Category: Lifestyle

$100 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday Eve, everyone! I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to bring you a very exciting giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a $100 Starbucks Gift Card just in time for summer! You all might know that I love coffee, and a good iced drink in the warm weather. If you win I recommend an iced chai tea latte, or, my go to, black coffee with caramel syrup. Of course, make sure to let me know your favorite Starbucks drink in the comments! Best of luck!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $100 Starbucks Gift Card

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck! (Please email becky@ohmygoshbeck.com with any questions.)

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 6/30 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

*Please note this giveaway is a bit different than the ones you normally see at Adventures in Polishland because it is a collaboration! Make sure to follow the link in each section, and follow all of the profiles linked in order to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review | Day 21 (The 100 #2) by Kass Morgan

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Day 21 (The 100 #2) by Kass Morgan

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on September 16, 2014

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Format: eARC

Pages: 320

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries — until now.
It’s been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They’re the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries…or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.
In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan’s The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can — together.

REVIEW

I jumped right into Day 21 immediately after finishing the first book in this series, The 100. This book picks up shortly after the first leaves off, with the 100 realizing that they are not the only people on Earth as they originally thought. I still enjoyed this book immensely, but found a few flaws in it.

First, the writing felt a bit watered down to me in this second book. I loved how rich the writing is in The 100, but Day 21 feels like it was adjusted for a younger audience. I also found two continuity issues in this book, which detracted from my overall rating. For example, in Day 21 Clarke mentions that the only mammal she’s ever seen before is a deer, but in The 100 Clarke saw a rabbit. These continuity issues were very small, but still quite noticeable, especially when reading the books back to back.

Similarly, Day 21 was much more predictable than the first book. I found that a bit disappointing, but thankfully was still wowed at the end of the novel. Morgan tied everything together once again, and I found myself on the edge of my seat. What I really love about this series is how addicting the books are. Because we follow four characters, I am constantly turning pages to find out what will happen next. The twists and turns are my favorite part, and I wish I wasn’t able to predict many of the moments in the book.

My final critique of Day 21 is the back and forth moments of some of the characters. For example, Clarke can’t seem to decide whether or not she wants to forgive Wells and be friends with him. One minute she hates Wells and never wants to see him again, while the next Clarke forgives him. This got a bit annoying, especially when Bellamy goes through a similar battle later in the book. He jumps to a conclusion really quickly, just to change his mind a moment later.

Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed this book and am ready to pick up the third book in the series. While Day 21 is more of a 3.5 star rating, I bumped it up to a 4 because I love it so much. The cliffhanger ending is just amazing, even though I did see it coming. If you read The 100, I highly recommend continuing on with the series. You’ll want to see what goes down in this book for sure!

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Book Review | The 100 (The 100 #1) by Kass Morgan

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The 100 (The 100 #1) by Kass Morgan

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on September 3, 2013

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Format: eARC

Pages: 336

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries — until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth’s radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents — considered expendable by society — are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life…or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she’s haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor’s son, came to Earth for the girl he loves — but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind’s last hope.

REVIEW

If you enjoy young adult dystopian novels, you need to pick up The 100! This book was sitting on my Kindle unread for over a year, and I can’t believe I didn’t read it sooner. I want to start out this review by saying that I have not watched the television adaptation of The 100, though I have heard the book and show are very different. Nonetheless, I highly recommend giving this story a chance if it at all sounds interesting to you.

The 100 takes place three hundred years after nuclear winter forced humans to escape to outer space in hopes of keeping humankind alive. Humans now live on a spaceship called the Colony, but this is a temporary solution, and humans must return to Earth before the Colony breaks down. The issue is, no one knows whether Earth is safe, or if the radiation levels still make the planet uninhabitable. The Colony decided to conduct an experiment by sending 100 juvenile delinquents down to Earth to see if they can survive.

We follow four main characters in The 100. First is Clarke, a girl who was confined for treason. Next is Wells, Clarke’s ex-boyfriend and the chancellor’s son. He committed a crime just so he could go to Earth with Clarke. Our next protagonist is Bellamy, who fights his way onto the dropship living for Earth so he can care for his sister. Finally, we follow Glass, who escapes the dropship bound for Earth in hopes of starting a new life with her boyfriend back on the Colony. The 100 is written in the third-person, but each chapter alternates between these four characters. There are also a lot of flashback scenes to help us get to know more about each character and what he or she went through up to this point in life.

