Book Review | Dark Horses by Cecily von Ziegesar

When I heard that the author of Gossip Girl was releasing a new novel, I was so excited! Gossip Girl is such a fun and cool series, so I knew that Cecily von Ziegesar would bring another awesome book to the public: Dark Horses.

Summary:
Ever since her grandmother died, Merritt has not been the same. She feels like she doesn't really want to live anymore. Her parents decide to put her in Good Fences, a rehabilitation facility for girls, in hopes that Merritt will get better. At Good Fences, girls are assigned horses, and they must bond with their horses as part of therapy.
Merritt is assigned Red, a menace and terror in the barn. Surprisingly, Red takes well to Merritt and the two become an unstoppable force in hunter/jumper circuit. However, Merritt begins to feel attracted to Beatrice, Red's groom, and Carvin, her competition. Despite Merritt's unsure attraction, Red won't let anyone or anything come between Merritt and him.

What I didn't know was that this book is told in dual perspectives: Merritt's and Red's. Right from the start, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about reading from the perspective of a horse. At first, it was definitely weird and slightly uncomfortable. Yet, it grew on me (although I'm still unsure how I feel about it).

As far as characters go, I felt that the characters were inconsistent. I didn't really have a problem with Merritt's character. I understood her sort of pain and sadness; however, as the book progressed, the middle part felt like she was a slightly different character. She felt slightly distant as a character, and I felt that I didn't really know her well. The side characters such as Carvin and Beatrice felt very flat and somewhat unreal, like every time they were mentioned they were slightly different from the last time they appeared in the story. The only character that I felt was the same was Red.

I pretty much hated the parents. I felt like they were "fake" parents. They were basically never there for Merritt, and they practically abandoned her at Good Fences without any discussion or anything.

I did like Merritt and Red's relationship, but I was slightly weirded out. I suppose it was Red's possessiveness and the fact that I had to keep reminding myself that he was an animal. Yet, their bond was quite heartwarming.

I was not the biggest fan of Merritt's love life. I found it somewhat rushed. I also did not understand the unexpected and unlikely relationship aspect. In the end, the love aspect was okay, but I still thought it was rushed.

The ending, I think, was a really great one. I thought the ending brought everything together very nicely. It was bittersweet, but partially hopeful.

I rate this book a 3.25/5 stars. Overall, I found Dark Horses okay and somewhat enjoyable. I didn't really hate it, nor did I really like it.


▷WIN a copy of 'Dark Horses' by Cecily von Ziegesar HERE: http://bit.ly/DarkHorsesCVZ

☞Dark Horses by Cecily von Ziegesar
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Book Review | Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

As usual, Rainbow Rowell never fails to impress me. I can't believe this book took me so long to read, but I finally did it! I finished Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

Summary (from Goodreads):
Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

Honestly, I was not expecting to connect with the characters as much. I also was not expecting to find this story as appealing as much since it is technically a fanfiction. However, I did really like this book. It took me awhile to get through this book, especially since the magic system took some getting used to. The fact that Rainbow Rowell is a contemporary author who was writing a fantasy novel was also quite apparent. The book did not have the same magical feel, but rather a contemporary novel with some magicky (I know that's not a real word I apologize but my vocabulary is lacking) vibes.

Prior to reading this, I was a little scared that the story would resemble Harry Potter too much, a rational fear of course. But I was pleasantly surprised that the story had striking differences. For example, the Humdrum was such a cool concept.

I found the characters really fun. Penelope was such a great character. And then of course, Simon and Baz were fantastic. I liked Simon okay, but Baz is probably my favorite character. He was witty, snarky, and clever.

Unsurprisingly, the romance was my favorite part. Rainbow Rowell writes a wonderful romance story. I adored every second of the Simon/Baz romance.

I rated this book a 4.5/5 stars. I absolutely loved Carry On, and the fact that this is technically a fanfaction always messed with my mind. Like so in the actual (fictional) Simon Snow books, Simon and Baz don't get together? I refuse to accept that!

Book Review | Nora & Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor

I received Nora & Kettle for review, and by the synopsis, I thought I would enjoy it. A Peter Pan retelling during World War II? Heck yes! But I was not expecting to love this book so much.
(You can watch my video version of this review as well as learn more information about a giveaway for this book!)

