you go until they're finished telling their story. Plus, I love the lyrics of the This Lullaby song that Remy's dad wrote for her. I wish there was an actual song made up for it so I could listen to it endlessly. If you're looking for a humorus, real, and sometimes sad book, then this one is for you. They should have it at your library, but I definitely recommend buying this one because I know you're going to want to read it again and again. Hope you guys enjoy!

PS: I just thought of a cool prize for a contest. Would anyone like a Sarah Dessen themed t-shirt? Maybe I could make a generic one, or you, as the winner, could pick which book or quote you would want on it? Something like the Wish Catering Wish bone logo, or Hate Spinnerbait, or even something like Clementine's or The Bike Shop. Sound cool to you guys? Let me know!

A new and wonderful YA book blog!

2010-08-04T11:35:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. While I'm still reading Imaginary Enemy, I thought I'd stop by and tell you guys about a new YA book blog that just came about.
It's called Just Read (after Sarah Dessen's Just listen) and the creater's name is Miranda. She's a very nice and sweet girl with an awesome taste in books! Make sure to check her site out because she's going to have some awesome reviews and contests. The link is www.just-read-books.blogspot.com
Hope you guys enjoy!

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

2010-07-30T19:32:00.004-04:00

Hello! Today's book, as you can see, is Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman. I finally finished it! The description is here:

Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there's no escaping high school drama.
Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie's big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex—best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn't understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.
Torn between doing what's right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

I heard a lot of good things about this book (and the author herself) so I was happy to read it once I got it from the library. I thought this book was really good! It was very, very relatable and realistic. Charlie could easily be a girl that I would be friends with. We have a lot of the same humor and I can definitely relate to her in the fact that I moved schools when I was a freshman to get away from ignorant people too. My new school wasn't perfect, but like Charlie, I made my real friends there.
I loved Will's and Sydney's characters the most in this book. (Other than Charlie's of course). They were both so real and great all around. I wish I had some friends like them!
I also loved the plot of this book a lot. It's pretty different than usual books' story lines. I would recommend this to any teenager! Check your local library because that's where I got my copy. Hope you guys check it out and enjoy!

Oh, and PS: Here's some more crafty goods for you guys! After I made my cousin's birthday present, I made my friend from Camp a nice frame. Here's a pic!

Crafts and halfway through next book!

2010-07-28T12:58:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. Just figured I'd stop in and post some random stuff. I'm half way through Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman. This book is pretty good so far. Definitely liking it a lot! It's taken me a while to read this one because I've been so busy with work and making my cousin a birthday present! She's going to be twelve this year so I thought I'd make her something cool.
Do you guys know what Hobby Lobby is? Do you go to Hobby Lobby? If you don't, you need to get yourself in that store ASAP. It's so awesome! Is it just me, or do their paper and scrapbooking materials rock! I swear, I could spend like 3 hours in that store just looking at all the paper and crazy stickers! Okay, how big of a geek do I sound like right now? Pretty big, I know. But hey! They have so many awesome sales! I mean, I went there yesterday with my other cousin and I got everything for 50% off. Totally worth it!
So anyway, this week I've been working on my cousins present, which is this:

It's a big jewelry box with cool secret compartments inside it. It even came with a built in mirror! That wooden box only cost me 5 bucks! Here's some more shots:

I added some cool sparkly black circles and some pretty pearls to tie in the black letters with the metal that holds the box together. I also loved those flower sequins so I added one on each side and the back! I know you guys probably don't care, but I figured I'd just post it since I'm not done with the book yet. Hope you guys enjoy and I should have a review up tomorrow! :)

The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Amiee Friedman

2010-07-22T12:33:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I finally have a new review for you guys! I've been immensed in One Tree Hill lately so that's why it took me so long. It's sick, really, the way I'm obsessed with that show. But, I guess that goes along with my obsession with books, as well. Anyway, today's book is The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Amiee Friedman. The description is here:

Katie and Michaela Wilder are New York City girls...and best friends. But everything changes when they move upstate to rural Fir Lake. Katie is horrified by their new surroundings: the too-friendly neighbors, the lack of a subway, the fact they live near actual cows. She's shocked when Michaela adapts to the country life effortlessly, dating a cute football player and attending homecoming with something resembling enjoyment.
And most shocking of all? She's started keeping secrets from Katie.

This book was definitely different than I thought it was going to be. I pictured some snobby teenager from New York and her snobby sister moving to hicksville, with no town what-so-ever, and some how magically finding everything they need. Well, that wasn't what this story was about. This story was about a fourteen-year-old girl who is in love with ballet and who always has to follow in her sister's footsteps. It's about these two sisters who have to pack up and leave everything they've ever known. But one of them seems to be happy about it.
This story wasn't the most amazing one I've read, but I still thought it was really good. I definitely connected with Katie on all different levels throughout the book. Sometimes I loved her and sometimes I was annoyed by her, but I think most books have that. I mean, characters can't always be perfect, otherwise they wouldn't seem real.
I also loved how close Katie and Michaela were with eachother. You don't see sisters who get along that easily very much. I know my sister and I never got along that well when we were their age. My sister and I just started becoming friends last year and she's almost 22 and I'm 19. But enough about us. This book, I thought, was pretty good. If it sounds good to you, go see if they have it at your local library-- that's where I got it. I hope you guys enjoy! :)

New layout + new library books!

2010-07-15T20:23:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! Gueeessssss what! I went to the libary again, finally, and got myself 4 new books. And one of them was a book some of you have been waiting for me to get for a long time! That one is Imaginary Enemy by Julie Gonzalez. I also got The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Amiee Freedman, Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman, and Tangled by Carolyn Mackler. I let my friend get some books under my card also, so I might be reading Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones if she says it's worth reading. I'm really excited to start reading them!

What do you think of the new layout? Like it? Hate it? Wish I had the old one back? Think it's perrrty? Feel free to let me know :)

I should have a review up soon! Thanks for stopping by!

Authors

2010-07-14T12:32:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted a review yet this week-- I've been painting my room and working all week! There was also some family drama mixed in there, but that's beside the point. Today, I just wanted to have a post thanking all of the awesome authors out there.

I want to thank every author out there, published or unpublished. Most of all, I want to thank YA authors. Thank you for everything you write. Thank you for everything you've done for me, personally. You've all been so nice every time I send you an e-mail or a comment on your blog. You have no idea how much this means to me. This blog was inspired because of you. Without you, there would be no books to review, no words to say.

Books have become my life and I'm not ashamed to admit it. A lot of people don't understand the power of reading. I didn't even understand it until I was in 7th grade. I used to hate reading. Yeah, I said it. I HATED to read when I was younger. But that all changed once I found A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin. I realized reading could be fun and meaningful. I have to blame Sarah Dessen for my obession, though. Her book, Just Listen, was the first book that made me need more. I needed to read more of her books and I loved every single one of them.

So, the bottom line is, thank you. If any of you authors are out there reading this, just know that I will always appreciate you. I also want to give a special shout out to some authors that have gone above and beyond the kindness that I ever expected. These are some of the authors that have inspired me to become an author myself. Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott, Elizabeth Eulberg, Eileen Cook, and Deb Caletti have all shown me how caring they are about their readers. Thank you guys for being such amazing people! I wish all the best for you in your careers!

Hey all you readers! Here's a chance for you to say whatever you like about your favorite authors! Go ahead and post a comment shouting out to YOUR favorite author(s). You never know when they'll see it! :)

Unbelievable by Sara Shepherd

2010-07-08T19:55:00.005-04:00

Holy crap! It's been 5 days since my last post already? Time sure does fly when you're at work I guess. Well, not while you're actually there. When you're actually there it seems like you'll never be able to leave. But you get my point. So anyway, today's book is Unbelievable by Sara Shepherd. It's the fourth book in the Pretty Little Liars series. The description is here:

Four pretty little liars' charmed lives have turned into living nightmares.
Emily's been shipped off to Iowa to live with her überconservative cousins. Aria's boyfriend is behind bars—because of her. Spencer's afraid she was involved in Ali's murder. But Hanna's fate is far worse: She's clinging to life in the hospital because she knew too much.
If these girls don't start listening to me, Hanna's going to look like the lucky one.

I know it's the fourth book of the series, so sorry! But it's the only thing I've read lately. I haven't had a lot of time to read in the past couple weeks and I've become a little bit addicted to watching episodes of Medium online.... I'm on season 4 though, so I should be done soon enough! (I know-- I'm a major geek. Oh well!)
But anyway, I thought this book was really good! I started reading the series as soon as it came out a few years ago, but I stopped reading after the 3rd one. I never wanted to buy the 4th one because it was hardcover, and then I kind of just forgot about it. I borrowed the book from the library so I could finally figure out who A was-- Totally surprising!! If you guys read these books and haven't read this one yet-- you're in for a crazy ride. I thought this book was overall good and I think Sara Shepherd is definitely made for writing mystery/suspence/YA novels. I wasn't bored with this book once and I read it in one sitting because I couldn't wait to find out who A is!
So do any of you read this series? Have you been watching Pretty Little Liars on ABC family? If so, what do you guys think so far? I love all of Aria's clothes!
Hope you guys enjoy :)
Happy Reading! And in this case, watching!

Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer

2010-07-03T14:23:00.002-04:00

Bonjour mes copains! Which, if you didn't know, means Hello my friends in french. Apparently I'm feeling a little cultural today, so why not! Anyway, today's book is Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer.
Here's the description:

Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents— and her younger brother—just love. (Too bad she doesn't love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn't even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie's living on the edge. But is the drama all it's cracked up to be?

I'd heard a lot of good things about this book from different people, so I was hoping that it would be pretty good! I think this book, like The Naughty List, was just okay. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. I liked the plot of the book a lot because I can relate to Sophie. We both do the right thing all the time and we both love fictional characters way too much. (No, really, you'd think they were alive the way I talk about them). Also, I always love books where characters get to go somewhere else for a while, away from their home or comfort zone. I like to see what each one will do in a situation and surrounding they've never been in before. You know what I mean?
At first, I liked the guy she met on the plane. He seemed nice, cute, and just what Sophie needed. But after a while, you got to see his true personality and I HATED him. I do not like him one bit and I don't think any of you guys will either. Just because I know you're all nice people and don't like coniving guys :)
I did like the choices Sophie made at the end of the book, though.
Anyway, if you guys are looking for a light read with a twist of a fairytale, this one's for you! Like I said, I didn't think it was awesome, but I didn't think it was bad either. So maybe check it out from the library and see for yourself! Hope you guys enjoy! Happy Reading :)

Okay, you win-- and a review!

2010-06-30T12:33:00.005-04:00

I will keep the blog! You all had nice, kind words to say about it and I realized that even if I'm making a difference to only 1 of you, at least it's something :)
Thanks for all the kind words! And for now, I'm going to cancel the contest until further notice, but only because I'm going to change the prizes and such.
Here's a review for all you lovely people!

Today's book is The Naughty List by Suzanne Young.
Here's the description:

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!
When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?
The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

I thought this book sounded pretty interesting! I mean, I would love to be on the Society of Smitten Kittens (although, I really would want to change the name) and bust all those cheaters! Part of me liked this book, but part of me didn't. I liked the story line and the characters for the most part, but there were just little things that bothered me. One thing was how Tessa always said things like "Oh, that's strawberry smoothie!" or something equally preppy/valley girl. I mean, I liked Tessa and everything, but sometimes she just got a little too peppy for me. Another thing that kind of bothered me was the ending. I was like, HELLO??? What are you guys doing! But, of course, then I realized there's a sequel coming out. So, that could probably make it better.
Overall, I'd say this book was okay. It wasn't amazing to me, but it wasn't bad either. If you like unique plots with upbeat characters, this one's for you. It's out on paperback so it shouldn't be too expensive. Hope you guys enjoy! Happy Reading :)

Keep? Opinions?

2010-06-27T21:34:00.003-04:00

Hey guys. One of the reasons I haven't been posting is because I'm wondering if anyone really reads this blog. I know there a few of you out there who read it, but is there any one else? I'm not sure what to do to get more people to read it. No one even entered the last contest I had! So, I want to ask for your opinions. Those of you who are looking at my page, right now. Reading these words. Do you want me to keep reviewing? Do you want me to keep this blog? Is there something you think would add to the blog to attract more readers? Is there something YOU want to see? I know I haven't been updating and I'm sorry. But that last contest kind of made me think that maybe I'm not really making a difference for anybody, and that's all I'm trying to do. So please, give me your thoughts on what you think I should do. And also, thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been reading and entering. I'm glad you like my blog enough to come back everyday to see what else I've posted. I'm sorry to you guys for not updating more! Give me your feedback and I'll be back soon.

Contest time!!! :)

2010-06-08T18:04:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm back from work and I have scavenged through my books! For this contest, I think we should do another Spread the Word! Some cool ideas for this were brought to me by Liz and Miranda, so I'm going to try and incorporate them.

Contest rules:

1. Only open to US residents. Sorry! But if you have family or someone in the US that can receive the books for you, go ahead and enter!
2. Have your entry posted as a comment on this post by 2 weeks from now, on the 22nd.
3. To win, do the following:
-Post a link to this blog on your facebook, twitter, tumblr, myspace, etc.
-Print out a link to this blog on a flyer and put it either in a book at your local bookstore, or tape it up on a local building like your school, library, grocery store, etc. Then take a picture of it and post it in your entry comment.
-Anything else you can think of to spread the word!
-I will pick a winner at random, but if there are some people who enter with all of these and some people who enter with only one, I'm obviously going to pick at random out of the people who did more to spread the word. So make sure you do your best! :)

The Prize:

This contest's prize is a Hardcover copy of Invisible I by Melissa Kantor (which unfortunately isn't signed), a paperback version of Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley, AND possibly a free t-shirt with The Truth About Books on it if I get a significant amount of more followers. So get spreading! The word, that is. And good luck!
Remember: Get your entries in by midnight on June 22nd!

I'm Back!

