2013 To-Read List

Sunday, February 26, 2012

In My Mailbox!(2)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. For more information, click here.

Bought: Kindle


Unforeseen Reunion by Clarissa Yip
Double Dare by Rhonda Nelson

Won:

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
    I won this in the I Heart YA Giveaway


What's in your mailbox this week? :)










Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Review: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Title: Something Like Fate
Author: Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Summary: Goodreads
Buy: Amazon
Rating: 3 stars


Summary: Best friends Lani and Erin couldn’'t be more different. Lani'’s reserved and thoughtful; Erin'’s bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There'’s no possible way they could be interested in the same guy.
So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can’'t believe she feels such a deep connection with him— and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it’'s her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can’'t have?
Review: I've only ever read one other book from Susane Colasanti and it was such a good book that I automatically assumed that the rest of her books would be just as amazing. I was wrong. 
Something like fate is about how Lani, our main character, falls in love with Jason which happens to be her best friend Erin's boyfriend. Usually I don't mind books like this and I did like the story but I felt like it was lacking so much. First off I really don't get why Lani even likes Jason. I get that they have a few things in common but it's like she talks to him one time and suddenly she's in love with him. It just all felt so fake to me. 
And then there's the fact that Lani is obsessed with fate. She's reads her horoscope and takes little things like a sign pointing in a direction as a secret meaning to where her life should be headed and honestly it was getting on my nerves. Don't get me wrong, I love reading my horoscope and I am a strong believer on fate but I felt like Lani was over-doing it. I felt like she let it rule her life, her every move was based on what her horoscope said. So the whole time I'm thinking: "What if her horoscope told her to jump off a bridge? Would she do that too?" 
I actually felt bad for Erin because she clearly liked Jason and she was the first one to be interested in him. And she had the same thoughts about fate bringing her to Jason but yet according to Lani she was misinterpreting her signs. Which kind of ticked me off because she and Erin were having similar thoughts yet Erin's are ridiculous and her aren't? I don't know, maybe I'm just being too harsh on Lani but I can't help it. 
I feel like I should have given this book two stars instead of three but while it annoyed the crap out of me at time, I did enjoy it. It was a quick read and kept my interest for the most part and the ending was good enough. While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped I will still give Colasanti's other books a chance. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Review: The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

Title: The One That I Want 
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Summary: Goodreads
Buy: Amazon
Rating: 5 stars
*Obtained from Author for an honest review


Summary: Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.  

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?
Review: Have you ever read books from one specific author because you know that no matter what they'll never disappoint and you love every single one of their books? That's what it's like for me with Jennifer Echols. She has a way of really connecting with her reader and making you so engrossed with the story you never want it to end. 
Gemma is a character that I believe we all can relate to. What girl hasn't been in a constant war with their weight and constantly feeling like you're not good enough?And not to mention her "best friend"Addison who's sole purpose is to make sure Gemma is always 2nd best. I couldn't stand Addison, she reminds me too much of how girls are nowadays in high school and I kept hoping that Gemma would just tell her off and finally set her in her place. 
I was a bit worried about how she would explain the whole "I like my best friend's boyfriend" thing but she made everything smooth and I didn't doubt Gemma's reasoning or choices throughout the whole book. That's one of the reasons I truly enjoyed this book. I loved that for once I wasn't getting annoyed with the main character/screaming at the book/regretting ever reading the book. 
Besides talking about weight this book also brings up bullying, something that has become a national problem. All the characters in the story have had an experience with bullying, even Addison. Gemma is the character that got bullied the most and I love that we get to go through that journey with her and watch her finally stand up for herself. 
The One That I Want is another hit for Jennifer Echols and I can't wait to read her next books Such a Rush and her new adult book. I recommend this book to everyone who loves reading a book that simple, perfect and leaves you with a smile on your face. 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Summary: Goodreads
Buy: Amazon
Rating: 4 stars


Summary: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.
My Review: I'll be honest: The only reason I read this book was because I bought it on my kindle for $3.99, I've heard of it but I wasn't really interested in it but for $3.99 I figured I'd give it a shot. Thank god I did.
This book was surprisingly refreshing to read. It's so different from any other angel book I've read and I've got to say: I'm really liking it. It's nothing like the other books I've read like Hush Hush or Fallen and even though I love those series I think I MIGHT love Unearthly a little more. It just so good! 
And you want to know the best part? The romance isn't rushed and doesn't feel fake at all. Everything is paced and it just makes so much sense and when that part comes for love, it feels perfect. Speaking of love, the two guys in the book are freaking hot! Christian and Tucker...it so hard to choose one because they're both so perfect in their own way. And I really like Clara, our protagonist. Not once did I find myself getting annoyed with her, or rolling my eyes at the things she said or did. She's honest, nice, and doesn't let anyone try to make her into something she's not. 
The only thing I didn't like the book is how it left me a little unsettled. I don't know but the whole time I'm worried about falling for the wrong guy and then only to have my hopes up when Clara chooses the other. Throughout the book I really didn't know who I was supposed to be rooting for, which I guess is a good thing so I can get the chance to choose for myself but I don't want to be let down. I feel like the ending left us open to the "anything can happen" feeling and it's really making me nervous. 
I know a lot of people didn't like some of the other angel books but I really think you will enjoy this series. For all those people who hated Hush Hush, Fallen and any other angel book, this book is going to change your mind about giving up on angel series, I guarantee it.