My Life Next Door Review

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Published June 14th 2012 by Dial Books for Young Readers
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 394
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4.5/5




Description:

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

My Thoughts:

At first I expected a cliché, predictable love story about a girl falling in love with the boy next door. I was very surprised that there were other elements involved. I fell in love with the characters in this story and I couldn't really relate to the main female character, Sam. I still loved the story, characters, plot, and the ambiance of the book. This book is definitely getting my into a spring, contemporary mood!

Quotes:

"It's as though I don't make a ripple as I drop off the face of the earth." 

"The Garretts were my bedtime story, long before I ever thought I'd be part of the story myself."

About the Author:

Huntley Fitzpatrick grew up dreamy and distracted in coastal Connecticut. She flourished in a family of bookworms where everyone always had their nose in a book. She kept an exhaustively thorough journal which frightened her boyfriends but has proved very useful in her career as a writer. Her debut contemporary Romance, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, was published in June of 2012 by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers. Now she laughs with and eavesdrops on her six children who provide her with perspective and material. She is represented by the amazing Christina Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

http://www.huntleyfitzpatrick.com/

Beauty Queens Review

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Published: May 24th 2011 by Scholastic Press
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Humor
Pages: 396
Format: Hardcover
Rating 4/5

Description:

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.

My Thoughts:

At first I was skeptical about this book because it was compared to Lord of the Flies, which I had to read this year for English and hated. I finally decided to pick it up. At first I found it hard to keep all of the characters straight, because of the constant alternating perspectives. As I finally got used to Libba Bray's writing, I found myself laughing out loud. She has hilarious jokes in the footnotes of this book! I read this with the actual book, but I have heard there is an audiobook read by Libba Bray herself, which is also really good. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the messages dealing with media and feminism. This book turned to be a much deeper reader than I had originally thought.

Quote:

"I love you for who you are, not who the world thinks you should be."

About the Author:

What is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama…" and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.

I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts–I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.

But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?

God is in the details. So with that in mind, here is my bio. Sort of.


TEN THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME by Libba Bray

1. I lived in Texas until I was 26 years old, then I moved to New York City with $600.00 in my shoe ('cause muggers won't take it out of your shoe, y'know . . . riiiiight . . .) and a punchbowl (my grandmother's gift) under my arm. I ended up using the punchbowl box as an end table for two years.

2. My dad was a Presbyterian minister. Yes, I am one of those dreaded P.K.s–Preacher's Kids. Be afraid. Be very afraid . . .

3. The first story I ever wrote, in Mrs. McBee's 6th grade English class, was about a girl whose family is kidnapped and held hostage by a murderous lot of bank robbers who intend to kill the whole family–including the dog–until the 12-year-old heroine foils the plot and saves the day. It included colored pencil illustrations of manly-looking, bearded criminals smoking, and, oblivious to the fact that The Beatles had already sort of laid claim to the title, I called my novel, HELP. My mom still has a copy. And when I do something she doesn't like, she threatens to find it.

4. My favorite word is "redemption." I like both its meaning and the sound. My least favorite word is "maybe." "Maybe" is almost always a "no" drawn out in cruel fashion.

5. My three worst habits are overeating, self-doubt, and the frequent use of the "f" word.

6. The three things I like best about myself are my sense of humor, my ability to listen, and my imagination.

7. I have an artificial left eye. I lost my real eye in a car accident when I was eighteen. In fact, I had to have my entire face rebuilt because I smashed it up pretty good. It took six years and thirteen surgeries. However, I did have the pleasure of freezing a plastic eyeball in an ice cube, putting it in a friend's drink, ("Eyeball in your highball?") and watching him freak completely. Okay, so maybe that's not going down on my good karma record. But it sure was fun.

8. In 7th grade, my three best friends and I dressed up as KISS and walked around our neighborhood on Halloween. Man, we were such dorks.