I absolutely loved this book! The writing is exceptionally well done. Morgan does an amazing job at weaving together the past and the present, and creating well-developed characters. At times this felt like a slow read and as if nothing was happening in the plot. However, this is simply because we change character perspectives, and Morgan does a fantastic job making everything come together in the end. Thus, The 100 is a real page-turner because I always had to know what would next happen.

Similarly, this novel is full of twists and turns that I did not anticipate at all. The 100 doesn’t have a clear plot line, so I never know what to expect. I am always a fan of books where the author can create shocking moments that are logical, but difficult to predict. Morgan does this extremely well, and when I closed the book I immediately wanted to continue on with the series.

The only reason I deducted a half-star from my rating is because of the weak world-building surrounding the Colony. There are three ships connected together, Phoenix, Walden, and Arcadia, but I never fully understood how they functioned. There are different classes of people based on the ship you live on, but this was never explained. The different ships even have their own accents. I just wanted to know a bit more about the Colony and how it came to be organized.

Otherwise, I loved everything about The 100, and highly recommend it. I would describe this book as a mix of Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and The Hunger Games, so if that sounds like your thing I would go for it. I cannot wait to continue on with this series and see what will happen in the sequel, Day 21.

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When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass

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The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass

Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books on May 7, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

Format: Ebook

Pages: 400

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★

Kiera Cass’s Number 1 New York Times bestselling Selection series has enchanted readers from the very first page. In this fourth romantic novel, follow Illéa’s royal family into a whole new Selection – and find out what happens after happily ever after.

Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series has enchanted readers from the very first page. In this fourth romantic novel, follow Illéa’s royal family into a whole new Selection—and find out what happens after happily ever after.

Eighteen years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story…but as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she’s always thought.

A new generation of swoonworthy characters and captivating romance awaits in the fourth book of the Selection series!

REVIEW

I was a bit hesitant to jump into The Heir by Kiera Cass after hearing such hit and miss things about it from fans of The Selection series. This book takes place about twenty years after The One, with our main character being Eadlyn Schraeve, America and Maxon’s daughter. While Illéa’s caste system has been disbanded, the provinces are still in trouble. Maxon and America decide that Eadlyn should hold a Selection to provide entertainment for the country while they decide how to solve the political problems. Eadlyn is not a fan of this idea, but decides to go along with it for three months. Of course, the Selection brings more problems than solutions.

If you’ve been following my reviews of this series, you’ll know I have a love-hate relationship with it. I love that these are fun and fast reads, and that is definitely true with The Heir. I find Eadlyn to be a great character and first-person narrator. She is going to be the first woman ruler of Illéa, and has been training for the role her entire life. This makes Eadlyn very confident, knowing she is a powerful woman. While Eadlyn can be a know-it-all, she is actually very naive, and has built a lot of walls around her. I’m quite impressed with how well-developed her character is, and I’m excited to see her growth in the next book.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few things I did not like about this book as well. First, there are still grammatical issues in this series, which really need to be edited. Similarly, I found a few instances where big vocabulary words are used in order to enhance the writing, but they didn’t fit well with the story. The Heir is also extremely predictable, with the exception of a cliffhanger ending. I closed the book feeling as if we only got half of the story. I don’t think it is necessary to split The Heir and The Crown into two books.

Moreover, I also found that the side characters are written in a hot and cold way. I loved how we got to see how the original characters from The Selection are today, but I do want to know more about what happens to all of America’s siblings (we only learn about two of them). Similarly, we also don’t get to meet all of the young men competing in Eadlyn’s Selection. This makes sense at the beginning when there are 35 men, but when the book closes and there are only a handful left, I still don’t know all their names. I find this lack of detail a big weakness of the novel.

