Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins

BookTalk

Parker Wells is loaded. Girl’s rich like Midas and raising her son in the family compound. But Parker isn’t just some spoiled rich girl. She’s focused on raising her son along with her son’s father…who just so happens to be married to Parker’s BFF. She has a bestselling series of children’s books featuring a band of  rollerskating angels named The Holly Rollers. And those perky pipsqueeks are about to debut in their first full lengh feature film!

Life is really comfortable for Parker…sure there’s no man turning on “Lady Land” but a girl can be happy with a beautiful child and full life.

That is until Parker’s Dad…and all of his assets (including Parker’s trust fund and home) are seized by the government. Parker is now homeless, and almost penniless looking at a pretty bleak future. Her only hope is renovating and selling a forgotten Aunt’s coastal home in rural Maine. Pumped up with hope, a new puppy, and a hot, but annoying minion of her father’s tagging along Parker may be able to change her life around…And she may find that her new life is worth far more than the wealthy one she lost…

Review

I loved this book. Can I just leave my review at that?

Just say: “Read It”

Tell you to find a comfie couch, cup of coffee, glass of wine and read, read, read

Offer the advice to “Save this one for when you really need a great dose of chick lit”

…For when you want to find a funny and surprisingly strong heroine make the most out of life

When you want to see a fiesty relationship spring from a misunderstood past…

When you want to kick back with some lemonade and imagine watching the hero nail some shingles to your beach cottage…shirtless…

I Change my Mind. Wait till the summer to read this one. Save it for a beach chair and some waves, a deck and a cold beer, a pool float and some SPF.

Enjoy watching characters from Higgins previous books (Catch of the Day and The Next Best Thing) find more Happily Ever After.

Laugh about all the references to “Lady Land”

Just read this one…You’ll thank me, because like I said after I read Until There Was You, Higgins only gets better and better with each book released.

4/5 For an almost perfect Chick Lit read. 

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Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

BookTalk

Posey Osterhagen is not a hottie. She’s about 107 pounds soaking wet, with a cow-lick that refuses to be tamed, and a complete inability to dress like a girl. This is a slight improvement over her high school self. Now, no need to feel sorry for Posey. She’s a completely happy, business-owning, big dog loving woman who has had a wonderful childhood and is still surrounded by a loving family and group of friends.

Really, the only thing she’s ever pined for was Liam Murphy…and maybe, occasionally boobs, lol.

But, *Sigh* Liam…A man built like God’s Gift to women. In high school he arrived fresh out of juvie as a motorcycle riding, leather jacket wearing, player. Who’s bad boy traits were revered by young Posey. And to everyone’s surprise he was tamed…by Emma Tate.

Now years later Liam is back in town. A widower with a 14-year-old daughter, Liam has moved to be closer to his wife’s parents. What he failed to remember was his life before his wife…All those girls he loved and left are now the women of the town, their husbands none too happy to see the still sinfully hot Liam back in town. Posey thought she had convinced herself she was over her first crush…

Both are about to find that while High School never dies…sometimes you just need a fresh perspective to find love…

Review

I loved this book so much I could eat it up…again and again.

It was addictive.

One of those girly-chick-lit-trashy-romance types that get me hooked…a gateway drug if you will. It’s like ignoring McDonald’s double quarter pounder for six months, giving in, then craving that damn burger for weeks afterward! The kicker being that while McDonald’s is staring at me from every corner…I’m probably gonna have to wait at least a year for Higgins’s next book! Boo.

True, I could pick up an oldie of hers…but I have to say, this author has gotten better with time. Her latest two books were grand slams for me, while reaching back into her older titles I sometimes feel like something is missing. Like settling for Burger King instead of Mickey-D’s (hmm…craving much? Note: I’m writing this around lunch-time…please forgive the fast food references, lol)

But back to the story. It’s a slow romance, and while Posey is cute, she isn’t a hottie. And Liam doesn’t immediately see her as some beauty. This is a good thing! Instead, he likes her the way she is but the attraction isn’t instant. And nobody ever pretends that it is. Liam falls in love with Posey as a person rather than through lust first. What I loved so much was that the characters were different…not really quirky-different just very real.