2010-06-08T12:49:00.002-04:00

Okay, so you didn't even know I was gone. But you were probably wondering, right? (I hope so). Anyway, I kind of just needed a break from the internet for a while, and then my computer broke again! So that's where I was. If you were wondering, I mean. So to make up for it, I'm posting a contest and a bunch of reviews! I'm going to post the contest today, and I might not have an author interview for Friday, so there probably won't be a Funday Friday this week. But hey, I'm trying! I'm at work right now so I can't look through all my books to figure out which ones I'm giving away. Once I get home I'll search through my books and come up with some cool ideas and then I will report back to you guys with the contest :)

In the mean time, check out this awesome news about Sarah Dessen's new book, coming out May/June 2011!
According to Publisher's Weekly, Sarah Dessen has officially sold her new book to Viking publishers. The book was orginally titled "Cut and Run" but has now been changed to "What Happened to Goodbye". The new book is, "...about a high school senior who, after her parents’ divorce, has taken up the practice of assuming a new identity in each of the four towns she’s lived in."
Sounds amazing to me!

Chech back today for more details about the contest, and thanks for hangin in there this week while I had my unannounced abcense! :)

Funday Friday! Featuring... Jen Nadol!

2010-05-28T17:17:00.003-04:00

Hey guys! Sorry for the serious lack of reviews! I will have one for you Sunday, I promise! I've been working like crazy. Ahhh! Anyway, Today's author is Jen Nadol. She wrote The Mark, which I reviewed earlier. Hope you enjoy! :)

1. Where did you get the idea for The Mark?

"It just kind of came to me when I tossing around ideas for a story. I knew I needed something with enough interest, conflict and action-potential to carry 200+ pages. "What if you knew it was someone's day to die?" seemed like it might work, so I ran with it!"

2. Have you always been good at writing/wanted to be a writer?
"I've always really enjoyed writing, but it's definitely something that improves
with practice! And, yes, I've always wanted to be a writer, but I don't think I started believing I could be until I got an agent."

3. If you could work with any other author who would it be?

"Probably David Sedaris because I think comedic writing is so incredibly hard and he's the only writer who's ever made me laugh out loud repeatedly."

4. Are there any parts of your book that are based on events in your
own life?

"Only the small stuff...my high school history teacher used to
quiz us from the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy like Cassie's (the MC's)
does, her school colors are orange & black which were mine too. Things like
that. It's kind of neat to see what people who knew me in high school find
that's borrowed from real life without my even realizing it."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after
finishing the manuscript?

"The short answer is 15 months to find an agent, 3
weeks to sell it once we started submitting and it was in stores 14 months
later. For anyone who wants ALL the gruesome details, I did a post with the
full timeline for The Mark here: http://www.jennadolbooks.com/blog/?p=105."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity"
while writing?

"Step back and think about your story. Where will it end? What's a scene you know needs to happen? What has to take place in the story to get you there? Does your character need a hobby? Or an extra hurdle to overcome? Before starting, I generally know the beginning, end, a few key scenes or conflicts and any "second-layer" theme (like philosophy in The Mark). I do a lot of thinking before I start and in-between writing times and having these guideposts really helps get me from Point A to Point B without getting stuck."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"I love the beginning, when I'm just getting sucked in and can look forward to all the pages ahead, and the end when everything comes together or gets resolved, hopefully not too neatly."

8. Favorite song?

"Today? Probably anything by Lady Gaga. That'll change tomorrow."

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, person(s) would you take?

"Book: The Stand by Stephen King because it's really long and really good. Or
some kind of survival guide - yeah, that might be good.
Movie: The Hangover because I'd probably need a laugh and my husband says
it's hilarious.
Food: Maybe zucchini? They're nutritious, taste pretty good, you don't have
to cook them and they're easy to grow - we always get tons in the garden.
It might be too hot to grow zucchini in the tropics though. We are in the
tropics aren't we? It's not an arctic island, right?
Person: Barack Obama because they might not put much effort into finding me,
but people are gonna wonder where the heck HE is."

10. Five of your favorite things?

"My family, books, coffee, fresh air, clean white t-shirts."

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Deb Caletti!

2010-05-21T12:26:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Today we have author Deb Caletti! She gets asked to do interviews a lot, so I didn't get to ask her my usual questions. But! Her publicist from Simon and Schuster sent me over a small interview that is not widely passed around. So as I am excited to present this lovely interview to you guys, I have to tell you I got this from Simon and Schuster. Here's the interview!

Q: Your main character, Scarlet, is deeply involved with everyone around her--her mother, her sister, her brother-in-law, and her neighbors. She says, “I thought it had worked for me, looking after everyone else. But it didn’t. Not anymore.” In your opinion, what is it about being a young adult that causes them to put others before their own wants and needs?

A: I think it isn’t so much a “young adult” thing as a human being one. Some of us just come with the “giver” gene, or else we develop it for a million complicated reasons. Scarlet, like most of us, starts this behavior waaay early. She’s the one who always gets paired up with the bad kid, and she’s the one who walks the sick girl to the office when no one else wants to. Sometimes it’s all about being kindhearted, but it can also spill over into being unassertive about what’s right for us. It’s an important balance--how much of our life is “other” and how much of our life is “self.” Often, too, the folks who are mostly takers are magnetically drawn to givers (huh, no wonder, right?). Givers don’t think too much about this until they are resentful and exhausted, as Scarlet finally becomes in SIX RULES.

Q: Scarlet discovers what she believes are The Five Rules of Maybe. It isn’t until later that she realizes there are actually Six Rules of Maybe. The sixth rule catches her off guard: “Most importantly, know when you’ve reached an end. Quit, give up, do it with courage. Giving up is not failing – it’s the chance to begin again.” Why is this an important rule or lesson?

A: I think giving up is a hugely important lesson, and an overlooked one. We’re so into the rah rah ideas that YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! YOU CAN BE ANYONE! That we forget that it’s often not true. Sometimes we can’t. I don’t think that’s bad news. Not at all. I think it’s important news. I worry that lately we’ve forgotten how critical it is to see ourselves realistically. Quitting, moving forward, being resilient about failure--those are all things that haven’t gotten much air time lately. And yet, this is perhaps the most important rule of all. It’s the way we can ride out the bumps without crashing.

Q: A common theme of self-discovery develops for all of the characters as they consider what they really want for their future. Did you draw upon any of your own experiences to create these realistic journeys?

A: Self-discovery, finding “home”, dealing with being a mostly good-hearted but flawed person in a complicated world--yep, those are all repeating themes in my work. And, yes, absolutely--I draw on my experiences for all of my books. I have never stolen an old lady from a rest home (like in Honey), or been given an enormous sum of money from a stranger (like in Indigo). But I HAVE lost faith in love and have felt my world turn upside down and have had to rethink and rethink my future. Writing is always my therapy, the attempt to work out particular events and questions I’m trying to understand. (Too bad no one actually gave me that fat sum of money, though. :) )

Q: Why do you write for young adults?

A: Becoming a YA author was actually a lucky accident. The first book that I published, The Queen of Everything, was written as an adult book. I thought it was an adult book, anyway. When it was picked up by Simon & Schuster for the young adult market, I found myself here. This is the route for many YA writers, but I think most of us will agree that it is a happy and fortunate detour. I found myself in a great place, with these readers I love for their honesty and true passion for books. Fate plucked me up, I’m sure, and set me down where I belonged. What’s cool, too, is that because I didn’t (and still don’t) know how to write a “young adult book” (whatever that is), I have an audience that varies in age from 11 to 91. I hope my readers can also feel that I don’t treat them as “teens” (a word that too often is used in some weird kind of quotation marks), but just as the fine people and kindred book lovers that they are to me.

Q: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

A: I was as much a book addict then as I am now. I think I’ve spent a great deal of my life so far lugging huge, unwieldy stacks of books home from the library. How to even choose favorites, you know? I loved Ramona the Pest. I loved Little Bear. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The Incredible Journey. The Chronicles of Narnia. Okay, I’ll stop there.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

A: Always. Since I was about seven years old. Except for that brief period of time when I wanted to be Nancy Drew.

There you have it everyone! Thanks so much to Deb and her publicist Taryn for letting me use this interview. These are such great questions/answers :)
And if you haven't yet, go get your hands on Deb's newest book, The Six Rules of Maybe! You won't be disappointed! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading! :)

Grace by Elizabeth Scott

2010-05-18T22:23:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! So, today I have an awesome review for you guys! I managed to snag myself an ARC of Elizabeth Scott's new book, Grace, which comes out September 10th! Here's the description:

A fable of a terrifying near future.
Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom.
In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

WOW. Just, wow. Elizabeth never ceases to amaze me. Part of me thought I might not like this one because it's about suicide bombing. The other half of me thought, It's a book by Elizabeth Scott, how could it not be good? If you guys couldn't tell by now, it was the latter. This book is so different from any other YA novel. It pulls you in, it makes you wonder, it makes you feel. This fictional "Country" is maddening. How could anybody let a man like Keran Berj rule? How could The People do the same, but still think Keran is worse? And Grace, poor Grace-- I am so proud of her. She is so brave. She gives us some insight I think everyone could use, really. This story was not what I was expecting. I didn't know what to expect, actually, but this was not it. Elizabeth has definitely done it again and I don't know how. She always pulls off writing a masterpiece, and for that, I thank her.
Make sure you guys pick this one up when it's released! Or pre-order! Just make sure you get it in your hands.
Happy Reading!

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready & Stuff

2010-05-14T12:09:00.002-04:00

Sorry guys, no author interview or Contest today. Those of you who won something from the past contest, I sincerely apologize for my slowness. I will email you with confirmation numbers ASAP, it's just been so hectic these weeks. I hope you all don't hate me :(
Also, one of you lovely readers commented on here before asking if I was ever going to do another spread the word contest and that you'd had an idea. I would LOVE to hear those! I'm always looking for ways to spread the word about this blog. So go ahead and send them in! :)
But I do have a review! I just read this book on Simon and Schuster's site, Pulse it, which I've mentioned here before. It's a site for YA readers where you can read books for free! You can also blog, comment, and even talk with authors. It's way awesome so make sure to check it out!
I have other reviews I need to post, but this book was just so great I had to post it today. The description of this book is:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart?and clues to the secret of the Shift.

This book was freaking awesome. Apparently, it's the paranormal books that make me cry. Beacuse this was the second book EVER to make me cry. It was the part where Logan sings his song he wrote for Aura to her, while she pretends to sleep. It was just so SAD. If you guys read it, you'll know what I'm talking about. And don't worry, it doesn't give anything away. Jeri's writing is awesome. She has some funny things in the book that I like, mostly more internal thinking. This book was very interesting and had a cool twist on ghost stories. I loved all of the different rules the ghosts have and how they're violet instead of in color. The only thing I don't like is how long I have to wait to read the sequel! I don't even know when it comes out! That kind of thing will probably drive me insane. Jeri's character development in this book was really good too. I've been thinking about Logan, like, all day today while I'm at work. That's probably sad on my part, but still. He's such a sweet guy I can't get his tragic self out of my head! You know me, I'm a sucker for romance. They always get me! Anyway, if you're looking for a paranormal, good, and somewhat sad book, this one's for you! You'll love it :)
Happy Reading!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

2010-05-13T12:20:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! So I definitely thought I posted a review on Tuesday but I guess I didn't! Sorry! I've been swamped with work (8-5 all week!), which is where I am now. Sneaky, sneaky. Okay, not really because this is my lunch break. But still! I didn't think I would be able to get on this site. Anyway, today's post is The Mark by Jen Nadol. the description of this book is:

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.
Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

I think I'm getting more into the paranormal books now. At least, the ones that sound really cool or interesting. Like, I think I'm on vampire and wizard overload, so I'm least likely to want to read those. But different and not too crazy books like The Mark, I will definitely read. This book was awesome! The author leaves you on such a cliffhanger though! I want to know MORE. There is a sequel coming out I believe but I'm sure it will be a while since this book was just released in January. Jen's writing is very compelling and she's very good with making her characters seem real. The book isn't very predictable either. You think one things going to happen, and then something else does. But it makes the story even better. I like this one almost as much as I liked The Body Finder, which was A LOT. I freaking love that book. So if you're looking for something paranormal, interesting, unique and a book that's not 5000 pages, this one's for you. Hope you guys enjoy! Happy Reading :)

How Not to be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler

2010-05-09T17:38:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there! :)
Today I have another review for you :) This book is called How Not to be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler. I absolutely love that cover! It's so adorable, right? The description of this book is:

Maggie Dempsey is tired of moving all over the country. Her parents are second-generation hippies who uproot her every year or so to move to a new city. When Maggie was younger, she thought it was fun and adventurous. Now that she’s a teenager, she hates it. When she moved after her freshman year, she left behind good friends, a great school, and a real feeling of belonging. When she moved her sophomore year, she left behind a boyfriend, too. Now that they’ve moved to Austin, she knows better. She’s not going to make friends. She’s not going to fit in. Anything to prevent her from liking this new place and them from liking her. Only . . . things don’t go exactly as planned.

I thought this book sounded so cute! I thought it sounded like a really cool twist to a story-- trying to NOT be popular. It turned out to be pretty good. I felt really bad for Maggie throughout this book because of how much she had to move. I would absolutely hate that. But I did really love Jack. At first, I thought he was kind of dorky and I didn't want him to be her love interest, but then he turned out to be a good guy. I loved all the cool ways Maggie tried to be unpopular. The weird outfits were probably my favorite element. This story is funny, unique, and unpredictable. I recommend this to anyone who's looking for a fun and interesting read. I'd say it's appropriate for most ages, like 11+. Hope you guys enjoy! Happy Reading :)

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Kimberly Derting!

2010-05-07T15:04:00.003-04:00

Today's Funday Friday is featuring Debut author Kimberly Derting! She was so nice when I e-mailed her so I was really excited to post this interview! Her book, The Body Finder, was the only book that ever made me cry! EVER. So, go read her book if you haven't! It's amazing! Here's the interview:

1. Where did you get the idea for The Body Finder?

"It was actually my husband who first said: “What if there was a boy who could find dead bodies?” (In his head it would be this great middle-grade adventure!) Of course, I had a different vision, and decided it should be a teen girl finding the dead bodies. And then she needed to have a love interest because, well, I'm a girl!"

