Review: Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman

Adorkable

By Cookie O'Gorman
My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: December 2016
Publication Date: September 20th, 2016
Paperback, 332 Pages

 Summary From Goodreads:

Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz. Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she's done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There's only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take. 

Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast. 

Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally's best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He'd do anything for Sal--even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she's "more than pretty," and expertly kissing her at parties.

 The problem: Sally's been in love with Becks all her life--and he's completely clueless. 

This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question: 

Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

My Review:

First of all, I love the word Adorkable, and this book was everything I thought it would be and more, just by reading the title... And looking at the cover. I know, I shouldn't have judged the book by its cover, but I did, and it was fantastic, so everything is fine.

I have the e-version of this book downloaded on my Kindle app, but I just never got around to reading it until my library bought a physical copy. I am upset with myself for not reading it sooner, especially since I had the opportunity! It has plot holes, and things that I shook my head at, but it was nothing that made me ever consider putting it down and stop reading it. There wasn't too much drama, surprisingly enough, especially compared to other books with similar story lines.

Becks. Baldwin Eugene Charles Kent. Swoon. SWOON. SA-WOOOOON. That's pretty much all I have to say about him... He was so cute, and so funny, and I think I've found myself a new book boyfriend. Not to mention the fact that he reminds me of someone that I know, so I went back and forth from giggling to cringing because I was picturing my friend as Becks the whole time.

I love Sal. She was so funny, but sometimes kind of naive. I also found that I could really relate to Sal, and I thought that was pretty cool. Like, we could be BFFS for real, and I wouldn't be pressuring her to get a boyfriend, or set her up on terrible blind dates.

Speaking of...

I wanted to slap Sal's mom and Hooker. SERIOUSLY. Stop trying to hook Sal up with people. She obviously wasn't happy with it and, just, why? She's 17 years old, there's no reason that she needs to have a boyfriend. There's no reason for anyone to be pressured into having a boyfriend or girlfriend if they don't want to. Ugh. Just don't it. I'll stop my rant about that right here.

This was a super adorable YA contemporary read, that is great for fans of Kasie West, or anyone looking for a quick read. There is so much chemistry between Becks and Sal. It was swoony, but managed to keep it sweet as well. It is something I wouldn't think twice about letting my 12 year old sister read.

One thing I am hoping for is a book that tells Ash's story. He was an interesting character, but I feel like you didn't really get to know him very well, and I'd like to learn more about him.

Review: Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up The Universe
By Jennifer Niven
My Rating: 4 Stars
Date Read: November 2016
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Hardcover, 284 pages



















                                                           Summary From Goodreads: 


Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. 

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.



                                                                            My Review: 

I'd never read anything quite like this book, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by it. I liked how Libby was such a strong character, and how, even though she did kinda sorta cared about what people thought, she also didn't give two flying figs... {Does that make sense? I feel like it doesn't, but oh well}.

There was so much character building going on in this book, and learning how to love yourself for who you are. I wasn't so fond of Jack for the longest time, even though he did have his moments. I thought that he was pretty immature, and it took a long time for me to warm up to him. I am glad that he grew up as the book went on, and learned to embrace is flaws.

Reveiw: How To Make Out by Brianna R. Shrum

How to Make Out
By Brianna R. Shrum
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Date Read: October 2016
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Hardcover, 284 pages



















                                                           Summary From Goodreads: 

Sixteen-year-old Renley needs three thousand dollars for the math club’s trip to New York City, and she knows exactly how to get it: she’s going to start a how-to blog where people pay for answers to all of life’s questions from a “certified expert.” The only problems: 1) She doesn’t know how to do anything but long division and calculus. 2) She’s totally invisible to people at school. And not in a cool Gossip Girl kind of way.

So, she decides to learn to do . . . well . . . everything. When her anonymous blog shifts in a more scandalous direction and the questions (and money) start rolling in, she has to learn not just how to do waterfall braids and cat-eye makeup, but a few other things, like how to cure a hangover, how to flirt, and how to make out (something her very experienced, and very in-love-with-her neighbor, Drew, is more than willing to help with).

As her blog’s reputation skyrockets, so does “new and improved” Renley’s popularity. She’s not only nabbed the attention of the entire school, but also the eye of Seth Levine, the hot culinary wizard she’s admired from across the home-ec classroom all year.

Soon, caught up in the thrill of popularity both in and out of cyberspace, her secrets start to spiral, and she finds that she’s forgotten the most important how-to: how to be herself. When her online and real lives converge, Renley will have to make a choice: lose everything she loves in her new life, or everyone she loves in the life she left behind.




                                                                            My Review: 
I liked this book. And I'm going to ignore the fact that it makes no sense for Renley to start a Blog where people have to pay to learn how to do things, when there is Google... That will tell you what you need to know for free...Yeah, ignoring that...

Renley drove me crazy at times. The fact that she was so dense and couldn't see that Drew was head over heels in love with her. She never even let it be a thought that they could be a couple. And she was just so consumed with being obsessed with Seth... and yeah, he's cool and everything, but I mean, DREW. I think that he was my favorite part about the book. He was so patient with Renley, and he was an amazing friend. He put up with a lot when it came to Renley. Things that would usually obliterate a friendship. He would do whatever for Renley, even if it was breaking his heart, because he loved her so much. Even when he was majorly ticked at her, if she needed him, he was there.

