Sweet Unrest and The Orphan Queen

Earlier this week, I tried to post about the book Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell, but I sadly failed.  You see, I wasn't ready to let it go just yet.  Now, though, I feel it's only fair to share how I thought about it.  I've finished The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows, and both have such...emotional... endings that I think they belong together.




Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell.

Synopsis:

For as long as she can remember, Lucy Aimes has been plagued by a dark, recurring dream of drowning. But when her family moves to an old plantation outside New Orleans, she starts having intense new dreams, vivid scenes of a bygone era filled with people she shouldn't know but does. Searching for answers to her haunting visions, Lucy reluctantly descends into the city's mystical culture.

What she finds is Alex, a charming but mysterious boy who behaves as if they've known each other forever. Lucy shouldn't be so drawn to him . . . but she is. As she tries to solve the mystery surrounding Alex, a centuries-old vendetta unspools around her, resulting in a vicious murder. Now trapped in a dangerous crossfire, Lucy must act fast to save her future—and everyone she loves.

Okay. So obviously it's a little dramatic (I mean, that line "to save her future--and everyone she loves" is pushing it to the edge there), but DUUUUUDE.  I loved this STINKING BOOK.  By calling it stinking, you may think it had a negative effect on me, but it's just because it was so good that I'm seriously frustrated with it for existing...


This book is Southern Gothic at its core, which, incidentally, is my favorite genre when done well.  That may make me biased toward this book, but Maxwell just did such a good job incorporating the details of curses vs spells and Voodoo vs black magic and ghosts vs spirits that I can't get over it.  There were some parts that kinda played out too quickly and got resolved fast, and there were even parts where I was like, "Why is this necessary?"  Overall, though, the book was really well-done, and it was very well-written.


Of course, then there's the ending.  Since it's Southern Gothic, I think we can all see where this is going.  Gothic doesn't hand out happy endings on silver platters like so many other genres (which makes reading rough for me when you back to the fact that this is my favorite).  In fact, the endings are never resolved the way your fairy-tale heart wants them to be.  But that's okay.  Maxwell's ending was actually so well done that I kind of cried.  And then I read it to my friend.  AND THEN I read it to my roommate.  I expected it, but it still got to me, how lovely it could be in its simplicity.


Thus, after chewing on it for a week, I really do like this book a lot.  I'd recommend it to people who aren't afraid of a little heartbreak (but obviously not romance level heartbreak; if you're looking for that, look farther).




AND THEN WE HAAAAAVE:


The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Synopsis:

When Princess Wilhelmina was a child, the Indigo Kingdom invaded her homeland. Ten years later, Wil and the other noble children who escaped are ready to fight back and reclaim Wil's throne. To do so, Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate the Indigo Kingdom palace with hopes of gathering information that will help them succeed.

But Wil has a secret—one that could change everything. Although magic has been illegal for a century, she knows her ability could help her save her kingdom. But magic creates wraith, and the deadly stuff is moving closer and destroying the land. And if the vigilante Black Knife catches her using magic, she may disappear like all the others...

So. Fantasy, oh how I love thee.  Fantasy seems to be becoming the next big genre in teen fiction right now, slowly coming over and replacing dystopian.  Everyone seems to be stepping into the fray, but The Orphan Queen was way above the wannabes.


I love the idea of this novel.  Even though it's not entirely new, it's really well-done and unique, making feel like Meadows had a clear vision for what she was doing.  Wil is a strong female character, and I like how she knows the limits she will go to in order to reclaim her kingdom and deserve to rule it.  She fights with the idea of using magic, but she's not afraid to use it if it will save those she loves, and the conflicting feelings she has toward her own actions really bring her to life as a character.


My favorite character, though, is Black Knife.  He's kinda amazing, and even though I figured out his identity waaay before Wil did, I didn't begrudge her lack of knowledge very much.  Seeing their relationship grow from hate to "I maybe sort of like you" brought in a nice parallel to all the fighting.


The ending of this book...


I don't really know what to say about it.  I'm sort of confused, and I need to know why and how and what and JUST TELL ME NOW.