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I wanted to be so many things before becoming a writer. Just like most little girls, I wanted to be a veterinarian, a doctor, Princess Leia, and a Lady Trucker. Doesn't every little girl go through their Princess Leia and Lady Trucker phases??? It wasn't until 7th grade when I took a Journalism class that I fell in love with writing."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"JK Rowling! I love the way she took a character like Harry Potter and built not just a world but an entire universe around him that everyone so easily accepts. Just say the word “muggle” and probably 90% of the people you say it to will know what you mean. So if you're friends with her, just let her know that I'm available any time!"

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Not really, although I sometimes steal little conversations and mannerisms from people I know (mostly from my kids and their friends), which is helpful since they’re teens and I write YA. Actually, in the sequel to The Body Finder, I put in a funny story my oldest daughter told me about her and her boyfriend. The best part is that he has no idea it's in there!"

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"Okay, so excluding my brief agent representation when I was in my early twenties, things actually happened pretty quickly with The Body Finder. I went to a writer’s conference right after I finished TBF and met the agent who would sign me a few weeks later. After that, my agent started submitting within a month, and within another month we had offers from two publishers."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Put your nose to the grindstone and just write through it. I don’t know who penned the phrase “you can’t edit a blank page” but it’s so appropriate. It’s better to write crap and fix it later, than to write nothing and wait for inspiration to strike. Inspiration is far too fickle!"

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"Of any book? I need a good beginning to draw me in, but I LOVE a great ending, something that makes me go: WHOA! Oh, and the middle is pretty important too. And the cover. :)"

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"Anything by Stevie Wonder (Oops, is my age showing???)"

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"That would be a real toss-up between any book explaining how to build a boat out of bamboo and palm leaves and any member of my family who actually knows how to build a boat!! Can you tell that I really REALLY want to get off this island?"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"Well, aside from the obvious (my children…not that there are five of them!), here goes:

My laptop (with wireless, of course)
Books (duh!)
Tea (preferably served hot)
Dental Floss (I’m a bit of freak when it comes to my teeth)
A good bathrobe (the fluffier the better)"

Yay! There you have it everyone. I like Kim's idea with the book explaining how to get off the island.. It's surprising that I never thought of that.. Anyway! Hope you guys enjoyed the interview. I will have a review up tomorrow for you guys so make sure you look out for that! Thanks for reading :)

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

2010-05-03T15:37:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Today's book is Jenny Han's Sequel to The Summer I Turned Pretty, called It's Not Summer Without You. Here's the description:

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started-- at Cousins Beach.

So, I ordered this book with my Barnes and Noble giftcard I got for christmas recently and I got it in the mail yesterday. When I got home, instead of studying, I plowed through it. I finished it all in one sitting. This book was just as amazing as the first! As soon as I opened the book and started reading, I immediately fell into the story, unaware of pretty much everything around me. I really felt like I was in Belly's world. This book was a lot more serious than the first, but there were still a lot of light moments. I love this series because they're perfect for summer. I am completely done with school tomorrow, so reading it yesterday made me ready for summer! I wish I had an amazing beach house to go to every summer like Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad. This book will definitely make you feel like it's summer. If you haven't read the first book of the series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, then I advise reading that first. Otherwise, you won't know everything you should. But they're both amazing so I wouldn't see that as a bad thing! Plus, look at that beautiful cover! I am obsessed with it. Thanks for stopping by, Happy Reading! :)

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

2010-05-01T12:51:00.002-04:00

Hey Guys! I took a break from studying to review this book. It's The Body Finer by Kimberly Derting. Here's the description:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Sounds intense, right? Well, it is. I could not put this down before I finished it. Yeah, I know I say that a lot and it is me we're talking about, but I swear this book stands out from the rest. This book makes you feel so many emotions! I instantly fell in love with Jay (of course, I know) and could totally see why Violet was falling for him. I mean, I wish I had a best friend like that! You guys also know how I'm not too huge of a fan for crazy sci-fi books. This one is paranormal, but it's filled with so much real detail that the paranormal side doesn't even seem weird to me. Kimberly writes in such a way that I feel like it should be almost normal to do what Violet can do. This book is also coming out with a sequel next year and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on it. I'm sure you guys will think the same once you read The Body Finder. This is now one of my all time favorite books! Thanks for stopping by again :)
Happy Reading!

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Simone Elkeles!

2010-04-30T14:19:00.003-04:00

Ahhhhh! I went this week without posting. I'm sorry! I probably wont be posting a lot until Tuesday because that is my last final. But then I have the whole summer to post so don't worry! Today we have one of my favorite authors, Simone Elkeles! Here's the interview. Enjoy!

1. Where did you get the idea for Perfect Chemistry? The How To Ruin Series?

"I base Perfect Chemistry off of Highland Park High School, which is near my house. It’s a high school that mirrors Fairfield. I wanted to explore what might happen when a boy and girl from different sides of town and a different socioeconomic status fall hard for each other.

The How to Ruin series is based off of my own experiences as an American teen going to Israel for the summer and interacting with Israelis. The exact things that happen to Amy are fiction, I’ll admit, but some things did actually happen to me. It’s so great writing fun, humorous novels like the How to Ruin series. Everywhere Amy goes in Israel I’ve been, even on the military base/boot camp!"

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"No. I hated reading as a teen and didn't like English class. I never even took a creative writing class, because that was an elective and I wouldn't have chosen it. I try and write books that I think I would have liked to read as a teen. It's awesome when I get email from teens who say they hate to read but love my books."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"Oh, that is SUCH a hard question! I’m sure I’m missing a bunch. I guess I'd love to work with John Green, Alex Sanchez, Stephenie Meyer (although I think I'm too edgy for her so it probably wouldn't work), or Meg Cabot."

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Since Amy Nelson is the character most like me (although all my characters have aspects of me in them) the How to Ruin a Summer Vacation series has the most parts in it that are like my life. Everywhere Amy goes in the books, I’ve been (yes, I even went kayaking down the Jordan river and shot an M16 in a “fun” summer military boot camp I signed up for to know what it was like to be an Israeli soldier! Not an experience I want to repeat because I’m such a princess.)"

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"It took me five years to get published. I started writing in 2000 and sold my first book in 2005 (it wasn’t released until 2006, but I signed the contract in 2005). It took me five years to get an agent, but she sold my book within two months."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Keep writing and never give up. Shock the reader and shock yourself. Make yourself uncomfortable by putting your characters in impossible situations. It’ll make your book a better book, and you’ll tap into that creativity!"

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"Writing THE END because finishing the book is such an accomplishment. It’s so surreal and wonderful to create a book from scratch!"

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"True Companion by Marc Cohen"

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Book: Perfect Chemistry

Movie: She’s the Man

Food: pizza or sushi

Person: I’d need two: (apologies to my husband first) Alexander F. Rodriguez and Giancarlo Vidrio (the boys who played my heroes in my book trailer for Rules of Attraction) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEx0kaUlrU
OR: JT from Survivor because he’s been through it a couple of times"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"My kids
Dogs
Books
My iPhone (I know this is obnoxious, but it’s true)
My computer (I wouldn’t be an author without it because I have horrendous handwriting)"

There it is everyone! The wonderful Simone Elkeles. I personally agree with her choice on which people to take, because have you seen that video? Those boys are smokin'! Anyway, if you love Simone's books or want to learn more about her, head on over to her website! Simoneelkeles.net! Hope you liked the interview everyone, and I promise i'll have a review in the next couple days! Thanks for still reading :)

Contest Winner!

2010-04-24T21:51:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! Just stopping in to let you know who won the contest!
Thanks to everyone who entered-- I really enjoyed reading the entries!
It was really hard for me to decide the winner. There were 3 answers that I kept reading over and over trying to make myself pick just one. But, after reading them several more times, I finally picked a winner. The winner is Liz! She told me all about how and why she loved Walk Two Moons. So, Liz, e-mail me your shipping address and I'll send your books over!
But wait! Like I said, I had a really hard time picking just one winner. There were two other entries that I really, really loved. So, Erin R. (who picked Harry Potter 1) and Miranda (who picked Just Listen), if you want a small little prize, I can mail you an autographed bookmark from Kristina Springer! E-mail me if you guys are interested!
Once again, thanks to everyone who entered and keep an eye out for more contests!
Happy Reading :)

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Kristin Walker!

2010-04-23T16:14:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! Today I've got an author interview for you! Recently, I posted a review of the book A Match Made In High School. I told you guys how awesome and hilarious it was and now I've got the author here for you guys! Hope you guys enjoy!

1. Where did you get the idea for A Match Made In High School?

"It just sort of came to me one morning. I thought it would be potentially hysterical, so I started working on it. I set it aside after a couple of chapters, but I came back to it a few months later and finished the draft."

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I actually always wanted to be an actor. I was a theatre major in college. But when my first baby came along, I wanted to do something from home, so I turned to writing. It took a long time to get published, though. About a decade. Those are the years I learned to write. I was an okay essay writer, but I had a lot to learn about writing fiction. I still have a lot to learn!"

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"I'd love to write with Kristina Springer because she is so so funny and such a great, effortless writer. She also lives about 25 minutes from me and we hang out all the time. I'm laughing right now thinking about some of the goofing we've done. She cracks me up so much!"

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Well, there are a couple of characters who were inspired by real-life people, but as far as passages or situations, not much. I was a geek cheerleader, however. There's a picture in the bio on my website (www.kristin-walker.com). Just one of many dorky pictures of my life, haha."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"It took me about 6 months of querying to find my agent, and the book sold a few months later. But I had queried a whole list of agents on a (terrible) middle grade novel years ago. MATCH was actually my second shot at getting an agent. But I'm thrilled with how it worked out because my agent is crazy-awesome."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Turn to your own stories. Find a picture or a post in your blog and see if you can spin a story out of it. It doesn't have to be a whole book, but sometimes when you just start doing some fun-writing, a great idea will bubble up."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"My favorite part of a book I'm reading is the climactic scene where the main character finally overcomes the conflict. I especially like it if there's a whole lot of romantic smooching.

My favorite part of a book I'm writing is finishing the very first draft. I know there will be a ton of work to revise it, but it's such a great feeling to have something finished, even if it's rough."

(Now for a couple fun questions)

8. Favorite song?

"I can't pick just one! Okay, I put this one in the book: "What a Good Boy" by the Barenaked Ladies. It reminds me of when my husband and I were dating (he's also a Canadian)."

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Book: Anne of Green Gables
Movie: Normally, I'd pick "Jaws," but seeing as I'd be on an island, maybe that wouldn't be the best choice. It would have to be something funny, anyway. Either "Waiting for Guffman" or "Best in Show."
Food: Hot buttered popcorn
Person: The hubs and kids, of course. And our dog, Piper."

10. Five of your favorite things?

"Hershey Bars
Fresh lilacs
My kids' laughter
Ballroom dancing
Clean, line-dried sheets"

So there you have it everyone! They lovely and hilarious Kristin Walker. If you liked her book or her interview, or just want to find out more about her, check out her website at Kristin-Walker.com! I thought her answers were awesome! Thanks for checking in, Happy Reading everyone!

PS: Don't forget to enter the contest! Today is your last chance. Get your entries in by midnight! You could win some cool signed stuff! Check out the Contest entry for the rest of the details. Good Luck!

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

2010-04-22T16:09:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Whoooo two posts in two days! You should be proud :)
Someone asked me about Perfect Chemistry yesterday so I figured I would review that one today. It's written by one of my favorite authors, Simone Elkeles. The description of this book is:

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.

I had heard good things about this book from my reader friend, Lauren, and I already love Simone Elkeles, so I was excited for this one. I've definitely never read a book quite like this one. It's so diverse and real. It was very, very well written. I loved how Simone wrote it in alternate points of view too so we could see the situation from both characters and know their true feelings. When I first started reading, I didn't like Brittany at all. But after reading some more and finding out more about her, I started to like her a lot. I was really anxious to see how the story would end because of how complicated everything was. Simone does a good job of telling the story in a real and factual way. This book will definitely capture your heart and make you want a love like Alex and Brittany's. I recommend this book to most people, but there are some mature content included (such as sex, gang violence, etc.), so if you're younger or your child is younger, I'd be aware. They had this at my local library so it should be easy for you guys to find. Hope you enjoy! Happy Reading!

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

2010-04-21T13:28:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm so glad you guys are still reading this because I've been a horrible blogger lately :( College life is just so hectic right now that I haven't had a lot of time to blog. I know I say that all the time.. but it's true! So I'll have a review today and tomorrow and a nice interview for Friday :)
On with the review! Today's book is Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott. The description of this book is:

My name is Danielle. I'm eighteen. I've been stealing things for as long as I can remember.

Dani has been trained as a thief by the best--her mother. Together, they move from town to town, targeting wealthy homes and making a living by stealing antique silver. They never stay in one place long enough to make real connections, real friends--a real life

In the beach town of Heaven, though, everything changes. For the first time, Dani starts to feel at home. She's making friends and has even met a guy. But these people can never know the real Dani--because of who she is. When it turns out that her new friend lives in the house they've targeted for their next job and the cute guy is a cop, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known--or the one she's always wanted.

I was so excited to read this one! I love all of Elizabeth Scott's books and this one sounded so unique! Which, as it turns out, totally was unique! This book captures you right from the very first page. It also makes you fall in love with the whole town of Heaven. I wish I lived in a nice place like that where everyone knows each other and everyone is nice. I also loved Greg. Greg was so adorable and so nice! Elizabeth is really good at creating lovable boys in her stories. She should just like, write my life or something. I have a feeling it would be much more exciting that way. Stealing Heaven was a great read and it was so unpredictable that it was refreshing. Sometimes when books are too predictable I'm just like, come on, really? But I couldn't see anything coming with this book. I could not wait till the end! I would recommend this book to anyone, really. It's a quite interesting book so go pick it up! Try it out! I'm sure you'll like it :)
Happy Reading!