In her letter to the reader Higgins notes that this was one of the first times she really gave the man a fleshed out point of view. In this romance we learn (and see) as much of Liam’s past and present feelings as we do Posey’s. Which is necessary because he was part of a pretty big life altering incident in Posey’s past. Liam was her first love crush and also part of a very “Carrie-like” prom scenario. Luckily, one that Posey chooses to see as a definitive mark of character in her background rather than something she carries a grudge for over the years.

I saw the big ending surprise coming…but not that last gift from Liam, and not the third act twist with the old lady. Look for all of Higgin’s hallmarks, the animal love, the fun and unusual jobs, the dysfunctional family love, friendship with the elderly, and a girl who is realistically enjoyable.

In the end I can’t completely put a finger on why I loved this Higgins book head and shoulders above others. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I couldn’t put it down. Pick this one up for a fun weekend read. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 5/5 I want more Higgins right now!!! 

*Book received for review from Harlequin via NetGalley…Thanks!*

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The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

BookTalk

Frankie Landau-Banks: Age 14

Membership to the Debate Club, Modern Dance Class, and Ultimate Frisbee games officially declares Frankie a member of the Geek Club Conglomerate. An underdeveloped physique and slightly frizzy hair ensure total invisibility to the male population at Alabaster Prep

Frankie Landau-Banks: Age 15

20lbs gained in all the right areas catch the eye of the most popular Senior on campus…Matthew Livingston. It also means that while people now notice Frankie, it’s usually to be seen and not heard. No one wants to hear what a little girl…everyone’s “Bunny Rabbit” has to say. Even if most experts were to agree the girl’s got potential as a criminal mastermind.

You see, over the summer Frankie didn’t just gain a nice new body she gained the insight and intelligence to single-handedly take over the ultra-secret, all male society on Alabaster’s campus: The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. The problem is that even a super secret criminal mastermind wants some credit where credit is due…And is Frankie ready for the fallout that comes after pulling some of the biggest pranks Alabaster has ever seen? Is she ready to deal with how Alabaster’s society will feel about a girl who stands up to the men who rule?

Review

I don’t think I liked Frankie. I liked her feminism, loved watching her mind and her logic, understood the social pressures in her life. But ultimately, at the end of her tale, I think I would have been one of those girls that ignored her…that Frankie felt didn’t understand her.

But you see the problem is…I do understand. I spent a good part of the book totally fist pumping  her feminist sensibilities. I also took slight at seeing her called ‘Bunny Rabbit’, got angry when she was put down during lunch room discussions, frustrated when she was skipped over simply because she was an ‘attractive’ girl. Seriously, I was right there with her. She had me thinking about my own role as a woman, the ways in which I defer when I could assert myself.

When she finally begins her exploits (farther into the book than I had expected) I was really excited for the main event. And a mastermind she is…totally realistic and amazing that she was able to direct the secret society and bend them to her wishes. The pranks were awesome, and I was dying for the reveal…one big HaHa to the male population. But in the end Frankie missed something.

Sure, she deserved more credit than she was getting. You spend most of the book totally agreeing with this concept. Where she missed the boat was perhaps in friendship…In understanding that while ambition is more acceptable and revered in men, it gains them no more honest friendships than with women. That the reasons behind her take over had to be more than joining a group of men, it should have been beating them at their own game…or teaching them a lesson. Instead I think it was some type of plea for acceptance.

What Frankie never learned was not to mistake fame and infamy as loyalty and friendship. And in the end…I don’t know that Frankie totally got it…

Rating: 4/5 Go Girl Power…but a warmer Frankie would have been nice

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Waterfall Wednesdays (oops! on Friday) (1)…Ch. 1-6

 

So…my work life has become VERY busy…and reading Waterfall by Wednesday didn’t work out so well. Thus I give you TheLibrarian’s:

Waterfall Wednesdays Friday-A Read-a-Along Event

(Because we all know how much I love me a Read-a-long 😉 )

Discussion 1: Chapters 1-6

Today’s questions hosted by Tinasbookreviews

Without Further Ado…My Answers

1. Waterfall opens with the introduction of Gabi, shes depressed, a little angry and is dealing with feelings of loneliness. Are you connecting with her this soon in the novel? Do you see things you like or dislike?

