Where She Went

Spoiler Alert

Where She Went
 Gale Forman

.....

Where She Went is the sequel novel to If I Stay written by Gale Forman. Now I have to say this, Where She Went is probably one of my favorite novels of all time. Even though I loved If I Stay, I think I like Where She Went a little bit more. I truly felt so emotionally connected to this book because of the fact that I understand right where Adam was coming from because a breakup is never easy.

This story unfolds three years later from where If I Stay as ended. Adam is now a rock-star with being the lead singer of the Shooting Stars. He has done it, he is living his dream. But at the very beginning of this novel you learn that looks can be deceiving you learn that Adam is truly not okay emotionally and mentally and this all can be traced back to when Adam and Mia broke up when she went off to be the rising star of Julliard. Then by accident he stumbles upon a poster of Mia in New York City and how she is playing in Carnegie Hall that very night. He buys a ticket and listens to her play and at the end of the performance Mia invites him backstage.

This is where the novel really begins to take off. Adam and Mia decide to make a night out of this chance meeting and explore Mia’s favorite places in New York City. With each passing stop the two dive deeper and deeper into an emotional connection and uncover the reasons why for their devastating breakup.

I believe the reason why I love this book so much is for the way it is written. This story is told through present day and flashbacks. Also it incorporates song lyrics of Adam’s song as the header for every chapter.  Tying all the elements of storytelling together just makes for a more powerful written story. I honestly am blown away. I keep replaying these, beautiful written words over and over in my mind. This is such a powerful story, just like the first. Gayle Forman is a, rare form of story tellers that packs a punch with every word she writes. If you have not all ready read this book then I highly suggest you do. Five Pearls. 

XOXO
Becky 

Spoiler! Lola and the Boy Next Door

Spoiler Alert!

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Stephanie Perkins

....

 Lola and the Boy Next Door, written by Stephanie Perkins is the sequel to Anna and the French Kiss. When I picked up this book I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping it would be as good as the first, I mean, what sequel is as good as the first? Not many. This book, though, in my opinion, doesn’t quite match up to the sexual tension of Anna and the French Kiss, gets pretty darn close.

            

Lola is seventeen years old and she thinks she’s in love with Max, her twenty some year old boyfriend. When Cricket Bell, an old love interest, comes back to town, Lola’s feelings twist her around until she doesn’t remember who she is. Lola is a great character. She is not only fabulous with her crazy clothes and wigs, but also realistic. At some points I found myself annoyed with her, a secret flaw I love to find in characters. And though Cricket isn’t my dreamy Etienne St. Clair, he’s pretty darn cute. He’s tall, stylish, and smart, yet still manages to be the sweetest guy you could ever meet.  Plus, there’s a guest appearance from characters in the last book!

           

The general background that I enjoy so much in Perkins’ books is that the boys truly like the girls back. In AFK Etienne is mega crushing on her, but they’re both not in the right place to say so. Lola is like reading AFK from the point of view of Etienne, she’s in a relationship but is so used to the rejection that she doesn’t know what to do. Not only do I think girls everywhere will relate to this book, but I think guys will relate to Cricket as well. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can’t wait until the next one is in my hands. 4 pearls!

Keep on reading

XOXO

Rosie

Classical Tuesday: Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

.....


Imagine yourself in a world were at the ages of 14 to 18 as a girl, marriage is the most important thing you can accomplish. Imagine that, not graduating from high school or college, not getting a good job, but finding a man hidden in your small town with a good fortune who wants you is your only goal.

Enter the world of Jane Austin, the one she lived in, the one she creates for us in her books. Travel back in time to catch up with the Bennett’s, a family of one mother, whose main concern marriage for her girls, a father, who loves his girls for their intellect over their beauty, and five daughters. Jane, the oldest, is considered one of the most beautiful girls around, next is Elizabeth or Lizzy. She doesn't quite share the same beauty as her sister, but is smarter than most girls her age, although that sometimes gets her in trouble. Mary is the middle daughter, she is an avid reader, and Catherine and Lydia are the youngest Bennett girls, they are silly, immature and a bit obsessed with the soldiers who stay in town from time to time.