A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker

2010-04-16T15:12:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts-- I had two tests, an english paper, and a bunch of math homework all due this week! Unfortunately, I don't have an author interview today, but I should have one for next weekend! I do have a review for you guys though. It's A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker! The description of this book is:

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. That's until she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very dorky, very big Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

When I had an interview with Kristina Springer, she answered one of the questions by saying that she would love to work with Kristin Walker because she was hilarious. I thought she meant as a person, but I guess it's both! I laughed out loud so many times throughout this book. You guys know how I always say I love sarcasm and jokes that make me laugh in books? This book definitely does that. I was laughing so much and so hard that my roommate ended up asking me what the heck I was laughing at-- it was that funny. It's also not your typical story. This book takes a lot of twists and turns that you wouldn't expect, and I loved how it ended. Kristin Walker is a very awesome and talented author and I can't wait until her next book! I should be having an interview with her soon so make sure you guys stay tuned to check that out! I absolutely recommend this book to everyone. I guarantee you will laugh at least once! Happy Reading!

Contest update and other stuff

2010-04-13T10:56:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! Just wanted to drop in and clear up a few things. There have been questions about the contest so I'll just post all the rules here in a list. Sorry I didn't really make everything clear-- I'm still new to this!
Here are the rules:

1. To enter, tell me your absolute favorite book and why. Then post a link to this blog on your facebook, twitter, myspace, a blog, etc. If you don't have any of those things, you can still enter-- I just added that last part on so we can spread the word a bit about this blog. Post all of that in a comment to either this entry, or the Funday Friday entry talking about the contest.

2. I'm extending the contest to next Friday, April 24th until Midnight. So tell all your friends and start telling me about your favorite books! :)

3. Because of cost reasons, I can only open this to U.S. residents. If you have someone in the United States that can receive the package for you though, you can still enter.

Hope that answers all your questions! Enter away!

PS: There will be a review up later today-- probably around 2 or 3pm eastern time. I would do it now but I just got back from class so I'm going to take a nap :)
Happy Reading!

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2010-04-11T19:20:00.004-04:00

Hey guys! I just got back from Pittsburgh from meeting one of my favorite actors! I'm a teeny bit obsessed with the show Ghost Whisperer and I absolutely love Jim, who is the main character's husband. His character is just so, so sweet and romantic. I'm a sucker for a romantic guy, even if they're, um, fictional. So anyway, I met the actor, David Conrad, today and it was awesome! Photo!

How awesome!!

Okay, time for the review. Today's book is The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. The description of this book is:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

I had heard of this book before I got it, and when I saw it in my package from Elizabeth Scott, I got really excited. Susane Colasanti had blurbed about it on her blog and said it was wonderful, so I figured it had to be good. I was not ready for how good though. Jandy's writing is truly beautiful. She has such great talent. This is the best form of writing I've read since Sarah Dessen. The story was very, very captivating and it was like you were there with the characters. This book almost made me cry several times but I'm just really good at not letting the tears fall. This book will make your heart break, swell, and break all over again. There are so many emotions in this book and the poetry throughout adds even more. I think I need to meet my own Joe Fontaine. Hopefully boys like him actually exist. I truly cannot wait to read Jandy's next book. I'm sure it will be just as great as her debut. If you're looking for something that will have a great impact on you, this one's for you. I definitely recommend this one to everyone out there. Happy Reading everyone and don't forget to enter the contest!

Funday Friday!.... Contest! Plus New Layout

2010-04-09T14:41:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody! As you can tell, I changed the layout. I thought this one was really cute. I seem to get bored with Layouts really easily...
Anyway! Today we have another contest. Whooo! This time, I think it's a little more fun :)
For this contest, I want you to tell me your ULTIMATE favorite book and why and then post a link to this blog on facebook, twitter, your own blog, etc. The best answer will get the prize!
What's the prize you ask? The prize is a signed and hardcover copy of Invisible I by Melissa Kantor, an ARC of Before I fall by Lauren Oliver and a signed bookmark by Kristina Springer. And like last time, if I get a significant amount of new followers, I'll add another book!
I'll keep this contest open until next Friday, April 16th at midnight. So enter away people and tell me your favorite book! I'm interested in seeing what everyone picks :)

Also, I will be posting a review of Jandy Nelson's book The Sky Is Everywhere on Sunday. Thanks for checkin' in! Happy Reading!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2010-04-05T17:26:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! Today's book is Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. The description of this book is:

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High, from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12 should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Fortunately, she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

I had heard a lot of good things about this book before I started reading it. I was going to get it from my library once they received it, but to my surprise, it wound up in my package of books from Elizabeth Scott! I was so excited when I saw it and The Sky Is Everywhere. I thought this book was pretty good. I loved it, but at the same time, some of the parts in the middle kind of dragged on a bit. I understand why Lauren put those things in the book but some of it just kind of bored me. But! I overall did really like it a lot. This book is another intense one and you'll be surprised to see how it ends. It's a very heart wrenching book too. I loved this first novel and I can't wait to read more of Lauren Oliver's work. I also think this would be a really good movie! They should definitely make it one :)
Sorry today's review is a little short!

Also, if you guys want some free Susane Colasanti books, she's having a contest over at her blog to win some spiffy new Paperback versions that just went on sale today! It's a fun contest so head on over and check it out!
Susane's Blog: http://windowlight.livejournal.com

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Elizabeth Eulberg!

2010-04-03T13:19:00.003-04:00

Okay, okay. I know it's Saturday. I COMPLETELY forgot about posting this yesterday. But! It is here now and it's only like, 24 hours late. So I don't think it's that bad, right? Anyway, this week's Funday Friday (Saturday) is featuring Elizabeth Eulberg. I met her while in NYC and she was super nice! We had a cool conversation and she was full of fun-ness. Here's the interview:

1. Where did you get the idea for The Lonely Hearts Club?

"I was out one night with a friend that we all have – the one who only wants to hang out when her boyfriend isn’t around. She was, once again, getting attention from guys and I started having a pity party for myself, but then I thought “I have so many awesome, single girlfriends, we should get together every Saturday and enjoy being single!” I realized that would be a great idea for a book and The Lonely Hearts Club was born!"

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I’m continually working on being a better writer, but I really didn’t think that I would ever be a writer. I still have a hard time considering myself an author. An author – who, me? I did always enjoy writing, but it wasn’t until I was encouraged by an author I worked with (Dav Pilkey) that I had the confidence to try writing a book."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"Jane Austen, but since that’s impossible, I’m currently working on a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, entitled Prom and Prejudice, which will be out in early 2011."

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Unfortunately, a lot of the break-up stories in The Lonely Hearts Club are based on either something that has happened to me or one of my friends. Like Penny, I also worked in a dental office (but it wasn’t my father’s) and my sister wasn’t paying any attention to me when I was two and I fell off a bunk bed. I put that story in mostly to make my sister Meg laugh and I believe that is her favorite part of the book."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"I started writing The Lonely Hearts Club in the spring/summer of 2004. I didn’t send the manuscript to an agent until mid-2006. Fortunately because of my career in publishing, I already new some literary agents which helped me to secure one. Even so, I worked on many edits of LHC with my agent and we didn’t send it out until mid-2008 to publishers. I signed with Scholastic in July 2008."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

'Get up from the computer and do something else, take a break. I find when I need to rethink a line or plot point, I’ll go to the gym or get some coffee. Staring at a computer screen has never helped me so I’ll do something else and generally an idea will come to me when I’m least expecting it!"

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"I really like it when a character either gets his or her comeuppance or a character is finally vindicated for something. I like happy endings!"

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"So hard! I have so many favorite songs, but my song of the moment is Elbow’s “One Day Like This” – I listen to it a few times a day. It is so beautiful and uplifting."

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Pride and Prejudice; Moulin Rouge; if refrigeration wasn’t an issue, my mother’s cheeseball (I am from Wisconsin after all!); and Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol because I’d make him sing to me (what else would he have to do?)."

10. Five of your favorite things?

"My iPod (I can’t leave home without it!)
My Les Paul electric guitar
Going to Concerts
Glee (is it possible to NOT smile while watching that show?)
Friends – I don’t really consider them “things” but I can’t imagine life without them!"

Hope you guys enjoyed it! I Love Snow Patrol and Glee also! I'm a huge Gleek :) Make sure you guys check out Elizabeth's website at Elizabetheulberg.com! She also has Facebook and Twitter.
Keep on checking in with the blog because next week there will be another contest! I also have more reviews lined up-- I've been reading like crazy! :)
Happy Reading!

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

2010-04-01T14:15:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Today is such a nice day in Ohio! It's sunny and like, 70 some degrees! I hope wherever you are, It's just as nice for you. Today's book is Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. The description is:

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends – her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

When I finished this book, all I could think was Oh my gosh. This book is intense. So, so intense. It is a very well written book, but very serious. Like, I would say only people 14/15+ should read it. It is such a powerful story. I think we're lucky that Elizabeth Scott was the one to write it. She has such talent in making us feel the emotions her characters feel. I was watching one of Elizabeth's V-blogs on the Readergirlz website and she said another author said that no one should read this book, ever. I think that is complete crap. Every story deserves a chance doesn't it? This story, I think, is one that should be read by many. People may not understand that things like this happen all the time. Elizabeth Scott took a risk by writing this book and having it published and for that I give her tremendous credit. Elizabeth is one powerful writer and she seems ultimately fearless. She writes what needs to be wrote. And to her, Alice's story was one people needed to hear.
If you're looking for a book that will put you in a happy mood, this one isn't for you. But, if you're looking for a book that is great, true, and full of intensity, this one is for you. I hope you older folks check this one out-- it's worth a chance. It's only a little under 200 pages also, so it's a quick read. They will probably have it at your library so I would check for it there first. Happy reading everyone! :)

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

2010-03-30T00:42:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! I should be doing math homework right now but who cares about that, right? I despise math. So anyway, today's book is Lipstick Apology-- which I received in my package from the wonderful Elizabeth Scott. I have so many books I need to review it's crazy. You guys should be seeing reviews for Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, and The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson in the next week. I'm trying to get on here a post them, I promise! I should have more time to do these things after tomorrow. Ahhh, college life. You gotta love it but hate it. Sorry for the rambling-- here's the description of Lipstick Apology:

When Emily Carson's parents die in a plane crash, she's left with nothing but her mother's last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: "Emily, please forgive me."

Now it's fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

I thought this book was a great debut. When I first read the description, I made sure I put it at the top of the list of my 30 books to read. Yes, 30! I'm down to 20 though so I'm making good progress. Anyway, I loved the story line. It's so different from anything I've read. I think Jennifer's writing is beautiful. She also knows the city of New York well. I was reading this during my trip to NYC and I kept seeing things mentioned in the book and thinking, Ahh! That's in Lipstick Apology!! Again, I am a geek. I know this. I also love love love Trent's character in this book. I want my own Trent! And my own Anthony! Jennifer describes his hot body well ;)
Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. The story definitely had it's twists and turns but I was never bored with it. I really think this book should be seen on more shelves around the nation. I haven't seen it in a Barnes and Noble or anything, but it is such a good story. I hope me posting this review helps spread the word! So if this sounds interesting to you, go and find it at your library! Or request it! Or get it from Amazon! Or maybe, just maybe, you could win it. Hmm, I wonder how....
Okay guys, happy reading!

I got tagged!

2010-03-28T12:44:00.003-04:00

Hey guys, no review today - it is my birthday! But, I did want to stop by and post something. I got tagged in a post earlier this week by Belle over at her Music and Lyrics blog that you can find here.
Apparently, if you get tagged, you answer a few cool questions, make up some of your own and then tag a couple more bloggers!
The questions of Bella that I'm answering are:

1. What do you say when you're really nervous?
-Hmm, I'm not really sure. I don't really think I do anything specific. At least, no one has pointed anything out to me.

2. Do you believe in love/have you ever been in love?
-I do believe in love. I once thought I was, but now that I'm older I know I wasn't.

3. Have you ever met a famous person?
-Do authors count? Haha, if they do, I've met Sarah Dessen, plus all the authors at the NYC Teen Author Festival. I also met the Jonas Brothers once. It was a long time ago though.

4. How would you describe your own personal Prince Charming:
-Oh dear. This could go on for a while. I always love boys in books so I think my dream boy would be a mix between these several characters:
Wes from The Truth About Forever, Tobey from When It Happens, Jim from Ghost Whisperer (That's a TV show, not a book. I get to meet the guy who plays him next month! I guess that could go under the previous question too.), and there's probably a lot more but I can't think of them right now. I would want him to be romantic, funny, caring, honest and adorable. That was a really long answer to a short question. I told you it'd be long.

5. If you had to be an animal for the rest of your life, what kind of animal would you be?
-That's a hard one! This sounds like such an unoriginal answer, but I think I would choose a bird. I want to fly!

6. Who's your favorite Disney Princess?
- I think I would have to say Ariel. I love all that mermaid stuff and plus she gets the best of both worlds. How awesome is that?

7. (Fill in the blank with a fact about yourself; it can be mulitple words) I've never been out of the country before

8. What's your best friend's first name/nickname?
- Her first name is Yuliya (she's Ukrainian) but I call her Moya Popa. That means "my butt" in Ukrainian. I don't know how I started calling her that but I do.

9. Favorite song in the whole wide world?
- Another hard one! I can't pick just one. I think I'm going to cheat and just list a few.
Tim Mcgraw - Taylor Swift
Never Think - Robert Pattinson
Since You've Been Around - Rosie Thomas
I'm Ready - Jack's Mannequin
Those are songs I just never get sick of and love. I can listen to them infinite amount of times and still enjoy it.

That's it for the questions! Hope you guys enjoyed them at least a little bit (but I'm sure you don't really care hehe)
So here are my questions for the new tag:

What is your absolute favorite book?

What is one of your favorite quotes? (It can be from anything or anyone).

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?

What's your favorite TV show?

What's your favorite sandwich?

Do you believe in Ghosts/Paranormal?

Who is your least favorite celebrity?

What is your dream vacation?

And that's it for my tag! (I know, they're terrible, but I digress).
I tag:
- Renee from The Book Girl - http://thebookgirlreviews.blogspot.com
- Robby from Once Upon a Book Blog - http://runningforfiction.blogspot.com

PS: I'll be posting a new review tomorrow! :)

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Lynn Weingarten!

2010-03-26T10:49:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody! Today's author is Lynn Weingarten. She's the author of the book Wherever Nina Lies, which I recently reviewed. I LOVED the book so I thought it would be great to have her over here! Here's the interview:

1. Where did you get the idea for Wherever Nina Lies?

"Scholastic said they were looking to do a YA novel with drawings in it and so I tried to come up with a plot with which drawings would fit. I know that doesn’t sound very romantic, but that’s how it happened!"

