Tag: Paperback

Book Review | If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

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If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

Published by Speak on April 2, 2009

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 261

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

The critically acclaimed, bestselling novel from Gayle Forman, author of Where She Went, Just One Day, and Just One Year.
Soon to be a major motion picture, starring Chloe Moretz!

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family. Now a major motion picture starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Mia’s story will stay with you for a long, long time.

 

REVIEW

I was hesitant to pick up If I Stay by Gayle Forman for a very long time after hearing such mixed reviews about this young adult novel. I finally got to it during this year’s Booktube-a-thon, and I am so glad I did. If I Stay follows teenager Mia when she and her family are in a devastating car crash. Her parents die in the crash, and her younger brother is critically injured. Mia is in a coma, but is having an out-of-body experience where she can see everything that is going on in the hospital, but cannot communicate with the friends and family members who come to visit her. Mia must decide whether she should stay and continue living without her parents, or whether she should let go and die. Readers follow Mia as she reflects on this decision, and shares moments of her life from the past to help make her choice.

When I first began the book, I was a little underwhelmed. I liked the characters and the story, but the writing seemed a bit simplistic. However, as I continued reading, I quickly became emotionally attached to the characters in the novel. Forman is an incredible storyteller. She has the ability to put so much feeling into the book without needing flowery writing. I teared up several times throughout If I Stay because of how well written the book is.

Similarly, I think the back-and-forth in time format works really well for this novel. It helped put me inside Mia’s headspace more, as I could understand her feelings by going into the past and reliving her memories. For example, I especially loved Mia’s grandfather, whom she calls Gramps. He is a quiet and gentle man, but one who plays a huge role in Mia’s life. I really connected with his character, and because we got to see him interact with Mia in her memories, what he does in the present is even more meaningful. Mia has a very special relationship with all of the people in her life, and it was really interesting to see these connections through her memories.

Moreover, I liked the way music plays a role in this novel. Mia is a classical cellist, and is very passionate about the music she plays. Her parents loved punk music, and her boyfriend plays in a punk band. Not only does music help the characters strengthen their relationships, but it also helps to build emotion in the reader. I think Forman used this element well in the book, because music is something many of us can connect with on a personal level, no matter what type of music we enjoy.

As for the ending of If I Stay, I did really enjoy it, but it also stops quite abruptly. I would have really liked just a bit more, perhaps in the form of an epilogue. There is a second book called Where She Went, and I will be reading that very soon to see if I get any answers.

Overall, I am surprised by how much I loved reading If I Stay. It is a short book, but it packs an emotional punch. I did watch the movie adaptation on Amazon Prime shortly after reading the book, and I liked that a lot, too. I highly recommend picking up the book first, though, as you get to know the characters a lot more. If you liked The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album, I think you’ll enjoy this book as well. It created the same feeling within me as a reader, and gave me an inspirational and hopeful message on life. I will definitely be reading more books from Gayle Forman in the future!

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Book Review | Homecoming (The 100 #3) by Kass Morgan

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Homecoming (The 100 #3) by Kass Morgan

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on February 24, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Format: Paperback

Pages: 340

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★★

Weeks after landing on Earth, the Hundred have managed to create a sense of order amidst their wild, chaotic surroundings. But their delicate balance comes crashing down with the arrival of new dropships from space.

These new arrivals are the lucky ones—back on the Colony, the oxygen is almost gone—but after making it safely to Earth, GLASS’s luck seems to be running out. CLARKE leads a rescue party to the crash site, ready to treat the wounded, but she can’t stop thinking about her parents, who may still be alive. Meanwhile, WELLS struggles to maintain his authority despite the presence of the Vice Chancellor and his armed guards, and BELLAMY must decide whether to face or flee the crimes he thought he’d left behind.

It’s time for the Hundred to come together and fight for the freedom they’ve found on Earth, or risk losing everything—and everyone—they love.

