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Guest Review: My Second Life by Faye Bird

Nov5

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: My Second Life by Faye BirdMy Second Life by Faye Bird
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on January 19, 2016
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

A pacy pageturner that asks: Can you be held responsible now for something you did in a previous life?

Fifteen-year-old Ana has a good life--she has friends and a boy she likes and a kind mother--but still, she's haunted by her past; she knows that she lived once before as a girl named Emma, and she still misses her old family. When, by chance in her life now, Ana meets a woman she knew in her previous life, a terrifying memory flashes through her mind of a young girl drowning. Was Emma responsible? And should Ana pay the price? Consumed by guilt, Ana sets out to find out as much as possible about the person she was before and what she had done, only to discover that the family she misses so deeply had dark secrets of its own. To come to terms with her life now, Ana must figure out how to let go of the past.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Heather here with a guest review for My Second Life by Faye Bird.

You can find Heather on The Hermit Librarian and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Heather’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was offered the chance to review My Second Life. I believe in reincarnation and the thought that you can be held responsible for something you did in a past life is definitely intriguing. It brings up so many questions: can someone who did good be allowed a pass if they commit a crime? Can someone who did something terrible ever be redeemed? Faye Bird tackles one of these questions with Ana, her main character.

Ana is a fifteen year old girl who has always known that she’s lived a life before. From the moment she is born into her life as Ana, she has memories of her life as Emma, the girl she was previously. For the most part these memories manifest as a longing for her first mother, which causes a lot of conflict with her current mother. This was illustrated in the book by the fact that as a reader I never really got the sense that we knew Ana’s mother. She was in the book for brief periods of time, but her character was never really developed in my eyes. I think this was a good method because it gave me a similar sense of distance from her like what Ana must have felt.

Things get tricky for Ana when she, by chance, runs into someone from her old life and starts to have memories that are much darker than anything she’s ever experienced before. It brings up the question in her mind; what did I do when I was Emma? This question drives Ana to dive into an investigation of her past life and the path that it leads her down is frightening, nerve wracking, and will ultimately lead to a place that will lead both Ana and the reader unsettled.

I won’t go into much more plot wise because I don’t want to spoil the story, but I will say that you’ll think you know what’s happening but the truth will surprise you. Faye Bird does a good job of keeping the ending close to her chest. The pacing of her writing is very quick, which I appreciated. This read could be done in a day or two if you’re busy, maybe a couple of hours if you’ve got a spare afternoon.

One of the things that I wish had been more developed in the book was Ana’s previous life and how it worked and why she was the only one that seemed to be “gifted” with this second chance. She was incredibly lucky to be reborn at all, but also, how did it happen that she was reborn so close to her original family? Out of the whole world, England again? I’d be curious to see if Faye Bird has another book planned that might examine someone else’s experience with rebirth that might explain some of these loose threads.

The romantic aspect of the story between Ana and Jamie was a bit lackluster for me and didn’t add anything, though I think it was meant to give Ana a sense of normalcy. Considering her extraordinary circumstances, that sort of plot device was probably a good idea, but similar to Ana’s mother, I never really connected with Jamie. I was much more interested in how Ana was feeling, what was going on in her head, how she was dealing with “living” two lives at once.

There were a few slow points in the beginning, but I think that, even given the negatives I’ve pointed out here, that My Second Life is well worth the read. It’s a good concept and makes you think about the question that Ana faces: can you be held responsible for something “you” did in a past life?

four-stars

Guest Review: Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales

Sep26

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila SalesTonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on September 15, 2015
Pages: 342
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

Recklessly loyal.

That’s how seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley has always thought of herself. Caring for her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But lately she’s grown resentful of everyone—including her needy best friend and her absent mom—taking her loyalty for granted.

Then Arden stumbles upon a website called Tonight the Streets Are Ours, the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter, who gives voice to feelings that Arden has never known how to express. He seems to get her in a way that no one else does, and he hasn’t even met her.