            
This story is told mainly from Elizabeth’s perspective, as she deals with prideful men, her sister’s lost love issues, rogue soldiers, unwanted proposals, and family crises. All started by the arrival of Mr. Bingley and his dear friend Mr. Darcy. If you are a romantic, this is a fantastic book. Personally, I always love a book where the love interest is a bit rough around the edges but you still fall in love with him. It is a bit of a more difficult read, considering the time period. But the descriptions are superb, and whoever spread that nasty rumor that all older books are boring should be tried for slander, because this book has quite a few funny moments. As a romantic at heart, this book left me wanting to have the life and love it shows. 5 pearls for Jane Austin!

XOXO 

Kenna Lee

If I Stay Part 2

Hey blogging world!
So Kenna Lee and Becky both wrote a review on the same book because they love it so much! Now as a completely unbiased third party viewer I, Rosie, have decided to put both up so you can get the most out of the reviews. Please enjoy both!

If I Stay
Gayle Forman

.....


Where to begin…? Have you ever had those books that you absolutely loved? You know, the ones that make you laugh, cry, love and hate? One minute you are ready to go ninja on anyone who threatens to come between you and that book and the next minute you are ready to throw it across the room because it makes you feel that much? But you don’t do either because that would mean you would have to do something other than read some more. The book that while you are reading it, people stare at you because you gasp/laugh/groan/cry/scream out loud? This is that book. That very book that is so hard to describe, it took me several sentences and I still didn’t get it right.
      

 Now, I usually hate books that make me sad to the point of tears (With exception of a few Harry Potters, of course). I don’t like feeling like my heart was out on the line with the main character and having it broken too. It hurts. But this book I would recommend to everyone. I actually have, I practically shoved it in my best friends hands when she said she hadn’t read it. It is that good.
      

 While it is hard to say what I love most about this book, I think it is the characters, you really grow with them in the most unique way. By the end of this book, and it’s not very long, you feel as though you have gained so many great new friends, only you can’t friend request them on facebook. Gayle Forman really captures the lives of these characters, fleshes them out so well that they could be standing in front of you delivering the dialogue.
       

What would you do if you had a choice to live or die after losing some of the most important people in our life? Mia is faced with that choice, and what she chooses might not just affect her. This haunting romantic story is one that stays with you like the story of a close friend. If you don’t fall in love with Adam, cry for Teddy, and ache for the choice Mia must make, you must have picked up the wrong book. Honestly, this is one of the best teen reads I have read in years. 5 Pearls!


XOXO
Kenna Lee

If I Stay

If I Stay
Gayle Forman
.....

Do you ever get really emotionally invested in books? I know that I have. I can truly say that If I stay is an emotional roller coaster. I was brought to tears with this beautiful written novel. This story will have you questioning everything and what would you do if you were ever in this situation.


The storyline of If I Stay is this, Mia Hall and her family go for a drive one day and then there is a terrible car accident.  The actual back story is told through Mia while she is having an outer body experience while being in a coma and also through the use of flashbacks. Through this we learn about Mia and the type of person she is.You learn about her wonderful life she had with her family which is not a common theme in young- adult titles. It was a breath of fresh air to see a teenager who got along so well with her family. Adam, Mia's loving punk-rocker boyfriend, stole my heart in this novel and broke it into a million and a half pieces before he put it all back together again.


With each turn of the page you become more and more invested in this novel. Gayle Forman will have you on the edge of your toes with her beautiful written novel. This story is so powerful that it will haunt for weeks of the question if I were in Mia’s situation “would I stay, or would I go.” I would recommend this book to everyone. Five Pearls.


XOXO
Becky

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss

Stephanie Perkins

....

What could possibly be better than going to school in France for a year? Going to school in France with a sexy British guy. I don’t know about you, but there’s just something about English accents that get me. I started reading the book just the other day and I couldn’t put it down. There were so many ups and downs that I just wanted to jump in and never come out.

            

The book is about Anna Oliphant, forced to go to a French boarding school by her father, and her relationship with Etienne St. Clair. Now, I think every girl around the world can relate to Anna. Either you’re invisible to the most attractive guy on the planet, or he’s your best friend. Of course, in my life, I don’t get the sexy guy, but the feelings Perkins portrays for Anna are the same I have felt over the last six or so years of my life.