REVIEW

I was beyond excited to finish The 100 trilogy by reading Homecoming! This book picks up immediately after Day 21 closes out, with the Colonists on the dropship crashing down on Earth. I really appreciated that the author includes a lot of quick recaps in Homecoming, so that if you forgot the details of the first two books you get a refresher in this one. While these reminders were included a bit too much throughout the novel, they were very helpful. If you’ve read the first two books in the series and it’s been a while, don’t hesitate to jump right into book three!

Moreover, it took a while for me to get into the story, which I found surprising. However, because Homecoming is such a quick read, once I was about 100 pages into the novel the rest flew by. I did really enjoy the inclusion of new characters, and as always I had no idea what was going to happen next in the story. Morgan is great at crafting intricate plot lines that don’t reveal themselves until everything comes together in the end.

The ending, however, was a bit of let down for me. While I like the way the trilogy wrapped up, I was left wanting so much more! I would have appreciated an epilogue to include more of an explanation for something that happens and to check in on the characters. Similarly, the ending was quite cheesy and some things worked out a bit too easily. I’m able to look past a lot of the cliché moments in this book because the characters do go through intense challenges and are going through things I can’t even imagine experiencing. Thus, I think the cheesy moments are understandable in an otherwise bleak world.

All in all, I am happy with how The 100 trilogy concluded, and if you’ve read the first two books I definitely recommend picking up this last one. While this is more of a 3.5 star read for me, I did bump it up to a 4 star rating because I enjoyed it so much. I’m so glad I gave this series a read, as it’s one of my favorite young adult dystopians thus far. I will be watching the television show at some point, and hopefully getting my own copy of this trilogy so I can reread it in the future!

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Book Review | Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

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Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 3, 2011

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Paperback

Source: BookMooch

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it’s Amy’s responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn’t ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip – and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar – especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory – but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

REVIEW

When it comes to the perfect summer read, it’s always safe to reach for a Morgan Matson book. Last summer I picked up Since You’ve Been Gone, and I was excited to pick up her first book this year. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour follows teenager Amy. Her father recently passed away, and her mom decides to move the family from California to Connecticut. Amy is tasked with getting the family car across the country, but since she’s not driving, family friend Roger steps in to help. Readers follow Amy and Roger as they road trip across America and take a few detours along the way.

I absolutely love road trip books, especially when they take place in America. I feel like I am wandering throughout the country with Amy and Roger, and that is a lot of fun. This book includes a mixed media element, with photographs, scrapbook pages, and playlists being mixed in with the story. I loved this element, but I do wish they were placed better within the book. For instance, sometimes a scrapbook page featuring a state would appear before Amy and Roger got to that state. That is a very minor critique, and overall I really liked the inclusion of the mixed media elements.

My other critiques of the novel are quite small as well. I did find a few copyediting issues, which is surprising in a paperback reprinting. There is also a small plot hole in the novel. At the end of the book, Amy mentions that she can trust Roger because he hasn’t lied to her on their road trip. However, Amy mentions much earlier in the story that Roger does lie to her. While this is a very small hole, it does affect my rating a bit. My only other critique is that I wasn’t the biggest fan of how the romance played out. It felt a bit awkward, even though I was rooting for it.

Otherwise, I really loved Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour. The book is fun, but it is also very emotional, especially for anyone who has a special bond with her father. I loved how this book takes readers not only on a physical road trip, but an emotional journey as well. Amy and Roger both have things to work through, and they are able to confide in each other after spending so much time in the car together.

All in all, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a summer read. It’s quick to get through, and will be perfect whether you are traveling this summer, or simply sitting out in the backyard. You get to meet a great cast of characters, and have a lot of fun! I know I will be reading Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour again, and all of Morgan Matson’s other books, in the future.

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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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Book Review | The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

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The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

Published by HarperTeen on May 6, 2014

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 323

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★1/2

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

REVIEW

I was hesitant to continue on with The Selection after being quite disappointed with the second book in the series, but I had to find out what would happen! I’m so glad I picked up The One, because it is my favorite book in the series thus far. Originally, this was a trilogy, and so The One completes the original story of Prince Maxon’s selection. I was ready to find out if America would be the chosen one after all!