I'd recommend waiting for the duology's second book next March if you have a patience issue like me.  Otherwise, it was a well-created world with realistic feelings and betrayals that weren't exaggerated.


So yeah, read it.  But maybe wait it out.  Patience is a virtue, young grasshopper, and all that...

46/100

So like many of you out there, I created what can only be seen as a reasonable reading goal for the year.  I decided I would aim for 100.


You guys can probably guess what the title means.


That's right.  I've already read 46 out of the 100 books I was aiming for.  And it's only March 19.  That means that in 77 days, I've read 46 books.


Goodreads finds it helpful to let me know that I am 25 books ahead of schedule.


Today, I have decided instead of going over all the books I haven't reviewed, I would give you a list of what I've read so far.  Let's begin:

• Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano: A girl named Nearly must figure out who's killing all of her classmates and framing her before she's next.  4 out of 5 stars. Anxiously anticipating the sequel.
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: One sister with sense, Elinor, and one sister with sensibility, Marianne, show how different personalities handle the same situation.  5 out of 5, obviously.  I mean, it's Jane Austen.
• Amplified by Tara Kelly: Jasmine must risk everything by ditching out on her privileged life for the chance of joining a band and following her dreams.  3.5 out of 5.  There will be a sequel, so I'm looking forward to seeing more resolution.
• Mark of the Thief by Jennifer A. Nielsen: Nic, a slave in the Roman Empire, finds the lost magic of Caesar and must stand on his own in the face of those who would use him to make or break the Empire, while also making deals for the safety of his sister. 5 out of 5.  Super excited about the rest of this series.
• Ensnared by A.G. Howard: The final novel in the Splintered series, a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, Alyssa must embrace her madness to save everyone she loves.  This one had the ending I was hoping for (and dreading would not come, since I've owned this book for months and have just read it). 5 out of 5, for the sake of it being the end I wanted.
• The Sound of Us by Ashley Poston: Junie must face the entrance of the former pop band Roman Holiday into her life, despite the fact that she hated them while they existed.  This book deals with loss and love.  3 out of 5 stars.  Pretty good, but kind of too loose-ended, only solving the most immediate issues.
• Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman: the finale to Seraphina, I waited for this book to exist for so long, and the book itself was soooo good.  But, I can't help but feel, though realistic and technically happy, the ending didn't satisfy me the way I thought it would.  Everything was slightly bittersweet at the end, and I think I built it up too much in my head in anticipation.  4 out 5.  I blame myself.
• What If? by Randall Munroe: The rest of this title reads "Serious Scientific Answers to Weird Hypothetical Questions."  This perfectly represents what the books does.  Everything from "Are there enough Lego's in the world to build a weight-bearing bridge from New York to London?" to "How fast would a human have to be going to cut themselves in half with a chicken wire?"  5 out of 5 stars, because physics.  Check out his online comic at xkcd.com
• Terminal by Kathy Reichs: The final book in the Virals series, this series follows Tory Brennan and her friends, who were infected with an altered strain of parvovirus that affects humans and began to have canine-like abilities.  This book follows them as they deal with a new pack of virals and government snoops who are getting too close for comfort. 5 out of 5
• When by Victoria Laurie: Maddie Fynn can read death dates, the day someone is going to die, on the heads of everyone around her.  When people in her life start disappearing and dying, and she is blamed for the murders, she must find a way to prove her innocence and find the killer, who seems to be targeting people Maddie has met with. 4 out of 5 stars
• Invaded by Melissa Sanders: The second book in the Alienated series finds Cara stuck up on L'eihr while Aelyx is trying to make good relations on Earth.  Love them all. 5 out of 5 stars because aliens.
• The Last Changeling by Chelsea Pitcher: While on the outside this book is about faeries and an overthrow of the kingdoms, this is an allegorical story for lots and lots of social issues (possibly not even allegorical, since it's open about this other issues). 4 out of 5
• The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead: The perfect ending to the spin-off Bloodlines series by vampire-writer Mead, I kinda just love Adrian, Sydney, and especially little Declan.  5 out of 5
• The Bridge From Me to You by Lisa Schroeder: Told in alternating perspectives by Lauren (who writes in poetry) and Caleb (who writes in prose), this shows a light-hearted story about deep issues such as brain damage, social services, and family separation, under a small town football setting.  3 out of 5 just because it's not very deep.