I get that Renley started up the Blog as a way to earn money, I really do. But why not just get a real job? You know, where you earn a paycheck every week (or every other week) doing normal worky type things... That seems like it would be less of a headache. But I'm ignoring it!

I wish that there had been a little more closure with different people by the end of the book, but I get that not every story is going to end with a happily ever after, and tied up with a little bow. But I loved that Ren figured things out with her dad, and her stepmom was pretty amazing too.

Review: The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

The Flame Never Dies
By Rachel Vincent
My Rating: 3 Stars
Date Read: September 2016
Publication Date: August 16th, 2016
Hardcover, 343 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

One spark will rise.

Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth—that the war against demons is far from over—seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant younger sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go.

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen…even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review:

Oh. My. Gosh. I think my brain may have exploded while reading this book. So many things happened. So. Many. Things.

I said in my review for The Stars Never Rise that I had my suspicions about how things were going to go down, and I'm glad to say that I was wrong for the most part. I've never been so happy to have been wrong about something actually.

This book seemed a little more graphic than the last one... Either that or I was just so in love with The Stars Never Rise that I just didn't notice it.

I didn't know that this was a duology until after I finished reading the second book. But when I did find out, I was super upset. Like, throw the book against the wall upset. {No, I did not throw my book against the wall, but I wanted to.} Sure a lot of things wrapped themselves up quite nicely, but there were some others that I'd have liked to see answered. I wish that there had been an epilogue where it tells you where the gang is now, and how Nina's little nephew is, and how things are going since the big ol' revelation about Nina and some of the others... I don't know, the end of this book made me want to cry. I wanted more of Nina and Finn. Oh well, you win some, you lose some... I still love Rachel Vincent.

Pokemon Go...

 

Photo Source: Google Search

Unless you're living under a rock {which I suppose is possible} you've probably heard about this thing called Pokemon Go, which has pretty much taken over the world.

I was super resistant to the idea at first. Like totally and completely 100% against it. I was definitely not going to download anything... especially since I had to use data and my poor
battery was going to suffer.

But alas, my nerdiness won out in the end and I downloaded it to my phone. This, of course, ended up with lots of teasing from my friends because I swore that I wasn't going to download it, because I felt like it was a waste of time (don't judge me!)

Friend: *messing with my phone* Wait, is that Pokemon Go?! I thought you said you weren't going to play because it's a waste of time??
Me: It is a waste of time!
Friend: Well then, why do you have it??
Me: Because it's Pokemon.
Friend: Oh, uh huh, I see...And how do you like it so far?
Me: Ugh, I have a love-hate relationship with it.
Littlest Sister: She keeps deleting it, and then re-downloading it.
Friend: Why?
Me: Because it's a waste of time! But it's also Pokemon!!
Friend: Oh, well... let me go catch Pokemon for you!
Me: *SIGHS*
  
And so now every time I see my friend, he always makes sure to ask me if I still have the Pokemon Go app on my phone, or if I've decided it's too much a waste of time that day. And then proceeds to give me a bad time no matter what my answer is. It's always good-natured teasing though, and it never fails to make me laugh.

Poke Pros:

1. I like that you get to catch Pokemon. That's so much fun. And you get to see them in the "real world" too so that's always entertaining. Especially when they turn up in awkward places.
2. You get to meet people. I thought it was kinda cool that this game encourages people to get out there and meet other people who share their love for Pokemon.
3. That exercise though. It makes people get out there and walk, and get more exercise than they probably ever got before. Especially if they're super devoted to the game. You wanna hatch that 5.0 km egg?? Betta get your butt up off that couch.
4. Same old music. When I had the sound turned up, and I heard the same familiar music that I heard so much playing Pokemon when I was younger... Ahhh, my nerdiness high-fived me in the face. It was great


Poke Nos:

1. But my Data! I have a very itty bitty data plan. Like, it's so minuscule I never turn it on unless there's an emergency. And it really sucks that I can't catch Pokemon unless I'm connected to WiFi or my data is on. That makes it really hard to take it with me out to the middle of nowhere while I'm hiking, camping, or whatever. Ugh.
2. Bye bye battery. I hate when my battery drains so fast. It's kind of annoying. And I'm the girl who usually forgets her back up charger at home... so yeah.
3. The people. Yeah I know I said it was a good thing up there, but I meant for other people. I personally am very selectively social. And a bit of an Introvert. So I try to avoid people that I don't know if at all possible. I mean, I'm still super friendly, and I will talk to people. But If I am playing a game or reading, or blah blah blah, I'd rather be left alone so that I can concentrate.
4. ALL THE DUMB THINGS. Okay, so I know people do stupid things no matter who they are, what they're doing, but Pokemon Go seems to have given people even more of an excuse to be stupid. Stopping the car in the middle of a busy highway, not paying attention to where they are walking, plus all the other things I've heard on the news, but can't remember right now.
5. I gotta go where?! Okay, so the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that there are a few Pokemon you can only catch if you live in certain places. Tauros, Mr. Mime, Farfetch'd, and Kangaskhan. WHYYY? I can't afford to hop on a plane to Australia, England or Asia! And I really want a Kangaskhan!! It's been said that you can hatch these Pokemon.. If you're lucky... But I really don't believe it, because there's been no proof whatsoever {unless there is and I haven't heard. Which is entirely possible. So if I'm lying, sorry}

So over all, I'm pretty sure that I will continue to play Pokemon, and keep catching millions of Pidgey's and Ratata's {because that's like, the only thing I'm ever able to find} I do think it's pretty neat, although I'm going to say that my old Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Ruby are my absolute favorites. I could sit and play for hours, and actually make some freaking progress, and the only money I had to spend was the money I earned from battling other trainers. Oooh, and the Pokemon contests that they had. Those were pretty dang cool too. Waaahhh, I'm making myself wish my Gameboy hadn't decided to die on me.