I was really excited when The One focused more on the politics of Illéa than the other books in the series. We get to learn more about the Northern and Southern rebels, and some really awesome action takes place. I still wish I knew more about this world, but I am very happy that the focus in this book was not just a love triangle.

My biggest critique of The One, however, is with believability. Yes, this is a dystopian novel, but I had a very difficult time believing everything that happens. For example, America tells the reader very early on in the book that she’s realized she won’t choose Aspen over Maxon, yet there is never an explanation as to why. I was glad her indecisiveness was over, but I had no idea why she made this decision out of the blue. There are several instances throughout The One like this, where I had to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy the story.

In terms of smaller critiques, I did notice that there were grammatical mistakes in this book that were fixed in book two. I’m guessing this is a copyediting issue, and perhaps the comma rules just weren’t followed this time around. I also deducted a half-star from my rating because there is a scene where a man slaps a woman without any sort of reason whatsoever. It is never okay for anyone to physically hurt another person, and in the specific scenario in the book it really bothered me. While this is a very small part of the book, it was quite shocking for me to read.

Overall, this is definitely the best book in the series so far, and a solid conclusion to the original trilogy. I really liked the ending of the book, and found it quite powerful. I do wish the cheesiness was toned down a bit, but in the world of Illéa with princes and ball gowns, I have to say it does fit the theme. If you read The Elite and you were unsure whether to continue on in the series, I definitely recommend doing so!

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Book Review | The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

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The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

Published by HarperTeen on April 24, 2012

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 327

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

REVIEW

I debated whether or not I wanted to read The Selection by Kiera Cass for a couple years, and I finally decided to give it a try after finishing a book that took me three weeks to read. I needed some book candy. In other words, I wanted to read something that I knew wouldn’t be the best book out there, but would allow me to indulge in something sweet. The Selection definitely fits that description.

I’ve heard this book described as The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games, and I agree with that categorization. In this book we follow teenager America Singer. She lives in a country called Illéa, which is geographically located in North America, post the Fourth World War. America comes from a poor family, and receives the opportunity to enter a competition in which one girl from every province in Illéa will vie for the chance to marry the prince. Of course, America enters the competition at the suggestion of her mom and secret boyfriend, and the story unfolds from there.

I really loved how fast-paced and fun The Selection is. I read this book in a 24-hour period, and really enjoyed the storyline. While the book is extremely predictable and a bit derivative of The Hunger Games, I had a fun reading experience. I absolutely love reading about books where a competition is at the forefront. There is just something about a good game that really excites me, and The Selection is no exception.

Unfortunately, I do have a lot of troublesome thoughts about this book. I recognize that this is a dystopian world, and it is purposefully written to be a world in which we would not want to live. However, I worry that a lot of young girls will read this novel and not take that into account. For example, women are subordinate to men in Illéa, and are required to conform to certain standards of beauty at all times. Chastity is extremely valued, and it is against the law to have premarital sex. Even more troublesome is the fact that all romantic relationships in Illéa are heterosexual. There is never a mention of anything but a relationship between a man and a woman.

As an adult reading this book, I can see this is a fictional world. A younger reader might associate Illéa’s customs with a guide on how to act, especially since women in America today are still struggling for equality. I mean, it would be a ton of fun to live in a palace and have beautiful clothes and amazing food. Wouldn’t it be fun to marry a prince, even if that meant being his submissive wife? If this was an adult novel, I wouldn’t have these same hesitations, but in a book aimed towards young people, I think it might do more harm than good.

Moreover, the writing in The Selection was a bit lacking for me. There are a plethora of sentences that end in prepositions, and while I recognize that a teenager is the narrator, I wish such improper grammar was limited to dialogue if it truly had to be included. There are also comma rule issues, which I know is a small detail, but one that I expect to be perfected throughout the editing stages of every published novel.

Nevertheless, I did really enjoy the characters in this novel. America is a very likable protagonist, and I was rooting for her from page one. She does have that cliché personality where she is different from all the other girls, but I think that works in this book. I also love Prince Maxon. He is a bit of a mystery, but always goes above and beyond to be a kind and caring person. I would love to read from his perspective at some point in the short stories that accompany this book series.