Okay, so I know that's not all 46, but even I was starting to get a little overwhelmed.  Those are a lot of my most recent reads, so there you have it.  Although I have read a few stinkers, I really try to find the good in every book I read.  Therefore, I do not guarantee you will feel the same way about a book.  I'm much nicer than most of you, probably, and to that I say keep going.  Critics are very important.


More will come later.  Sorry about ignoring y'all for so long. {^_^}

The Sin Eater's Daughter

I recently finished The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury.

If I try to give you my own synopsis right out of the park, I'm well aware I will spoil something or start ranting because life isn't fair and I should never have read it without the sequel being readily available and... GAH. Breathe, Amanda, Breathe...

Anyway, here's the official synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, Twylla isn't exactly a member of the court.

She's the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla's fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla's been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the  queen. 

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

 

This synopsis fails to give credit to the fact that romance, while an important part of the book and a key factor as one of the conflicts, is not the true extent of what it has to offer.  Also, this books make you out to hate Merek, the prince, as though he's cruel and refuses to communicate with Twylla.  He's not.

 

The book starts with Twylla explaining her role as Daunen Embodied, how she drinks poison once a moon cycle at the Telling and then murders those accused of treason by touching their skin.  She goes on to tell us that the first person she killed this way was her best friend, because the queen told her she had to or the gods would kill her and then the queen would kill her sister.

 

Then we find out the prince has been away two years, and now that he's back, he's actually quite interested in Twylla, so much so that he seeks her out multiple times.  So while he avoided her company before, the time of the book doesn't really show it.  You can't help but like Merek, even when you don't trust him, even when Twylla goes through phases of feelings for him, even if you don't want them to be together (And I know some people out there are going to be shipping them together).

 

Of course, there's also Lief, the guard from the warring nation, whose easy smiles and kind nature draw Twylla toward him, until she has trouble avoiding him.  When he reveals secrets that have been kept from her from years, her heart has officially melted.

 

However, the most interesting character has to be the queen.  She's behind every twist and revelation throughout the book, including the huge betrayals at the end that lead to many possibilities for the sequel.  She is, most definitely, the insane result of Lormere's custom to force the king and queen's children to marry (Say in with me now: Incest Is Wrong).  And, even though she is definitely the antagonist here, I LOVE IT.  She's vicious and she kills people with dogs, and she is willing to marry not only her brother, but her cousin, and eventually her son if she must.  Which, while entirely shiver-worthy, deserves a round of applause for commitment to the her love of power on the throne.

 

Anyway, read this book.  Maybe, if you have more self-control than me, wait until there is officially a date set for the release of the second one...  You'll definitely be wanting to know what the heck is going to happen BECAUSE THAT STINKING ENDING, MAN.

 

 

...

 

I'm okay.

 

...

 

Yeah.  Read it.  That's all I can say without ranting again.

The Distance Between Lost and Found

I just recently finished The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes.

Let's start with the cover:

Now isn't that just the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen?  The light is beautiful and the choice to place the words like that is genius.  I have to admit: I picked up this book originally because of the cover.  I saw it and I thought, "Existentialism." If I'm being honest, this book is not quite at the existential-level of deep.  It's not going to make you rethink your philosophy of life, but that doesn't mean it's not going to make you think.

The official synopsis is this:

Sophomore Hallie Calhoun has just endured the most excruciating six months of her life. Once the rumors about her and the preacher's son, Luke, made their way around school, her friends abandoned her, and Hallie has completely withdrawn.

Now, on a hike in the Smoky Mountains with the same people who have relentlessly taunted her, Hallie is pushed to her limit. Then Hallie, outgoing newcomer Rachel, and Jonah—Hallie's former friend—get separated from the rest of the group. As days go by without rescue, their struggle for survival turns deadly. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to trust one another in order to stay alive . . . and for Hallie, that means opening up about what really happened that night with Luke.