Let’s talk a bit about the societal aspects of this book. I am overjoyed that Cass finally alludes to the fact that people in Illéa can be something other than heterosexual. This topic is still not discussed, but it is at least mentioned. I can also tell that Cass is attempting to include a bit more female empowerment in this novel, as Eadlyn is an indpendant woman. However, it’s quite disappointing that female characters typically resort to being the ‘traditional’ woman, and I can see that happening to Eadlyn. I know this series takes place in a dystopian society, but this society is only a step away from our own, and when the series is written for young adults, I think it’s very important to read between the lines and see what teenagers are going to get out of the novel.

Overall, I think The Heir was a good installment in The Selection series. I do enjoy Eadlyn as a main character, and I liked seeing the characters from the original trilogy again. I do recommend this if you really enjoy this series, but otherwise it’s not a must-read. I will be picking up The Crown to complete my read of this series. I just need to know how our time in Illéa will wrap up overall!

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When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

 

Book Review | My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh

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My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh

Published by Amy Eichorn Books on February 10, 2015

Genres: Adult, Literary Fiction, Mystery

Format: Paperback

Pages: 306

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads: ★★★★

“It was the summer everything changed….”
“My Sunshine Away” unfolds in a Baton Rouge neighborhood best known for cookouts on sweltering summer afternoons, cauldrons of spicy crawfish, and passionate football fandom. But in the summer of 1989, when fifteen-year-old Lindy Simpson–free spirit, track star, and belle of the block–experiences a horrible crime late one evening near her home, it becomes apparent that this idyllic stretch of Southern suburbia has a dark side, too.
In “My Sunshine Away,” M.O. Walsh brilliantly juxtaposes the enchantment of a charmed childhood with the gripping story of a violent crime, unraveling families, and consuming adolescent love. Acutely wise and deeply honest, it is an astonishing and page-turning debut about the meaning of family, the power of memory, and our ability to forgive.

REVIEW

My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh is a book that doesn’t neatly fit into any genre, but one in which the writing is so beautiful I think anyone interested should read it. The story is about a girl named Lindy Simpson, who was raped at the age of fifteen in her Baton Rouge neighborhood, and is told from the point of view of one of the suspects, who just happens to be in love with her. Yet while this is a mystery novel to discover who the culprit is, it’s much more than that. My Sunshine Away gives readers an inside look to a southern neighborhood that is replete with fascinating characters and somewhat unbelievable events.

I first want to discuss the age group for which this book is appropriate. I’ve seen My Sunshine Away listed in both the young adult and adult sections of bookstores. While the story does follow the protagonist’s teenage life, for the most part, I personally consider this an adult novel. There are many graphic scenes, and I think the content is more appropriate for an older audience. That being said, I would recommend the book for the ages of 16 and up, but, as always, that’s a choice every individual reader has to make.

In terms of the story itself, I have to say I’ve never read anything quite like this before. The writing is very well done. I felt as if the protagonist was speaking directly to me, but in a way that is more poetic than colloquial. There are many quotable passages, and there is a depth to the writing as well. I don’t read literary fiction often, so I did struggle to find some of the metaphors and how they connected to the story. My paperback edition contains a discussion section, and I found that really helpful. It added to my understanding of the book, and also increased the story’s rereadability.

My Sunshine Away did have a slow pace, especially at the beginning, despite being a short book of about 300 pages. I think this is mainly due to the way time is used in the book. Instead of following a linear format, the protagonist jumps forward and backward in time. This does help to create a vivid picture of his childhood, but also made me slow down to ensure I got all of the details in order.

My favorite part of the novel is definitely getting to see inside a neighborhood in the south. I’m from the northeast, and am so interested with the southern culture that is in some ways quite different from my own. The characters in the novel are so richly written, and they are beyond unique. The author does an amazing job at mixing in shocking and disturbing moments with the normalcy of everyday events. It balanced out the story well to have a rape on page one, and then childhood games between the neighborhood children for the following chapters.

Similarly, I loved how real life events, such as the Challenger explosion, are included in the book. This makes everything seem so real and vivid. I had an easier time picturing our characters as real people, and that made my emotional connection to them grow strong.