Until Arden sets out on a road trip to find him.

During one crazy night out in New York City filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn’t exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, either.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Emily Anne here with a guest review for Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales

You can find Emily on Reader Rising and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Emily’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I loved Tonight The Streets Are Ours. This book is beautifully written and offers an honest reflection of life. Even though the book isn’t fast paced or action packed, I found myself unable to tear myself away. And, after I read this book, I thought about it for weeks after.

Firstly, I love our main character, Arden. She has a strong voice, and seems very human. I love her anecdotes of her life and her examination of her “recklessly loyal” personality. In fact, she was made into her own Just-Like-Me-Doll for mass production (like the American Girl doll of the year), and that doll version of herself has both defined her and held her back.

At home, Arden is having a tough time. Her mother left; Her dad is always working. She and her boyfriends are drifting apart. She and her best friend, Lindsey, also need to get some things out. Arden feels like she never gets any love back from anybody. Then, Arden finds solace in a blog called Tonight The Streets Are Ours. She grows fascinated with the blog’s talented writer, Peter. The readers also get to read Peter’s posts, and I really liked that!

And, then, one night the two meet. And Arden discovers the truths of Peter’s life that were never told on the website. She even discovers a lot about herself on that crazy night. They don’t meet until the last half of the book, so be patient! I actually liked both parts of the book equally, even though they are completely different. My only half-complaint is that I don’t know if I would ever reread this book, and I think a lot of people will be turned off by the slow pace.

Reading Tonight The Streets Are Ours is an experience. Equal parts beautiful and raw and real-life, Leila Sale’s book is very introspective. She makes beautiful points on love, friendship, the life of the privileged, family, perception, and the importance of both sides of a story. I can’t wait to read more by Sales.

four-stars

Guest Review: After the Woods by Kim Savage

Sep25

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: After the Woods by Kim SavageAfter the Woods by Kim Savage
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on February 23, 2016
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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three-stars

Would you risk your life to save your best friend?

Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Leah here with a guest review for After the Woods by Kim Savage

You can find Leah on Bumblebee Book Blog and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Leahs’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

Julia and her best friend Liv love to go trail running as part of their cross country training. They always go together to run through the woods on a trail that two teenage girls really have no business running on alone. Everyone’s worst fear is confirmed one day when the girls are on one of their normal runs and Liv (who is much faster and always runs ahead of Julia) gets attacked by a man with a knife. Faced with the decision of fight or flight, Julia knows she can’t leave her best friend behind to fend for herself. Liv is able to get away after Julia tries to fight off the attacker. Liv leaves Julia and the man while she runs to get help. That is the last anyone sees of Julia for two days until she is able to once again best her attacker and get away.

Now a year later, Julia is still dealing with the aftermath. Everything changed once she was found in the woods. She is now a local celebrity because of her valor. The media loves her story and have used it for a platform to try and build a case on why the police were incompetent enough to let a man with parole violations slip under the radar enough that he was able to attack two teenager girls. Along with this, Julia also has to deal with how her attack has affected her personal life. Things with Liv are never the same since that night. Liv has taken to dealing with her problems with reckless behavior and rebellion. Julia thinks that she is on a downward spiral and she doesn’t know what to do to help. Julia’s mom has also forced her to see multiple therapists in an attempt to make her deal with the attack. No one understands that Julia needs to know the facts of the case and why it happened to her in order for her to ever be able to move on. As she is researching the case, she begins to find out information that will change things forever.