From the catty atmosphere of high school to the unpredictable terrain of the mountains, this novel is a poignant, raw journey about finding yourself after having been lost for so long.

I bet I know what y'all are thinking right now.  "Come on, this is just another teen girl book about rape."  And I thought that too.  I appreciate these kinds of books when they're done well and can reach people, but the problem with teen fiction is that there are too many horribly done ones that push people away from the quality that could change your life.

But let me reassure you that this book is not about a rape, and Holmes is quick to push that thought from your mind.  Hallelujah (which is Hallie's full name) and Rachel are speaking near the beginning of the novel, and she's quite clear to state that Luke did not rape her.  It doesn't mean he didn't hurt her in other ways, obviously, since the book is about his horrible comments that ruined her life.

This book deals well with both of its aspects.  It addresses the horrible pressure put on teens to be perfect and please their peers and role models, and it addresses the desperation to survive when three non-trained teens are stuck in the wilderness.

This book is set up into seven mini-books, each section starting with a new day.  That means for each day the chapters start over, as if they are starting over as well.  While not all of their decisions are good decisions (like their inability to follow rule #1: STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND DO NOT MOVE; gosh dang it, I wanted to slap them over and over again for that one), their ability to persevere through injuries, hypothermia, storms, and the occasional bear show how strong these teens' spirits are.  Hallie, Rachel, and Jonah must come together to overcome physical obstacles, but they also must address the psychological blocks between them, slowly tearing them down as they go.

This book also hits on the ever-present debate on God, which, since they're on a youth group retreat, seems well-crafted.  Not everyone will agree with all the things said throughout the seven days in this book, but I'm pretty sure every teenager who believes in God has hit these rough patches every now and then.  The question, "Why me?" is pretty prevalent in our lives, as is the ever fun debate as to what the preacher means when he stands up there asking if you felt God.

So, while this book isn't the absolute deepest book you could buy, it touches on this subjects in a way that won't send skittish readers away.  It's a good gateway novel for someone who wants to read books that hit you hard but aren't sure how.  I recommend it for anyone who has had a rough go of it now and then (which is, incidentally, everyone).

All Hail The Queen

I can officially say I have finished the next big obsession:

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

 

Okay, so popular books covered in fawning fanboys and fangirls can go one of two ways.  They either get waaaay too much popularity too quickly without the quality to back it up, or they grow because every person who reads this book recognizes it for what it is: beautiful.

I'm very glad to say, as far as I'm concerned, this book falls under the second category.

For anyone in the book world who's been living under a rock, here's the official synopsis:

     Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?
     Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.
     To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

As a lover of Graceling, I was excited.  As someone who was so annoyed by America's narration in The Selection, I was wary.  Yet I decided to give it a try.  And I'm 100% happy I did.

I can't say much about the ending of this book without giving anything away, but I can say I TOTALLY called it.  Like, everything.  That doesn't mean it can't be filled with plot twists or shocks for the average reader, but I naturally suspect everyone of ulterior motives, and it makes me figure out mysteries way too soon.  I think I got it from my father...

Basically, Mare Molly Barrow is a Red, living in a fishing village ten miles from the vacation home of royalty.  Her life sucks, and she's just biding time until she turns eighteen and is conscripted into the hundred year war her country has been fighting.  Her three older brothers are already fighting in it, but until she joins them, she steals to feed her family, which consists of her mother, disabled, war-veteran father, and younger sister Gisa, who is the one child who it seems won't be conscripted, because she has a job as a seamstress.

The catalyst of everything is Kilorn.  When his Master dies, leaving him without an apprenticeship and an upcoming conscription notice, Mare takes it upon herself to save him as she has multiple times in the past.  This leads her to the Scarlet Guard, though she doesn't know it yet, and everything that happens next is because of her choice to save those she loves.  When she, in another turn of events, becomes a servant during a festival for the royals, unwittingly gets pushed into an electric shield, and realizes she can control to power coursing through her, her life changes forever.  What begins as a cover up leads to her involvement in a deadly game, one she won't know she's playing (is in fact a pawn in) until it's too late.