I'm sure I have other pros and cons that I can't remember because I'm putting this post together super fast, but if I remember anything else I'll add it in later. So enough of me blabbering on. Give Pokemon Go a shot, and see what you think about it.

Review: The Way To Game The Walk Of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

The Way To Game The Walk Of Shame
By Jenn P. Nguyen
My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: June 2016
Publication Date: April 26th 2016
Hardcover, 342 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

My Review:

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh. My. Gosh. I loved this book. La la la la lovvvvved this book. Seriously, I just want to sit and pet it for awhile. I had such high expectations for this one, when I first heard about it once upon a time, forever ago... And that made me a little bit nervous, because usually when that happens, I don't like the book at all, and that's a bit heartbreaking. But when I picked it up and started reading it, I fell in love with it right away. I was sucked in from the very start, and I didn't want to have to put it down {And I did, [boo] because I started it during my dinner break at work, and for some reason, they actually wanted me to come back and do stuff [lol]}

Don't be put off by the title of the book, despite what it sounds like, this is actually a very cute, age appropriate book. Kind of similar-ish to Anna And The French Kiss. Sure, it's got your basic teenage drama, but it's not so much that I'm sitting there rolling my eyes the whole time either.Or cringing at the absurdity of it all.

Taylor was a super focused, super perfectionist, and all she wants is to get into the school of her dreams. Sometimes I just really wanted to smack her and tell her to get a hold of herself and just, I don't know, calm the heck down. But on the other hand, I get it. I understand what it's like to want something so bad, that's the only thing you have time to think about. I can be a bit of a perfectionist myself, and I'm kind of OCD about some things, especially if I'm working on an assignment. If it's not exactly how I think it should be, I get so upset.

And then we have Evan... The ever so swoon-worthy Evan. He's popular, sexy-licious {a fact that he is absolutely aware of} and also slightly cocky, with a playboy reputation to go along with it. He's also extremely sweet and kind. I loved Taylor and Evan together. They were totally opposites in personality, but they complimented each other so well.

I absolutely loved this book {if that wasn't obvious from my opening statement} and I cannot wait to see what Jenn P. Nguyen writes next!

Review: One Paris Summer By Denise Grover Swank

My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: July 2016



Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Paperback, 272 pages



Summary From Goodreads

Most teens dream of visiting the City of Lights, but it feels more like a nightmare for Sophie Brooks. She and her brother are sent to Paris to spend the summer with their father, who left home a year ago without any explanation. As if his sudden abandonment weren't betrayal enough, he's about to remarry, and they’re expected to play nice with his soon-to-be wife and stepdaughter. The stepdaughter, Camille, agrees to show them around the city, but she makes it clear that she will do everything in her power to make Sophie miserable.

 

Sophie could deal with all the pain and humiliation if only she could practice piano. Her dream is to become a pianist, and she was supposed to spend the summer preparing for a scholarship competition. Even though her father moved to Paris to pursue his own dream, he clearly doesn't support hers. His promise to provide her with a piano goes unfulfilled.

Still, no one is immune to Paris’s charm. After a few encounters with a gorgeous French boy, Sophie finds herself warming to the city, particularly when she discovers that he can help her practice piano. There’s just one hitch—he’s a friend of Camille’s, and Camille hates Sophie. While the summer Sophie dreaded promises to become best summer of her life, one person could ruin it all.

 My Review: 

*I received a free copy of this book from book look bloggers in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this book. It was like Anna and the French Kiss meets Cinderella {minus the wicked step mother bit} but it still manages to be a unique and fun story. Just like with Anna and the French Kiss, I was scolding Sophie for not wanting to be in Paris. {I mean, yeah, I know that the circumstances were not ideal for her, but come on. It's Paris for crying out loud... But that aside...

I loved that in this story there was a good relationship between Sophie and her step mom {instead of the hate/hate relationship that can sometimes happen with step-parents. I really disliked Dale and Camille. Camille was petty and mean spirited. And Dale was a dou--- jerk. Dale was a jerk.

Sophie was such a relatable character. She can be awkward and she's definitely unsure of herself at times, which can make her come off as immature. But I think she does the best that she can in the situation that she'd been put in.

I liked Matthieu, he was tres swoony and mysterious... Although I was a bit skeptical of him and his reasons for keeping their relationship hush hush... I think that Sophie had waaaay more patience with him than I would have.

All in all, this was a sweet, summertime read that is perfect if you are looking a good contemporary novel.

Review: Everland by Wendy Spinale

Everland
By Wendy Spinale
My Rating: 4 Stars
Date Read: June 2016
Publication Date: May 10, 2016
Hardcover, 312 pages

 

 

 

 

Summary From Goodreads:

 
London has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who have survived are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the ruthless Marauders -- the German army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.