The thing that I really enjoyed about this book that I didn’t anticipate was the focus on the emotional and psychological toll of being abducted (or not abducted in one case) had on the MC. After being out of the woods for a year, Julia still doesn’t handle things the way everyone around her thinks she should. She is a scientist to her core and researching statics and gathering information is the only way she can process what happened to her. As much as her therapists want her to put her feelings neatly into a box of what they think she should be feeling, Julia just isn’t that way. The thought of playing with dolls to act out what happened to her makes her roll her eyes out of her head. I think this is a great perspective for the writer to show since not everyone deals with their problems the same. Sure, talking to a therapist will help some, but some people need to know the WHY in order to heal. I really enjoyed that no matter what dark secret Julia uncovered, she still thirsted for more knowledge. Her emotional strength was a refreshing trait to read about.

There were a few problems that I had with the story. At times, things jumped around a lot. Stuff would be mentioned, but never fully explained in the end. The obsession with writing GIRLs, the “black thing” in her belly, etc. I also really wish that Julia and Kellan’s relationship would have been featured more or just not mentioned at all. It is so spotty that it feels like Kellan was put into the story as a filler. At times I completely forgot that he was even a character because of how little he was mentioned.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone that is a fan of YA thrillers that focus on dark subject matter like The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas.

three-stars

Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Aug10

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha LeaverThe Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on April 28th 2015
Pages: 304
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

It took me two weeks to read this book and I’m honestly not sure why – I actually really enjoyed it! There were some frustrating moments, but there were also epic and heartbreaking moments, plus some crazy foreshadowing. The ending was a little predictable, but it hit me right in the feels.

Almost right away (within the first 5-7 pages), I knew I liked Ella more than Maddy and we hadn’t even really met Maddy yet and we barely knew Ella. But Ella talked about her love of B-rated horror movies, her dog and comfy jeans – all of which I can relate to! She went through a horrifying, traumatizing experience and made some major mistakes along the way, but I definitely think she learned her lesson and grew from it.

Again, we didn’t really get to meet Maddy – only through Ella’s eyes and only briefly before Ella “became” Maddy. So it’s hard to really know how I felt about Maddy. But from what we learned, it seemed like she was a good person who made bad mistakes that she regretted. She could have been a better sister and a better friend and she knew that. Given the chance to do it over, I think Maddy would have done the right thing the second time around. Or, at the very least, I think she would have apologized to all those she hurt.

I’m not sure how I feel about Alex. It seems like he did a lot of things out of true loyalty to Maddy, but it also felt like he worked really hard to get things back to normal because he didn’t want to rock the popularity boat. I think he wanted so badly for Maddy to be alive, he ignored some very obvious signs – signs that made it clear it was really Ella, not Maddy. But the more “Maddy” stopped acting like herself, the more he distanced himself from her and the more he drifted closer to Jenna – behavior that lost him most of the brownie points he earned during his “genuine” moments.

Speaking of, I couldn’t stand Jenna! She was mean and snobby and conniving, always looking down on others and actively seeking ways to make others feel bad about themselves. She even resorted to blackmail to get her way!

On the flip side, I adored Josh. I didn’t always like his attitude or the ultimatums he gave Ella – she was dealing with a LOT and, mourning or not, he could have been more supportive – but, overall, I really liked him and shipped him and Ella like crazy. They were just perfect for each other! And, of course, I loved the epilogue because of that!

I didn’t like nor dislike Kim, though she felt like an insubstantial character – like her only role was to make Josh unattainable when it was obvious that Ella and Josh were meant to be. She seemed nice, though, and she was kind to Ella when she was pretending to be Maddy. She also genuinely liked Josh, so I felt bit bad for her because it was clear that she’d never end up with him as long as Ella was around.

Another character I liked was Molly, though I would have liked to get to know her more. We mostly learned about her only in relation to Maddy and Jenna and everything that happened. Finally, I’m baffled by Maddy and Ella’s parents and their behavior – I thought parents of twins were supposed to be able to tell their kids apart? I think, deep down, they had a feeling, but with Ella doing her best to convince them otherwise and because they were in mourning, they just weren’t thinking/seeing things clearly and they just ignored that little voice that told them something wasn’t right.