I think I began connecting with Gabi once she went back in time. Before that she seemed a little underdeveloped. I really got a feel for her humor and adventurous personality once she hit the 14th century. Though, I understand her feelings in present day Italy (personally I’d be thrilled to spend an entire summer in Tuscany! but I’m not a teen, lol) but I don’t think there was enough time to really connect to present day Gabi in the present.

2. Gabi gets to time travel back to 14th Century Italy- The Dark Ages in its prime. Is there anytime in history that fascinates you and would you travel back if you could?

I’m heading for the renaissance. Just a little past Gabi’s time period. To be in Florence during it’s prime…ahh, heaven! All the art, the food, the society, the clothing. Just to be a part of all those new ideas being thrown around, very cool!

3. Most of the men, including Marcello have a very set opinion about a woman’s place. Gabi gets manhandled a bit in these first few chapters, and even gets asked if she’s a witch. The men are shocked when Gabi rides a horse like a man and shimmies down the castle walls. What do you think of mens mentality back then? Gentlemanly, chauvinistic, simple-minded?

Probably a combination of Gentlemanly and chauvinistic. But I think we sometimes forget that all of society thought would have gone toward convincing men and women of their place. Women probably got more respect than we give the time credit for. But I don’t think women would have been as insulted by the slights as we are from our perspective today. Most of us would have reacted like Lady Rossi – shock and horror at the idea a woman would ride out into battle. Sad but probably true.

4. When Gabi becomes a part of this era, the people are immediately intrigued but suspicious of her. Many judge her by her difference. Do you think this is fair? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like an outsider or that others were misjudging you?

I think we all judge others by our own personal standards of life. What else do we have to measure thing by? And you have to admit the phrases she uses, showing up in jeans and a tank, heck – even being 6 inches taller than most tall women…She’d look like a freak to us as well! I think that it’s harder to take judgement when you’re only slightly different from those you’re being judged by. Gabi may be uncomfortable or sad for many reasons in 14th century Italy, but I bet feeling different is pretty low on that list of reasons.

5. What do think the coolest thing would be about living in the Dark Ages? What would be the worst?

The Good:

1. The hot men (if I showed up in Gabi’s world, lol)

2. The beautiful clothing

3. seeing a castle in full working order

The Bad:

1. Bad hygiene

2. The food…one can only eat so much bread and cheese

3. The lack of medical knowledge…talk about becoming a germaphobe!

Link up your answers with Tina and check out Misse at The Unread Reader for next weeks discussion questions.

Winner of the Trilogy for this week will be posted at next weeks discussion!

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The Boyfriend List (Ruby Oliver #1) by E. Lockhart

BookTalk

Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink…take it easy on her…she’s had a rough 10 days…

So far she has: Lost her boyfriend, lost her best friend, lost all other friends, did something suspicious with a boy, did something advanced with a boy, had an argument with a boy, drank her first beer, got caught by her mom drinking said beer, had a panic attack (or 10), lost a lacrosse game, failed a math test, hurt Meghan’s feelings, became a social outcast, had graffiti written about her in the girls’ bathroom (let’s not think about what’s written in the boys!), and accidentally lost a list entitled “the boyfriend list”.

But before anyone reading this thinks to call Ruby a slut – or even just imagines she’s incredibly popular know that this is a tale of one fishnet wearing, thrift shop diving, four eyed, semi popular, “normal” teen who finds herself having panic attacks. Once her parents freak over this mental distress she’s shipped off to spend a few hours a week with Dr. Z. A woman who tries tracking Ruby’s view on life through her experiences with boys. A combination of embarrassing moments, sweet scenes, and frankly almost unimportant situations with frogs. Ruby is going to sort through this mess she’s gotten herself into…Because while therapy is helping, I’m sure Dr. Z and Ruby never intended the list of 15 names to become public…

Review

I loved that when this book started I didn’t have the full details of Ruby’s damaging social drama. I was so intrigued to meet the players in the story and to find out exactly what went down in that horrible week. There were times that I thought Ruby did a lot of damage to herself based simply on her passive personality. But I really wanted some of the mean girls to get what was coming to them…and that doesn’t really happen. At least not in this book.