Finally, the ending was a bit hot and cold for me. I do really love how the book wrapped up, but I was let down by the mystery’s resolve. I recognize that Lindy’s rape is not the sole focus of My Sunshine Away, but I almost feel like she wasn’t given the respect she deserved when the rapist’s identity was just glossed over in the end. It’s definitely something to think about after completing the book.

Overall, I did really enjoy My Sunshine Away, and I highly recommend it. I think this is a good book for those who want to break into the mystery genre, and those who love family dramas. You will get all of that and more in this novel. I look forward to reading more form M.O. Walsh in the future, and giving this one another read at some point, too.

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May Lifestyle Favorites | Beauty, Skincare, & More!

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Happy Thursday! June is here, and that means it’s time to share all of the things I’ve loved all May long. May went by so quickly for me, and I feel like I barely had the time to discover new products. I did get acquainted with some beauty goodies that have been in my stash for a while, and I was super surprised with a new song release this month. Let me share all of my lifestyle favorites with you!

May Lifestyle Favorites | Beauty, Skincare & More!

BEAUTY

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation

Rimmel Lasting Finish Skin Perfecting Foundation in Classic Ivory [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been reaching for this Rimmel foundation nearly every time I wear makeup lately! I wasn’t a huge fan of it at first, but the more I wear it the more I like it. I use a damp BeautyBlender to apply it, and I find I get a beautiful medium coverage that is buildable for a higher coverage. My skin seems to be reacting to it well, because it’s cleared up a lot and I have a lot less redness on my face. I don’t know if the foundation is helping, or if it’s simply better than the other foundations I use. Nonetheless, this is a great drugstore foundation! I just wish it had a pump.

Laqa & Co. Cheeky Lip in Cray-Cray

Laqa & Co. Cheeky Lip in Cray-Cray [BUY]

I got this cream blush from Laqa & Co. in a Birchbox order several months ago, and finally pulled it out for the spring season! I love wearing this orange-coral shade, and it’s very wearable once blended. I apply the blush on the back of my hand, and then use a damp BeautyBlender to pick up the color to dab on my cheeks. It works really well to get a well-blended look. This is a high end product, but it’s worth the price if you wear it often!


Cynthia Rowley Mini Creamy Lip Stain Trio | SugarCynthia Rowley Creamy Lip Stain in Sugar [REVIEW] [BUY]

I did go back to an old favorite this month in my Sugar lip stain from Cynthia Rowley. This is a ‘my lips but better’ shade with a creamy formula that enhances my natural lips. I love how this feels and it applies so easily that it’s really easy to grab on the daily. I also don’t have to worry about it wearing off because it is a stain, so the color stays put throughout the day.

SKINCARE

StriVectin–SD Instant Retexturing Scrub [BUY]

I got this scrub in a Sephora PLAY! box and I am really glad I got the opportunity to test this! This scrub is really creamy, and while it doesn’t feel abrasive it does an amazing job at removing dead skin cells. My skin definitely looks a lot smoother and more even than it did before I began using this product, so I might be getting it again in the future!

ETSY SHOP

Whimsical Plans [SHOP]

I recently made my first purchase from the Etsy sticker shop Whimsical Plans, and I’ve been using my new stickers all May long! Not only are the stickers amazing quality, but they are super cute as well. I love that she makes stickers specifically for the Erin Condren Life Planner in the Horizontal layout, as many shops only offer vertical stickers. I will definitely be back for more stickers in the future! Make sure to follow my YouTube and Planner Instagram to see the stickers in action!

MUSIC

Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake [BUY]

My ultimate favorite for the month of May is Justin Timberlake’s new song, Can’t Stop the Feeling! He dropped the single on May 6th, and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. It is one of my favorite JT songs of all time, and is the perfect summer anthem. If you haven’t heard it yet, definitely check it out! I’m sure it will have you dancing!

That wraps up my favorites for the month of May! As always, please share your current favorites with me in the comments below or on social media by using the hashtag #PolishlandFaves. I always love hearing your product recommendations and what’s been going on in your life!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | Happily Ever After (The Selection 0.4, 0.5, 2.5, 2.6) by Kiera Cass

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Happily Ever After (The Selection 0.4, 0.5, 2.5, 2.6) by Kiera Cass

Published by HarperTeen on October 13, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 416

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★★

Meet Prince Maxon before he fell in love with America, and a girl named Amberly before she became queen. See the Selection through the eyes of a guard who watched his first love drift away and a girl who fell for a boy who wasn’t the prince. This gorgeous collection features four novellas from the captivating world of Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, as well as exclusive, never-before-seen bonus content.