Summary:
A loosely-based Peter Pan retelling, Nora & Kettle tells the story of two teenagers who face

endless hardships during 1953 in America. Nora belongs to a wealthy family, yet she lives under constant abuse. Her home is filled with violence that worsens when her mother dies. Kettle is Japanese-American orphan who struggles with life on the street and simply surviving. These two are unexpectedly brought together when Kettle pulls Nora from her window one night. Alone, these two are merely trying to survive. But together, they might just live.

I absolutely adored this book. The writing was spectacularly lyrical and moving. I found that nearly every line was a work of poetry. The style flowed and moved effortlessly. Since the book is told in dual perspectives, I found that the voices were distinct from one another.

The characters were wonderful. I sympathized with both of their hardships. Their stories truly moved me, and I couldn't help but root for their happiness right from the start.

Since Nora & Kettle is a Peter Pan retelling, there were some Peter Pan references such as the "Lost Boys" and the urge to fly.

Lauren Nicolle Taylor did an amazing job exposing the prejudices that Japanese Americans faced during World War II. Additionally, she exposed the horrors of domestic violence. Reading about Nora's abuse was absolutely heartbreaking.

I really enjoyed the interactions between Nora and Kettle. The interactions were somewhat awkward at times, but they were also extremely sweet. I loved the unsaid understanding between the two characters.

Overall, the book was well-paced. I never found myself bored with the story or indifferent towards the characters. The ending was ultimately hopeful, and I loved that. I gave this book a 4.5/5 stars.

Anime Review | Say "I Love You"

I'm still beaming from this anime. Say "I Love You" is probably the cutest anime I've watched in awhile. I mean, apart from Maid-Sama but still.

Summary:
Mei Tachibana is an extremely shy and introverted girl. She's never really made friends

I do not own this!

because she believes that people will ultimately betray her in the end. But then she meets Yamato Kurosawa, and he ends up making her believe in the goodness of people again.

Wow, this anime is just so cute! I really sympathized and related Mei's character. I found Mei's character growth and development to be great and such a wonderful thing to watch unfold. I absolutely loved Yamato. He was an all-around great guy, and he gets Mei to trust and to befriend other people again. Not to mention that their relationship was the cutest.

Mei's whole new group of friends were fantastic characters as well. I loved Asami and Nakanishi. At first, I wasn't the biggest fan of Aiko, but as the anime continued, I've grown to love her. She's a great addition to the group and a wonderful friend to Mei.

Although the anime had some weak points (*cough cough* the last episode...), I still really enjoyed Say "I Love You."

Anime Review | Tokyo Ghoul

More anime yay! I actually started this show a long time ago; however, I never found the time to finish it until now. And man, after the last episode of Tokyo Ghoul, I am so sad.

I do not own this picture!

Summary:
Kaneki Ken is a regular college student. One day, he goes on a date with Rize Kamishiro. The date goes well enough, but that's until Rize reveals to Kaneki that she's a ghoul: an individual with superhuman powers that can only survive off of human flesh. After Kaneki barely survives his deadly encounter with Rize, he wakes up the next morning only to find that he has undergone an operation and that some of his organs are from Rize, making him half-ghoul. Constantly torn between his ghoul side and his human side, Kaneki can barely cope. After being taken in by a group of ghouls from a coffee shop called Anteiku, Kaneki learns how to be a ghoul while simultaneously trying to be human.

First of all, I absolutely loved the art and design of this anime. The animation was beautiful, and I loved how real everything seemed.

Honestly, my heart broke for poor Kaneki. He was just a kid who did his schoolwork and went to school. Then he has to go through so much hardship! Aw, I sympathized with Kaneki so much. However, he went through a complete metamorphosis and I'm proud of the kid.

The soundtrack was fantastic too. The music fit perfectly with the show.

Hide! Hide was such a wonderful character. I loved his friendship with Kaneki. He was so sacrificial towards Kaneki, and I absolutely loved his character. Although he was a light-hearted jokester in the beginning, he really showed what a wonderful friend he was.

All of the ghouls at Anteiku were great. They were like a wonderful family. They embraced each other's eccentricities and helped each other until the very end. I really loved Toka as well. She was a strong character who had such a hopeful ending.