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I’ve always really liked to write but when I was a little kid it never occurred to me that writing could be a job. I thought when I grew up I’d either dig up dinosaur bones for a living or be a doctor for sick ants."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"Hmmm. I actually have no idea. There are way too many!"

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Not based on necessarily, but definitely inspired by. When I was in high school a couple friends ran away from home. I have an older sister. I’ve been on road trips. I worked at a coffee shop during high school and we really did get to eat the broken cookies. Etc."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"The process happened a little out of order. I started talking to Scholastic about my writing a book for them, then I went to get an agent while the process was already in motion, then Scholastic bought the project (off an outline and some sample chapters) and then I wrote the book. Writing the first draft took about eight months."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Well first of all – don’t panic! Sometimes it helps to try and just grit your teeth and get through it. Other times the run-out feeling means it’s time to take a productive sort of break -- read a book by an author you love, or go see a really good movie, read a newspaper or a magazine, go take a walk, or sit in a coffee shop and eavesdrop, go to a museum, or call a friend and ask them to brainstorm with you. Also, if you’re writing on a computer, try writing by hand, and vice versa. Or do something else that totally unrelated to writing – draw a picture, play an instrument. You do not have to be good at either of these things. Take a walk or a shower, or a nap. Have some candy.
Also, sometimes just concentrating on the fact that you’re Looking For An Idea gets your subconscious on the case and then without you necessarily even being aware of it your brain is still working. You might be doing something completely unrelated and suddenly out of nowhere an idea will come to you, and it will seem like magic."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"I like to write endings.
I like to read middles."

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"It changes all the time, but 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton is always up there. It’s just a little too high for me to sing at karaoke, but I always try anyway!"

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Person(s) : all my friends and family members

Food: oatmeal (I know that sounds weird, but I eat it every day and have for years and just never get sick of it. It is equally delicious made sweet or savory)

Movie: Defending Your Life

Book: How To Get Off A Desert Island (this is a book that comes with a real working self-inflating helicopter right inside!)"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"Friends’ pets
The mini Toblerone bars that they sell at my corner deli
My grey boots
Those cardigan sweaters that hang down really long in the front
Talking on the phone"

Thank you very much Lynn! I loved all of your answers. I hope you guys enjoyed them as well. I definitely thought that the whole picture part of Wherever Nina Lies was way cool :)
If you guys want to check out more about Lynn or even tell her how awesome you thought her first book was, you can find her at the links below!

Twitter.com/lynnweingarten
Facebook.com/lynnw

PS: I have so many books lined up to read so you should be seeing more reviews very soon! I have to write a paper and study for two tests this weekend though, so bare with me! Thanks for stopping by and happy reading :)

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

2010-03-23T20:08:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I just finished Something Like Fate! I really should have been studying for my sociology test but I couldn't help but read this book. Here's the description:

Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.

What if the person who is your destiny is the one person you can't have?

Once again Susane Colasanti has written a fabulous book. This book is filled with so many great elements. I love the concept of it too. Fate and everything about it conjures up so many questions. Is our fate already set in stone? Or can we change it to make it how we want? This book covers all of that through Lani's story. One thing I love about Susane's books is that they're always real. They always stay true to what our teenage lives are like. There are a lot of books out there that do this, but Susane has an extrordinary talent of doing so. With Something Like Fate, she has definitely done the same. This book is funny, real, riviting, and you won't want to put it down. At least I didn't. Although, I did stop reading for an hour to get some food. That's kind of essential. Anyway, Susane's new book, Something Like Fate, will be out in stores on May 4th! You don't want to miss reading this book. It is fabulous and all around good. This book makes me want to change my life. It makes me want to eat healthier, it makes me want to recycle, it makes me want to make something exciting out of my life. This book will definitely make an impact on you too. Plus, look at that amazing cover! It's from an actual photoshoot done for the book. How awesome! I'm in love with the font used for Something Like Fate. I hope you guys go out and get it when it's released - you won't be disappointed! Happy reading :)

NYC Teen Author Festival :)

2010-03-22T11:49:00.005-04:00

Hey guys! This past weekend was the end of the NYC Teen Author Festival and I drove 7 hours to be there! Currently, I'm still in New Jersey because my car broke down. So, I'm not home yet, but I have my laptop and wanted to update you guys on some stuff.

My friend and I arrived in New Jersey on Saturday and then we headed over to New York. We went sight seeing and walked around all day. And in case you guys ever think about going to New York, I have advice for you. Don't wear sandals when walking around. You will get big blisters on the bottom of your feet. (I learned that the hard way).
After getting back to the hotel around 11:30, we planned out the next day and went to sleep. Then it was time for the Festival. The Festival was so great! We went in a little early at 1:30 to make sure we got there before the lines got too long. My friend sat down in the cafe area while I was in line and while I was waiting, I noticed a woman walk in that looked a lot like Elizabeth Scott. She sat down next to my friend. When I saw that, my mind went crazy and I was just thinking, Ahhh! That's Elizabeth! Sitting next to my friend!! This line is stupid - She's better so I have to go talk to her!
So then I leave the line and walk over and Elizabeth looks up to me and says so sweetly, "Oh, do you want me to move over so you can sit?" When she said that, I'm pretty sure I didn't even answer the question. I think I was just like, "AREYOUELIZABETHSCOTT??" She smiled back at me and said, "Yes I am." I was so excited at that point and my friend just kind of looked at me like How do you even know who this person is? Are you a creeper? You see, my friend is not into books like me. She doesn't really care for them, but she came a long because she's nice. And I'm not a creeper. Author websites have pictures, okay. Anyway, after she confirmed my question, I answered with, "Ohh! I'm Tricia - the girl who won second place in your contest with the song I wrote?" She lit up after I said that and gave me a hug. After our introduction, Elizabeth and I talked for a while and she was so so nice. She is just a wonderful lady. I promise you it's worth traveling to meet her. She is so sweet and so helpful and so grateful for any kind words about her books. She is a beautiful person.

After meeting Elizabeth, Susane Colasanti walked in and Elizabeth introduced me! I comment on Susane's blog all the time so Susane knew I was coming and when Elizabeth told her who I was she got excited and gave me a hug as well! It was a dream come true I swear. I mean, one of my favorite authors introduced me into another one of my favorite authors. How is that not awesome?? After we said hi and hugged, Susane had to go back to the rear of the store to get ready for her signing, so she said she would meet me later to take pictures and talk. (She also gave me an ARC of Something Like Fate so I will have a review for you guys either Wednesday or Thursday).
So after all of that excitement, I got back in line and waited for the signing to begin.
During the 3:30-4:15 shift, I didn't have any authors written down to meet so I talked to Elizabeth some more and then Susane came back to find me.
Susane was so amazing. We talked for a while and she told me how wonderful she thought it was that I traveled so far to meet her and the other authors. I got more hugs and more advice and had a great conversation. Then we took pictures and you know what was cool? Susane took like 8 pictures for both of our camaras because she understands how sometimes us Teens don't like the way we look in pictures. For her it wasn't one or nothing. It was hey, your my reader and I love you so lets take a bunch! She was great too. Meeting her made it all worth it as well.

After meeting Elizabeth and Susane, I met ANOTHER Elizabeth - Elizabeth Eulberg.

She was so so friendly and we had such a great conversation about dreams and book covers and greatness. She was so funny! Can't wait for her new book.

The signing was so wonderful. I met Elizabeth Scott, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Eulberg, Gayle Forman, Melissa Kantor, Jenny Han, and Sara Shepard. I didn't get to meet Alice Hoffman or Lynn Weingarten because I had to leave :/
All of those authors were so nice and friendly. Authors are just amazing people. I love them. Sorry this post was so long but I wanted you guys to know how it was and how nice these authors really are! Hope you enjoyed the story and I hope it makes you want to read that much more!

Have a great day everyone! Posts coming soon once I'm home again!

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Melissa Kantor!

2010-03-19T12:51:00.002-04:00

Hey guys, I was just about to post a book review for Melissa Kantor's book, Girlfriend Material, and then I was like, Wait! It's Friday! So, instead of a review for her book, here is an interview with Melissa Kantor herself! Hope you guys enjoy!

1. Where do you get the ideas for your books?

"My books are often based on feelings I had when I was a teenager--so "Confessions of a Not It Girl" is about how it feels to have a friend who's WAY cooler than you are. And "If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?" comes from all the troubles I had with my stepmother when I was younger. I got seriously dumped in high school, and that's where the idea for "The Breakup Bible" came from. And I wanted to write about being one of those girls who guys don't like (or thinking you're one of those girls), which is how I got the plot for "Girlfriend Material." Basically almost none of the things that happen in my books happened to me, but I had most of the feelings that my characters have."

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I always loved writing. When I was younger, I wanted to be a writer, but then I got excited about other things (politics, teaching), so I stopped writing fiction. When I came back to it, in my thirties, it was like being with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"Oh, wow, that is such a good question. I can't really imagine writing a book with another author (though the writers who do it say it's wonderful). I would love to work with Jane Austen. Can you imagine?"

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"I have to say, the most popular guy in school NEVER wanted to go out with me (sigh). So while the emotional life of my books is very personal, the plots are all made up."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your first book after finishing the manuscript?

"I had kind of a funny route to getting published. My long-time editor was a great friend from high school. I wrote "Confessions of a Not It Girl" after a dinner we had together, one where she said I should write a YA novel. So it all happened very fast."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"I think people have all kinds of ways of fighting writer's block. One of the things I've found is that a problem on page 90 usually starts being a problem on page 9, only I don't notice it for a while. So I'm rarely able to fix a problem without going way back and finding its origins. Another thing I find really helpful is getting someone else to read what I've written. Often another set of eyes can see what I can't."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"The beginning and the end are always best for me. It's the middle that's a struggle!"

(Now for a couple fun questions)

8. Favorite song?

"Oh, I have the worst taste in music. I love really cheesy music from the seventies and eighties. Abba's an eternal favorite. And I love the Eurythmics "Right By Your Side." Definitely worth checking out."

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"I'd take my husband DEFINITELY. And my kids. And the A and E production of "Pride and Prejudice." And I'm totally embarrassed that I've never read "Ulysses," so I'd bring that and hopefully get through it!"

10. Five of your favorite things?
"Sex and the City (the show, not the movie)
Ben and Jerry's chubby hubby
My Blackberry
Old Navy pj bottoms
Nice Pens"

Okay guys, there you have it! I thought Melissa's interview was great! Thank you again Melissa for letting me interview you. And guys, next weekend I'll be having another contest and you'll have a chance to win a signed copy of Melissa Kantor's newest book, Invisible I. In Melissa's words, "Ivisible I is a really cool story about a girl who disappears and leaves her friends clues about where she is."
There's also a really awesome online community for this book that lets teenagers have the chance to have their writing and ideas be put into the upcoming Invisible I books! It's really cool. Hope you guys enjoyed today's post!

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

2010-03-15T17:59:00.003-04:00

First, Addie if you're reading this, you won the contest so send me your mailing address in an email and I'll send your books! Anyway, today's book is Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten. The description of this book is:

Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But, one day, Nina disappeared. Two years later, everyone has givenup hope that Nina will return, but Ellie knows her sister is out there. If only Ellie had a clue where to look. Then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing. Determined to find Nina, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she's got a chance--her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn't planning on. Like love. Lies. And the most shocking thing of all: the truth.

I thought this book was great. When I read the back of it, I figured it could either be really good, or really bad. It turned out to be really good. This story is so captivating and interesting. I've never read anything like it. Debut author, Lynn Weingarten definitely started her author career off right with this one. This book will definitely surprise you! I mean, you will probably guess a couple things, but it will definitely turn out different than you think. This book has such a great adventure and I love all of the drawings that are included too! Every time Ellie describes a picture her sister drew that she has found, there's an illustration of it on the next page! I've never seen a book do that, but I like it. It works well for this book. It definitely helps the reader imagine what Ellie is talking about. I really did love this book and didn't put it down until I was finished. It's an average length book and I think that it's pretty appropriate for most ages. Probably like 13 and up. They had it at my local library so make sure you guys check it out at your own!

PS: Okay, so I've been checking out some other book blogs and I have a question for you guys. Some blogs like to review the books in detail, like talk about almost exactly what happened in the book. I personally think this gives away too much of the book, but what I want to know is if you guys like the way I review or if you would like me to do it the other way? Let me know what you guys think!

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg and contest winner

2010-03-13T21:02:00.002-05:00

Hey everybody! Today's book is The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg. The description of this book is:

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . . .

I've been dying to get my hands on this book forever! Finally whoever checked it out returned it. I LOVED this book. It was so relatable and I totally wish Penny and her club were around when I was in high school. It sounds so great. I think most girls will definitely be able to relate to this book. Penny is such a cool girl and you cant help but feel bad for her. I think my favorite character is Tracy. She is so funny and spunky and kind of reminds me of me a little bit. Like with most good books, I couldn't wait to see how this book was going to end. This is a great debut from a new author. I can't wait to read more from her in the future. This book is a pretty average length one and a fast read. Plus, look at that awesome cover! I really like those girls' outfits... If you're looking for a cute and funny book, this one's for you! Hope you guys enjoy :)

And now, what you have all been waiting for: The contest winner!
The winner, selected at random, is.......... Addie! So Addie, send me an email with your mailing address and I'll get the package right out to you!
If you didn't win, don't worry. There will be another contest really soon with some more books and autographed prizes! I told you guys I'm going to the NYC Teen Author Festival on the 21st so I'll get some cool stuff singed for you! So make sure to enter future contests :)

Happy Reading!

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Kristina Springer!

2010-03-12T13:51:00.002-05:00

Hey everybody! I figured since there are some cool prizes from Kristina Springer this week, she would be perfect for this week's Funday Friday! So enjoy!

1. Where did you get the idea for The Espressologist?

"Sitting in a coffee shop! I was sitting there with my husband having drinks and people watching and the idea hit me. I wrote the whole book from that same table in the coffee shop."

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I've always liked to write and read lots and lots of books. But I had no idea I'd end up writing young adult books (which I LOVE doing!!). I always thought I was more of a nonfiction writer but I gave fiction writing a try about five years ago and loved it."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"Kristin Walker (A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL) because she's hysterical!!"

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Oh, for sure! I do tend to think back to different things when I'm writing but then twist it up or make it more interesting. There are several scenes though that totally happened. I was sitting in the coffee shop looking at a blank word document, trying to figure out how to start this book when the guy who made it onto page one walked in and I knew just how to begin. :-)"

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"With The Espressologist it happened pretty quickly. I posted a timeline from conception to publication here if you want to see the details-- http://author2author.blogspot.com/2009/10/espressologist-concept-to-pub-timeline.html"

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Talk it out with someone. Lots of times when me or my critique partners get stuck in our writing we'll talk out what we're doing, where we're at, where we're headed and give each other ideas. It's always helped me! "

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"Hmmm...probably the ending."

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"Anyone at All by Carole King"

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Book-- hmm, it would have to be a really big one since I'd need lots to read-- maybe one of those books that has all of Jane Austen's books compiled in it.

Movie-- You've Got Mail

Food-- Pizza

Person-- Husband"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"My family, writing, coffee, my iphone, and spin class. :-)"

Thank you very much Kristina for letting me interview you! And for the signed bookmarks :) I hope you all enjoyed Kristina's interview. I know I did. Now go and get your friends and enter the contest so you can read her fabulous book! I'll be posting the winner and a new book review tomorrow. Happy reading :)

I Know It's Over by C. K. Kelly Martin

2010-03-11T14:49:00.002-05:00

I don't know where any of you guys live, but I live in Ohio. For the past few months it has been freezing, snowing, miserable, and extra freezing. This whole week, though, it has been 60 degrees. 60 degrees! Oh it's so beautiful out. That's why this post is late :)
Today's book is I Know It's Over by C. K. Kelly Martin. The description of this book is:

Pure. Unplanned. Perfect. Those were Nick's summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parents' divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs. All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he's neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn't mind in the least. But Nick's world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then weeks later, while Nick's still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she's pregnant, and Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can't stop caring for, the girl who insists that it's still over.

I thought this book was really good. I mean, it was pretty sad, but it was still really good. Until I read this book, I hadn't heard of C. K. Kelly Martin. But now I think I'm going to have to look into reading more of her books. Martin is very good at painting the whole picture with words and really makes you feel like you're there with the characters. This story was not what I expected it to be, and while I like happy endings, this one is still real. This story is one that could happen to anyone. It's sad but true. You learn to really love the characters as well. If you're looking for a powerful and true read, this one's for you. It's about 300 pages so it's a pretty average length book. I personally like books in the 250-350 page range best. If this one sounds interesting to you, go get it! Happy Reading :)

PS: Remember you have until tomorrow night at midnight to enter the contest, winning The Espressologist by Kristina Springer, Honey Baby Sweetheart by Deb Caletti, Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt AND and autographed bookmark from Kristina Springer.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

2010-03-08T14:23:00.004-05:00

Ahhh! Okay I know I said Saturday or Sunday, and for that I am sorry. I do have a post today though! Seeee! I told you it would be soon :)
For my lack of posts and for being late, I'm adding another book to the prize for this weeks contest! It's Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. So that means you'll get 3 books AND a signed book mark from Kristina Springer! And Like I said.. if I get more followers.. there could be a surprise book :)
I'm also going to be posting a review like, everyday this week to make up for lost time. So count on seeing some more!

Okay, moving on to the review. Today's book is Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. The description of this book is:

It's been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents' divorce - or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she's been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

So, this was the book that I was dying to have last year. As some of you may have noticed, I have a picture of Sarah Dessen and I at the bottom right side of this blog. I drove 8 hours, yes 8, to meet her in North Carolina. I went to her event on Along for the Ride's publishing day and bought the book. I got it signed along with an art project I did in High School that has one of her quotes written on it. I read this book right when I got it. Then, I came back home really excited. I brought the book to a restaurant with me to show my friend how cool I thought it was. I left it on the table when we left. It had only been 10 minutes but by the time I got back, it was just gone. No one knew what happened to it. WHO WOULD STEAL A BOOK?? I mean, come on. Really? It just had to be MY book that I drove EIGHT hours to get signed? I was so mad.
Anyway, that's the background story of that. The book was obviously VERY good. Sarah Dessen's books are always amazing. While it was still very good, I don't think this one is top 3 of my favorites. The story line was really intriguing and I loved the name Auden. Auden is really easy to relate to, as my parents are divorced like hers and my dad has a new wife. THANK GOD they don't have a baby though. Overall, Along for the Ride was amazing and uplifting and fun and everything a Sarah Dessen novel always is. The writing in this book is perfect and so, so real. Sarah said herself that this book was fun to write and that you can tell when you read it that she had fun doing it. I think she's right. Although this book has some sad things it in, like most people's lives, it still is a really fun book. It was a quick read for me and I couldn't wait to figure out what happened in the end. If you're looking for a book to make you laugh and make you ready for summer, this one's for you. Hope you guys enjoy! :)

Funday Friday.... Contest!

2010-03-04T21:18:00.003-05:00

Okay guys, technically its 9:40pm eastern time on Thursday night, but I really want to post this now. Before I post the contest though, I do want to say I'm sorry for the lack of reviews. This has been a busy week here in College-town, so I haven't been able to read a whole lot. I WILL post one Saturday or Sunday though. I PROMISE. So, on that note, here's the contest!

For my first contest, I thought it would be cool to do a sort of spread the word type thing (I got this idea from Elizabeth Scott's last contest, hehe). So, what I want you guys to do to enter is to spread the word about this blog and contest. Simple right? To explain more, it would be really cool of you guys to post the link of my blog on things like twitter, facebook, your own blog, or anywhere you want! You don't even have to stick to online areas either. You could post the link on a paper and hang it up on a building or something and take a picture. I don't care. Anything you want goes. The only rule is to spread the word :) Just post the link to these things in a comment of this blog entry. You'll have until next Friday the 12th, at midnight, to do this. When time is up, I'll either pick a winner at random, or if one of you does something really cool, I'll probably pick that person over the others. Now, I bet you're wondering what the prize is, right?

The prize includes: A copy of The Espressologist, a signed bookmark from the author of The Esspressologist Kristina Springer, a copy of Honey Baby Sweetheart by Deb Caletti, and I might even add a surprise book at the end if I get some more followers ;)

You might be wondering how, if you win, you'd receive the books. Well, I will ship them to you free of cost through USPS. You would obviously have to send me your address in an e-mail. I totally understand if you don't feel comfortable doing this, but I promise you once I send out the package I will throw away your address and never see it again. The world of book bloggers is a pretty safe place in my opinion.
With all that said, I hope you guys like the prizes and are interested in entering! Let the games begin :)

News!!!

2010-03-03T14:37:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! I have some cool news for you guys. Well, only some of it really effects you guys, but still, it's cool! Elizabeth Scott just had an amazing contest over at her blog and the winner won 35 books, a phone call from her, AND their name in her new 2011 book. I entered and I didn't win first place, but I did win second! My prize is 21 books! So that means a lot more reviews for you guys! I'm so excited! I can't wait to get them and let you all know what books they are.
The second thing I want to tell you guys is that the NYC Books of Wonder Teen Author Festival is now scheduled! There is a massive 70+ YA author signing on March 21 from 2-6 and I'm driving all the way from Ohio to be there! There is a full list of authors and events you can see here on Susane Colasanti's blog. There is also a Facebook page about it, compiled by author David Levithan. I will be going up to Susane Colasanti, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, Elizabeth Scott, Melissa Kantor, and Sara Shepard. If there's anyone else there I recognize I'll go up to them as well! What this means is that I'll have them sign some stuff so I can send them out as a contest for you guys. Hope you're all excited! I know I am :)

I'll post another book review soon. Probably tomorrow. Then we'll have a contest for Funday Friday. Stay tuned!

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

2010-03-01T14:26:00.003-05:00

So, a few of you have been asking about a review for the book Imaginary Enemy. Well, I promise I will do a review of it once I get my hands on it. I'm not able to buy any books at the moment, and my library does not currently have it. I'll try and see if I can request the library to get it, but I'm not sure if they'll be able to because of all the funding cuts and such. Thanks for telling me about the book though! It sounds like a really cool book, and like I said, I promise I'll try to get my hands on it!
Anyway, as you can see, today's book is If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor. The description of this book is:

Lucy Norton’s life becomes strikingly similar to Cinderella’s after she is uprooted from her hometown of San Fran to Long Island, NJ to live with her stepmother and bratty twin stepsisters. Things take a turn for the better when the hottest guy in school suddenly takes an interest, but when things continue to get worse at home, Lucy wonders if she will ever live happily ever after.

Okay, I couldn't find the actual synopsis online because for some reason Amazon and Barnes and Noble both had the wrong ones. Weird, I know, but the one I posted above was pretty close. This book was SUPER good. I love Melissa Kantor's writing. I'll definitely post more reviews of her books in the future. Her books always make me laugh and have that type of internal sarcasm that I love. This book was really cute, and even though it's related to Cinderella, it's a totally real and relatble story. My dad just recently got re-married too and I now have 2 step sisters and 1 step brother, so I can tell that this book definitely captures some of the downsides to that type of thing. I think Melissa Kantor is one of my favorite authors now. I definitely recommend this books to anyone! It's almost 300 pages so its a pretty good sized book. It's a quick AND fun read. Hope you guys enjoy! :)

PS: Library soon, anymore suggestions you guys have other than Imaginary Enemy?

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Elizabeth Scott!

2010-02-25T22:48:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! It's actually like 11pm on Thursday night, but I'm not going to have time to post this tomorrow. This week's Funday Friday is featuring one of my absolute favorite authors! She's on my list :) She was super nice and don't forget about her upcoming book The Unwritten Rule, available March 16th! Here's the interview:

1.Where did you get the ideas for your books?

"You can actually read about where I got the ideas for all my books on my website: http://www.elizabethwrites.com Just click on the books link and any book you look at will have "the story behind the story" for it down toward the bottom of the page."

2.Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"Writing really snuck up on me! I didn't start writing until I was 27 (!) but once I started, I just had so much fun I didn't want to stop."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"I don't know! I think I work best alone, but you know, I never say never about anything happening..."

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Nope. For me, the best part of being a writer is making up stories! And besides, my life is boring--why would I want to write about myself?"

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your first book after finishing the manuscript?

"Once I started actually looking for an agent (that took a while, because I didn't want to do it, and if it hadn't been for my friends asking me to, I never would have), it didn't take too long. And the first book my first agent sold for me sold in June 2005--and came out in July 2008. The third book my first agent sold for me, in October 2005, was actually my first novel, Bloom, and that came out as my first book, in April 2007."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Try writing the scene from the end to the beginning. Try writing it from the point of view of another character. Try writing having everyone getting hit by a bus (sometimes this just makes you feel better, especially if your characters are driving you crazy!) Try sitting down and letting go of what you think should happen and just let your characters do whatever they want, rather than what you want them to do."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"If it's a good book, ALL of it!!"

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"I don't have a favorite song. Sorry!"

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"I could never pick just one book--or movie--I'd want to take everything!) But I would take fritos, water, my husband and dog with me for sure!"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"My husband, my dog, my family, books, and writing."

There you have it everyone! Elizabeth Scott :) Her website is Elizabethwrites.com It's very useful so head on over! Don't you guys just love authors? They're so awesome! Alright, hope you guys liked this one and found it useful! It definitely gives me more confidence in my writing knowing that Elizabeth didn't start writing till she was 27. Next week I'll have a contest up with a couple pretty cool prizes. Happy Reading everyone!

When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

2010-02-22T20:30:00.003-05:00

Sorry I didn't post this earlier guys! I had a busy day today. I haven't been able to get to the library yet, so I re-read this book and thought I'd post it! It's When It Happens by Susane Colasanti. The description of this book is:

Sara and Tobey couldn't be more different. She is focused on getting into her first-choice college; he wants to win Battle of the Bands. Sara's other goal is to find true love, so when Dave, a popular jock, asks her out, she's thrilled. But then there's Tobey. His amazing blue eyes and quirky wit always creep into her thoughts. It just so happens that one of Tobey's goals is also to make Sara fall in love with him. Told in alternating points of view, Sara and Tobey's real connection will have everyone rooting for them from the minute they meet!

I always love Susane's books! I absolutely love this one because it's so relatable. I mean, all of Susane's books are, but this one especially. When I find that perfect guy, I want him to be like Tobey. He's so sweet and adorable! The characters in these books are so multi-layered and lovable. I also love the alternate voice thing. It's always cool to read books with two different sides so you can see what each character was thinking. This book was Susane's first novel and it's definitely a great one! If you're looking for a real book with a cute romance, this one's for you! It was a pretty quick read for me. When I read it, time flew by! Happy reading, hope you enjoy :)

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Gayle Forman!

2010-02-19T14:49:00.002-05:00

Yepp, today is another Funday Friday :) This week's author is Gayle Forman! She was way nice and let me interview her. Here it is:

1. Where did you get the idea for If I stay? Sisters in Sanity?

"If I Stay: Years ago, friends of mine--a family--were killed in a car crash like the one that kills Mia's family and one of those friends held out a little longer and I always wondered if he knew what had happened to the rest of his family. And if he did, did he choose to go with them. I guess I obsessed about that for a while when maybe seven years later, out of the blue, this character Mia, who was total fiction, popped into my head, prepared to take us both on a journey to answer that question.

Sisters in Sanity: This one also percolated for a while, and is also based on a true story, though not my story, but rather an article on behavior modification bootcamps I wrote for Seventeen magazine a dozen years ago. Those places horrified me, and stuck with me long after I'd finished the piece. One day, years later, I had a new baby and was trying to figure out how to make a living now that I couldn't travel around and report stories like I'd done before. I got this idea to do a young-adult novel and then I thought of those girls in those schools again and then I imagined this girl Brit, and that's how Sisters was born."