I’m sorry, but if this whole story basically hinges on the “stealing” of one’s boyfriend then I have no idea why Ruby’s friends would side with Kim. Seriously, on page 131 all I could think of was ‘B**ch, no you didn’t!”. I wanted to leap into the pages and stand up for Ruby; maybe a little reader smack-down. Ruby is just so normal, you connect to her so easily. Her situations with guy range from a crush to her first actual boyfriend. Any girl will find sympathy and a pang of knowledge. Trust me, you’ve been there.

I think that the biggest lesson I took away from this story was what really makes a person good/or bad in our public judgement. I’m not talking someone who is doing evil things, like maiming puppies or some such practice. I’m talking about our friends, our acquaintances. Especially in high school often times we label people as being good or bad based on shallow acts. The girl who always smiles and does tons of charity work is good. The girl who thinks for herself, makes a social snafu is bad. So much of high school politics (both in high school and the world beyond) asks us to withhold what we’d like to say…we have to follow rules set down socially that allow for no amendments. It’ll make you think twice about that gossip you just heard. And it really makes you feel for Ruby, nobody is meaner than a teenage girl. Kids really are cruel.

But quirky Ruby will rise above. The book ends on a note that really feels like a beginning for this series. You’ll finish this book wondering what is in store for our newly psychologically aware heroine. With the hope that she’ll wake up and find a few new friends. It’s a good thing that this series has been out for awhile…you can pick up the rest of Ruby’s adventures without delay.

Rating: 4/5 A funny teen read, Quirkily written about a Quirky girl

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Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

BookTalk

“All right, Miss Teen Dreamers! Yoo-hoo! Over here! I’m wigglin’ my fingers your y’all’s attention! Could ya’ll come on over here, please?”…”Hi. I’m Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins, and I’m Miss Teen Dream Texas, the state where dreams are bigger and better – nothing against y’all’s states. I’m a senior at George Walker Bush High School and I hope to pursue a career as a motivational speaker.”…”Okay, Miss Teen Dreamers, I know we’re all real flustered and everything. But we’re alive. And I think before anything else we need to pray to the one we love.”…”I’m talkin’ about my personal copilot, Jesus Christ.”…”Ahem. Dear Jesus,”…”We just want to thank you for gettin’ us here safe – “

There was a loud, gurgling groan. Somebody shouted, “Oh my gosh! Miss Delaware just died!”

“- for getting’ some of us here safe,”…”And we pray that, as we are fine, upstandin’, law-abidin’ girls who represent the best of the best, you will protect us from harm and keep us safe until we are rescued and can tell our story to People magazine. Amen.” (9-12, ePub ed.)

So, a plane of Beauty Queens crashes on a deserted island…what happens…go!

Well, hut building, spirit finger practicing, rock-star pirate kissing, hallucinogenic fruit-eating, secret volcano villain killing times happen. It’s one hilarious, wild ride so buckle up and remember your lip gloss because prettiness is the light of the world…

Review

I’d just like to start by saying in my review of Bray’s Going Bovine I asked for footnotes…ask and ye shall receive! I was so excited to see footnotes which, instead of giving clarity to an idea, enhance the satire Bray is known for. Not that Bray sticks to the satirical style in this book, nope, she includes elements of magical realism, fairy tale, campy movie, and commercial breaks. The whole mix serves to entertain while taking on the issues of consumerism and gender roles.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t as interested in the themes of consumerism. They are played to the point of parody and while I can very much see the truth in Bray’s handling of the topic I don’t think it was as well executed as the gender roles theme. Consumerism hits you over the head while the unveiling of the Beauty Queen’s personalities and secrets was oh, so much better. The over the top pagent-ness of the girls. Throughout the book they call each other by their titles (Miss Ohio, Miss New Mexico, ect.) and upon surviving a tragic plane crash begin to practice their routines (three-quarter turn y’all, lol). The horror of the beach-crash site including dead contestants and a girl with a tray-table stuck in her head are juxtaposed with Miss Texas giving a pagent-worthy inspirational speech about prettiness being the light of the world. Forget scavenging for food, in the beginning this plane crash was going to be a diet worthy of a master cleanse.