I really enjoyed the CCG investigators, especially Arima. He had a great backstory, and I admired his strength. Juzo was also such a fun character.

Tokyo Ghoul was an incredibly enjoyable anime. Although it was heartbreaking, I loved every second of it.

CAMP NANOWRIMO 2016

Whoa! Guess who's participating in Camp NaNoWriMo for the very first time ever? Me! I've always wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November; however, I'm never prepared. This time, I'm finally prepared and ready to write my novel.

I've always been a big writer (although not the greatest writer... whoops). I always loved creating stories and making up an entirely different world. Like reading, writing allows me to travel to new places. Yet, as much as I love writing, I've never been able to create a story that I'm wholeheartedly proud of. Now, I believe that 2016 will be my writing year.

I decided to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo in hopes that I will be able to complete the first draft of my novel. Along the way, I decided to weekly vlog my experience. The vlogs will be up on my channel, unlisted, but I will embed them here or link them or something.

I truly hope I will be able to win Camp NaNoWriMo and complete my first book!

My NaNoWriMo profile if you'd like to friend me. (:

Book Review | Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Since the movie is coming out soon (or has it already come out?), I decided I would read the book.

Summary:
Louisa Clark is a woman in her late twenties who's life has always been the same. However, that is until she loses her long-time job at the Buttered Bun tea shop. Now, Lou is forced to

interview as a caretaker of a quadriplegic to make ends meet for her family. Inexperienced, Lou doesn't believe that she'll land the job. Unexpectedly, Lou gets the job and becomes the caretaker of Will Traynor, a man who had a full life ahead of him until his accident. Lou tries to do her best to bring color back into Will's gray life. What Lou doesn't expect is that Will might do the same to hers.

I did enjoy Me Before You; however, I felt emotionally detached from the characters. I felt as if I didn't really know them; therefore, I didn't really care for them. Although I did like Will and Louisa, I didn't absolutely love them. I simply didn't have the connection I wanted with the characters.

I also wished that I could have read more interactions between Will and Louisa instead of a summary of what had happened.

However, I did really like the setting. The setting was a quaint little town in Britain, and I loved it.

I rated Me Before You about a 3/5 stars, sadly. In a way, I was somewhat disappointed by this book. But I do hope that maybe I'll feel more sympathy for the characters in the movie adaptation.

Book Review | The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater

A book that has been highly recommended. However, this book has most definitely been worth the read.

Summary:
Blue Sargent, a non-psychic among a family of psychics, has always been told that when she

kisses her true love, he will die. Therefore, Blue stays away from boys in general, especially the dreaded, haughty raven boys who attend Aglionby. When she attends Saint Mark's day, a day where the dead can be seen by psychics and Blue, she meets a boy named Gansey who Blue is instantly drawn to.
Soon, Blue finds herself thrown into Gansey's world with his fellow raven boys, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, as they attempt to find the hidden, mystical king Glendower.

Wow, I'm terrible at summaries! Anyway, like most people say, The Raven Boys is a very slow-paced book. Not to mention the book's confusing-ness. However, I sincerely enjoyed this book. I will admit, I was very frustrated in the beginning due to the book's slow paced, but the pace did pick up towards the end.

I think one of my favorite aspects of this book was the intriguing characters. All of the characters were so different and unique. For example, Gansey was very eloquent and intelligent. Then Ronan was very vicious and intimidating. I simply loved all of the characters because of their quirks and originality. I think that if the characters weren't so loveable, I would not have liked it as much.

In addition to the awesome characters, I also appreciated the books tone and writing style. Maggie Steifvater's writing style fit perfectly with the tone of the story. The style was quirky and very poetic, although it was a tad wordy, I still found it enjoyable. The style just fit so perfectly with mysterious, unknowing tone of the book.

I rated this book a 3.65/5 stars, mostly because a majority of the book was very slow. However, I loved still loved The Raven Boys, and I definitely will be continuing with the series!

Anime Review | Noragami

Noragami is still an on-going anime, with its third season in progress (fingers crossed it comes out soon!). However, since this was another show I recently watched, I wanted to get my thoughts out there, even if it's only about the first and second season.