Unsure if the virus has spread past England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna. As Gwen sets out to save her, she meets a daredevil boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it will cost Gwen. And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain Hook?

 My Review:

 

It seems to me that there has been an influx of Peter Pan retellings as of late. And I can't help but wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that Once Upon A Time has made it so popular with the whole #CaptainSwan thing. I don't know. Some of the retold versions are superb (like Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell) and others are just kind of... meh. I personally like it when they don't stick straight to the original... I love when things are shaken up, and have been twisted and things happen that I don't expect. Read on to find out where this book falls on my loved It/Meh list.

This one actually ranked pretty high on my "like list" It had twists and turns, and it was a little darker, and more violent than the original Peter Pan Story. It was set in a Dystopian world, and it had bits of Steampunk thrown in as well {which I was surprised that I liked, because usually steampunk is just not my cup of tea} It's the Peter Pan we all know and love, but with so many different things thrown in there as well.

There were Cogs and Doc, who, at first, I was comparing to the dwarves from Snow White... And while that still holds true, now I realize that they were more like the fairies from the Tinkerbell movies. I liked that Bella {Tinkerbell} Was this sassy little 12 {maybe... I don't remember her age now} year old, but she had a heart of gold, and only wanted to be seen as an equal to all the other Lost Boys.

I didn't really *get* why they needed the "Pixie Dust" other than the  fact that they were just using it to make the story more similar to Peter Pan... It was kind of weird, and if they'd left it out, I would have been okay with it...but oh well.

I had a love-hate relationship with Gwen. I liked her, and the fact that she was so fiercely protective of her brother and sister, and even Bella and the Lost Kids... But at sometimes she came off as a little bit whiny... which I suppose is normal for a 15 (16? I don't remember... I'm so terrible) year old who has the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Usually I'm a bit skeptical of Peter Pan... I mean, he's okay and all in the original... But in most retellings he's kind of.. I don't know, sketchy? Like he has a hidden agenda or something. But I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with him in this version. He's not just this goofy, care free kid. He's got all of the lost kids counting on him to keep them safe.

Then we have Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer (Captain Hook for those of you who didn't know) I'm rather fond Captain Hook (or at least the one that has been made so popular by Once Upon A Time... Ah, that dashing, rapscallion scoundrel with his guy-liner and sassy attitude.. oh my, I can't even *SWOON* *INSERT HEART EYES HERE* 

What? Oh, yeah, I'm getting distracted again, sorry... As I was saying. I have a fondness for the good ol' Captain now, and whenever there's a story, I hope that he gets to be the good guy and at least get a chance at a happily ever after. Well, that's not really what he gets here, but we also get to see more than just the surface. He's not just a bad guy. He's got his reasons for doing what he does.

This is the first book in a trilogy I believe... I'm not sure how their going to intertwine the stories, but I'm curious. When it ended, it was pretty much tied up the way it should have been, so maybe it's going to be a different fairy tale with new and old characters... I don't know, I guess I'll have to wait and find out.

Review: Nobody's Lady by Amy McNulty

Nobody's Lady

By Amy McNulty
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Date Read: June 2016
Publication Date: April 12, 2016
Paperback, 300 pages

Summary From Goodreads

For the first time in a thousand years, the men in Noll’s village possess the freedom to love whom they will. In order to give each man the chance to fully explore his feelings, the lord of the village decrees all marriages null and void until both spouses declare their love for one another and their desire to wed again. What many women think will be a simple matter becomes a source of village-wide tension as most men decide to leave their families and responsibilities behind.

Rejected by the lord and ashamed of her part in the village’s history, Noll withdraws from her family and lives life as an independent woodcarver. This changes when her sister accuses her of hiding her former husband Jurij from her—and when Jurij eventually does ask to move in. Determined not to make the same mistakes, Noll decides to support her male friends through their new emotional experiences, but she’s soon caught up in a darker plot than she ever dared imagine possible from the men she thought she knew so well. And the lord for whom she still has feelings may be hiding the most frightening truth of them all.

My Review

*BOOM* That was my brain exploding, okay? I didn't review the first book, because I couldn't get my thoughts to make any kind of sense, so we'll see if I can do any better here.

This book was sooo confusing at times, and I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on. And it was kind of weird too... But I still really liked it. Makes perfect sense, right?

I got sucked into Noll's world once again, and I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what in the heck was going on. There were lots of twists and turns. It was kind of crazy all the things that were going on, and sometimes it was hard to keep track, which is why I didn't give this book a higher rating even though I really liked it... That and the fact that I found some of the characters a little annoying and in need of an attitude adjustment.

The ending of the book killed me just a little, and also left me a little confused... So now I can't wait to get the next book to see how everything is going to work itself out.

Review: The Avery Shaw Experiment

The Avery Shaw Experiment
By Kelly Oram
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Date Read: May 2016
Publication Date: February 14, 2014
Paperback, 230 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest. 
 

My Review:

What I want for once, is a book where the super brainy girl is also super confident in herself, and isn't socially awkward. Like, for real...But anyway. I thought it was super cute, despite the fact that I got just an eensy bit annoyed at how hung up she was on Aiden. I really loved Grayson. Sometimes the things he said made me want to smack him, but other times I was swooning or laughing right along with Avery. I liked that he pushed her to come out of her shell, but at the same time he respected her, and when she got too stressed out, he backed off. It was super sweet, and a super quick read that I definitely enjoyed.