It doesn’t take long for the fake exteriors of these girls to fall away revealing the real person underneath. A trans-gender contestant, a girl lying about her upbringing, child abuse victims, a journalist assuming a role, and a lesbian brought up in the juvie system, among others. It’s easy to see the metaphor in each of these girls hiding under the guise of a Beauty Queen instead of simply being who they are. Their childhood has taught them that no one will understand them, no one has time for a girl who isn’t simply pretty. In the secluded world of this island the girls will shed their defenses like a facial mask, coming together to build a new world and way of thinking that doesn’t make a woman say “sorry” for having an opinion.

This book is a wild ride of fun…and should be required reading for every girl, teen or not. This book will make you laugh out loud and take a look at what type of Beauty Queen you present to the world. Mascara and eyeliner or no, we all choose to present a version of ourselves to the world. This book gives insight to what would happen if we let that persona fall and accepted each other for who we are, not what we should be.

Loved it, Loved it, Loved it…

Rating: 10/10

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Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

BookTalk

Emma thought her life couldn’t get any worse. Within a year she’d lost both her mother and her twin brother leaving her with a grieving alcoholic of a step dad to take care of her. After her stepfather wrapped both of them around a tree Emma is left not only with a massive scar on her arm but a wounded soul as well.

Brendan is the creme de la creme of New York society. The richest, most attractive, athletic guy at Vincent Academy. He doesn’t even own a hairbrush…that’s how naturally hot his features are…straight out of bed he’s rock star perfect. But he’s sickened by the cliques that come with wealth. He’d trade it in a heartbeat for something wild and real.

Emma will move to New York and as the wounds of her past begin to heal she’ll find herself involved in a thousand-year old curse…and find her soul mate in Brendan. But their path is not straight, instead full of ancient history, witchy spells, and the gossip mill that is an Upper East Side private school. They’ll have to trust in each other because the only thing worse than a curse is a trashed high school reputation.

Review

I. Loved. This. Book.

It surprised me, it was so funny from the start. Emma is kinda snarky, a little geeky, and super funny. I officially liked her when she referred to super-sweet-teen-perfume as a “unicorn fart”. Where has that expression been all my life?! The writing was witty, and the way Emma narrates her experiences was by far my favorite part of the book. From random comments about teen life, to watching her fall for Brendan, the way Emma described it all gets an emotional response from the reader.

And now for the insta-love. I’ll admit in the beginning of this book I wondered if this was going to be too much like the Fallen series. It’s hard not to compare the two as Spellbound is about soul-mates finding each other. The plot involves the souls of Emma and Brendan being reincarnated again and again over the span of 1,000 years which is very Fallen-esque. But, I was happy to find that aside from the reincarnation/curse aspect the two tales are very different.

First off, neither Emma nor Brendan are aware of the curse. Sure, Brendan admits to it being an old family joke, but nothing that he’s ever taken seriously. It was cool to see these two fall into insta-love and figure out their connection. It was a great twist that it was a new concept to both of them, rather than one being more knowledgeable about the situation than another. Plus, they have a lot of swoon-worthy moments over their brief courtship. Brendan plays a little bit of the too-cool-for-school guy in the beginning, but it’s the little things he does for Emma that make the reader swoon.

Another thing that I loved was that this book was a stand-alone. The whole story was wrapped up in one book. Shultz gives a teaser at a potential companion novel starring Angelique, but the curse that is the center of this story concludes within the pages of a single book. The end action may have happened a bit dramatically in comparison to the rest of the novel but it was an end I didn’t see coming and I’m always happy when that happens. I am now excitedly awaiting more info on Angelique’s title…If Spellbound was any indication it’s bound to be a fun and funny romp filled with lots of love.