This book sets up an amazing battle for their world that will be played out in the next two books.  I'm looking forward to seeing what Victoria Aveyard has planned for Mare next.

While this book has similar dystopian themes to the Hunger Games trilogy, such as an oppressive government and a rebellion that's ready to take off, the main difference for me was Mare's narration.  It wasn't half as whiny as Katniss could be, and her naiveté is based around lack of education and the lack of knowledge in new surroundings.  She never let that stop her, either, and while she relies on people, she doesn't fall apart completely as soon as they're gone.

As long as she continues to grow from the person she was, and as long as she continues to learn the game she's playing, I think this series could be something special.

So read it now, folks.  If you wait until this becomes the NEXT BIG THING, don't come crying to me and complaining about waiting a month for the next book to come out (you know who you are, Mockingjay-band-wagoners; you're lucky my restraint is greater than my annoyance).  This series has a lot of possibility.  I look forward to seeing what comes next.

*And don't think you guys got out of that pun so easily*

Saturday Evening Poetry

So this isn't your average post.  I just wanted to share this poem in hopes it reached someone in a way that it reaches me.  It's by Robert Frost, who is one of my favorite poets even if he is a little mainstream.  I encourage you guys to read more of his stuff than the two required school poems "Road Not Taken" and "Fire and Ice."  He has more to offer than that.  Although I'm not a big fan of rhyming poetry for the sake of rhyme, sometimes the rhyme leads us somewhere.  And in this poem, the first and last lines make something within me stop.

The Sound of the Trees

by Robert Frost

I wonder about the trees.

Why do we wish to bear

Forever the noise of these

More than another noise
So close to our dwelling place?
We suffer them by the day
Till we lose all measure of pace,
And fixity in our joys,
And acquire a listening air.
They are that that talks of going
But never gets away;
And that talks no less for knowing,
As it grows wiser and older,
That now it means to stay.
My feet tug at the floor
And my head sways to my shoulder
Sometimes when I watch trees sway,
From the window or the door.
I shall set forth for somewhere,
I shall make the reckless choice
Some day when they are in voice
And tossing so as to scare
The white clouds over them on.
I shall have less to say,
But I shall be gone.

*Snap claps*

Okay, so educational period over.  Thanks for sharing this with me, guys.  I'll post an actual post tomorrow.

Let me just leave you with one more quote from Frost.  It's from his poem, "A Passing Glimpse," and I have it hanging on my peg board in my dorm room:

"Heaven gives it's glimpses only to those,
Not in position to look too close."

So stop and enjoy life every once in awhile, but don't forget life keeps going.  You can't let it go on without you, because then you'll never be able to stop and enjoy a new view along the way.

Post-Valentine Romance

In honor of my relationship status remaining entirely fictional, I think it's only right to honor my favorite romances the best way I know how: A beautiful list.  I love lists.  They're perfect little representations of different categories, all wrapped up in orderly, numbered packages.  Maybe it has more to do with my control issues than anything else, but lists are the best.

So here's a list of my top ten favorite contemporary YA romance novels (Although my favorite romances do tend to be in sci-fi or fantasy, I knew I had to limit it to the basics or it'd be even harder to explain what was wrong with me):

10. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean is a girl who doesn't like to express her emotions too openly.  She keeps things inside, like the five times she's been in love.  Every time she's ready to give up and move on from her crush, she writes a letter to the guy and seals it in her hatbox, where she keeps it safe from her family and friends.  When these letters get sent, including the one for her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh, the boys start coming after her, demanding to know what's happening.  Thus begins her trek to convince Josh she has moved on, beginning by letting him believe she's dating another letter boy, Peter K.  Peter agrees to the fake relationship in order to make his ex, Genevieve, jealous.  Thus begins their journey toward love.  At the beginning, I'm not a huge fan of Peter, mostly because Lara Jean isn't.  Even as the book progresses and I start rooting for them to be together, I'm still well aware of all the obstacles they have to pass.  Peter isn't quite over his girlfriend, Lara Jean isn't very good at letting go enough to be in a relationship, and Josh keeps getting in their way (let the wet noodle he is).  And even though I know this book has a sequel, too much was left unresolved at the end for me to push this book up the list.  Perhaps when the second one comes out, we'll have answers, but for now, this book is clinging to a life raft at #10.