Review: The Star Touched Queen

The Star Touched Queen
By Roshani Chokshi
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Date Read: May 2016
Publication Date: April 26th 2016
Hardcover, 342 pages









Summary From Goodreads:
Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself

My Review:

I hate Maya's father. Really, truly hate him. The comment that he made about "even a favored daughter is still just a daughter." ugh.

This book was kind of strange...It was like A Court of thorns and roses mixed with The Wrath and the Dawn plus some Indian mythology, and Hades and Persephone, and Horoscopes. And all of  those are things that I really like... But it seemed like there was too much going on, and I was just so confused. I don't even know how to review this one... I hated how terribly Maya was treated. Because she had a bad horoscope, because she was a girl... I just... that was really frustrating. I loved the way Amar talked about Maya. That was beautiful. But I didn't like the total insta love. I felt like we never even got to learn anything about him, he was just kind of...there. And the magic, and the dimension/time traveling left me confused, like I had missed something. I don't know. This one wasn't for me, but I know lots of people who enjoyed it. Give it a try, and let me know what you think of it!

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Court Of Mist And Fury
By Sarah J. Maas
My Rating: 5  {Gajillion} beautifully splendid stars from the Night Court
Date Read: May 2016
Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Hardcover, 624 pages




Summary From Goodreads:

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.



My Review:

Just a bit of a heads up, I will be fangirling about this book, and talking about things and it might get kind of spoilery from here on out. So, yeah... you've been warned.

First random thoughts I had while reading this book:

So the Beast we thought was the Beast in the first part of this Beauty and the Beast story is not actually the real Beast at all, is he? hmmmm

Hot Darn. Holy freaking ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! This book is beautiful and brilliant and heartbreakingly perfect.

I have so much love for this book you guys. So. Much. Love. And I just cannot even. The average rating for this book on Goodreads is 4.77 and the average rating on Amazon is 4.8... So I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. It's fan-freaking-fantastic.

I was a little hesitant to read this book at first, which is so weird, because I absolutely, positively ADORED the first book. But I kept starting it, and putting it down, then picking it back up. I couldn't get into it right away like I had the first book, and it was a little discouraging... Not to mention the fact that I went into reading this book with the mindset that it was a YA novel. So it kind of took me b surprise when about 20 pages in there was a scene that seemed like it came straight out of a Romance novel. It wasn't so off putting to me to make me stop reading it, but this is just my caution for others who might be a little more... sensitive as far as risque scenes go.

Rhysand: Oh my holy crab cakes........ I love Rhys. I was so confused. I kind of liked him in the first book, but then I also hated his guts. But in this book he totally and completely redeemed himself. Oh wow. I haven't loved a "bad guy" this much since Aaron Warner from The Shatter Me series. His character is just so complex. I loved it. I loved getting to see who he really is, and what he was hiding behind that heartless facade. He is so much more than a heartless son-of-a-*bad word removed*. He's actually very thoughtful and selfless. And will do whatever it takes to protect the things and people he loves.

Now that I know Rhysand's story, I want to re-read the first book, just because when I do, I will be seeing things from a different perspective. I won't be thinking that he's a heartless monster. I know what his motives are, and I know how he is really feeling about things.

I loved how he was so protective of Feyre, like when he came to her rescue when she was having a panic attack at her wedding, and when Tamlin locked her away in his castle. But at the same time he respected her. He never told her no, she couldn't do something because he was afraid she'd get hurt {even though I'm sure he wanted to at times} He helped her grow, he pushed her out of her comfort zone, and made her a better, stronger person. He loves her, he wants what is best for her, he wants her to fight beside him, and he'd never tell her that she couldn't do something. SPOILERS: She's the love of his life, his mate, the High Lady of the Night Court, his equal in every way.

My favorite parts of this book were the ones with Feyre and Rhys. That might have been part of the reason why it took me so long to get into it. The first however many chapters where it was Feyre and Tamlin and Ianthe really struggled to keep my attention. I was annoyed at Ianthe and Tamlin, and even Lucien. I wanted him to step up and be the friend that Feyre needed. It wasn't until Rhys swooped in that first time and called in his bargain with her {And he was really just saving her, even if she didn't realize it at the time} that I really got hooked into the book. It was great. I found myself antsy when she wasn't with Rhys.

I was kind of tremendously annoyed with Tamlin, and I knew when I started reading this book that something was going to be different. I hadn't read any reviews or spoilers, but I just had this feeling that something was a changing.. And I was right. I was kind of sad at first, because I wanted so much to love Tamlin as much as I did when I read the first book. But I didn't. I would have fought harder against Tamlin and his rules and expectations if I were Feyre... She just saved EVERYBODY gosh dang it! She should be awarded some freedoms, and definitely not locked away for her own protection! Not to mention the fact that when the whole topic of a High Lady came up, Tamlin was just like "Ah, nah homie, there's no such thing as a High Lady. Never has been, never will be."{well obviously he didn't say it quite like that, but you get the idea.} He was just being so selfish. I mean, yeah, I get that he's under a lot of pressure, and people are watching him and judging his every move, but still. Some of the things he did and said made me want to scream. Like when he *SPOILER* paired up with the freaking bad guy to get Feyre back. *END OF SPOILER*

I'm going to compare this to the Shatter Me Series again. I liked Tamlin and Feyre together in the first book. It made sense for them to be together at the time. But in this story, Feyre has changed. She's not the innocent human she used to be. She's seen things and done things that have forever changed her. She needs someone who understands and is okay with that. Someone who is going to try and help her figure things out. Kind of like the whole Warner-Juliette-Adam relationship in the Shatter Me series. Tamlin and Adam wanted a Damsel in Distress. Someone who they could protect and make them feel like they were doing something good. But when the Damsel in Distress figures out that she can kick some booty and take care of herself, that makes them feel... inadequate. Sure they think they still love her {and they actually might} but it's doomed to never work out because they're always trying to push the girl back into being complacent, and keep the attitude that she needs the guy to save her... Well, yeah, anyway.