9. I once spent New Year's Eve in a wetsuit. I'd gone to the party in a black dress that was a little too tight (too many holiday cookies) and when I went to sit down, the dress ripped up the back completely. Can we all say, mortified? The problem was, my friends were moving out of their house–everything was packed and on a truck–and there was nothing I could put on . . . but a wetsuit that they still had tacked to the wall. I spent the rest of the party maneuvering through throngs of people feeling like a giant squid.

10. I got married in Florence, Italy. My husband and I were in love but totally broke, so we eloped and got married in Italy, where he was going on a business trip. We had to pull a guy off the street to be our witness. It was incredibly romantic.

http://libbabray.com/

The List Review

The List by Siobhan Vivian



Published: April 1st 2012 by Push
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Pages: 332
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4/5


Description:

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

My Thoughts:

This is my very first book I have read by Siobhan Vivian and it is very well written. It was a quick read for me that once I started I couldn't put down. This book wasn't a fluffy contemporary read, it would make for a great book club book. Due to its topics; eating disorders, physical appearance, relationships and more!

Quotes:

"Sometimes, when you get something new, you trick yourself into believing it has the power to change absolutely everything about you."

About the Author:

Siobhan Vivian is the author of THE LIST, NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, SAME DIFFERENCE, and A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE. She also co-wrote BURN FOR BURN, the first novel in a planned trilogy, with her best friend JENNY HAN. She currently lives in Pittsburgh.

http://www.siobhanvivian.com/

Meant to Be Review

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
Published: November 13th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5/5 Stars


Description:

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

My Thoughts:

MTB was such a sweet contemporary. While reading this book I was either smiling or laughing out loud. This book is set in London which makes this book that much better. Even though, of course, there were a few cliché and cheesy parts. Overall, this was a very cute and fluffy read. Perfect for this spring!

Quotes:

"Why does everyone think a girl who prefers books to people must be in want of a life."

"I don't use airplane bathrooms. As a rule. And I really don't like breaking rules. (It's kind of one of my rules.) I mean, if I'm going to plummet to my death, it's not going to be with my pants around my ankles."

About the Author:

My name is Lauren, and I wrote a book called Meant to Be. It’s available pretty much anywhere books are sold, but I recommend checking out your local indie. I’ve been told it’s very funny and swoony, and I think you should buy it. My second YA contemporary novel, Being Sloane Jacobs, hits shelves on January 7, 2014. I’m currently hard at work on a third book.
I love YA books, roller skates, public radio, the Internet, road trips, my dog Lucy, and my guy Adam. And I’m a Nerdfighter ‘fo LIFE.

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The Sky is Everywhere Review

 
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

 
 





Published: March 9th 2010 by Dial

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Pages: 288

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 5/5 Stars

 

 

 

Description:

 

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.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

 

My thoughts:

 

This book focuses on how people grieve differently when they lose someone they love. Jandy Nelson writes a beautiful debut book. This book brings you on an emotional roller coaster that you must get on!

 

Quotes:

 

 "The sky is everywhere, it begins at your feet."

 

"Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes part of you, step for step, breath for breath."

 

"And then he smiles, and in all the places around the globe where it's night, day breaks."

 

About the Author:

 

Jandy Nelson received a BA from Cornell, an MFA from Brown in poetry, and another MFA from Vermont College in writing for children and young adults. A literary agent for many years, she is also a published poet. The Sky Is Everywhere is her first novel. Jandy lives in San Francisco. www.jandynelson.com, www.theskyiseverywhere.com

 

 

 

The Fault in Our Stars Review

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published: January 10th 2012 by Dutton Books
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 318
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5/5 stars

Description:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My Thoughts:

Hazel Grace and Augustus Water, the two main characters, have captured my heart as well as many others. I don't know how John Green is able to narrate from the point of view of a teenage girl, but he still manages to pull it off. Grab a box of tissues and read this novel before the movies comes out on June 6th 2014 (in the US).

Quotes:

"The marks humans leave are too often scars."

"The world is not a wish-granting factory."

"Maybe 'okay' will be our 'always'"

About the Author:

John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, "Brotherhood 2.0," where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called "The Vlog Brothers," which can be found on the Nerdfighters website.

Movie Trailer: