Super-mini reviews

I read four books. Two of them were superb. Two of them I didn't like so much that I didn't even finish them. The two that were superb were actually novellas. So instead of trying to write reviews for them, I thought I would write super mini reviews. I'll first start off with the two books I didn't like.

Lost: 2

Title: Spoiled

Author: Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Publication date: June 1, 2011

Publisher: Poppy

Source: The lovely people at ARCycling and the person who donated it to them.

You say Spoiled like it's a bad thing.

Sixteen-year-old Molly Dix has just discovered that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular. Intrigued (and a little) terrified by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Los Angeles and plunges headfirst into the deep of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her life couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a smothering dose "sisterly love"...but in this town, nothing is ever what it seems. 

Set against a world of Redbull-fuelled stylists, tiny tanned girls, popped-collar guys, and Blackberry-wielding publicists, Spoiled is a sparkling debut from the writers behind the viciously funny celebrity blog GoFugYourself.com.

Super-mini review:

The book starts out with Brooke's perspective (in third person), which threw me off. However, after I thought about it, I actually liked how they approached it that way. Instead of starting off with Molly, who the synopsis says the story is about, they start off at the other end. You see Brooke and her first world problems in L.A. along with her daddy issues. She also talks as if she's one of those horribly written characters in a made for TV movie based on someone in Hollywood or in a popular clique. I was relieved once we moved on to Molly. 

When I requested this book in ARCycling's weekly event (if you don't know about it, check it out. It's AMAZING), I had an idea in my mind that it would be part Belles by Jen Calonita, part sugary. I had to stop at the ninth chapter because I honestly could not take it anymore. I know authors work hard to finish a book and it's like their child, but I just didn't like Spoiled. I didn't like a single character, I felt the plot was shallow, and my eyes were hurting from all of my eye rolling.

Verdict: A book I personally felt was not worth going even half-way for and very boring. 

Title: Geek Girl

Author: Holly Smale

Publication date: February 28, 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: An ARC e-galley via NetGalley and its publisher. 

Harriet Manners knows a lot of things. She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves. 

As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did. 

And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?

Super-mini review:

Please don't hate me! I couldn't finish this one either. Harriet wasn't connectable to me despite me loving geeky things. There was about maybe one or two amusing places in the part I did read, but I just couldn't get into it. Perhaps I should have given this one more time. Perhaps I'm weird. Perhaps...

I don't know how far I did go into this and I am grateful for being accepted on NetGalley, but maybe it's not for me. Perhaps I'll go back and read it again at another time, who knows. I do know that I was surprised to not see a bad review on Goodreads. I didn't see one review below three stars, which made me feel very weird. 

Verdict: Not interesting enough for me to continue, however I'm probably the odd ball in this case.

Win: 2

Title: Destroy Me (1.5 in series)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publication date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Harper

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me,Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45

Super-mini review:

I think we can just look at the cover and read the synospsis and know for a fact that it's already a win just by those two things. Not only was Shatter Me brilliant, Tahereh Mafi's writing beautiful, and Unravel Me (the sequel) has been making me squirm with impatience, this is about Warner. WARNER! 

Yes, not a lot of people have sympathy for him in the first book. Yes, people who have only read the first one and not 1.5 think it's bizarre to actually like Warner. Why like Warner? There's Adam! Go back up to look at my eye rolling Robert Downey Jr. Don't even get me started on Adam. But Warner? Sure, I was hesitant to believe that we could actually root for him. Not only does he go from this mysterious, stern figure to a swoon-tastic, hot one, he also garners lots of sympathy. Honestly, I wanted to hug him lots of times during the novella. 

So please, read it. If you haven't read Shatter Me do that now. Then read Destroy Me. Get your opinions twisted around and then you'll be ready to read Unravel Me. 

Verdict: More of the same amazing writing with a character I love more than I thought I ever would. 

Title: Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story (Gallagher Girls #5.5, Heist Society #2.5)

Author: Ally Carter

Publication date: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Disney Hyperion 

Source: An ARC e-galley for honest review via NetGalley and its publisher. Also free from Amazon.

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

Super-mini review:

Ally Carter is basically my favorite author. I have recommended her books to people and have raved about her until I'm blue in the face. I'm shoved my Gallagher Girl books in my friends' faces (as well as my sisters') and bought Heist Society as presents for my friends as well. During some Twitter party of sorts, I even met really nice people (one of them is the really cool Emily) because we started chatting (well, between chatting and fan-girling) about Ally Carter and the release date of her new books this year. 

I said all that to give you an image. The image of me hearing about this novella for the first time.

And I personally don't think Ally Carter disappointed. We dove right in to the story and there was action on every page. I smirked when Macey tried her guaranteed moves on Hale then sighed with longing when he responded, saying: "I'm sorry I'm not flirting with you. I'm kind of spoken for." 

Of course, Kat (the reason why Hale isn't flirting) is in the story, but she's minor along with Aunt Abby. I wanted to snap my fingers in the Heist Society characters' faces when they underestimated Macey, wanting to tell them, "You do not want to mess with her." in the most ghetto voice I could make. But I know, that's Macey's mission is to have no one suspect her true identity and capability. 

Also, the ending? So many questions! 

The third book in the Heist Society series, Perfect Scoundrels, comes out today which makes this book a perfect lead-in for fans. But thanks to my sister for preordering it for me as a Christmas present, I received the book yesterday! Doo-da, doo-da. Okay, that was the end of my happy dancing, bragging moment. 

Verdict: A great book with characters and action I love that I don't think will disappoint fans.

What do YOU think of the books I briefly reviewed over? Disagree or agree?