Like I mentioned earlier, this book was just a bit predictable, for many reasons: There was major foreshadowing in the beginning of the book regarding the accident and how it would happen and why. There were a lot of hints dropped regarding the Molly thing. And the ending was pretty obvious, as well. Nothing ever really surprised or shocked me. But the predictability never took away from my overall enjoyment of the book or the “Aha!” moments when I got to those “reveals.”

Overall, this was a fun, though heavy and heartbreaking, book. I liked the characters and I liked seeing Ella’s growth and the way she learned from her mistakes. There was definitely a major Lying Game vibe to this book, so if you’re a fan of that series (I totally am!!!), you’ll most likely enjoy The Secrets We Keep. I really liked the author’s writing, character building and pacing and I’m definitely interested in reading some of her other books now! (I’ve heard amazing things about Creed and Sweet Madness looks EPIC!!!)

four-stars

Review: The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Feb28

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Winner’s Crime by Marie RutkoskiThe Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #2
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on March 3, 2015
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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three-stars

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Going into The Winner’s Crime, I was really nervous. I didn’t enjoy The Winner’s Curse (book one) as much as I had hoped to, but the ending held a lot of promise for book two. Still, I was reluctant to read it and even put it down in favor of another book before picking it back up. In all, it took me almost a month to read The Winner’s Crime and I was incredibly disappointed.

I still liked Kestrel, but she was very, very reckless and careless in this book. As I mentioned in my review of The Winner’s Curse, she often does things without thinking through the consequences and that was especially true in The Winner’s Crime. I like how calculating and head-strong she is, how she’s willing to risk everything for what she believes in. But in some ways, she made things worse. And the ending… Wow, she REALLY messed things up in the end. I have NO IDEA how she’s going to get out of this mess now..

Now.. *Prepares to be hated…* I don’t like Arin. I don’t like him and I don’t ship him with Kestrel. When I first started The Winner’s Curse, I was told to expect lots of swoons and I knew everyone LOVED Kestrel and Arin. I was prepared for feels and for shipping this couple that everyone adored. But I didn’t. At all. Arin is bitter and broken from his time as a slave to the Valorians. That’s understandable. But he’s so cruel to Kestrel; he says the nastiest things and doesn’t let her explain. He NEVER believes her and only realizes, too late (of course), that she was doing what she did for him, his safety and the safety of his people. He’s strong-willed and stubborn and he refuses to let Kestrel into his heart. He’s also just as reckless as she is and he really put his foot in his mouth in the end. He made such a mess for Kestrel, I just can’t even.

I used to think the only redeeming thing about this ship is that Arin and Kestrel can read each other so well.. Except, if that were the case, wouldn’t Arin have figured things out sooner? And I really never felt any sparks or chemistry between them. Only once and very briefly. So… I don’t know. I just think too much has happened – too many lies, deaths and betrayals – for Arin and Kestrel to be together. I just don’t ship it. And I apologize to anyone who absolutely loves them. I promise, I’m not trying to insult them or you. I just didn’t see it at all.

My biggest issue with this book was that, in my opinion, it had Second Book Syndrome to such a degree that the entire thing felt too long and 75% of it felt like filler. There were a lot of unnecessary flash-back scenes, too. It felt like the only point of this book was to bridge the gap between book one and book three.

I wanted to like Verex and I mostly did. But I don’t feel like we completely got to know him. He seemed kind and he didn’t give Kestrel a hard time, but he’s still the future emperor and his duty is to his people, not his forced bride. I also really wanted to like Tensen, but I was always worried he was going to double cross Kestrel. I didn’t like Jess and Kestrel fighting, though I completely understood where Jess was coming from and Kestrel should have been a better, more understanding friend. And obviously I hated the Emperor… Like, really hated him. Hate isn’t even a strong enough word.