This series companion is a must-have for any Selection fan, and includes:

The Prince
The Guard
The Queen
The Favorite
Exclusive new scenes from The Selection, The Elite, and The One
Introductions to each novella from Kiera Cass
A map of Illéa and other illustrations
And more!

REVIEW

After completing the first three books in The Selection series, I decided to pick up this bind-up of all the novellas and bonus content that goes along with the original trilogy. Happily Ever After should definitely be read after the first three books, and if you haven’t read them I would not read my review here today. I will be sharing my non-spoiler thoughts on each novella and story included, but there will be spoilers for the original trilogy. Because this is a bind-up, I will share my thoughts on each section individually, and give a star rating for each section.

The Queen | ★★

My biggest disappointment in Happily Ever After is The Queen. I absolutely loved the character of Amberly in The Selection, and this story definitely tainted her. The Queen takes place during Clarkson’s selection, and I liked seeing what another selection was like. It was also really interesting to learn more about Clarkson’s parents, and Honduragua where Amberly is from originally. However, I was extremely disturbed with the ending of this novella. I don’t want to spoil it, but it goes with one of the themes that really disappointed me with The Selection as a whole, and that is how women are viewed. It’s such a shame that women are seen as submissive to men in this world, and I think it’s quite damaging considering these books are geared towards young adults.

The Prince | ★★★

Thankfully, Happily Ever After improved immensely after the first novella. The Prince is from Maxon’s perspective and takes place right before his selection begins, and continues through him meeting all the girls. I liked reading from Maxon’s point-of-view, as I sometimes questioned his intentions in the original trilogy. I was disappointed that most of this novella is basically just a rewrite of scenes in The Selection. That felt like a cop-out to me, as it didn’t add too much to the story. I also felt like we weren’t fully in Maxon’s head, but skimming the surface of his emotions. Nonetheless, I did enjoy this novella, it just wasn’t amazing.

The Guard | ★★★★

I was really excited to read The Guard, which is from Aspen’s point-of-view. This novella has a lot of original content, which I really appreciate. I also loved how we got to learn a lot more about the palace in this novella, as we follow Aspen and some of the other guards and maids. Plus, I was happy to delve into Aspen’s mind to see if he had good intentions. I do wish Cass tapped into Aspen’s emotions a bit more, but this was a solid novella.

The Favorite | ★★★★★

My favorite novella in Happily Ever After happens to be The Favorite, which is from Marlee’s perspective. This novella takes place right after Halloween, when Marlee is caught with Carter, and sharse about the couple’s life together in the palace.  I absolutely loved learning more about their relationship and what went on behind the scenes. This novella is nearly all original content, and while it was quite cheesy, I just loved it.

Scenes from Celeste | ★★★★★

I was also eager to learn more about Celeste. She had such an about face in The One, and I found it quite unbelievable that she would change character so quickly. These scenes really helped me understand Celeste as a person. The scenes are quite sad, in a way, considering her ultimate demise, but they are very enjoyable and add a lot to the overall plot.

The Maid | ★★★★ 1/2

The Maid is a short story from Lucy’s perspective, and begins on the plane ride home from Carolina after America’s father dies. Surprisingly, we learn a lot about Aspen in this story, which I wasn’t expecting. I did like learning more about Lucy and Aspen’s relationship. Of course, it was a bit cheesy, but I’m letting that slide because this book is called Happily Ever After! I deducted a half-star because the story does lack believability.

After the One | ★★★★★

After the One is a short story that takes place two years after the end of The One. It is written from America’s point-of-view, and takes place during a birthday party for Maxon. This is the most adorable story ever, and while I could predict the ending of it, I still loved it a lot. I think this story sets up the next two books in the series well, and I’m excited to continue on with The Heir next!