Summary:
Yato is a minor god of calamity who yearns for a shrine of his own. In his attempts to gain a

shrine, he comes across a girl of the Near Shore named Hiyori Iki. Because of her encounter with a god, those from the Far Shore, Hiyori's soul occasionally slips out of her body. Yato promises to find a solution to Hiyori's little problem, but first, Yato needs a regalia or a weapon. Lucky for Yato, Yukine appears, and the trio embarks on various adventures that include facing Yato's past, fighting evil spirits, and doing odd jobs to hopefully get Yato his shrine.

This was such a fantastic anime. The graphics and art were phenomenal. I can't get over how beautiful the design was. It completely blew me away. I also enjoyed the story. I think this will be one of the animes that I'll probably read the mangas of because I simply need more of it in my life.

I really loved Yato's character. Although he was a little goofy and ridiculous, he turned out to be a strong and determined character. Yukine was adorable as well. Although I was irritated with him at first (only slightly, I swear), he decided he would become stronger for Yato. Yukine went through an incredible transformation throughout the show, and in the end, I was so proud of him. I will admit, Hiyori annoyed me at first too. Part of me thought she was somewhat of a burden, but she grew on me. She really brought out the compassion in both Yukine and Yato. Hiyori was always there for both of them, and she always cared for both of them. The dynamic between the trio is my absolute favorite.

Kofuku and Daikoku were fantastic characters as well. As much as Daikoku claimed that he didn't really like Yato, he still allowed Yato and Yukine to stay at their place. Kofuku and Daikoku were also always there for Yato, although at times they were reluctant. In the end, however, they really showed how much they cared for Yato.

Bishamon was another character I didn't really like in the beginning. Not only did she constantly try to get revenge on Yato, but she also wouldn't admit her reasons for her hatred for Yato until the end. But, like most of these characters, Bishamon grew on me. I definitely liked her more towards the end of the second season. On the other hand, I liked Kazuma from the start. He was loyal and honest. Kazuma's actions showed that he cared a lot for Bishamon and that he always knew what was best for her, despite his doubts.

So the last episode of the second season ended on quite the cliff-hanger, and I'm still not over it. All I have to say is: SEASON THREE WHERE ARE YOU???

Anime Review | Death Parade

Whaaat another anime? Like I said, I've been binge-watching as many shows as possible. One of the animes that I've recently finished is Death Parade.

Summary:
Whenever two people on earth die at the same time, they are sent to bars run by arbiters. At these strange bars, people must participate in Death Games to determine their ultimate fates: reincarnation or the void. Decim, an arbiter at Quindecim, is one of these many arbiters who determine people's fates. He does as he's told, running his Quindecim efficiently and effectively. But his perspective changes when he meets a puzzling, dark-haired woman.

Classified as a mystery/ psychological thriller, Death Parade was definitely a very different show for me. I haven't really watched a show quite like it. I found it intriguing and very thought-provoking. The concept of judgment for the afterlife was very cool. The graphics were also wonderful with its beautiful purple-ish color palette. However, as much as I liked this anime, I found some parts of it slightly confusing and inconclusive. I didn't really know what to make of the end. I also wished that I got to know more of the side characters. Still, it wrapped up quite well for the kind of show that it was.

Anime Review | Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!

Yay for more animes! I've been on a roll with watching animes lately thanks to my good friends Hulu and Netflix. Of course, I simply had to write a post about the animes that I watch. Recently, I watched Kaichou wa Maid-Sama! or President is a Maid!

Summary: (I'm terrible at these, I apologize...)

Misaki Ayuzawa is a girl president at Seika High, a school that used to be only for boys. Now that girls are allowed at Seika High, Misaki makes it her mission to make the school a safer place for girls, even if that means being ruthless and cruel. In addition to being a hardworking and driven president, Misaki works at a maid café. However, that's a secret that Misaki needs to keep hidden. What would the student body think if they saw their cutthroat president as a maid? Misaki's secret doesn't stay hidden for long when Takumi Usui, one of the most popular boys at Seika High, discovers Misaki's part time job.

Gahhh this anime is so cute! I think it's one of my favorite romance ones. Misaki is such a strong, independent female character. She appears to not need anyone, and honestly, she really doesn't. However, Takumi complements her nicely. He acknowledges Misaki's strength while simultaneously tries to be there for her. Takumi does what he can to support Misaki even though Misaki wants help from no one, let alone from a boy. The two of them make the ultimate power couple, and I love it.