And then the ending.. Well. At first, the ending started to seriously pick up and I got really excited because that happened with The Winner’s Curse; the ending picked up so much, it made up for the rest of the book being meh and even raised my rating by half a star. The ending is what made me excited to pick up The Winner’s Crime! So I was crossing my fingers that would happen with The Winner’s Crime, too. Sadly, I was let down. While the ending started off brilliant and the book was FINALLY picking up steam, it ended up falling flat in the last few pages. I still think I’ll read the third book because.. why not? It’s only a trilogy and I’ve gotten this far, I might as well see how it ends. But I’m not dying for it, as I’d hoped to be.

I do still recommend this book because I seem to be in the minority with these feelings. Most people LOVE these books and feel all the feels for Arin and Kestrel. I just didn’t, but that doesn’t mean you won’t. I’ve had a few people comment on my feelings about this book, saying they won’t bother with it now and that makes me so sad because everyone has their own opinions, likes and dislikes and I never want to make someone feel as though they shouldn’t read a certain book just because I didn’t like it. So if you enjoyed The Winner’s Curse, definitely give The Winner’s Crime a chance. You can always DNF, but don’t let my opinion stop you – you might fall in love with this book! I didn’t, but that’s okay. I still have a lot of respect for the author; she created a gorgeous, detailed world, with characters that many people love and a ship that most people adore.

three-stars

Review: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Dec17
Review: The Winner’s Curse by Marie RutkoskiThe Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on March 4, 2014
Pages: 355
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-half-stars

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

I finished The Winner’s Curse six day ago and I’m just sitting down to write this review. I wanted to LOVE this book, the way almost all of my fellow bloggers did. And though I definitely enjoyed it, I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped to. I’m thinking it was more me than the book, though. I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life and I think that stuff just interfered with my enjoyment of reading for a small period of time — Case in point: I read 6-8 books/month in September, October and November… We’re half-way through December and I’m only on my second book of the month.

So I tried to put aside the issues I had while reading (I was bored and easily side-tracked; I went days without reading) and I decided that, if those things were me and not the book, then the book itself was actually pretty good. Marie Rutkoski is a gorgeous writer. She created a marvelous world with epic characters and plenty of twists and turns! The first half of the book was a bit slow, but it built up to a crazy second half of the book. It read like a stand-alone (meaning no major cliffhangers and though it’s part of a series, it can stand on its own just fine) and I was very satisfied with the ending. In fact, the ending made me even more excited for the second book!

I liked Kestrel a lot. She was stubborn and defiant, fighting against the two options her father selected for her future – become a soldier in the military or get married. Kestrel didn’t want anything to do with either of these potential futures; she wanted to map out her own life and do the things that made her happy. She was also very intelligent, yet reckless, at times. She did some pretty stupid things and she often did things without thinking through the consequences first. She was kind to those who didn’t deserve her kindness and she tried to treat the servants with some dignity.

I really, really wanted to like Arin. For the most part, I did; however, he definitely had his moments where he was cold and said some truly unforgivable things, especially to Kestrel. I definitely liked his rapport with her, though. They seemed to understand each other on a deeper level than could be possible, especially given how little time they spent together. It was like they could read each other. I didn’t really ship them in the beginning, though. I know everyone swooned over Arin and desperately wanted to see him and Kestrel together, but he was just too cruel in the first half of the story – not too mention all the hatred and lies that stood between them. Some of the revelations concerning Arin’s past were intriguing, though predictable.

I’m not sure how I feel about Ronan. I liked him enough to care about his fate in the end. But I just couldn’t see him as the third part in a love triangle. It was so obvious how that situation would end that I didn’t even bother giving him too much of a second glance. I really liked Jess and Benix, though neither of them was without their faults, especially Benix. Yet they didn’t deserve their fates. Enai was another character I adored. I would have liked to get to know her more and I found my feelings mirrored Kestrel’s on this one. I liked Sarsine and I hope we see more of her in book two. I’m torn with how I feel about General Trajan… Finally, for obvious reasons, I despised Lord Irex and Cheat.