Overall, The Selection is the book candy I was looking for, and I immediately am continuing on with this series. Perhaps I am taking the book a bit too seriously when I look below the surface and see what effect it could have on society, but I am interested in hearing your thoughts if you’ve read it as well. I do recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and fast-paced read, especially if you love a good competition story as much as I do. Make sure to stay tuned for my thoughts on the other books in this series very soon!

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Book Review | ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

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‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

Published by Signet on October 17, 1975

Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal

Format: Paperback

Pages: 427

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★

Something strange is going on in Jerusalem’s Lot … but no one dares to talk about it. By day, ‘Salem’s Lot is a typical modest New England town; but when the sun goes down, evil roams the earth. The devilishly sweet insistent laughter of a child can be heard echoing through the fields, and the presence of silent looming spirits can be felt lurking right outside your window. Stephen King brings his gruesome imagination to life in this tale of spine-tingling horror.

REVIEW

I continued on with my Stephen King project in March by reading ‘Salem’s Lot, his second published work. I went into this book blind, and I’m glad I did because there is a big build-up to the story. ‘Salem’s Lot opens with a man and a boy escaping to Mexico from a town in Maine called Jerusalem’s Lot. The reader knows they are both scared, and that they must return to the Lot in order to solve a problem. The book then rewinds to the start of the story when the man goes to Jersulam’s Lot for the first time since his childhood. This is a haunted house book that turns into a paranormal story, and one in which the writing is excellent.

Here’s the thing about my experience with ‘Salem’s Lot – it took me nearly three weeks to read the book, which is three times my normal pace. I had to force myself to continue on with the story, and at times I felt downright bored. That’s because King is creating a new world. Jerusalem’s Lot is a fictional town, and the true protagonist of this book. King writes in exceptional detail, describing characters in the setting in such a realistic way. So even though I didn’t like how slow the pace of this novel is, I can appreciate the work it took. I am really amazed at King’s ability to write such a developed novel so early on in his career.

In regards to the characters, I did struggle a bit in keeping up with the large cast featured in ‘Salem’s Lot. It became more difficult because so many of the characters have similar names, such as Mike, Mark, and Matt. Nonetheless, once I got into the story I was better able to keep track of everyone. If you have trouble with names, I would recommend keeping a character list nearby when you read, and simply jot down a quick note of each character’s role in the story.

Moreover, I was a bit disappointed that I never felt scared by this book. King is known for his horror novels, but I just was never creeped out or on the edge of my seat. I did find some of the real life scenes quite disturbing, but none of the paranormal elements got to me. Perhaps King is trying to make a point here, as I did sit back and wonder what was happening in my own town. Not including the paranormal elements, I’m sure people go through the same things that the characters in Jerusalem’s Lot do, and that is disturbing in and of itself. I’m interested to see if King’s next book The Shining will incite fear in me.

Overall, I’m glad I pushed through the slow pace of ‘Salem’s Lot. I did enjoy the story, and I think the book got better and better as I continued reading. The third-person narration was very well done, and I’m very impressed with King’s writing. If you are looking to get into King’s novels, I do not recommend starting here as it is a very long book. However, if you are familiar with his work, or really enjoy adult paranormal, this is a good book to read. I would love to hear your thoughts on ‘Salem’s Lot if you’ve read it, too!

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Book Review | Confess by Colleen Hoover

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Confess by Colleen Hoover

Published by Atria Books on March 10, 2015

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 306

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

REVIEW

I’ve been hearing so many good things about Colleen Hoover’s books for the past few years that I decided it was time to finally read one. I’ve been really into the New Adult genre lately, and after doing my research on Hoover’s bibliography, I thought Confess would be a good place to start. Well, I loved the idea behind Confess, but unfortunately the book fell flat for me. Let me tell you why.

First and foremost, Confess is the story of Auburn and Owen, and is told in a dual-perspective format. Auburn has moved to Dallas for some reason unbeknownst to the reader, and stumbles across an art studio one day named Confess. The studio is hiring, and because she needs the money she decides to take the job. It turns out Owen is the studio’s owner and artist. He somehow knows Auburn, but she doesn’t know him. This is another secret that Hoover keeps from the reader.