            

The book has witty dialogue and well fleshed out characters. Each one is believable. I wish there had been a little more France in the end of the book. Also, Anna’s interest in critiquing film fizzled out of the story line. However, I did enjoy the horrible reality of their home lives as well as the parallel between Anna’s problems in France and her problems at home. Girls, don’t worry, there is plenty of romance to give you butterflies. This book is truly amazing, and though the same characters aren’t in the sequel, there is another book out! 4 pearls!


Keep on Reading
XOXO
Rosie

I've Got Your Number

                                              

I've Got Your Number

Sophie Kinsella

....

           

 Don’t talk to strangers is common knowledge, it’s one of the first lessons we learn. Although with all this technology today it might be don’t text/email strangers. But you might want to change that rule after reading Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number.


If you’re looking for an entertaining read with a character you are bound to relate to, be sure to pick this up! Kinsella is the author of other laugh-out-loud books such as Can You Keep a Secret and the Shopoholic series, which I highly recommend as well. I will say this, the only disappointing factor this story had was that it wasn’t quite as funny as some previous books of hers. But it is definitely still worth reading! Just as the rest of her novels, this takes place in England, which, for someone like me who absolutely loves that country, just adds to the overall book.


Go along with Poppy Wyatt, a feisty and funny physiotherapist, to see if some good can come from texting strangers. Especially handsome ones like Sam Roxton. Can this mystery man restore the chaos taking place in Poppy’s life that includes a missing engagement ring/priceless family heirloom and terrifyingly smart in-laws?


While it is a relatively short read, it still manages to take a few surprising twists  and turns. The timing is perfect, the books never lulls into a boring just-skim-the-paragraphs part. And as always, the dialogue (and in this case text messages and emails) is realistic and witty. Sophie Kinsella might be the only author to create a book with actual footnotes that never makes you yawn.  4 Pearls.

XOXO

Kenna Lee

Classical Tuesday: The Great Gatsby

Classical Tuesday has arrived!

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

.....

Now being a fan of the 1920’s how could I not start this feature off with The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I have to say I am so honored to be writing this review. I mean, it combines everything I love about books; including the fantastic writing of Fitzgerald and the perfectly flawed characters that you love and hate all at the same time.

The story of The Great Gatsby follows the life of Jay Gatsby and his undying love for Daisy Buchanan. The pair meets before the novel begins, when Daisy is a legendary young Louisville beauty and Gatsby an impoverished officer. They fall in love, but while Gatsby serves overseas, Daisy marries the brutal but extremely rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby devotes himself blindly to the pursuit of wealth by whatever means--and to the pursuit of Daisy. His millions made, Gatsby buys a mansion across from Daisy. He throws lavish parties, and waits for her to appear. When she does, events unfold with all the makings of a great tragedy.

The novel the Great Gatsby is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I fell in love with the world Fitzgerald built with his beautifully poetic words.The heartbreak and challenge Jay Gatsby went through to get back the love of his life sealed the deal. If you have not read this wonderful classic I suggest you do. 5 pearls.

XOXO

Becky

A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty
Libba Bray
....

   

What do you look for when you read a book? Well, for me, it depends on my mood. Sometimes I want to get right into the action; love, fighting, what’s not to like? But the problems with some of those books are that you don’t get into the world. If you’re looking for a quick read, look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a book that lets you into an entire new land, A Great and Terrible Beauty is perfect.

Now, I’ll be honest, it took me about two months to read this book. I started it in February, 2012 of course, and stopped after the first chapter. I wasn’t bored exactly. I mean, not many people can put a death in the first chapter and make it dull. My problem was that it was confusing. So I put it aside, that was, until two nights ago when I picked up the book again. It took me a while, page 248 to be exact, to get to the point of no return. After that, I couldn’t put it down.

The plot is incredible and elaborate, but, towards the end, still manages to be understandable. There were twists and turns that even I didn’t expect. (I’ve been told I can be clairvoyant when it comes to plots, something that gets on the other doll’s nerves when we see movies together.) The book was thoroughly enjoyable and I appreciated the slow start. There were points where my eyes would skim over long paragraphs, but I blame lack of sleep. If you enjoy a Victorian period fantasy novel with a little action, romance, and drama, then you will definitely enjoy A Great and Terrible Beauty. Plus, the next two books are already out! 4 pearls for Libba Bray! Can’t wait for the next one.

Keep on Reading

XOXO

Rosie