Rating: 9/10

P.S.

Brendan is always joking that Emma is a ‘musicologist’ but really both characters are constantly pictured in the book with ear buds in their ears…Shultz has taken this obsession one step further for Spellbound fans by creating a playlist on iTunes featuring songs that are special to both Brendan and Emma. Check out the back of your book for the reasoning behind each song choice.

Download the Playlist on iTunes: Brendan & Emma’s Playlist

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Genuine Lies by Nora Roberts

BookTalk

As a child Julia was adopted into a loving family. While she had no record of the woman who gave her up, her childhood was idyllic. Then, as a pregnant teen Julia found herself faced with the same heartbreaking decision…keep her child or give him up.

10 years later Julia Summers is famous for her celebrity biographies. Working with the rich and famous she tells the tales of their lives with panache. Now, Julia and her son Brandon find themselves on a plane to glamorous L.A. to live and research the life of Eve Benedict. The ultimate star for over half a century in a business that chews up and spits out actresses. This story will switch from Eve’s numerous love affairs to the modern romancing of Julia and Eve’s surrogate son, Paul.

But as Eve’s life is revealed man by man, and secret by secret Julia and Eve are about to encounter mysterious people who will stop at nothing to prevent seeing their secrets in print. Secrets that will place some in jail and ruin other’s lives. Unwilling to edit Eve’s legacy Julia and Eve will pay the ultimate price.

Review

Holy 80’s!…Ok, so the book was originally published in 1991 but really, we’re splitting hairs. Eve and Julia walk around in coral colored silk jackets and elegant leisure pajamas. And the trainer Fritz…OMG this quote had me cracking up!

“Standing beside Eve as she lay on a weight bench doing leg curls was Mr. Muscle…He had to be nearly seven feet – a Nordic god whose bronze body bulged out of an incredibly brief unitard.”

Seriously?!…Unitard?!…Sexy?!…

Only in the 80’s (-ish) could this be possible. Don’t worry Mr. Muscle ends up being gay (could explain the unitard) but he is still continuously viewed throughout the book as some sexy, unitard wearing, eye candy. Love It! Aside from the dated cultural references this book still pleases the romance fan. Julia and Paul’s relationship doesn’t get a whole lot of development or play. What is more interesting is Eve’s long history of men.

Roberts traces Eve’s romantic history from her very first husband/lover to the multiple affairs still in Eve’s life at the age of 67. This woman has it going on. What’s so refreshing is that Eve’s character is able to look back on her history and honestly relate the specifics of each relationship. She admits when she’s made a mistake, and also proves true emotion where most tabloids have written her off. It made me wonder about the celebrities we all follow, and the judgements we place at their feet. There’s definitely a lot we don’t know and a lot we take for granted. To see a fictional account of a celebrity life made me interested in real celebrity relationships. What really went down with Bennifer? Brad and Jen? Brad and Angelina? heck, I’d even like to see an honest breakdown of the Speidi ordeal.

Maybe I should pick up a celebrity bio…anyone have a good suggestion?

Anyway, back to the book…Alongside Eve’s romances are a slew of industry secrets and lies. Seriously, I had no idea who was threatening Julia and Eve because so many people were accused of hideous ordeals in Eve’s stories. S&M sex with the underage, torrid secret affairs, aborted love children…murder. This woman was mowing people down with her tale. Just about anyone had more than enough reason to want to stop the story. How all the secrets wind together is really fun to see. And the big shocker of the book is one you’ll probably see coming about halfway through (Paul tipped me off) but it’s not a secret you’ll see coming from the start of the book…definitely a really good twist.

In the end what I enjoyed most about this Roberts title was that it was different. The big love story of this tale happens in Eve’s past…not Julia’s present. It was fun to go back in time to the golden days of Hollywood and see all that old school romance. This book is full of champagne, love affairs, and secrets. It’s a fun romp through the 80’s with a murder mystery to boot. A good choice if you’re in the mood for some retro-trashy-romance.