In addition to the strong female protagonist, the swoon worthy love interest, and their wondrous relationship, this anime is also so fulfilling. All of my hopes and dreams were fulfilled in this very anime. I loved it so much, it was great. I just die of feels every time I think about it.

Let's Talk About Boys Over Flowers!

Recently, I decided to watch a Korean drama or K-drama. I was curious, okay? It sounded interesting. And man, am I glad that I watched this K-drama! I decided to watch Boys Over Flowers.

*WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Summary:
Jan Di is a regular high school girl whose parents run a laundry service. One day, when delivering laundry to a student at Shin-hwa High School, a school of the prestigious elite, Jan Di saves a student from committing suicide. Jan Di's heroic efforts immediately earn her a spot to attend this prestigious school. At Shin-hwa, Jan Di encounters the notorious F4 -- the school's richest and handsomest boys. Despite their good looks, these boys cause trouble, led by their leader Goo Jun Pyo. After a horrific run in with F4, Jan Di is made the target of the F4 and the whole school.

You can find more info about the show here since I'm terrible at explaining things!

Oh my gosh, I love this show. It was fantastic and fulfilling.

Quick confession: Jan Di annoyed me at first. I suppose the acting style was very different from what I was used to, so I guess that's why Jan Di struck me as annoying. However, I grew to appreciate Jan Di and her effect on F4. She was a very strong, female character.

Goo Jun Pyo was such a great character. The classic "bully." Maybe some people perceived him as an "asshole," but I thought of him as a complex character. As the show continued, you got to see why Goo Jun Pyo acted the way he did. He ultimately ended up being very sweet and caring. I loved watching his demeanor and character change and develop because of Jan Di, because of love. It was a wonderful transformation.

Goo Jun Pyo's relationship with Jan Di was wonderful too. They were adorable together. Although they initially brought out the worst in each other, they ultimately brought out the best in each other. Goo Jun Pyo became a better person because of Jan Di, and Jan Di gained a great group of friends and a "protector" (even though she claimed she didn't want one). Goo Jun Pyo always looked out for Jan Di and was protective of her. I thought that was adorable! Jan Di taught Goo Jun Pyo how to love. There are so many wonderful moments between them ahhh they're so cute! Some might claim that their relationship was "unhealthy" since they fought often, but I think that they were always better together rather than apart.

Let's talk about Ji Hoo for a moment. So, I will admit, I never wanted Ji Hoo to end up with Jan Di... Sorry not sorry! And sorry for the spoilers... Oh wait, never mind. No spoilers here! But seriously, I always wanted Jan Di to end up with Jun Pyo. However, I did appreciate Ji Hoo. I loved how he showed kindness to Jan Di before anyone else in school. He was always there for her, always. I never doubted that Ji Hoo would leave Jan Di floundering unlike somebody (*cough cough* Jun Pyo...). I'm glad that Ji Hoo was in Jan Di's life. (Also, I really liked how in the end, Jan Di calls him her soulmate awww.)

Yi Jung! Let's talk about him! Not going to lie, he was my favorite. I liked him the most. Although he was a playboy, he was really kindhearted and compassionate. Yi Jung's life wasn't easy (come to think of it, none of these characters had an easy life...). He masked his hardships with girls and alcohol. But in the end, I think he realized his faults and he sought to fix them. His relationship with Ga Eul was my favorite. I possibly shipped them more than Jun Pyo and Jan Di... Maybe.... Ga Eul also brought out the best in Yi Jung. Although I cringed every time Ga Eul sort of threw herself at Yi Jung, I was also proud of her for going after the guy she liked. Props to her.

All of the girls in this show turned out to be wonderful female characters. I thought I would hate one of them (I'm talking to you, Ha Jae Kyung). However, I loved all of them. Well, except for that Yumi girl or whatever her name was at the end. Yeah, I hated her. I also hated all of the girls from Jan Di's school. They were awful. But actually, all of the other female characters were great. They all supported Jan Di and her relationship with Goo Jun Pyo. Except for Jun Pyo's mother of course, but I hate her anyway so it's all good.

