Mini Reviews

Before I fall

Author:  Lauren Oliver

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Date Published:  March 2nd 2010

Repetitive, but it is about a girl reliving her last day alive.  What did I expect?  Yes, there are slight variations, but it's the same person walking down the hall, the same party...  I just thought it was okay.  The highlight of Before I Fall is actually the main theme of the book, bullying, and treating people the way you want to be treated.  Reminded me of Groundhog Day.

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Beauty: A Retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast

Author:  Robin McKinley

Publisher:  HarperTrophy

Date Published:  May 28th 1993

It would be really hard not to have liked Beauty, since Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales.  Something about falling in love with someone because of their heart not what's on the surface.that gets me everytime.  I think Beauty is a wonderful and beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  This can be enjoyed by both adults and young adults. 

Mini Reviews

The Romantic

Author:  Galt Niederhoffer

To say that The Romantics was a huge disappointment is an understatement.  I was expecting the cattiness, but I was also expecting friendship, a closeness between these group of friends.  I kept on reading thinking why are these people friends in the first place if they can’t stand each other.  I thought it was disjointed, and boring. I heard The Romantics was made into a movie. Has anyone seen it?  Maybe it translates better on film.

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Invincible Summer

Author:  Hannah Moskowitz

Invincible Summer is a lot more than intense than I expected.  Don't expect a nice fluffy beach read.  It's a story about family, first crushes, and disappointment.  I thought the writing was crisp, but the story was lacking a little for me.  I enjoyed the read, but wasn't wowed by it. 

From Notting Hill With Love..Actually by Ali McNamara

From Notting Hill With Love...Actually

Author:  Ali McNamara

Genre:  Chick Lit

Publisher:  Sphere

Date Published:  November 25th 2010

From Goodreads:

Scarlett O'Brien is in love . . . with the movies. Utterly hooked on Hugh Grant, crazy about Richard Curtis, dying with lust for Johnny Depp, Scarlett spends her days with her head in the clouds and her nights with her hand in a huge tub of popcorn. Which is not exactly what her sensible, DIY-obsessed fiancé David has in mind for their future. So when Scarlett has the chance to house-sit an impossibly grand mansion in Notting Hill ? the setting of one of her all-time favourite movies ? she jumps at the chance to live out her film fantasies one last time. It's just a shame that her new neighbour Sean is so irritating ? and so irritatingly handsome, too. As a chaotic comedy of her very own erupts around Scarlett, she begins to realise there's more to life than seating plans and putting up shelves. What sort of happy ending does she really want? Will it be a case of Runaway Bride or Happily Ever After? The big white wedding looms, and Scarlett is running out of time to decide.
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I’m a complete fan of chick flicks, and I’ve seen them all. Two of my favorites are Notting Hill and Love Actually, so yeah I wanted to read this one bad, so bad that I paid quite a bit and had it shipped from the U.K. , sadly it was just okay for me.




My main problem with From Notting Hill with Love Actually was the predictability of it. Yeah, I know the one thing chick lit can guarantee is it’s predictability, but I still thought the movie angle to this one would make it shine all nice and new. It didn’t. Scarlett loves the movies and is positive life should be and can be like the movies, but everyone else in her life seems to think that these romantic movies are all silly make believe fantasy worlds (hate to break it to you Scarlett, but they are). I’m glad I’ve outgrown that notion back in my early twenties, or I’d still be waiting for my Mr. Darcy (Bridget Jones), who liked me just as I was.

It was a sappy read, and I kind of liked that, but Scarlett’s problem with trying to push these movie scenes from real life started grating on me.

I did like the concept and I all in all it wasn’t a bad read, just didn’t give me what I expected. I will give author Ali McNamara another go though, I guess at the closing of the book I still liked her style.

This would make a awesome chick flick.

Mini Reviews

I went old school with these.  I decided to read books that I've had in my TBR for years.  Crazy to think I'm sitting on books from 2004.

Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Date Published:  September 1st 2006

This is the only book I’ve read in the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  I normally don’t read her books, but I made an exception for Match Me If You Can because I’ve heard so many great things about it.  I was amazed how into the story I was..I read it in one day, and in fact, kicked everybody out of the house to read it peacefully with no interruptions.  Annabel and Heath are cute, funny and giggle worthy.

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Starting From Square Two by Caren Lissner

Date Published:  March 1st 2004

Starting From Square Two was an okay read. The story is about a young widow, Gert, who is pushed back into the dating scene by her friends.  It was predictable which kind of made it tedious to finish but thanks to the Out With a Bang readathon I knocked it out with record time.  It kinda of reminded me why I stopped reading chick lit so much. 

More Mini Reviews

O' Juliet by Robin Maxwell

This year I seem to have been on a Romeo and Juliet kick.   I was impressed with the story that Ms. Maxwell wrote.    There truly is something fascinating about Romeo and Juliet’s story.  The story captivated me and kept me reading, but some things irked me like sometimes the writing didn’t seem to fit with the time period, and that kind of jolted me out of tale.  Overall, I’m glad I read it.

You Had Me at Halo by Amanda Ashby

You Had Me at Halo is a funny is a cute read.  Vince and Holly had some funny and witty dialogue going on, plus they are some great characters.  At times I felt the pace slow down, and I would put it down, but I found out if you just push through those small parts, and they are small, the book is worth it.  This is the first Amanda Ashby book I’ve read, looking forward to reading more.

A Note from an Old Aquaintance by Bill Walker

I wasn’t really a fan of this book like so many others out there.  I just couldn’t get into the characters, nor the subject.  It was vanilla, and I guess I was looking for more.  I didn’t like the female protagonist, and the male lead character was irritating.  I wanted to know more about his wife (dead) that supposedly he loved, but all I kept reading about was the true love of his life.  Irritating!

Sorry for the different fonts.  I type my reviews on word, and while i'm thinking I tend to miss with fonts, and size.  This is what happens when you copy and paste, don't really want to retype again. :)

Mini Reviews

Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster

 I heard so many promising things about Bright Lights, Big Ass, I was expecting so many laugh out loud moments.   There were some super funny moments, but the majority was just blah to me. There were dashes of greatness but it just fell short for me.  I enjoyed Pretty in Plaid more.

Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski

I read Gimme a Call in a two day period, the story was creative, and the writing was good, not surprising considering that i'm a huge Sarah Mlynowski fan.  Gimme a Call took me on a fun, enjoyable ride. 

Geek Abroad by Piper Banks

Geek Abroad is the sequel to Geek High, it's been awhile since reading book 1, but I quickly remembered the characters and story and got lost in Geek Abroad.  This time around Miranda is heading off to London to visit her mom.  Really fun and great series.  You can't help but love Miranda, she really is a great character.

Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow

I wanted to get my hands on this as soon as the reviews started coming out, I was not disappointed.  Just Like Me, Only Better is not really a realistic story, but that was part of the charm.  Sometimes we all need a little fantasy, and this one was perfect for the females.  Who doesn't want to mingle with the rich, famous and hot? 

A Couple of Mini Reviews

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Incantation was a really quick interesting read.   The story revolves around a ugly time when Jews were being persecuted for the beliefs.  At one time all Jews were required to change to Christianity, though some refuse to do so, and those people are now outcast, pushed to live outside of society.  During this time Estrella is experiencing her first taste of love, and betrayal.  A very heartbreaking story.






Shoe Addict Anonymous by Beth Harbison


Shoe Addict Anonymous revolves around four women who are bound together by there love of shoes.  Through a support group for women with shoe addiction these women find friendship, and girl power.   Some storylines were better than others, and I did find myself extremely annoyed with one of the characters, Jocelyn.  I started to skim through her parts because I wanted her so bad to get a backbone, definitely was frustrating.   In the end I enjoyed the book, and was glad I read it, but don't expect much out of it.  Pure fluff.

Mini Reviews-- Read A Thon Edition

All these mini reviews are of books I read during this past Read A Thon.  I got lucky and picked up some really great books.  I didn't exactly follow my list I had planned for the books I wanted to tackle, but  I read two from the list than went in search of smaller books.






Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen's books are never teen fluff, they always a serious note to them and Just Listen was no exception.  Annabel, a girl who people think has everything is actually going through a rough time.  Her sister has a eating disorder, and she lost her best friend.  During this rough time in her life she meets Owen, who is like nobody she has ever met.  Like I mentioned there are some pretty serious things going on in Annabel's life, and I find that Ms. Dessen has a good balance of sweet and serious in her books.






Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson

Sonata for Miriam is one of those books that has all these layers unfolding as you read.  The story is about grieving for a loved one, and in the process, discovering things about yourself.  Protagonist Adam Anker is on a journey discovering where he came from.  Buried lies come out, and the such but this small book was deeper than that.  A really well written novel.






Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Into the Wild is based on the true story of Chris McCandless, who at 24 left behind is family and friends to live as one with the wilderness in Alaska, sadly he did not make it out alive.  I was fascinated by the thinking of Chris.  He gave away 24,000 dollars to charity, and basically hit the road.  Though I do not agree with some of Chris McCandless's way of thinking I can understand his need for adventure, and his willingness to not be tied down by society.  Jon Krakauer is a great writer, but I could have done with less descriptions.






The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

The Weight of Silence quickly grabs you, and before you know it, you are turning the last page.  I was kept interested the whole way through.   The story revolves around the disappearance of two little girls.  I figured it out pretty early but still really enjoyed it.   Every chapter is told in different point of views, so you really get an idea of what everyone is thinking throughout.  Really great!

Mini's!

Time for my mini roundup!

Summer's Child

Author:  Diane Chamberlain

I'm a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain, and yet again, she  has managed to give me another great read.   In the usual Chamberlain way, Summer's Child is a very interesting, and captivating read.   The story is wrapped around a newborn baby left on the beach.  The beginning chapter tells us how and who found the baby, and then jumps to the future, with the now adult wanting to find out who her mom is, and why she left her. Summer's Child is a very good book!

You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried

Author:  Susannah Gora

If you are a huge fan of 80's teen films and the brat pack, then you will love this book.  Susannah Gora dives deep into the process of how these beloved teen movies came to be, from the writing, and casting, to the filming.  Along the way there are chapters on how the soundtracks came to be, and quite a bit of information on the members of the so called brat pack.  I really enjoyed this book, because I'm a huge fan of Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. 

Crazy Love

Author:  Leslie Morgan Steiner

Crazy Love is a great compelling memoir about a women's abusive relationship. In Crazy Love Ms. Steiner really opens up about her life with her boyfriend then husband who happen to be physically and emotionally abusive.  I was able to comprehend how women rationalize their abusive relationships, and continue to think that their love can fix the problem.  Very interesting quick read.

Mini Reviews!!

These are all books from my personal collection, or local library.




Lust, Loathing and A Little Lip Gloss
Author: Kyra Davis
Publisher:  MIRA
Publication Date:  June 1st 2009

Lust, Loathing, and A Little Lip Gloss is the third book in the Sophie Katz series.  I really enjoyed this one.  This time around Sophie is caught up with a group of people interested in the paranormal.  Ghost, seances, and of course murder...what more could you ask for.  Plenty of laugh out loud moments! 


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The Juliet Club
Author:  Suzanne Harper
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  June 1st 2008

I've never read Romeo and Juliet, but of course I know the story, and I've seen the movie (Claire Danes, and Leonardo Di Caprio).  The Juliet Club was a great quick read.  Main Character Kate is over love, she wants no part of it, in steps Giacomo, the heartbreaker.  I enjoyed reading the brewing romance between Kate and Giacomo in the streets of Verona, Italy.  Very cute!

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Jumping Off Swings
Author:  Jo Knowles
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Date:  August 11, 2009

I really wanted to love Jumping Off Swings, but it just wasn't great for me.  I think it's definitely a great subject for a YA book, and would love to find more on the topic, but it seemed like it only skimmed the surface.  Yeah, I could get the ramifications are really bad, but I never felt it.  Saying things are bad, and showing me how bad are totally different.  Good relevant read for teens, but in my opinion not executed very well.

