Mini reviews: The Cute One, the Fantastical One, and the Two DNFs

Has everyone been keeping up with their 2014 goals so far? One of my goals was to catch up on my reviews and stay that way. That's one of the reasons for doing mini reviews. Another is because I don't have enough concrete things to say about certain books. They might be good, but what else do you say? Same things go for "meh" books or DNFs. So shall we begin?

The Cute One

Title: Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe

Author: Shelley Coriell

Publication date: May 1, 2012

Publisher: Amulet 

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

Mini review:

First line: I love being a burrito.

Chloe is the loud, spunky girl who loves attention and can work a crowd. Her personality can also work against her when her best friend becomes jealous and she realizes a little too late. I personally loved Chloe because she's who I would love to be all the time, but even then, I got a little exhausted reading her narration because she is 100% an extrovert. 

While a few things were very close to being out of reality, I thought the story was overall very cute. I found myself smiling as Chloe fought through problems and met new people. I enjoyed getting to know the opposite Duncan and the sharp Clementine. At times, even I was annoyed with Chloe, but that was supposed to happen. The main thing, though, is that our main character had growth throughout the story and I had fun watching it happen. 

Verdict: Super cute contemporary read involving a radio show and some romance.

The Fantastical One

Title: Graceling

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publication date: October 1, 2008

Publisher: Harcourt

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...

Mini review:

First line: In these dungeons the darkness was complete, but Katsa had a map in her mind.

I thought about writing a full-fledged review, but then realized that I should save my fangirling emotions the anxiety of having to write something intelligible. This is another book that reminds me why fantasy comes from fantastic. We have strong Katsa, who reminds me of my beloved Alanna, and then the wonderful Po, who I instantly loved. We saw them trust each other and bond, then journey together, and finally, grow even closer. I loved seeing the process and it felt so real. The romance didn't dominate the great story that Cashore constructed, but it was a great component to the whole. Thankfully, Jasprit and I decided to read the sequels together so I'll have a buddy throughout my emotions and someone for me to squeal to.

Verdict: LOVE LOVE LOVE

The DNF

Title: See Jane Run

Author: Hannah Jayne

Publication date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: an eARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.

I know who you are.

When Riley first gets the postcard tucked into her bag, she thinks it's a joke. Then she finds a birth certificate for a girl named Jane Elizabeth O'Leary hidden inside her baby book.

Riley's parents have always been pretty overprotective. What if it wasn't for her safety...but fear of her finding out their secret? What have they been hiding? The more Riley digs for answers, the more questions she has.

The only way to know the truth? Find out what happened to Jane O'Leary.

Mini review:

First line: "No, Riley. No way."

I wanted to love this. I wanted to love this so much that I would have mini dance jams and squeeze my iPad tight as I read this e-galley on it. It fell flat for me. Basically, my mom's pancakes are fluffier. My first problem was that this is a YA novel and it read like an MG to me. Riley and her best friend read too juvenile for me. Secondly, everything felt so stilted. The dialogue, the actions, the pacing...it was as if the author was pushing for something that just shouldn't happen. So I read nearly halfway until I gave up, exhausted with my efforts to pursue a book I had no interest in. I skimmed to the end and realized I didn't care about that either. 

I know some bloggers are vehemently against DNFing, but I thought it was best that I use my time wisely and I think it would be appreciated all around if I didn't go deeper so that I didn't end up with a lengthy rant.

Verdict: Disappointing "mystery." 

Another one bites the dust

Title: Nobody But Us

Author: Kristin Halbrook

Publication date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: ARCycling

Will

Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.

Zoe

Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned. Maybe it'll take forever. I'll stay with him no matter how long it takes to prove that people don't always leave, don't always give up on you.

Mini review:

First line: He comes down the road in his Camaro sliding left to right on the freshly oiled gravel and skidding to a stop in front of my house.

I went into this with trepidation since I worried it might not be my kind of read, but I now feel bad that I even received this because, yes, this is another DNF. I didn't make it far, but I made it far enough to know that I don't care about either character. Will promised to not be like Zoe's abusive father, but we see he has a short temper (leading him to be physical) and quickly gets annoyed with Zoe. Usually, that means he will turn into the very thing he said he wouldn't be. Then there's Zoe who's very dependent on her boyfriend, turning from one horrible male figure to another future one. 

They think they're in love and because they're teenagers in love, going on the run "away from their problems" is the perfect solution, right? Well, I knew that was this book's plot, but I thought the execution of their running away was done poorly. Too much stupidity for me to allow them anymore grace. 

Verdict: No emotional connection for me to allow further annoyances to continue.