Seo Hyun was a great friend to Jan Di. Initially, I thought she might be a little snobby since she is a famous model and all, but she turned out to have a heart of gold. Gu Jun Hee, Jun Pyo's sister, was possibly my favorite supporting female character next to Ga Eul. She supported Jan Di and her relationship with Jun Pyo right off the bat. And our first encounter with her is priceless! I loved Jun Hee, and I wished that she could have been with her love... Ha Jae Kyung turned out to be a blessing too. At first, I was frustrated with her because she couldn't open her eyes and understand who Jun Pyo really loved. (Like, how could you marry a man who loves another woman and will never love you back?) But she came to her senses and I am grateful to her because she's the reason why my ship ended up together.

Man, I could talk about this show forever. I have so many feels for this show. Gosh, it was great. If I never watch another K-drama again, I will be content with just this show. Boys Over Flowers fulfilled basically everything that I could have asked for in a show. Sometimes, I wish I had a group of really rich guy friends...

Anime Review | Blue Exorcist

Since last year, I started getting into anime and manga. Although I'm not well-versed in the anime world, I would still love to do reviews and such on the topic because I find anima and manga interesting. Recently, I watched the anime Blue Exorcist or Ao no Exorcist.

Summary:
Rin Okumura happens to be the son of Satan. After witnessing the man who adopted him, his real father, die at the hands of Satan, Rin pledges to become an exorcist to defeat Satan and to avenge his father's death. With the help of his twin brother Yuki and his friends at True Cross Academy, Rin will attempt to do the impossible: defeat Satan. (this is a terrible summary, i'm sorry!!!!)

Man oh man, this was a great anime! I won't go too much into depth because ugh the feels, but I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Exorcist. The cast of characters was fantastic. I enjoyed each of them, and they all had great back-stories.

Rin was a wonderful protagonist. I liked his carefree nature and the fact that he never took anything too seriously. Although he was the older brother, he rarely acted like it. Still, whenever he played the role of the older brother, he did great.

Yuki was also fantastic. Although I liked Rin just a hair more, Yuki was great too. He wanted to protect his older brother and become strong for him. Not to mention how badass he was! Like damn, the youngest exorcist on the team. His dynamic with Rin cracked me up too. Yuki acted so mature that I usually forgot that Rin was the older twin.

Another character  I appreciated was Shiemi. Truthfully, I wanted her to be someone's love interest like either Rin's or Yuki's, but in the end, I was just happy that she was in the brothers' lives. I thought that she brought out the best in both brothers, and despite the fact that she was weak at first, she was also determined to become stronger so I have respect for her for that. And she also befriended Izumo which was a tough task, so more respect for Shiemi.

Ryuji also struck me as a strong character. He also had a solid background, and I grew to like him as the show progressed. Although he claimed he never wanted anything to do with Rin, he ended up being Rin's friend.

Friendship was a major part of this show, and it was a theme that I appreciated. Rin is ostracized for being Satan's son, but in the end, the other characters grow to love Rin. Rin is overall a great character. Even though he knew that people didn't like him, he still went out of his way to protect him. I think that's what sets him apart. I think his selfless actions prove that although he's biologically related to Satan, he is by no means Satan's son.

Wow, I have a lot of love for this anime. If I were to rate it on a star scale, I'd obviously give it a 5/5 stars.

January Wrap-Up

In the month of January, I read 7 books! My full January wrap-up is on my YouTube channel, and you can watch that here.


For the short version, I read:
Never, Always, Sometimes by Adi Alsaid
The Rose Society by Marie Lu
On the Fence by Kasie West
Boy Meets Boy by David Leviathan
No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown
Zac & Mia by AJ Betts
The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancy

I'm hoping February will also be a great reading month!

Movie Review | The 5th Wave

As far as book-to-movie adaptations go, this was a fairly good one. I liked how the book, The 5th Wave, translated onto the movie screen. This book definitely fit as a movie since it was so action filled and fast-paced.