I think you've had enough of me babbling about, haven't you? Fine, be that way. I will just leave you with my final thoughts all wrapped up in a pretty little bow:

 This book was so amazingly beautiful, and if you haven't read the first one then you definitely need to. There's so much character development and world building. And there's just enough action, and plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Not to mention the super swoony romance. It's got something in it that everyone will enjoy, and I absolutely cannot wait until the next book comes out. Especially with the way that the second one ended.

Review: The Season Of You And Me by Robin Constantine

The Season of You and Me
By Robin Constantine
My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: May 2016
Publication Date: May 10th 2016
Hardcover, 352 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

Cassidy Emmerich is determined to make this summer—the last before her boyfriend heads off to college—unforgettable. What she doesn’t count on is her boyfriend breaking up with her. Now, instead of being poolside with him, Cass is over a hundred miles away, spending the summer with her estranged father and his family at their bed-and-breakfast at the Jersey Shore and working as the newest counselor at Camp Manatee.

Bryan Lakewood is sick of nevers. You’ll never walk. You’ll never surf. You’ll never slow dance with your date at prom. One miscalculated step and Bryan’s life changed forever—now he’s paralyzed and needs to use a wheelchair. This is the first summer he’s back at his former position at Camp Manatee and ready to reclaim some of his independence, in spite of those who question if he’s up for the job.

Cass is expecting two months dealing with heartbreak.
Bryan is expecting a summer of tough adjustments.
Neither of them is expecting to fall in love.

My Review:

I've been having a tendency to fall into book reading slumps lately... And it kinda, sorta, really sucks. I'll pick up a book, read a few pages, then put it down and walk away from it. But when I picked this one up, I finished it in one sitting! It was glorious!

I thought the idea of this story was pretty interesting. It was new to me because I'd never read anything similar. I was a little bit hesitant, because I was having horrible thoughts like: WHAT IF THIS IS LIKE ME BEFORE YOU?!?! I CAN'T HANDLE THAT KIND OF HEARTBREAK!! I know, I know, I was just being over dramatic. There was nothing to worry about, this book was perfectly adorable.

I love, love, loved Bryan. He was just so sweet, and he didn't spend too  much time feeling sorry for himself...

I liked Cassidy, too... But I found myself getting annoyed with her quite a bit because she was just so obsessed with her ex-boyfriend, Gavin. I mean, even when she knew she liked Bryan, she couldn't stop thinking about Gavin. I just wanted to shake her and yell "NO! You like Bryan, you go be with BRYAN! Gavin is a jerk face butt monkey, and you need to stay away from him." There was also a time that she handled something very poorly, and it made me cringe: 

SPOILERS AHEAD

That was the time that she was going on a date with Bryan, and Gavin showed up, and she introduced Bryan as her ride... she could have at least introduced him as her friend.. I'm cringing just thinking about that.

 END OF SPOILERS 

Anywho, this book has some of the best relationships I've seen in a while. I loved Cass and Bryan together. Their relationship was super believable and adorable, and AGH! I just love them together.

The relationship she had with her family was great, they were always there to support each other. Even her mom and dad got along okay, even though they were divorced. And I especially loved her relationship with her half brother Hunter. He adored her, and I'm pretty sure that the feeling was mutual.

And her relationship with her friends-old and new. It was always entertaining.

I loved the descriptions of the beach, and the bed and breakfast... ah... I wanted to be there, I felt like I was  there. It was so beautiful.

I was a bit unsure of the whole #wheelchairperk thing at first... but then I realized that my friends and I are always putting hashtags in front of things just to be silly. But I noticed that quite a few people were really annoyed at the fact that it was in there like that.

For some reason, the song that popped into my head while I was reading this book was Somewhere in My Car by Keith Urban... Don't know why, it doesn't really have anything to do with the book, but that's the song that I thought of while I was reading it. Check it out below, and let me know what you think:

Review: Muse by Erin McFadden

Muse
By Erin McFadden
My Rating: 3 Stars
Date Read: April 2016
Publication Date: September 13, 2013
Paperback, 180 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

The Brotherhood of the Guardians has existed for thousands of years to serve a single purpose: the protection of Talents, the mortal descendants of the original nine Muses.

Twenty-one year-old Daniel Lyoncourt has trained his entire life to join the Guardians. Daniel is prepared to risk his life in order to keep his Talent safe, but when he's assigned to nineteen year-old Anna Saint-James, he discovers that his life isn't the only thing he could lose. Anna has no idea how special she is and knows nothing about her abilities. He must teach her to control her gifts, keep her safe, and hope that he can find a place in her life as something more than just her bodyguard.