I think the most fascinating thing about this book was the fact that we saw a revolution unfold before our eyes. Normally, YA books lead up to a revolution or take place several years after, not during. It was intriguing to see a different side of a revolution for once.

I LOVED the ending, though it felt slightly rushed, like the battle started and ended too quickly; however, it was still epic and crazy and insane and had SO MUCH political intrigue. I loved the ending so much that it basically made up for all my negative thoughts while reading. And the ending is the reason I rounded my rating up to 3.5 stars. It was THAT GOOD.

Overall, while I loved the characters, plot, world and writing, it did take me forever to read (11 days! That’s a lot for me..) and I felt a major disconnect with the book. As I mentioned earlier, I really think that was my own issue, not an issue with the book, so I’m letting it slide for now. I think The Winner’s Curse really sets things up nicely for the second book and I’m eager to read it and find out what happens next! I definitely recommend this book despite the issues I had because I seem to be in the minority with said issues. Marie Rutkoski is a fantastic author and I’m interested to see what she does next (outside of the final book in this trilogy).

three-half-stars

Review: My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal

Jun12

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: My Last Kiss by Bethany NealMy Last Kiss by Bethany Neal
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on June 10, 2014
Pages: 358
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

What if your last kiss was with the wrong boy?

Cassidy Haines remembers her first kiss vividly. It was on the old covered bridge the summer before her freshman year with her boyfriend of three years, Ethan Keys. But her last kiss--the one she shared with someone at her seventeenth birthday party the night she died--is a blur. Cassidy is trapped in the living world, not only mourning the loss of her human body, but left with the grim suspicion that her untimely death wasn't a suicide as everyone assumes. She can't remember anything from the weeks leading up to her birthday and she's worried that she may have betrayed her boyfriend.

If Cassidy is to uncover the truth about that fateful night and make amends with the only boy she'll ever love, she must face her past and all the decisions she made--good and bad--that led to her last kiss.

Bethany Neal's suspenseful debut novel is about the power of first love and the haunting lies that threaten to tear it apart.

My Last Kiss was a twisty mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Bethany Neal wrote a story with an intriguing plot and likable characters that I grew to truly care for. The mystery in this book was so intense, I was literally screaming at my book in frustration, trying to figure out who the “culprit” was! I had 19 Goodreads status updates for this book and 11 of them were “I don’t trust that person…. No, now I don’t trust THAT person!”

I really enjoyed Cassidy’s story and being on this journey with her. There were moments where I felt very disconnected from her, but I think that’s because she was so disconnected from herself. With chunks missing from her memory, she didn’t know who she was, who to trust, who was telling the truth, etc. So as the reader, we didn’t know either. It was really interesting to see how this played out and it made it even more satisfying when Cassidy remembered things; it was like an “Aha!” moment.

I adored Aimee. She was an amazing friend, loyal and kind. She loved Cassidy so much, she refused to believe the “truth” given to her and she sought answers. Her investigation effected everyone involved and changed a lot of lives – some for the better and some… not so much. Madison was an awful friend and I wanted to slap her for pretty much the entire book.

Ethan and Caleb… The “love interests.” I would love to discuss these two guys at length but I don’t want to risk spoilers so all I’m going to say is this: I liked Ethan a lot, but didn’t like him with Cassidy. I absolutely loved Caleb, but I don’t think he ever could have fit into Cassidy’s life. I went back and forth a LOT on which of these two guys I distrusted more for a good portion of the book!

Mica and Drew… Ugh. I thought both of them were slimy and sleezy right from the beginning. I never liked them and never trusted them. And the way their story lines played out… It definitely wasn’t what I expected!