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I've always written, but I didn't even think about becoming a writer until I was in my twenties. I was never one of those kids who aspired to be a novelist or reporter. I didn't write for my high school newspaper or yearbook. But I did always write—stories and plays and poetry—ever since I was a little kid. It wasn't until I was in my twenties and in college (I took a few years off before starting at university) when I realized that pre-med was not for me and started taking random classes that I happened upon a journalism course and a lightbulb went on."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"There are so many authors I love and admire but I think I'm too bullheaded to collaborate. I love the collaborating with my editor, Julie, because she brings out the best in me, or reigns in the worst in me. One of the reasons I like writing is that I am my own boss and answer to only me."

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"See above."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your first book after finishing the manuscript?

"My first book is actually a travel book called You Can't Get There From Here: A Year On The Fringes Of A Shrinking World. It was nonfiction so it works a little differently. I wrote a proposal and sent it out to various agents and I think the whole process from proposal to agent to publishing contract was about three of four months. With If I Stay, I had to get an agent all over again--my first one had shut down her agency--and even though I'd published two books, the entire process took just as long, maybe longer. I described both ordeals at length in a blog post that you can read here: http://www.gayleforman.com/blog/2010/01/19/answers-part-2-query-letters/ "

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"I don't think you run ever out of creativity. You might run out of energy. For me, there are days when it's just not right to write so I don't force it. But I'm also a big believer that momentum breeds momentum, inertia breeds inertia. So if you don't feel like the thing you're working on or creating is working, put it aside and work on something else, something fun and perhaps with no end goal (i.e. nothing you want to publish or show anyone). For myself, I often find that something grows out of this. But if I just sit there waiting for some magic lighting bolt of creativity to strike, it doesn't. The muse most often visits while you're already working."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"The part that makes my chest feel like it's about to break open a bit."

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8.Favorite song?

"Lately, Chicago by Sufjan Stevens, but this is not immutable."

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Book: A large blank composition book (plus a pen). To take advantage of the fact that I'm stuck on a deserted island.
A movie: Clueless. To take my mind off the fact that I'm stuck on a deserted island.
Food: Smoothies.
People: Husband and kids (and a babysitter for occasional dates on the other side of the island)"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"Generosity
Friends
Tropical Beaches
My family
Books—and the people who read them"

So there you have it everyone. The lovely Gayle Forman :) Thank you again Gayle for letting me do the interview! I hope you guys enjoyed the interview and found it useful! Happy reading everyone :)

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

2010-02-17T19:34:00.003-05:00

Today's book is Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler. The description of this book is:

Calliope (or Cal as she calls herself) wants nothing more than to stay put; to stop traveling cross-country with her mother, sleeping in a tent, and abandoning all belongings whenever they pull up stakes. Meanwhile, Eliot misses the happy times he left behind when his father decided to open a camp for kids looking to lose weight and find Jesus. when Cal and Eliot meet by chance, they feel an immediate connection. together they must face their isolation, the threat of yet another move, and the deepening of Eliot's father's obsession. In their case, love just might be everything it's cracked up to be.

So, I'm kind of torn on this one. Part of me liked this book and part of me didn't. Basically, all the way until around page 120, I really didn't like it. There were some parts of that section that were good, but most of it just came off weird to me for some reason. I liked the rest of the book though. It's still an interesting story. It's definitely different. I do love Eliot though. He's so sweet and such a good guy. It's also written in alternating voices. One part of it that I kind of didn't like too much is that when it alternated between the two characters, it left out big chunks of the story. I mean, not anything that's probably too important, but it was just kind of too big of a chunk for my taste. Overall, I thought this book was okay. If you're looking for something different with a love story attached, this ones for you. I would recommend it to any age really, but if you're not an avid reader, I warn you. If it sounds interesting to you to try, go ahead! Happy Reading :)

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

2010-02-15T15:49:00.002-05:00

Okay everybody, today I've got a special book for all of you. This is Elizabeth Scott's newest book and it doesn't come out until March 16th! I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an ARC before it's release date. The description of this book is:

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like you best friend's boyfriend.
Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.
Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.
Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

I really loved this book. I always love Elizabeth Scott's books! Her books always make you get that pang in your chest as you read, feeling what the character is feeling. I love it! Anyway, I thought this book was GREAT. It was so relatable! It really seemed like something that would happen to me. I felt so bad for Sarah the whole time. This book is only about 200 pages so it's a quick read. At least it was for me. I couldn't put it down! I wanted to know the ending so badly! I think most girls will love this book. Who hasn't had boy drama?? So if this book sounds good to you, go pre-order it now! It's worth it! You can pre-order it from the following: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Books Inc., and Borders. Happy Reading! :)

Funday Friday! Featuring.... Susane Colasanti!

2010-02-12T14:10:00.003-05:00

Hey everybody! I got another author interview for you guys! This time, it is the wonderful Susane Colasanti! Here it is:

1. Where did you get the idea for Take Me There? Something Like Fate?

"The main story line of Take Me There actually came to me in a dream. In fact, a lot of major plot ideas reveal themselves to me in dreams. I had this dream about a boy and a girl who had been best friends for a while. Then one night, everything changes. When I woke up, I knew what should happen between Rhiannon and James. Since I was still a teacher while I was writing Take Me There, some of the school scenes were inspired by funny things I had seen or overheard at school. Most importantly, I wanted to write a novel that took place in New York City so I could try to capture how amazing it is here and share the energy with my readers.

I’ve always been interested in the concept of fate. I believe that we’re the architects of our own destiny, but I also believe that the Universe works in powerful ways. In Something Like Fate, I explore some of the questions I’ve been asking for years. How much does fate control our lives? If we follow one path instead of another, will we still arrive at the same endpoint? How can we explain things like major coincidences, deja vu, and that incredible sense of connection we immediately feel with some people? I also wanted to explore the conflict of falling in love with someone you know you shouldn’t be with. In Something Like Fate, a girl falls in love with her best friend’s boyfriend. She really believes that this boy is her destiny. Forbidden love is hot."

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"When I was 12 years old, I knew I wanted to be a science teacher. I remember being around 16 and thinking of writing a children’s book. But I’d already decided to be a teacher, so I didn’t consider writing as a career choice. However, I’ve always loved writing. Reading and writing have always been seriously important to me.

In high school, I wished for teen novels that would tell the story from both the girl’s and boy’s perspectives. I promised myself that if I ever wrote a book, I would tell both sides of the story. This inspired me to think about writing When It Happens. When I was in grad school, I started writing the first draft. Life is a wild thing – you never know where it’s going to take you. I wasn’t planning to resign from teaching and become a full-time author, but I’m so grateful for this amazing opportunity."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"It would be cool to write a dual-perspective book with another author. I think collaborating is an excellent way to assure that each voice sounds unique. If Louise Fitzhugh were still with us, I’d be so incredibly honored to work with her. I totally worshipped Harriet the Spy back in elementary school. I even carried a spy notebook around for years."

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"When It Happens was inspired by experiences I had during senior year of high school. I think that every first book is autobiographical to some extent. It’s the first opportunity for an author to pour out all of the experiences and emotions that she’s been carrying around her whole life. Naturally, some of those things are used to shape a first book. Every one of my books contains details from real life, though. That’s what hopefully makes the stories feel real."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"Like all manuscripts, the first draft of When It Happens was rejected by several publishers before finding its home at Penguin. I submitted that manuscript in 2001 and the hardcover edition was published in 2006. The book went through about nine revisions before I wrote the final version in 2005.

I didn’t have an agent until I was about to submit Take Me There. My agent is actually a friend of my publisher, so thankfully I didn’t have to do much searching for one. She agreed to sign me not long after my publisher put us in contact with each other."

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"If someone is feeling like they don’t know where to go with their writing, they’re probably not feeling passionate about their story. When you have passion for what you’re writing, the story unfolds. This is not to say that we don’t all have our good writing days and bad writing days. Just that if you love what you’re writing, it’s impossible to run out of creativity."

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"When the first sentence pulls me in and I’m like, “Dude, I totally have to read this.” If a book grabs me right away, I know it’s going to be an awesome read."

8. Favorite song?

“Clarity” by John Mayer

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Book – The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Movie – Garden State (but I would smuggle in Office Space and Election)
Food – cupcakes with pink icing and vintage sprinkles
Person(s)* – all of my friends, my bf, David Letterman (to tell jokes), Jodi Picoult (to tell stories), the entire Mummenschanz performance troupe (for entertainment), and Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks’s character in Cast Away)

*Assuming I would only be stuck there for a little while. I wouldn’t want to drag everyone else down with me."

10. Five of your favorite things?

"Sparkly city lights, The Office, nostalgia, old-school board games, positive energy"

There you have it! Miss Susane Colasanti. Her newest book, Something Like Fate, will becoming out in May and it sounds amazing! If you like Susane's books or have questions or anything at all, you can reach her at these following sites:

Website: http://www.susanecolasanti.com
Blog: http://windowlight.livejournal.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susanecolasanti
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/susanecolasanti
Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanecolasanti

Hope you guys enjoy!

How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles

2010-02-09T14:16:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, I finished this book saturday but I forgot to post it, haha. Sorry! Anyway, today's book is How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles. The description of this book is:

EVERYTHING in sixteen-year-old Amy Nelson Barak’s life is going wrong! Her mom got married and moved to the suburbs, and now they are going to have a baby. Amy moves in with her dad in Chicago and signs him up for an online dating service. His first four dates are that night . . .
What else? Her dog Mutt impregnated her grumpy neighbor’s prized poodle, so Amy will actually have to get a part-time job to pay for half the veterinary bill. And there’s this totally annoying boy, Nathan Rubin, who just moved into her apartment building. Luckily, Amy has a cute boyfriend named Avi. Only he’s more like a non-boyfriend considering Avi is in the Israeli army for the next three years.

Apparently this book is the sequel to the book called How to Ruin My Summer Vacation. It was a good sequel though because I could still follow the story without being lost. I thought this book was really good! This is another book filled with internal sarcasm and I love it :) Avi is sooo sweet and adorable! I wasn't sure if I would like this book because I hadn't heard of it before or heard anything about it, but it was very good. I'll definitely have to pick up the first and third book. If you want to read this one, pick up the first book as well so you get all the details! I want to know more about Amy's trip to Isreal. It's really cool that the author had the Isreali and Hebrew element in this book. It's really different and interesting. Hope you guys think it sounds interesting and pick it up! Happy reading :)

Funday Friday!

2010-02-05T14:02:00.003-05:00

Okay, yes, the title is pretty cheesy. I know this. But, it is pretty explanatory. Friday's from now on are going to be fun :) Here is the first Funday Friday surprise. Hope you like it!

For today's Funday Friday, we have an author interview! Yes, that's right. Eileen Cook was generous enough to let me interview her for this blog :) So here's the interview!

> Where did you get the idea for What Would Emma Do?

"I re-read the play The Crucible while on vacation. It's about the Salem Witch trials and how people can turn on each other. I started thinking of what it would have been like to be around during the time of the trials and then I started thinking how the story might play out in a modern high school. Later that night I started making notes on the story that would become What Would Emma Do."

> If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"I can only pick one?! I grew up reading Judy Blume's books. (Secretly I blame her for my boobs. I did that "I must, I must, I must increase my bust" exercise from Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, and now look what happened.) I would love a chance to work with her. I would also clean her house if she would just let me hang around."

> Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"I think every author finds that bits and pieces of their life sneaks into their books. I am happy to say however, that I have never kissed my best friend's boyfriend, even by accident. If a writer is worried about having too much of their personal life in their book I would tell them write the whole thing and then figure out if there is something that needs to come out."

> How long did it take to find an agent/publish your first book after finishing the manuscript?

"Once I finished my first book it took about 3-4 months to find my agent and she sold the book after about six months. It felt like forever, but looking back it went fairly quickly."

> What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"I have two pieces of advice. When I am stuck it is due to one of two reasons, either I've gone down the wrong path and the story isn't working or I need to recharge my batteries. If I've gone down the wrong path I take the time to reread what I have and see if I can find where I went off track. If you try and force a story it doesn't work. Characters, even though they are made up people, still have to make choices that make sense for them. Other times the issue is that I'm burnt out. If I need to recharge then I take time to read, go to the movies, take my dogs to the beach or hang out with friends. You never know where a source of creativity is going to come from so get out there and soak everything up."

> Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I've always loved books wanted to be a writer. My parents had this homework assignment I did in second grade. We were supposed to practice writing sentences, I strung mine together so they made a story. The teacher wrote on the paper "Eileen some day I'm sure you'll be an author!" When my first book came out my dad hunted down this teacher. She was in her 80's. We went to visit her in the old age home and she spent the whole time talking about her bunions.

As for your question if I was always good.... that would be a no. You wouldn't expect someone to sit down at the piano for the first time and play Mozart. They would have to practice and writing is no different. Luckily, I like writing so the practice didn't feel like work."

> What's your favorite part of a book?

"Getting to write THE END! Writing a book is a marathon. It's a lot of fun in the beginning when you come up with the idea, but about half way through it gets difficult. Things don't work as well, characters start to wander off and I wonder if I will ever find my way to the end. Of course writing the end, isn't really the end... then come revisions."

> (Now for a couple fun questions)
> Favorite song?

"Oooh hard question, music depends so much on what kind of mood I'm in. If I can pick only one it would be Best Friend by Queen. It's an oldie, but it's a goodie."

> If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"I would take the book A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, the movie Love Actually (I think Colin Firth is dreamy), homemade chocolate chip cookies and my husband Bob. I would also sneak my dogs on the island. They're small and they could chase coconuts instead of balls."

> Five of your favorite things?

"I love:
A stack of books that I can't wait to read

Sitting on the beach with my dogs

Hot tea and warm cookies (especially on a rainy day)

Having good friends over for dinner and long conversations

Renting a stack of movies and spending all day on the sofa watching them in a giant movie marathon"

So there you have it guys! The wonderful Eileen Cook :) Hope her interview helped you guys with writing questions you may of had, or just made you laugh a little. I personally think that hearing this stuff from authors is AWESOME, even if it is only what their favorite color is. Thank you again to Eileen for letting me interview her.

Let me know if you guys like the new Funday Friday. From now on, on Friday's I should have fun stuff up like more author interviews, or even contests. So stay tuned :)

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

2010-02-03T16:10:00.002-05:00

Hey guys. I just finished the next book and this time it was My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison. The description of this book is:

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight.