All power comes at a price. Like all Talents, Anna must one day make a choice: lose all of her powers, or ascend to a higher plane, leaving behind everyone she loves.

My Review:

This book was good, but it wasn't my absolute favorite. There seemed to be so much going on all at once for the length of the book, and it was kind of confusing. Also, I didn't "see" the characters as being as old as they were, they came off as being younger. The relationship seemed way to insta-love {and that's saying something because generally it doesn't bother me all that much

I liked Daniel, and his fierce protectiveness when it came to Anna. He was definitely a plus for this book.

I also really liked Anna. She was so sweet, and it was like she didn't have a mean bone in her body.

MAY I suggest... Incredible Books Giveaway Hop May 6-19

So this awesome book hop is hosted by the fantastic people over at Stuck In Books, and I get the chance to give away a book that I think is incredible. The book I'm giving away this time is Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry! So, before you enter the giveaway, I'm going to go over the boring stuff.

1. There are no mandatory entries. They are all optional, but the more you do, the greater your chance is at winning.

2. The giveaway on my blog will go live 12 am May 5th, and end 12 am on May 20th. It is a US ONLY giveaway.

3. I will notify the winner by email within 24 after the giveaway ends. The winner has 48 hours from the time I send the email to respond or another winner will be chosen.

4. I will mail the package out ASAP, but I am not responsible for lost or damaged items

Right, now that that's outta the way, continue on and enter the giveaway. And then don't forget to go and check out THE LIST of all the other participants.

 

Summary from Goodreads:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again..

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ask the FanGirl

In which I answer all the questions below (I found this #AskTheFanGirl on Pinterest and thought it would be fun to do)

1. First Person I ever obsessed over? Hmm, well if we're going with fictional characters, I'd have to say Darien/Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon {I was just a bit in love with that show when I was younger, and even now when I'm all growed up, there's still something about my beloved Tuxedo Mask that makes me go SWOON} But if we're going with real people, I'd say it was Nick Carter {Yes, I was a BSB girl. And I still am, thankyouverymuch}

    

















2. Current Obsession? Obsession? As in singular? I have way too many for that. Well, there's Once Upon A Time {even though it's starting to get a bit weird}

3. Favorite Band? Hmm, I like 5 Seconds of Summer... I mean, I'm not obsessed with them {Don't hate me for that please} but they're pretty cool.

4. Favorite Singer? I looove Dalton Rapattoni. And Keith Urban... And Adam Lambert.

5. Favorite YouTuber? Oh, DanIsNotOnFire hands down, without a doubt, most definitely, and any other affirmation I can give you. Because one second he's like:

 

but then the next it's:

 

6. First concert? Ah yes, that was a Backstreet Boys concert way back forever ago.

7. Favorite Movie? I don't really have just one movie that I would call my favorite. I like lots of them, especially if they're Hallmark Movies

8. Favorite Actor/Actress? Colin O'Donoghue is my favorite actor and Emma Watson is my favorite actress

9. First celebrity crush? Yeah, that's going to be Nick Carter again

10. Ever got made fun of for what I like? Nope.

11.Favorite book? HA. HA HA AHAHA, there's no way I can pick just one. But I'll try, let me think *INSERT THINKING MUSIC HERE* Okay, well, with much deliberation, the one book out of all of my favorites that I am going to share with you is:

 

 It's fantastic, you should definitely read it

12. Favorite TV Show? I would usually say Once Upon A Time, but I'm going to shake things up a bit this time and say Bringing Up Bates

13. Favorite Fictional Character..., Hmmm. HMMMMM.... HmMMmMmMMMmmmMMmmm... Well, I am going to have to say it's a tie between Aaron Warner from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi AND Captain Hook from Once Upon A Time. Because they are BAE.

14. Something I love about the fandom that I'm in? Well, I love that I'm able to fangirl and get completely dorky when I talk to people who like the same things that I do, and they totally get it. They fangirl (or fanboy) with me. No judgements.

15. Something I hate about the fandom that I am in? Well, this is just about fandoms in general I guess. I hate that people get so defensive and all "My fandom is better than yours and if you disagree you are a terrible person" All fandoms are spectacular. Can't we all just get along?

16. Would I ever take a bullet for the people I fangirl over? I have no clue. That's more like one of those split second decisions.

17. Do I ever hide the fact that I like somone/something out of fear of getting teased? Pshhh, no. I don't care what people think about what I like.

18. Have I ever met any of my idols? Sadly, no.

19. Do I have any merch of the people I fangirl over? Oh yes.

20. Favorite fangirl moment? All of them

Review: When We Collided by Emery Lord

When We Collided
Emery Lord
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Date Read: April 2016
Publication Date: April 5th 2016
Hardcover, 352 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…

Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.

Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.

Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.

In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever.

My Review:

I liked this book, but I didn't love it, and that was kind of heartbreaking for me because I absolutely adored Lord's previous books. It wasn't horrible though, so ugh, I don't know, I am just really conflicted about my feeling for this book right now.

What I liked:

Little Leah, and big, bubbly personality. She was just super adorable and hilarious

THE GORGEOUS cover! It's soooo pretty. completely different from the covers of the last 2 books which could be aggravating  if you collect books and now have a mismatched set... Still, it's super pretty.

The big-ish family. I always thought it would be fun to have a lot of brothers and sisters because there would always be someone to hang out with. I loved how they all pulled together when things got bad.