Rating: 8/10

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Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Beach Week Book 2

I loved this book. The beach setting is so well done you’ll taste the salty air. A perfect read surrounded by sun and sand or your couch…’cause you’ll feel like you’re there…

BookTalk

“I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now I’ve thought maybe my mother drowned in both.” (9, ePub)

Anna and her father are moving back to Crystal Cove State Park. Under the guise of a promotion for her father this family of two are really moving back so they can move on with their lives. Nine years after the death of Anna’s mother Anna is returning to the beach-side town where she was born and where her parents fell in love. She’ll learn to see her past in a different light, and finally face the aftermath of her mother’s “accident”. With the help of her perky friend Ashley, running buddy Jillian, poetry quoting Joy, and the beach crawler Joseph, Anna will find her way through emotions she’s been running from for years. Now, if only the cute lifegaurd could just hurry up and kiss her already, life wouldn’t be so bad.

Review

This book was so refreshing, so simple and honest after all of the if not paranormal, then weird stuff I’ve been reading lately. This book is really like slipping into a beach chair and staring at the ocean. It’s calm and turbulent, and the emotion comes in waves. Kirby does a great job with setting, her writing takes the  reader to the beautiful beach Anna and her father live at. That’s what makes this book such a great beach read. Even if you’re stuck on your couch this summer you can experience ocean life through Anna and her lifeguard-ing father and boyfriend.

Another thing that I loved about this book was that the romance was not the center of this story. Sure, Anna has a love interest in Tyler but the whole relationship is so realistic. There is no insta-love and Tyler even waits an exorbitant amout of time casually firting with Anna before he even trys a move. This is how I remember high school relationships starting. Lots of wondering and attempts at giving the guy an opening. It’s a really endearing relationship…one that develops naturally.

But that’s what’s great about Anna as a character. She’s so normal. Yes, she has issues with her mother’s suicide but beyond that…just a great girl. No body issues, normal amount of confidence, some great friends that make for enjoyable supporting characters. This is a book to sink into and enjoy. It doesn’t have any cliff-hangers, it’s not a series, and no one has found a soul mate at age 16. Instead it’s a great novel where plot threads and character actions weave together so effortlessly you’ll just ride a wave to the beautiful moments where tears do come…in the best possible way.

Pick this one up immediatly it was one of the smoothest, well written books I’ve done in a long time.

Rating: 10/10

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My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

BookTalk

Kate Fitzgerald has a rare form of leukemia. Her sister, Anna, was conceived to provide a donor match for Kate. Anna gives her health for procedures that become increasingly invasive. At birth Anna gave stem cells at 13 Anna is expected to give a kidney. As this final surgical effort to save Kate is being planned Anna hires a lawyer to sue her parents for the right to make her own decisions about how her body is used. Meanwhile, Jesse, the neglected oldest child of the family, is out setting fires, which his firefighter father, Brian, inevitably puts out.

There seems to be no easy answer, and readers are likely to be sympathetic to all sides of the case. This is a real page-turner and frighteningly thought-provoking. The story shows evidence of thorough research and the unexpected twist at the end will surprise everyone.

Review

It’s been quite a while since I’ve read this book. And I’ll let you know: I really liked it. But it was too long ago actually give my personal reaction in relation to the story. So this isn’t so much of a review as the reasons why I love this book in my library.

I suggest it to my students for their outside reading projects all the time. The writing isn’t amazing, but it reads fast, tackles hot-topic-issues, always makes you cry…and…most importantly…is completely different from the movie!

AhHa! I am an evil Librarian 😉

It forces students to read the book. But, trickery aside, what’s great is that everyone I’ve given this title to has finished the book. Like, really read it, really finished it. And every student has come back to me with a tear in their eye and rave reviews. It’s high school library gold. So the discussion of literary value aside, I’ll take this title for its ability to actually entice students to read…and enjoy it.

This is a sure-fire teen suggestion that they’ll like and be able to write a paper on.

Rating: 8/10

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