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Just One Wish
Author:  Janette Rallison
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date:  March 5th 2009

Just One Wish is pure teenage fantasy.  I thought it was a fun read, because it's a daydream turned book reality.  I love books like this!  Annika tries to get TV heart throb to spend time with her younger brother who has cancer, and in the process finds love.  I told ya, pure fantasy, but oh so fun! 

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Looking For Andrew McCarthy
Author:  Jenny Colgan
Publisher:  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Publication Date:  June 5th 2002

Looking for Andrew McCarthy is super funny.  Ellie is disappointed with life.  Where is the bright future the brat pack promised?  She convinces her friends to go on a wild goose chase to find Andrew McCarthy to ask him what happen?  So many hilarious things happen on this trip.  I forgot how much I enjoy Jenny Colgan's writing.

 

It's Mini Reviews Time

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

 I usually love Sarah Dessen’s books, but this is my least favorite. The story of Haven really never went anywhere. Haven’s dad just remarried, and her sister is getting married, Haven finds her life changing quicker than she’s ready. When her older sister’s ex boyfriend Sumner shows reappears, Haven is reminded of the perfect summer when her family was intact and Sumner was in their life. This one was a little to blah for me.

Rating: 2.5


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Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

A opposite attract story..love those. Heaven and Brady are neighbors that don’t like each other, yet feel drawn to each other. Their interactions are cute, and scream sexual tension. I really liked this one. In no way was the story unique, but it was still cute.

Rating: 4

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City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Third book in the Mortal Instruments series, and again another great one.  I love this series!  All the original characters are back, the action is good, and there is a lot of unraveling those secrets in this one.  I obviously don't want to give away any spoilers, but if you haven't read this series, you really must give them a try.  They are that awesome.

Rating: 4

Mini Reviews Part 1

I was checking out my 2010 Books I've read list, and notice there are quite a few books I hadn't reviewed, so I thought I'll do some mini reviews. 





 

Enthusiasm- Polly Shulman

A quick cute read.  I love Jane Austen, and this book has a touch of her work.  Julie's friend, Ashleigh is obsessed with everything Jane Austen, especially Pride and Prejudice, and when Ashleigh has this grand idea to sneak into a boy's private school to find their Darcy's the fun begins. 

Rating: 3




Love is a Mix Tape- Rob Sheffield

I really liked this book.  I'm a huge music fan..I can listen to music all day.  Rob Sheffield does a great job connecting music to what was going on in his life.  I could relate so much, because I often remember significant, and not so significant moments by what was playing in the background.  This book is a soundtrack to a time in his life, that was joyful, and sad. 

Rating: 4.5




Paper Towns- John Green

Another great book.  I tried reading this before and for some reason I couldn't get into it, but when I opened it a second time I quickly got engrossed in it.  I felt it was somewhat of a mystery.  I really wanted to know what had happen to Margo.  Margo was a great character...selfish, but written well.  The writing and story kept me reading nonstop. 

Rating:  4.5




Stargirl- Jerry Spinelli

I disliked this book soo much.  Basically lets put everything that is somewhat different in one person to show how unique and carefree they are.  I got the point, people are different and we shouldn't judge.  Sure I liked the moral of the story, but did the writer have to make it so thrown in my face obvious. It just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Rating: 1

YA Mini Reviews

Entrapment: A High School Comedy in Chat- Michael Spooner

Entrapment written in all chat and IM, was a very quick read. In the beginning it was hard to follow because you had to remember who was who with the chat names, but once you got the hang of that, it was easy. If you're not familiar with the chat lingo, you also might have a hard time following. I had to ask my daughter a couple times what something meant. As for the story, Entrapment, is a good title, because that is exactly what the girls did to there boyfriends.
It was a okay read, but nothing to rave about.