I liked Vivi's GINORMOUS personality as well. She was always so willing to put herself out there and look silly. And she talked. A lot. Which is cool, because I'm a pretty quiet person, I'd rather listen than talk. So being friends with someone like Vivi would be okay with me.

I liked Jonah. He was just so sweet, and I always just wanted to hug him and say, hey, you know, everything will be fine.


What I didn't like

The insta-forced love thing. Normally I can deal with the insta-love. But this time it was a little much. It felt to me like Vivi was the one pushing the relationship. She was kind of controlling and demanding and even childish at times when she was with Jonah.

The ending was kind of a bummer for me. I love my HEAs. Or at least an ending that gives the illusion that there will be a Happily Ever After at some point, but this one didn't. I understand that life doesn't always give you a happy ending, but this is a book! It doesn't have to follow the rules of reality!


I don't know much about bipolar disorder, so I can't make any comments on how believable that was.

Overall, this book was, as I said above, Okay. But it wasn't anything spectacularly fantastic.

Review: The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

The Year We Fell Apart
By Emily Martin
My Rating: 3 Stars
Date Read: April 2016
Publication Date: January 26th 2016
Hardcover, 320 pages

Summary From Goodreads:

Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep of her family. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan.

Now, after two semesters of silence, Declan is home from boarding school for the summer. Everything about him is different—he’s taller, stronger…more handsome. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis.

While Declan wants nothing to do with Harper, he’s still Declan, her Declan, and the only person she wants to talk to about what’s really going on. But he’s also the one person she’s lost the right to seek comfort from.

As their mutual friends and shared histories draw them together again, Harper and Declan must decide which parts of their past are still salvageable, and which parts they’ll have to let go of once and for all. 

My Review:

Oh boy. This book was full of drama. It was a good book, and it had the opportunity to be a great book, but it kind of fell short of that for me at least. I think it was because there was so much drama in it. So first I am going to start with what I didn't like.

Harper kind of frustrated me. She handled things so poorly. I mean, yes, we all make mistakes don't get me wrong. But Harper made the same mistakes over and over and over again. And it was over pretty dumb things too. Like when she got upset that Declan couldn't make it to a party and blew things way out of proportion  going oh boo hoo hoo poor me, he must not like me! Then she went and got completely wasted and started making out with someone else.

I loved Declan. He was so patient and forgiving where Harper was concerned. He had things of his own going on, but he seemed to handle them way better than Harper did.

Cory was also really awesome. He was always there to come to Harper's rescue. No matter when she called, he would go and get her. Harper was just really lucky in the friend area in general. They put up with a lot of crap from her and they were always willing to defend her.

One thing that was kind of left up in the air was how things with Harper's mom went. Did she die? Did she survive? Did they actually say what happened to her and I just read over it? I guess we get to make our own assumptions as far as that goes, and that's okay too I guess.

That's just my opinion though. I'm interested to see what you thought if you've read it! Let me know down in the comments!

Review: Catching Lucas Riley by Lauren Winder Farnsworth

Catching Lucas Riley

By Lauren Winder Farnsworth 

My Rating: 4 Stars  

Date Read: March 2016

Publication Date: March 8th 2016 
Paperback, 192 pages


Summary From Goodreads:
  
Alex Foamer is in love . . . with the untouchable singles ward heartthrob who has no idea she exists. Enter Sealey Witchburn, the manipulative, sarcastic ward executive secretary, whose scheming is Alex's only chance to catch her crush’s attention. But when Alex actually wins the bid for her dream date, she gets more than she bargained for in this surprising LDS romance based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid

My Review: 

This book was a quick, fun, and hilarious read, though saying that it is based on The Little Mermaid is kind of stretching it. That was part of the reason that I wanted to read it in the first place {because, you know, Prince Eric is my fave} and as I was reading it, it just wasn't clicking for me... I mean, okay Sealey and Ursula, I got that... And Alex has red hair like Ariel... But I think it would have been better to leave the reference to The Little Mermaid out of the summary... But that's just my opinion.

Anyways, moving on... I really didn't like Sealey... I thought he was a major jerk. And I just wasn't feeling a connection between him and Alex. I kept waiting on him to grow on me as the book went on, but it never happened. I did like Alex's relationship with her roommates though. They were all so different, but their personalities just meshed together so well.

I've never obsessed over a guy {well I have, but they're either fictional or famous, so that doesn't count} but I felt like I could relate to Alex and her insecurities.} I'm a member of the LDS Church and I'm also roughly around the same age as Alex. So I can kind of relate to her on that.

Even though this one is categorized as Adult Christian Fiction/New Adult book, teens could read this book without any fear of it being super raunchy. Which is always exciting for me, because it's hard to find New Adult books that aren't full of sex, drugs, and alcohol.

There are some terms and phrases that readers may not be familiar with unless they are a member of the Mormon Church {which I am}, or they know someone who is a member. But it's nothing that is so off putting that it makes you want to stop reading the book. It's also not overly preachy either, which is always nice.

One of my favorite quotes from the book was:

"It wasn't that she didn't appreciate testimony meeting for what its purpose was supposed to be, but the problem was that too many testimonies turned into storytelling sessions or academy award speeches."

Because, let's face it... it's something that everyone has thought, but just never had the guts to say out loud.