So, at first, I was a little nervous about reading this book cause I'm not a big Sci-fi person, but this book was so cute! This book was definitely well thought out. There are so many elements to it. I give Janette Rallison two high-fives! Tristan is so sweet :) I love his character. Janette never ceases to make me laugh with her books. The sarcasm and fun dialogue always get me smiling. Anyway, this book is definitely a trip down fairytale lane, but it's still worth the read (you guys know I'm a sucker for any kind of cute romance story). The book is about 300 pages so its a pretty average length read. If you're looking for something fun, cute, and fairytale-ish, this one's for you! Plus, look at that cover! Sooo gorgeous! Hope you guys enjoy :)

Surprise!

2010-02-01T20:34:00.003-05:00

That's right! There's going to be a surprise for all you guys posted soon. ;) It will probably be up Friday. I'm going to try and make Friday's on here more fun from now on and I've got some great stuff coming up that you guys are gonna love! I should have another review up soon too. Definitely up before friday. Thanks for visiting and happy reading :)

PS: If you could ask an author anything, what would you ask? ;)

Layout

2010-01-30T23:20:00.004-05:00

Okay, I know. I've been posting a lot lately. But, I've changed stuff around a lot on here, so it's necessary. First, the new layout. You guys like it? If you're having problems viewing the whole layout and you have firefox, just go up to your taskbar, click view, zoom, zoom out. For Internet Explorer, click page, zoom, zoom in. That should fix it but if you have any other problems, please let me know! Happy reading :)

What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook

2010-01-30T19:30:00.004-05:00

Hey guys! Just finished the first book. This one is What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook. The description of this book is:

Thou Shalt Not Kiss Thy Best Friend's Boyfriend...again...

There is no greater sin than kissing your best friend's boyfriend. So when Emma breaks that golden rule, she knows she's messed up big-time...especially since she lives in the smallest town ever, where everyone knows everything about everyone else...and especially since she maybe kinda wants to do it again. Now her best friend isn't speaking to her, her best guy friend is making things totally weird, and Emma is running full speed toward certain social disaster. This is so not the way senior year was supposed to go.

Time to pray for a minor miracle. Or maybe, just maybe, it's time for Emma to stop trying to please everyone around her, and figure out what she wants for herself.

This book was absolutely adorable! I loved it. I read it in one sitting because I wanted to know the ending so badly! Anyway, I thought the book was SO good. I love the voice Eileen uses in her books. I love books that can make me laugh, and Emma's internal sarcasm always had me smiling. This book is so well written that I felt so bad for Emma. I wanted to jump in the story and help everyone! This book is around 300 pages and was a pretty fast read in my opinion. If you're looking for something funny yet easy to relate, this one's for you! They should have it at your local library. Hope you guys enjoy :)

PS: Eileen Cook is VERY nice. If you've read any of her books and loved them, let her know! Email her at eileen[@]eileencook.com It's worth it!

New Books! Plus New Layout?

2010-01-30T15:19:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! I just got back from the library so I should have an entry either tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm really excited to read most of these books! Well, I'm excited for all of them, but I've only heard of three so we'll see how they turn out! I got My fair Godmother by Janette Rallison, What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook (who is SUPER nice by the way), Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler, How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles, and last but not least, I got Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor.

Also, I'm trying to get a new layout for this blog. I love the current one but I found a super cute design I want to try for a while. There have been a couple problems trying to set it up though, so if you guys come to the blog and see it's a little messed up, that's why. Thanks for coming to the site again and I'll be posting soon! Happy reading :)

PS: I might be having some contests soonish. I have to figure out how all that stuff works first, but I just thought I'd let you guys know I'm trying to spice up the blog a little bit :)

About tomorrow..

2010-01-29T14:41:00.003-05:00

Okay, so, tomorrow I am going to the library to get more books. A couple of you guys gave me suggestions so I looked them up in the library's catalog. Unfortunately, the library I go to only has one of the books that got suggested. The book they have is My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison, so I'll definitely be getting that one. The other one's were Imaginary Enemy and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. They did have SDFN on the shelves, but not at my library, so I'll try and see if I can get it transferred. Imaginary Enemy sounded like such a cute book, but unfortunately, my library doesn't have it at all. Sorry! I'll see if I can get some more cool books, and if you guys still have any suggestions, send them to me before 2:30pm eastern time tomorrow. I'll let you guys know what I got! Happy Reading :)

Isabelle's Boyfriend by Caroline Hickey

2010-01-24T20:38:00.004-05:00

Hey guys! Today's book is Isabelle's Boyfriend by Caroline Hickey! The description of this book is:

Taryn has found the perfect guy. Epp is tall, athletic, handsome, and best of all, she is sure he likes her, too. There’s only one problem: He’s dating someone else. But when Taryn becomes friends with Epp’s beautiful girlfriend, Isabelle, her life begins to change. New friends, movie dates, and a first kiss—life couldn’t get any better, could it? Except that Epp is still Isabelle’s boyfriend. Girls will relate to Taryn’s sincerity and humor as she tries to balance family, friendship, and, of course, romance.

I thought this book was all around pretty good. I mean, it wasn't too exciting, but it was still a good story. Girls will easily relate to this book if they've ever been in a situation where they've liked a guy and he was taken. This book is a quick read, only around 200 pages. If you're looking for a short read this one's for you! I thought it was pretty good for this author's first book. Writing a book is NOT easy, nor is getting published. Hope you guys enjoy! :)

PS: I should be getting to the library very soon to get more books. Any suggestions?

Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham

2010-01-19T18:50:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone! Today's book is Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham. The description of this book is:

Bulletproof, that's how Jenna Kassarian sees herself. It's all about control: As long as she works hard, nothing can hurt her. So Jenna constantly pushes — for perfect grades, the ideal boyfriend, the best, best friend.

The only problem is, she doesn't know if she can stop. If she relaxes even for a second, she's afraid she'll lose control completely.

Then Jenna decides it's now or never. She goes to a party and has one drink. But one drink is all it takes for her perfect facade to shatter. Suddenly she realizes straight A's can't protect you in the real world.

I thought this book was really good! This book is a fun high school story (for the most part). It's a story of learning who to trust and knowing what you need to do to reach your goals. I'm not too sure what else to say about this book either, haha. I thought it was really well written, and even though I had some idea of what was going to happen at some point in the book, there definitely was a twist that I didn't see coming. So, if it sounds good to you, go check it out! It's worth a try. Hope you guys enjoy :)

This Is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy Stone

2010-01-16T16:00:00.003-05:00

Hey guys! Today's book is This Is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy Stone. The description of this book is:

Friendship,

love,

and unexpected secrets

Nadio and his twin sister, Noelle, always had a unique bond. And somehow, Keeley Shipley fit perfectly into their world. But when Keeley spends the summer in England, she comes home changed, haunted by a dark memory. As she and Nadio fall in love, they try to hide it from Noelle, who's jealously guarding a secret of her own. Slowly, a life-long friendship begins to crack under the crushing weight of past trauma, guarded secrets, jealousy, obsession . . . and an unexpected love that could destroy them.

I thought this book was pretty good. I don't really have a lot to say about this one, haha. I thought it was a good idea to tell this story in alternate points of view. This story didn't turn out to be what I expected, but it was still a good book! I'd recommend it to anyone really. It's not the most amazing book I've ever read, but it's not bad either. If it sounds interesting to you, go for it! Hope you guys enjoy :)

Sisters In Sanity by Gayle Forman

2010-01-12T10:55:00.002-05:00

Today's book is Sisters In Sanity by Gayle Forman! The description of this book is:

"Where are they taking me?"

"It's for your own good, Brit," Dad said.

I was shoved into a small, stuffy room, and the door was locked behind me.

I waited for my dad to realize he'd made a terrible mistake and come get me.

But he didn't.

FOR SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Brit Hemphill, it's hard to know who she can trust. Convinced she's out of control, her father has sentenced her to Red Rock: a center for supposedly rebellious teens, where the therapy consists of name-calling and the girls who get privileges are the ones who rat out their peers.

But then Brit meets V, Bebe, Martha, and Cassie—four girls who keep her from going over the edge. Together, they'll hold on to their sanity and their sisterhood despite the bleak Red Rock reality.

So, I thought this book sounded really intense but sweet at the same time. After finishing, I loved it! Gayle Forman is such a good writer! She has a way of making you feel what her characters feel and making the story that much more intense. This was a really cool story. The way the girls in this book form their friendship despite their extreme differences is sweet. I also love how V helps everyone break the rules to have a little fun while they're stuck in Red Rock. There's even a little love story going on! Jed sounds like such a sweetheart and I love his and Brit's little firefly thing they've got going on. So cute! (Sorry, I'm a sucker for sweet and romantic guys. Even if they are fictional.) Anyway, This book was a great read, I definitely recommend it! Hope you guys enjoy :)

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

2010-01-10T20:57:00.002-05:00

Alright! Finally settled in everyone. Today's book is The Espressologist by Kristina Springer. The description of this book is:

High school senior Jane Turner works part-time at a Chicago coffeehouse with her friend Em. She begins to notice that people order drinks that fit their personality, and soon she has created a notebook of entries for nearly all coffee orders. On a whim, she begins matching drinks, and therefore couples, together, and the matches are a hit. But when her competitive boss finds out, he decides to use Jane's matchmaker talents to rev up business, causing confusion in her personal life. This debut is compulsively readable in spite of a predictable plotline and dialogue that is contrived at times. Springer has created a lovable, naive young woman in Jane, and even those who don't drink java will enjoy the frothy story.

I personally loved this book! I thought the plot sounded so cool and different! I love Jane so much; her character in this book is awesome! I think I'm starting to be able to predict Ya books pretty well cause I predicted a lot of stuff in this one! I would love to be able to do what Jane does in this book. It's so cute! Anyway, this book is only around 200 pages so it's a short and fast read. I thought the author did a really great job on this book. I love the cover too! Don't you guys think it's really pretty? Anyway, I hope you guys try this one out cause I think you'll like it! Happy reading :)

New post coming tonight!

2010-01-10T18:46:00.003-05:00

Okay guys. Just got moved in, sorry for still not updating. But, I read all of my five books! So, I will be posting a new entry later tonight after I eat and get settled in. Thanks for being patient! :)

Update!

2010-01-07T14:05:00.002-05:00

Okay guys, I just got my five new books in the mail! I ordered The Espressologist by Kristina Springer, Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman, Isabelle's Boyfriend by Caroline Hickey, Sticky Fingers by Niki burnham, and This Is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy Stone. They are pretty short books I guess, most of them being around 200 pages, so I should be posting new entries soon! I am moving back to college this weekend though, so bare with me because starting a new college semester is time consuming. Thanks for visiting the site! :)

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

2010-01-04T16:00:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I couldn't get my new books in the store, so I bought them online. They should be here in a couple days, so you guys should be seeing a lot more posts soon! Today's book, I read online at this awesome website by Simon and Schuster. It's called Pulse It and it's an online reading community for teens! They have 4 books online for about a month and a half each, usually switching two at a time. This one, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, is the most recent one I've read. The description of this book is:

Popularity is the best revenge.
In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls--and now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain, the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.
But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn't dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's ever been important to Lauren—starting with her boyfriend.
Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.

I thought this book was really good! With this book, you'll love to hate Lauren and you'll love to root for Helen! This book is around 260 pages, so it's not too long and is definitely a fast read! I thought the end was pretty good too. It leaves you wanting to know more, but it wasn't one of those endings where you're thinking, "REALLY?? That's it?!" This book was so adorable and I loved the story. Girls everywhere will love the plot if nothing else. I mean, what girl hasn't been backstabbed and made fun of? If you're looking for a fun read and an instant mood uplift, this book is for you! Hope you guys enjoy :)

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

2009-12-30T22:48:00.001-05:00

Today's book is Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves. The description of this book is:
With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast. So she runs away to Portero, Texas, in search of a new home. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul.

Yeah, so, again, I don't normally read Sci-Fi type books, but this one was posted online so I said why not. I will tell you know, this book is waaaayyyyyyy weird. I liked it actually, but I am warning you that it's a little out there. I thought the first chapter was pretty cool and it made me want to keep reading. It was a little confusing at first, obviously, but after you keep reading, you get the hang of it. I really liked Wyatt too. This book has a lot going on it it and its almost 500 pages, so if you don't feel like reading that much, it's not the book for you. But, anyway, I thought it was a good book despite it's weirdness, so if it sounds interesting to you, give it a try! Hope you guys enjoy and Happy New Years! :)

PS: I got an awesome Barnes and Nolble gift card for christmas so I'll let you guys know what books I get as soon as I get them! :)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T18:39:00.002-05:00

Pretty self explanatory. Merry Christmas everybody, and thanks for coming to the site! Happy New Years as well! Hope you guys get some cool books for Christmas! :)

Just Like That by Marsha Qualey

2009-12-22T17:27:00.004-05:00

Internet is up and running again, so, today's book is Just Like That by Marsha Qualey! The description of this book is:

Things change so suddenly. one day Hanna has a long-term boyfriend; the next, she realizes she doesn't have strong feelings for him and breaks up with him. one day Hanna trusts her two best friends completely; the next, all of that trust is toppled. And then Hanna finds herself the bearer of a major secret: she was the last person to see two teenagers before they died in an accident on the icy lake. she can't tell anyone, so when Hanna finds herself drawn to will, the elusive boy she's noticed around town, the kind of boy who'd increase any girl's pulse, she doesn't hold back. what she learns about him will astonish her. but what she learns about herself—her friendships, her family, her life—will affect her far more.

So, to me, this book sounded really cool. The book ended up being okay, but kind of disappointing at the same time. It started out like a normal book, but after that, it kind of just got weird. I still liked it enough to where I still recommend it, but only if you're an avid reader and like to read lots of books. This book might not be the best for someone who's looking for a GREAT book. I did like Hanna's character, and Will's. I was disappointed when I found out Will's secret, because it makes the beginning of their relationship all weird. Anyway, this book was overall good and had a cool story line but it wasn't the best either. Read it if you're interested, it's still a cool story. Hope you guys enjoy :)