Where are They Now? | ★★★★ 1/2

Where are They Now? checks in with the three other Elite and shares how they end up in life. I thought it was really interesting to see how being in the selection affected their lives. I felt like this was Cass’s chance to include more diversity into the series, and while she did do one thing that surprised me, I wish she went for it a bit more. Nonetheless, I felt satisfied with these scenes for the most part.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed Happily Ever After. I don’t think it is necessary to read this book, but if you are a big fan of The Selection, or if you’re curious about what happened to the characters, I highly recommend it! I really loved learning more about Illéa, and I loved the map and illustrations included in this book. I’m so glad I decided to give it a read!

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When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Upcoming Adventures | June Blog Chat

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I can’t believe we only have a few days of May left, but that means it’s time to update you on everything Adventures in Polishland. I don’t have too many changes to discuss, but nonetheless let’s talk about my upcoming adventures and what you can expect on the blog in June.

Upcoming Adventures | June Blog Chat

If you liked reading my blog in May, you are in for a treat in June! Just as in May, June will be very focused on nail polish. I have some nail art to try, nail products to test, and a lot more nail polish comparisons! I really love how much I’ve been able to pare down my nail polish collection by comparing the shades I already own. Be sure to let me know if you want to see a nail polish collection post once I’m ready to share it!

As for my lifestyle posts, they will mostly be book reviews again. This year I have just been a reading machine! I keep thinking that my reading will slow down, but it hasn’t so far. I really love writing book reviews for each book I read so that I can let you know my thoughts, but also to help me remember the details of the book. Please tell me I’m not the only one who forgets books easily!

That about wraps it up for my June Blog Chat! I’m excited to continue creating content for you, and also for the warmer months. Here’s to a great June!

Book Review | Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

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Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Published by HarperCollins on March 10, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Format: eBook

Pages: 368

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★★

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara’s beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it’s too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

REVIEW

It is always very exciting when I am able to recommend a five-star book to all of you, and that is exactly what Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver is for me. This young adult mystery follows two sisters, Nick and Dara. As young children they were absolutely inseparable, but as they grow older they begin to grow apart. Everything changes when they are in a car accident together. Nick was at the wheel, and escaped with minor injuries, but Dara’s injuries are much more extensive. Vanishing Girls seeks to uncover the truth behind the accident. At the same time, a young girl named Madeline Snow goes missing from Nick and Dara’s town. The book explores whether these two mysteries are really as different as they seem.

I was absolutely blown away by Vanishing Girls. I love a good thriller, and although I was pretty disappointed with myself that I didn’t figure out the plot twist, I was amazed with how well Oliver crafted this story. A lot of readers criticize Vanishing Girls because it is similar to other books out there. That is definitely true, and even I have read a book with the same ending. However, the journey leading up to the conclusion is what allows Vanishing Girls to truly stand alone.

Oliver is an excellent writer. This is the third book I’ve read by her, and in each one she develops a unique voice. Not only is her writing poetic, and filled with beautiful descriptors, but she carefully crafted Vanishing Girls. It really takes talent to be able to weave together a mystery like this one. For the majority of the book things don’t seem important or connected, but in hindsight they are. I am so impressed with the writing and storytelling.

Similarly, Vanishing Girls becomes a very rereadable novel because of this sort of writing. I want to pick it up again in the future to really key in on the clues I missed along the way. I read Vanishing Girls as an eBook, but next time I will get a physical copy. That is because intermixed with the prose are mixed media elements such as photographs, online news articles, and more. I would like to see those in print form, as I think that will add more to the reading experience.

Moreover, I wanted to quickly discuss the character development in this novel. Part of me wishes that I knew the ins and outs of the characters more, but I understand why we only see characters in a limited way. The story needs to have a certain type of narration in order to be successful, so I’m glad Oliver was able to accomplish that. This will make more sense once you read the book, so I encourage you to still read it even if you usually like fully developed characters.

Overall, I am so happy I finally got to Vanishing Girls. It is a very quick read, and one that is quite impactful. I absolutely love books like this one, and find them a lot of fun. I understand that not everyone likes a psychological thriller, but I highly recommend this one if you do! I will be continuing to read Oliver’s books – she hasn’t let me down yet!