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

To buy any of the books mentioned in this post, click this button: 

The Good, the Meh, and the DNF

Considering that I am not the greatest at promptly writing a review after I read a book, I have had some books completely unreviewed while others took a a bit longer than normal to write, trying to remember things about it. So instead of trying to write a full review on something that I don't have much to say on, I decided mini reviews would be the best route again.

The Good: 

Title: Defiance

Author: C.J. Redwine

Publication date: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Mini review:

I either see trusted bloggers squeal about this book or excitedly exclaim over its not-out-yet sequel, Deception. I love the cover, I love the plot, I love the reviews on it. So why did I start it so late? I think it all boils down to expectations and wanting to leave it in some reverend spot in my mind. Why taint the image of it? However, I knew I had to buckle down and read it.

Defiance completed my expectations and went beyond it. It sucked my time away, left me in Rachel's world long after I finished it, and made me wanting the sequel instantly. I know there are negatives, there always is, but I was too enamored by the book that I did not care or notice that much. The POVs switched from Rachel to Logan, which I liked since I wanted to see both of their thoughts. Rachel was stubborn, feisty, and strong. Of course, along with that, she sometimes let her emotions and thinking dictate her actions, which can be stupid. However, that's what happens when you receive a strong heroine. Logan was sensitive, strong, and cute all wrapped up in one. I honestly don't see how you can want more from him.

Verdict: I WANT THE SEQUEL NOW. 

The Meh: 

Title: The Elite

Author: Kiera Cass

Publication date: April 23, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: an ARC sent from Skye via YA Book Exchange

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Mini review: 

With The Selection, I had annoyances reading it, but since I was addicted to the idea of it (reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine and so are competitions), I tried to just enjoy the book. But when I was done reading it, I couldn't stop being aggravated with it. Despite all that, I wanted to read the sequel because it's like one of those interesting, but yucky snacks where you can't stop eating it, but you don't really know why you continue to do so.

I can basically recap with these short sentences: America can't make up her mind about either guy. Maxon is beyond patient. Aspen resembles something slimy in my mind. Marlee's "shocking" revelation was like strobe lights in a cave (that make sense, don't deny it). The King was despicable. The rebels got better, but not to the standard I wished for. I was completely annoyed with America at least 90% of the time.

I just have to touch on one point before I move on to the next review and this might make it longer than "mini," but it has to be said. I wanted to grab a microphone and preach to the thousands after continual "feeling complaints" from America. The thing with America is that everything is based on her feelings of the moment. Unlike Rachel from Defiance, there is no backbone to them. She hops from boy to boy, back and forth, based on how she is feeling at the time. Maxon makes me so happy, I want to stay with him forever. Oh, Aspen always made me happy. Aspen is making me not feel good, I want to be with Maxon. Maxon is making me feel upset, I want to be back with Aspen. Aspen makes me feel safe, I should be with him forever. I love Maxon so that should make me feel happy, right? 

FOR THE LOVE OF CUPCAKES AND ALL THAT IS WRITTEN BY ALLY CARTER. She literally complained once, "Can't he see how unhappy he's making me?" I wanted to throw my ARC at the wall right then and there. You should never be with someone who's mistreated you, used you, etc. However, it makes me sick that so many girls are fawning over this behavior and I honestly hope they don't replicate it. Because, guess what, the key to having a long-lasting relationship is not based on feelings. It is not based on happiness. Ask any couple who has been married for a long period of time (no, that is not 3 or 7 or 10 years) if they were ever unhappy. Think to the elderly couples who have been married 50 or 60 years. Through thick and thin, in sickness or in health, for richer or for poor, through happiness or sadness, they stayed together.

If everyone based their relationships on whether or not they're happy, everyone would be alone. You should never base your decisions on how happy it makes you feel. Happiness comes and goes. Joy stays more constant, but relationships will struggle and that person will make you wish for a baseball bat in your hand sometimes. You stick through it.

Verdict: I have to rate it a "meh" because I still want to read the third book, but I felt that America's whininess tainted the whole book even more so. 

The DNF: 

Title: Falling Under

Author: Gwen Hayes

Publication date: March 1, 2011

Publisher: New American Library

Source: an ARC provided through ARCycling.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Mini review: 

I first want to thank ARCycling for giving me this book and for the blogger who donated it.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into it. I try to give books a chance and several chapters, but I don't think I even reached chapter 5 before I had to grab a different book. There are many books in my TBR pile that I need to catch up on so I simply did not want to sit through something that I had no connection to. 

We are shown and told repeatedly in the beginning of how sheltered Theia is, but I think it went too far in such a short period. I was bored. I wasn't invested, I didn't care, and I am truly trying to be polite, but Theia's narration was dull. I felt like I was wasting precious reading time. Yes, maybe I should have given it more time and maybe Theia would get better. However, I don't have regrets on it. 