As I mentioned, I really liked the idea behind Confess. Owen’s artwork is based on anonymous confessions that he receives through a slot in his door (it’s very similar to the famous blog PostSecret). I loved the idea that Owen creates paintings based on these confessions. I also thought it was genius that the confessions in the book were real confessions that Hoover received from her readers.

In the same way, I did appreciate that Hoover attempted to weave the ‘confess’ theme into the characters. Auburn needs to confess why she’s in Dallas, and Owen needs to confess how he knows Auburn. Keeping secrets from the reader can add suspense and be a real page-turner, but there are way too many secrets in this book. As I was reading I took notes on all the questions I had. This list is 10 questions long, and while some of those were answered as the book continued, the beginning of the novel was full of holes, and I found it difficult to form a full picture of the story. What could have been a good mystery turned into a mess because there were just too many unanswered questions.

I also found that the character development was quite lacking in Confess. For example, Auburn tells the reader that she has one goal in mind, yet all of her actions go against that goal. She is a very passive person who does what everyone tells her to do, even when she doesn’t want to do those things. It was annoying to see how she makes all the wrong decisions, and repeats them time and time again. Similarly, Owen is written as a lying and manipulative character, yet readers are supposed to accept that Auburn “deserves” his love (a word that is far too often used in this book, by the way).

Moreover, I found that the writing style was quite jumbled throughout the novel. For instance, Owen tells the reader early in the book that a certain character is a bad guy. However, that character does not show himself to be bad until late in the book. I would have much preferred Hoover to demonstrate the bad character’s qualities, than to expect me to simply trust the words of Owen. I definitely prefer to read writing that shows rather than tells.

Finally, the ending of Confess really bothered me as well. The solution is unrealistic because characters act outside of how they were written early in the novel. It is also formed extremely quickly. Even more troubling is that the solution doesn’t truly fulfill Auburn’s main goal. Of course, I am being purposefully vague so as to not spoil the book, but suffice it to say that the ending would never happen in reality.

Overall, I’m glad I gave Colleen Hoover a try. She did come up with a really interesting storyline, and her writing style is very fast-paced. However, I thought the flow of the book was jumbled, and the characters were poorly developed. That being said, I do want to give another one of her books a try. Confess seems to be a love it or leave it book, and I am part of the latter. I don’t recommend this book unless you are a huge Colleen Hoover fan and attempting to read all her works. I will definitely let you know if I read anything else by her in the future!

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Book Review | Sweet (Contours of the Heart #3) by Tammara Webber

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Sweet (Contours of the Heart #3) by Tammara Webber

Published by Tammara Webber (self-published) on April 27, 2015

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 340

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2 

He’s the love of her life, but he doesn’t know it.
She’s his one moment of sacrifice in a lifetime of survival.

He was damaged and wild, but resilient.
She’s always been obedient. Now she’s restless.

Home for the summer between college and med school, Pearl Torres Frank knows two things: Boyce Wynn is the embodiment of everything she should run from, and everything she wants to run to. Rebellious and loud. Unconcerned with society’s opinion of him. Passionate. Strong. Dangerous.

And one more trait he hides from everyone but her:
Sweet.

REVIEW

I picked up Sweet, the third book in Tammara Webber’s Contours of the Heart series, directly after finishing the second book, Breakable. Sweet is a companion novel to Breakable, and features Lucas’s best friend Boyce and classmate Pearl. While Sweet can be read as a stand alone novel, I highly recommend reading the Contours of the Heart series in publishing order. Each book builds on the previous one, and in this third installment we follow characters we’ve already met, who live in a town with which we’re already familiar. Thus, I do think it’s best to read this series in order, and not skip over Breakable.

Sweet is written in a dual perspective, with Boyce and Pearl telling the story. Pearl has just returned to her hometown after graduating from college, and is deciding whether or not to go to medical school as she’s always planned. Boyce remained in town after high school, and recently inherited his father’s mechanic shop after he passed away. The reader knows from the start that the two protagonists have some history together, and the book explores their past and, perhaps, their future.