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Book Review | The Haters by Jesse Andrews

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

The Haters by Jesse Andrews

Published by Amulet Books on April 5, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Adventure

Format: ARC

Pages: 352

Source: #BooksforTrade

Goodreads: ★★★★

From Jesse Andrews, author of the New York Times bestselling Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and screenwriter of the Sundance award–winning motion picture of the same name, comes a groundbreaking young adult novel about music, love, friendship, and freedom as three young musicians follow a quest to escape the law long enough to play the amazing show they hope (but also doubt) they have in them.

Inspired by the years he spent playing bass in a band himself, The Haters is Jesse Andrews’s road trip adventure about a trio of jazz-camp escapees who, against every realistic expectation, become a band.

For Wes and his best friend, Corey, jazz camp turns out to be lame. It’s pretty much all dudes talking in Jazz Voice. But then they jam with Ash, a charismatic girl with an unusual sound, and the three just click. It’s three and a half hours of pure musical magic, and Ash makes a decision: They need to hit the road. Because the road, not summer camp, is where bands get good. Before Wes and Corey know it, they’re in Ash’s SUV heading south, and The Haters Summer of Hate Tour has begun.

In his second novel, Andrews again brings his brilliant and distinctive voice to YA, in the perfect book for music lovers, fans of The Commitments and High Fidelity, or anyone who has ever loved—and hated—a song or a band. This witty, funny coming-of-age novel is contemporary fiction at its best.

REVIEW

If you’re looking for a fun and entertaining read this summer, make sure to pick up The Haters by Jesse Andrews. This young adult contemporary follows Wes and his best friend Corey as they arrive at jazz band summer camp. The two quickly find out that jazz camp isn’t what they expected, and when Ash, the girl they just met, invites them to ditch camp and go on tour as a band, they jump at the chance. The Haters follows Wes, Corey, and Ash as they road trip throughout the southern United States, and all of the crazy situations in which they find themselves.

First things first, I wanted to talk about the book’s content. The advance copy I was reading states that this book is recommended for ages 13 and up, but I would personally recommend this for ages 17 and up. The Haters is extremely raunchy, complete with swear words galore. It truly lives up to the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll,” theme as well. While this content fits well into the storyline, and I wouldn’t edit any of these things out, I definitely recommend the book for older readers. If this book were a film, I’m guessing it would be rated R.

Speaking of which, The Haters would make an excellent movie. It reminds me of The Hangover, because the characters get into one crazy adventure after another. This is definitely the kind of book where the reader needs to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy it. This story would never happen in real life, but that’s what makes it a ton of fun.

What makes The Haters even more unique is the writing style. I haven’t read Jesse Andrews’s other book, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, so I’m not sure how it compares. Nonetheless, The Haters is written in first person from Wes’s point of view. The voice is almost stream of consciousness, and Wes is aware that he is telling the story to the reader. Some parts of the dialogue are written as if this were a movie script, or perhaps text messages, since proper capitalization wasn’t followed. There were also some charts, checklists, and other things sprinkled into the novel, too. At first I found the writing a bit difficult to adapt to, but once I was about 50 pages in I began to love the unique cadence, and the book flew by very quickly.

My main critiques of the book are in regards to the plot and the character development. The plot was a “whatever happens, happens” storyline, and while that worked on one level because anything could happen in the next chapter, I did wish we had a bit more direction for the story. Similarly, I wish the character development was a bit stronger. We get to learn more about Wes, Corey, and Ash as the road trip continues, and I was really intrigued by each character’s backstory. Each has a really interesting home life, and I would love to know more about them. Whenever I got to know a character more, I liked the book more.

Moreover, the ending was a bit hot and cold for me as well. While I enjoyed the ending in terms of what happens, I didn’t so much like how it happens. Wes gives the reader an info-dump in the last 10 pages, and I would have liked a bit more meat there. Nonetheless, I loved how the story comes to a close. It was realistic, and I think fit the tone of the book well.

I had a ton of fun reading The Haters and highly recommend it so long as you are comfortable reading quite a raunchy book. This is a quick read and perfect for the beach this summer. I will be definitely be checking out Jesse Andrews’s other books in the future!

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