I do suggest people give it a shot though. While I may DNF it, someone else might eat it right up. 

Verdict: What more can I say than I that I DNF'd it? 

Check back later this week for my Fierce Reads 2013 Tour recap! There shall be pictures :) 

Happy Father's Day! 

Mini reviews: P&P versions

With school craziness (yes, it is summer and I am still doing school) and ACT prep (for the second time) along with trying to maintain a social life, I actually got into the nasty habit of reading books and then forgetting to review them. I told myself I'd review everything I could get my hands on. Alas, I just put it off...then forgot. So to make up for that, I decided to do two mini reviews of Pride and Prejudice retellings because you can never have too many Mr. Darcy characters Jane Austen retellings.

First one:

Title: Prom & Prejudice

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

Publication date: January 4, 2011

Publisher: Point

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.
After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn't interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be - especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend's burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles's friend, Will Darcy, who's snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn't seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it's because her family doesn't have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk - so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Mini review: 

If you have read any of my posts recently, you would have noticed that I have started paying attention to a new (to me) author: Elizabeth Eulberg. I reviewed one of her books here and put her on the Nicest Authors list here because she deserves it (she even sent me a sweet tweet!). So I saw that she wrote a book about one of my favorite stories and knew I had to pick it up at the thrift store for only $2! That's besides the point. The point is, Eulberg writes great fluff books. I can pick up her book, be wrapped up in the story, but it also gives my mind a break, in a good way. 

If you want another cute, fluffy read, then this is your kind of book. Sometimes what I need to get myself back into the reading game is to read a book like this one because I don't have to think hard, I just get to enjoy the story. I also adore retellings.

My issues were slim considering it didn't have any glaring annoyances, but I would have wished some more swooning Darcy moments. We definitely got some, but not to the standard I would have liked being that I love to squeal over him. But, like I said, this one was a fast and light read, a book you like to have on the beach or to get away from some doom and gloom fantasy book. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Verdict: A fast and cute book that does a good job modernizing a special classic. 

Second book:

Title: Epic Fail

Author: Claire LaZabnik

Publication date: August 23, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

- As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school--not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.
- As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn't exactly on everyone's must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise's beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince's best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

Mini review:

I had been pining to read this for the longest time since, as I stated above, I love retellings and I love this plot. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. Epic Fail was filled with humor, cuteness, and a vacuum that liked to suck my time away because it was so enjoyable. 

Once again, I didn't really care for how Darcy was represented via Derek considering that he didn't have as much mystery to him. From the very beginning, I felt like Derek was a good guy and I know he is, but...what about the insults? All he really did was glare and snub a bit. What about the "barely tolerable" line or another off-putting remark? Nothing he did actually deserved hatred and even though Elise goes on about how unlikable he is and how rude he is, she seemed to be always trying to get to know him, which felt odd to me. 

One other thing I would like to add before I give my thumbs-up approval was the dramatic Webster plot was highly disappointing. It felt like since it was a part of the original, the author knew she had to put it in there, but didn't know how. It felt rushed and anticlimactic, which let me down a bit. 

However, overall, I really liked and enjoyed this one. It was cute. It was breezy. It was witty. 

Verdict: A thumbs-up for everything I just mentioned above PLUS my (yes, real) middle name is Elise.

Winner: Epic Fail, but Prom & Prejudice was very close behind. 

Did I also forget to mention that I finished each one of them in about a day, staying up way too late because I thought they were adorable? I even watched Pride and Prejudice related movies and references because who doesn't love P&P?! I went on a bit of a Pride and Prejudice overload.

Do you have a favorite Pride and Prejudice retelling?

2-in-1 mini reviews by Robin Benway!

One of the great things about being in this blogosphere is when you read someone else's blog, you will usually come up with tons of great book recommendations. When I was reading one of (the amazing) Alice's (at Alice in Readerland) posts, she mentioned Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway. I think it was only about a week later when she mentioned the book again. So, of course, what do I do? Get it!

That, my friends, is when I fell in love with Robin Benway. 

California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!” a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!

Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can?t hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

Title: Audrey, Wait!

Author: Robin Benway

Published: April 10th, 2008

Publisher: Razorbill

ISBN:159514191X 

Mini-Review:

"The day I broke up with my boyfriend was the day he wrote the song." 

While she doesn't explain everything right there, you aren't tip-toeing around the subject matter either. Like she puts it in the next sentence: "You know, the song." If you read the very intriguing synopsis, you know that Audrey is suddenly thrown into the spotlight thanks to her ex-boyfriend Evan writing a song about her that strangely gets millions of hits. Think of those Youtube videos and such that people never think would land them a guest spot on Ellen or a record label or on the front page of Yahoo! But that's what happens to Audrey and she didn't do anything except break up with a egotistical boyfriend who is the lead singer in a band...and didn't turn around when he called out for her.