There was a HUGE ensemble of characters in this book, some in Cassidy’s group of friends, some who hung on the edges of her clique. It would be almost impossible to name them all and discuss them without spoilers. However, I commend Neal for writing such amazing secondary – and even tertiary – characters. Some authors are great with their main characters, but don’t develop their secondary characters enough. Yet Neal was able to create an entire group of people and make them feel alive and real. I felt like each character was given their own unique background and no one (not even the tertiary characters) was forgotten.

The one thing with ghost stories that gets to me, though, is that the main character can grow so much from beginning to end – especially in this kind of situation where they don’t remember anything and slowly realize what they did and where they went wrong – but… They can’t really do anything with this knowledge. Cause.. they’re dead. I’m a big fan of character development, so this kind of irks me. I do feel like their lessons typically rub off on their friends and family, who then become better for it. So I think this was the one down-side to My Last Kiss – with where the story ends, we really don’t see what the big reveal means for everyone, or how anyone grows as a result of the things they went through and learned. I would have loved an epilogue or even just one more chapter, something so we could have gotten more of a resolution.

Overall, I absolutely LOVED My Last Kiss. I feel like we don’t have a lot of amazing ghost stories in YA, so when I come across one, I get really excited! My Last Kiss is definitely going to the top of the “Amazing Ghost Stories in YA” list. I definitely feel like this was a strong debut for Bethany Neal and I’m VERY excited to see what she comes up with next! I highly recommend this book for fans of ghost stories, as well as for fans of books like Tara Hudson’s Hereafter trilogy!

four-stars

Review: Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

May10

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Second Star by Alyssa B. SheinmelSecond Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on May 13, 2014
Pages: 248
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

Second Star blew my mind in so many ways. Though I saw the twist coming as early on as half-way through the book, it still left me feeling shocked. I went into it knowing it was VERY loosely based on Peter Pan, which helped me keep my mind clear when it veered so far away from the original tale.

Unfortunately, I never connected with Wendy. Yet that didn’t bother me in Second Star the way it has in other books. The story grabbed me in and pulled me along, distracting me from the fact that I didn’t really like or care about her. I did feel she was very over-dramatic with a one-track mind that kept her from seeing anything else that was going on in her life. Of course, this was explained in the end. And the explanation/reasoning was.. Wow.

I loved Pete and Jas. I know a lot of people had issues with the “insta-love” and a “forced love triangle.” But I didn’t feel like it was insta-love at all and I didn’t get the love-triangle vibe at all. Of course, again, knowing how the books ends, I see it a lot differently now than I did while I was reading it. Pete was kind and caring, very easy-going. He was a smooth-talker, too! Jas had a hard outer-shell that he hid behind – the classic “I’m a bad-boy on the outside to hide my true feelings and compassion, but I’m really just a softie!” But again.. The ending explained all of this and it all made so much sense!

Belle was a hilarious character. She was, obviously, meant to be a Tinker Bell reboot. But she was a bitch! At least in the beginning. In truth, I guess I should have seen that coming, but it was still weird to see it after growing up with the image of Tinker Bell being sweet and kind and helpful. At the same time, I kind of liked it and her, overall.

Wendy made some hilariously bad decisions. Going into this book, I had seen some INCREDIBLY negative reviews and remarks, mostly revolving around Wendy and her choices throughout the book. Maybe I’m weird, but none of the things people complained about bothered me. At least, not as much as it bothered other people. Sure, she made some bad choices. Yeah, I didn’t like certain things being used as plot devices. Yes, Jas was the bad-boy that Wendy should have been avoiding, not getting closer to. But none of that ruined the story for me. None of that dropped the rating for me. I still found it to be a fun, intriguing read. And again, once you read the entire book, so many things come together and you see everything that happened in a new light.

Overall, Second Star was a truly entertaining, surprising book. Though I basically figured the ending out half-way through reading, it still left me mind-blown. And then the final twist, at the end? Wow. I feel like this review is really vague because I don’t want to spoil anything… But I swear, you NEED to read this book. I highly recommend it because it will seriously mess with you and leave you wanting more!

four-stars