9. This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Movie star Graham Larkin and Maine resident Ellie O'Neill tell the story of mistaken emails and falling in love through alternating perspectives, letting us learn what each one is thinking in this adorable, light-hearted tale.  Graham is trying to deal with unwanted fame and more-than-locational-separation from his family as he, adorably, stalks Ellie to her hometown so he can meet her (after sending her an email about his pig that was meant for someone else).  Ellie is dealing with the knowledge that if the media finds out who her father is, this relationship isn't the only thing that will be over.  Together, they go on wacky adventures for dessert, acceptance, and, most importantly, happiness.  This book makes you want them to be together more than anything, because you realize if their love can make it, you have a chance of finding your own little bit of happiness.  But like #10, this book, and all of Jennifer E. Smith's books, leave you wanting.  You feel a little bit like this is all you want to do:

 



8. A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

This book is so original.  Here's the official synopsis:

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.  But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together....

So, basically, this is a love story told from every perspective BUT the two who are falling in love.  It's a really cool look at what others see when we don't.  The squirrel is adorable, and it's such an interesting way of looking at a relationship that I recommend everyone read it.  However, with the lack of narration from the two this story is about, the secrets each character has come out slowly.  Look at it like a suspenseful novel without any real suspense.  It's worth it.

7. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

I love all things Kasie West, but there's something about Xander and Caymen that really get me.  Caymen is the daughter of a doll shop owner, broke and virtually lost when it comes to colleges apps and the dreams she has of working with science.  Xander is a rich boy who doesn't want to take over the family hotel business.  What starts as a chance run-in turns into a chance for the two of them to figure out what they want to do with their lives.  Together, they begin the trek of trying out professions, while slowly realizing they have feelings for each other.  I like Kasie West so much because she doesn't make love (or like, even) instantaneous.  She lets the relationship grow with the characters, and she does a good job of making it realistic.  The only real issue I have with her books is that they're too short.  I always want them to be longer.  This book addresses important things like the mistakes a family makes, the difference between rich and poor, and a child's dreams versus that of the parents'.  It's really quite good.

6. Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Okay, so I am NOT going to go into the whole Demetrios rant again; if you'd like a full listing of this book and what I absolutely love about it, check out my post about Demetrios.  All I want to say is, I love all the relationships in this book.  They all feel special to me, and that's why this one made the list, even though I recommend all of Demetrios' contemporary novels if you crave a good fictional relationship.

5. Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

This book, man. It takes place in one night, which doesn't give a lot of time for development and growth, but gives PLENTY of time for us to understand the characters and their inhibitions.  Basically, Jonah (who is the first narrator) hates his new life; his mom had an affair with his physical therapist, his dad ditched him, and he's stuck with them and his new baby sister in the fancy part of town, which is way different than the 'bad' neighborhood he grew up in forty-five minutes away.  Brighton (the second narrator) is a high-strung, please-everybody type person who is preparing for her father's one-year memorial while hoping she doesn't disappoint his memory.  She needs Jonah to participate in a book drive so she can get 100% school participation in her volunteer organization, something that has only been done before by her father. As the night starts, they're not even speaking, but by the time the night's over, they'll realize they have more in common than anyone might think.  It's been a long time since I read a book with this kind of ending, filling me with so much possibility but also so much happiness. It made me feel for the characters and I really connected with their personalities and situations. I love it, and I recommend it.

4. Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

I love the two voices in this book. Elizabeth Eulberg has a gift for making romances totally adorable and loved.  Macallan and Levi are kind of awesome as best friends.  This book follows them from their first meeting in seventh grade to junior year of high school, and we all get to see how their relationship grows and develops.  As best friends, they get in each other's way in more ways than one, creating obstacles for their individual romances and knowing exactly where to hit the hardest.  This book is narrated by both characters in brief interludes between each chapter, and their witty back and forth makes you believe everything will work out the way it is meant to.  With adventures in Ireland, broken pacts, and reformed surfer boys, this book just captures your happy gene and twists it until you're smiling for no reason whatsoever.  All their choices are understandable and relatable, and there's really no way you can't cheer for them to figure out what we already know.