Although you get the point that there are many reasons not to like Evan, and I even went, "Why did you stay with him so long again?",  Audrey is wonderful. Robin Benway has a fantastic writing style. She's humorous, delightful, and attention-grabbing. In turn, that makes Audrey amazing. 

I thought the whole plot was fun because wouldn't it be weird (but cool to imagine) suddenly getting thrown in the limelight, having reporters come at you, and your world turn upside down? To me, I loved that it didn't happen RIGHT AFTER he sang the song at the gig. It wouldn't be realistic. Everybody loved the song at the gig, but Audrey forgot about it after a couple months until wham! there's the shocker of it going big (to her, not us, of course). 

The two annoyances I had with this book is her best friend Victoria and the cursing. It was might have been realistic, I'm not sure, but Victoria was frustrating me with her pushy ways. Every way she could, she pushed Audrey. Push, push, push. I wanted to scream at her to grow a backbone. However, I did see Victoria's side of it. Audrey began to complain about all the attention and was starting to always talk negatively about it, which would definitely grow weary and just plain frustrating. She wasn't the same anymore, as it would be normal for her not to be. So really, I wanted to grab both of them by the shoulders and shake them. 

The cursing, though, was another problem. I don't like cursing. Period. I know it's "teen-realistic" for people to have cursing in their novels, but I have read great YA books where they avoided it quite nicely. They might have implied it or at least had a couple minor ones and that was it, and I didn't feel gipped in the slightest. So after a bit, my eyes just blocked it out because I wasn't able to put down the book. 

Verdict: Audrey, Wait! grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go until I was sleep deprived the next morning. 

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn't imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.

Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents' divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood--powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds--everyone's but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they'll always have each other.

Because there's one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

Title: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

Author: Robin Benway

Published: August 1st, 2010 (first published June 1st 2010)

Publisher: Razorbill

ISBN: 159154286X

Mini-Review:

After I read Audrey, Wait! I scoured the library for more Robin Benway novels. I saw this and didn't even read the synopsis before I checked it out. When I read the inside flap at home, excitement bubbled inside of me. Sisters with superpowers? I'm a sucker for superpowers or superheros. 

We start the book off with the eldest, April, narrating the first chapter. They rotate each chapter in the same order: April, May, then June. They tell their side of what happened and each day and what they're feeling. 

April sees the future. After she comes to terms with having this power, she explains how each time she wakes up and sees her mother, she quickly assesses her future for the day to make sure nothing tragic happens. April is like a second mother to her two younger sisters, even though they're all only a year apart. And like all generalized firstborns, she's the brainiac and overachiever. 

May disappears. I like to call it invisibility, but they just say she disappears. Her power goes hand in hand with how she feels about her life. My mother and sister would say that she has the "middle child syndrome" where middle children exaggerate about how hard it is being a middle child and how life isn't fair for them. However, while I do not feel as horrible as May does, I understand what she says about being a middle child probably because I'm a middle child myself. May is also the one who started the chain of events that led them to move to another state. Their parents got divorced, May got hammered, then they moved. My problem with this is that they never really explained how that led them to moving, but I'll go on.  

 June reads minds. She's a incoming freshman in high school who is a very perky, very self-conscious teenager. She wants to be popular and not a friendless outcast like May and neither is she interested in school like April. Of course, she uses her mind reading abilities to gain popularity and friends...and to see what her big sisters are thinking about. With her power, she gets out of hand with trying to be "cool" and is accused of being unethical. 

At first, I had trouble with the ever-changing narrating views. Some people might hate it throughout the story, but I grew to love it. April is clearly the main narrator, with her starting and ending the novel. For different reasons, May was my favorite. She's witty, humorous, and lovable. She might be moody and have problems, but that's a good thing. 

There were a couple scenes that I thought was unrealistic (I know, it's a book about superpowers, hush) where I stopped reading and squint at it in mild disgust because that would just never go over well and no one would ever do that. The plus with this book is that there was way less cursing so blare the trumpets for Robin!  

Verdict: I definitely liked Audrey, Wait! better than The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June, but clearly, Robin Benway is a winner. 

I would like to thank again Alice from Alice in Readerland for being the great blogger she is by recommending me a new author to enjoy. Sadly, Robin doesn't have any other books until her next book Also Known As comes out (February 26th, 2013) which I highlighted in my Wishlist Wednesday post.

Do you recommend another author for me to try? 

Comment below!