I really liked both Pearl and Boyce as the main characters. They are very relatable, and are going through issues that many young adults face. For example, I related to Pearl because I am also a recent graduate, and I know how difficult it can be to make that next step in life. I appreciate that Webber creates interesting stories with such rich characters.

In the same way, the writing in Sweet is very well done. I did have a few issues, mainly with the flow of the story. There are constant flashbacks that shed light on Boyce and Pearl growing up, and while I absolutely loved those scenes, they sometimes came out of nowhere. I had to really pay attention as a reader and think about if I was reading a flashback, or a current event. Once I got into the book, this wasn’t much of a chore, but I think it is helpful going into the story to know that it’s not written in a fully linear fashion.

My biggest issue with the story is that everything seems to work out perfectly for the characters. Webber does state in her author biography that she likes to write happy endings because there are so many sad endings in real life. While I can appreciate that, there is a difference to me between a happy ending, and an easy ending. As much as I liked the conclusion of this novel, I thought it was too cliché and ‘happily ever after’ for my liking.

Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed this book. Webber’s writing is quite addicting, and her characters feel so real that I know I will be picking up the next book in this series when it is published at some point this year. If you enjoyed the other books in the Contours of the Heart series, I definitely think you should continue on with Sweet. Pearl and Boyce are great characters, and their story was very touching. Keep in mind that this is a new adult novel, and contains some explicit content.

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Book Review | Easy (Contours of the Heart #1) by Tammara Webber

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Easy (Contours of the Heart #1) by Tammara Webber

Published by Penguin Berkley on May 25, 2012

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Format: Paperback

Pages: 321

Source: BookMooch

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex’s frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night – but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he’s hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

REVIEW

I’ve been interested in reading the New Adult genre for a while now, and I decided to begin with Easy by Tammara Webber after hearing so many good things about it. Easy follows college sophomore Jacqueline and begins with her getting assaulted while leaving a fraternity party. She is luckily saved by a mysterious guy named Lucas, who somehow knows her name. The book follows Jacqueline as she recovers from her assault, and as she learns more about who Lucas is.

Overall, I really liked Easy, and I think it was a good first step into New Adult. This is a genre between Young Adult and Adult, and includes more adult themes and some steamier romances. However, I really like that the romances aren’t too detailed or explicit. I also enjoyed Webber’s writing style, as it is well done and not cliché like some of the adult romances I’ve tried in the past.

In addition, I really liked the characters. Jacqueline is very likable and relateable, and Lucas is well-developed as well. The side characters in the book are also well written and add a lot to the story. I appreciated that Jacqueline had a strong best friend in her roommate Erin, a good role model in professor Dr. Heller, and a new buddy in classmate Benji. Webber knows how to write characters with great personalities for sure.

That being said, there were some things I didn’t enjoy about Easy. First and foremost, it was quite predictable at the beginning. While there is a bigger reveal at the end that I didn’t see coming, I did have a larger plot twist figured out from the start. Another writing issue is the setting. Webber does a great job embodying the college atmosphere, but there is no mention in the novel where Jacqueline’s college is situated in the country. There is a hint that this is a southern campus, but having a more specified geographic location would have helped me as a reader tremendously, as I kept wondering about the setting while reading.

My biggest critique with Easy, however, lies with the romance. While I won’t go into too much detail because of spoilers, I will say that at times I felt very uncomfortable with how Jacqueline and her love interest were interacting. Despite knowing that Jacqueline just got out of a three-year relationship with her ex-boyfriend and that she is recovering from a sexual assault, he pursues her full force and even ‘tricks’ her into his apartment. I would have liked for Webber to be a bit more attentive to the realities of Jacqueline’s situation when writing the romance.

All in all, I did really enjoy Easy, and I have already picked up the two other books in the series so I can continue on with the story. I’m glad I finally gave New Adult a chance, and will definitely be exploring other books in the genre as well. If you have any New Adult recommendations, please share them with me in the comments!

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