Rating: 2.5/3

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Good Girls- Laura Ruby

Good Girls is a very well-written, engaging YA book. It was a candid look at the double standards between boys and girls, when it comes to sex. The book is about a adult subject, and the language can be vulgar. Sadly, I think this is a accurate potrayal of what it is like to be a teenager in this day. I highly recommend you give this one a read.

Rating: 4/5

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The Smile- Donna Jo Napoli

I wasn't very impressed with this one. It has so many good reviews, but I was actually pretty bored. The first half never went anywhere, and by the time the second half starts moving, I had already checked out. I thought it would be interesting to read a fiction novel about the real Mona Lisa, and when I read in the description about love, and love lost, I thought I was going to be swept away by a love story. I wasn't.

Rating: 2/5

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Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontall Snogging- Louise Rennison

I thought this book was hilarious, laugh out loud hilarious. Georgia is a character in the biggest sense. She's feisty, funny, and bratty. I'm looking forward to reading more. If you're looking for a good YA series, pick this one up.

Rating- 4/5

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For full description of the book click on the cover. It will take you to Amazon.

Mini Reviews

Wish- Melina Gerosa Bellows



A good story about a girl, Bella, trying to find herself, and at the same time connect to her autistic brother. I thought it was funny, and heartwarming.
I liked Bella, and her character flaws. Through the book you can see her transformation, and her relationship with her brother growing.


Rating: 4/5



Book Description








Songbird- Walter Zacharius



I've read several books, fiction, and nonfiction, about the Holocaust, and this was not up to par with most. The first half was pretty good, but then it just fell apart for me. The story got confusing, and bad. There are so many great books out there, that I wouldn't recommend you waste your time on something that fell short.

Rating- 1.5/5


Book Description









Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover- Ally Carter


This is Bk 3 of the Gallagher Girls series. After a failed kidnapping attempt on Macey, the girls are on high alert, and trying to find out who's behind it. It was a good read, but it took me awhile to get through. I think I might be getting tired of the series. I find myself more interested in what's going on with Zach, and he's left dangling out of reach. I would really like to see the girls mature more, also.

Rating: 3/5


Book Description

Mini Reviews

I've fallen behind on my reviews, and instead of just reviewing some books, like I do sometimes, I've decided to occasionally do mini reviews. Hopefully this won't be to often, but all the books I read will get reviewed. To get the full descriptions of the books, click on the link.


Standing Still- Kelly Simmons


This book was a short read about a women who is kidnapped by a man seeking justice. The story takes place in a 4 day period, with each day starting a new chapter. Inbetween there are flashbacks of Claire's life. I really expected more from this book, it sounded so good, but really fell short. I kept waiting for something to happen, luckily this was a short read, any longer and I would have given up.

Rating: 1.5/5









Five Things I Can't Live Without- Holly Shumas

Nora Bishop is a neurotic, over-analyzing women who just quite her job, and is about to move in with her boyfriend. I could totally relate to Nora and her 'the grass is always greener' philosophy that I went through this book quick, seeing myself in every page. Her "meta-life" ways of constant worrying, never being satisfied, and indecisive manner are ruining her life, and making her see her life in black tinted glasses. She has a great boyfriend, or does she? She has a new job she loves, or does she? This is a chick lit with a serious tone, I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/5

Impossible- Nancy Werlin

This one was wierd. The author got the idea for this book after hearing the ballad "Scarborough Fair". The story is about a curse handed down through the generations of women in Lucy's family. The story could have been so interesting, but instead it came off corny, and was mediocre. Lucy has to complete 3 impossible tasks, or she will basically go insane. There's a really creepy guy (or whatever he is), and a relationship that just comes out of nowhere. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.


Rating: 2/5 (and I gave it a two because I love this ballad)

The Princess and the Pauper- Kate Brian

This story has been done many times, but I still liked this book. Princess Carina is tired of being a princess, all she wants is a little freedom, and a chance to meet ribbit, a singer in a band, on her trip to L.A.. With bodyguards and a chaperone she knows its impossible, until she bumps into Julia, who happens to look like her. This was a cute, fun read. The story wraps up pretty quickly, but it is a YA book, so I can't complain to much.

Rating: 3.5/5