3. The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

This book uses a common idea at its core.  Alyssa Reed (Aly) and Brandon Taylor both narrate this book, showing two sides to the same conflict and helping us relate to both.  Aly is tired of being thought of as a "Commitment" girl, a girl who's only out for a relationship and therefore is ignored by all guys, and wants to be seen as a "Casual," someone who her best friend Brandon and his friends would bother giving the time of day.  So she launches what she calls "Operation Sex Appeal." She changes out her T-shirts and jeans for girly clothes and decides to change in order to reach her goal of getting a date for homecoming.  Enter Part B of her plan, getting Brandon to pretend to date her so that Justin, her target, will start to see her as more than an adorable sidekick.  What ensues is chaos to the infinity power, filled with mixed signals and crazy escapades.  And while the premise is common and we can all figure out how this story is supposed to end, the writing itself makes this book a light, happy read.  Having two voices, Aly and Brandon, explaining each side of the situation helps readers relate more to the piles of misunderstandings.  By the end, I personally was excited to see how exactly it would turn out.  While it was predictable, it was also filled with great humor and a worthy ending.

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

This book follows Cath, a die-hard fangirl of the entirely fictional Simon Snow series (which, while similar to Harry Potter, is clearly different), as she begins her college experience and her separation from her sister Wren.  Though Wren is just in another dorm, not another college, it seems like the end of the world for shy Cath, who has never been one to expand.  Throw in a creative writing class, a snarky (but loveable) roommate, and the snarTky roommate's possible boyfriend Levi, who Cath may or may not have feelings for, and freshman year is sure to fly by.  This book is amazing in that it addresses not only the expansion of a world while going to college but also the idea of mental illness and the toll it has on a family.  Although Cath herself doesn't have anything, she's lost trying to hold her father and sister together in the wake of so many changes.  I absolutely LOVE Levi, whose description includes a receding hairline, coffee-smell, and a farm boy appearance.  Even though he sucks at reading, I feel like he is great in so many ways that complement the main character, and he realy is one of those characters who isn't just thrown together in a day.  Also, even though the Simon Snow fandom is ENTIRELY fictional, I'm kind of in love with it, and I would consider myself a Fangirl as well.

ANNNNNND...

1. The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

There is a strong possibility that this book made #1 simply because of Logan.  I love Logan.

This book is about Maddie Summers and her inner love for comics.  While on the outside she's a blond, preppy school girl who dates a football player and loves to teen pop sensation, inside she's a die-hard, comic-obsessed, sci-fi loving fangirl.  When the last issue of her favorite comic gets backordered, she can't wait for it to come.  Instead, she risks it all by disguising herself and slipping into the comic store, only to run into... Logan Scott.  She's kinda been obsessed with him since he got suspended for wearing "porn" on his shirt (which was actually just a comic character).  Turns out, his parents own the comic shop, and he introduces Maddie to a world of role-playing and freedom.  The summer takes a turn as she tries to keep her true loves hidden from her best friend, tries to get ahold of her boyfriend in Florida to break up (because, hello, Logan is the coolest guy ever and she NEEDS to be able to flirt, man), and tries to hold herself together as the girl she thought she was.  While cheesy in its premise, I absolutely adore this book.  There's something adorable about the way Logan introduces Maddie to the world of Nerd.  And don't even get me started on Logan.  Logan is... wonderful.  He's not perfect, but he's perfectly quirky, devoted to his family, and patient with Maddie as she comes to terms with who she wants to be.

So yeah, it may have been bumped to #1 because of Logan, but the wholesome message it delivers about being yourself keeps it afloat.  Even though some parts of it get cheesy, I recommend it for the LARPing alone.


So that's my top ten.  Check them out, or don't.  It's not going to change my decision either way {^_^}.