I will admit, I was skeptical of Chloe Grace Moretz as Cassie at first. I didn't think she could portray a hard-core, bad ass Cassie. She seemed to be to graceful (ha ha, pun! get it?) to be Cassie. I mean, don't get me wrong. I definitely believed that Chloe Grace Moretz could play a tough character because she played Hit Girl in the Kick-Ass movies. But I still saw her as the elegant and somewhat fragile character of Mia from If I Stay. However, Chloe Grace Moretz ended up filling the role of Cassie perfectly. Throughout the movie, I was pleased with her performance.

Evan Walker though. No, seriously, I didn't really like Evan. I didn't like Evan in the book, and he was still extremely shady in the movie. I also didn't picture Alex Roe as Evan Walker. His performance was okay, but his character didn't really capture my attention.

On the other hand, I loved Nick Robinson as Ben Parish. I loved Nick Robinson in the ABC Family - um, I mean Freeform show Melissa and Joey. I thought he was great as Ben/Zombie.

Overall, this was a pretty good book-to-movie adaptation. It was terrible like the Percy Jackson movies, but it wasn't as great as the Harry Potter movies. I still found The 5th Wave movie to be enjoyable and fun. I really hope they continue making movies!

Book Review | The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Since The 5th Wave movie recently came out, of course I had to read the book to prepare!

Summary:
The first wave brought darkness.
The second wave wrecked the coasts and flooded the land.
The third wave brought the plague.
The fourth wav came with a rule: trust no one.
Now, the fifth wave has arrived. And only the strongest remain to fight for our world.

So, I'm excited to say that I really liked this book! The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey was full of action and nonstop happenings. I liked that this book was told in multiple points of view. However, the first point of view change I did get a little confused. Still, the changes kept the story moving quicker.

I really enjoyed Cassie's character. She had a refreshing dry and witty humor even though it was basically the apocalypse. She was a fun character to read from. I liked how she had a balance between determination, courage, and intelligence. Cassie showed humanity in addition to inhumane strength during an imaginable time.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Evan Walker. From the beginning, he was such a shady character. It was hard for me to like him and to ship the um, relationship (I'm trying not to give any spoilers!). Normally, I would be ecstatic when things happened between the love interest and the main character. However, I groaned every time something happened between the two which is upsetting. Stil, Evan proved to be okay. I'm still not totally set on him, but we'll see.

Now, I did like Ben for the most part. Ben was an interesting character to read from because he used to be the football star before the apocalypse and now he was someone else when the Others came. As a love interest? I'm also not completely set on him as a love interest. But I did really like his character, and I enjoyed learning how the apocalypse changed him and formed him.

I think I gave this book a 4.25/5 stars or something like that. But it was really good! I enjoyed The 5th Wave, and I'll probably be continuing with the trilogy/series. Just, probably not in the immediate future. But I will!

Book Review | Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

The  last book in my library haul! Once again, another contemporary. Better off Friends was recommended to me multiple times (via Goodreads, Booktube, etc.). Now, I've finally read it!

Summary:
Levi and Macallan are best friends. Just friends. They're proof that guys and girls can be just

friends. Or can they...? After nearly five years of friendship, the two start develop feelings for each other. But can they be a couple without ruining their friendship? Or are they better off just being friends?

Out of all the books I checked out from the library, I think I was excited for this one the most since I heard so much about it. However, I was somewhat unimpressed.

Okay, don't get me wrong. This book was enjoyable. One of my favorite things about this book was the alternating points of view. I also liked that in between each chapter, Macallan and Levi would comment on what had just happened. Their comments would take place after the entire novel, so it would be as if they were retelling the story. I'm pretty sure I'm not explaining this correctly, but I liked it! It was different. Another thing that I liked about the book was the fact that the story was told from the moment that they met to the present.

I enjoyed both Levi and Macallan's characters. I think they both balanced each other out. Levi was very relaxed and easy-going, whereas Macallan was more high-strung and on top of things. They were a great pair. I really enjoyed their friendship too. They were captured what it meant to have a best friend who complemented you so well.

Although I enjoyed the characters and their friendship, their problems were somewhat annoying. I found the issues they had to be frustrating. There were times when I just wanted to slap them both so the story could continue because they were so caught up in their mixed emotions. I don't want to say too much since that would obviously spoil it, but let's just say that I was very annoyed for a majority of the book.

I wasn't a big fan of the romance part of the book. As the title suggests, I think Macallan and Levi were "better off friends" (ha ha ha). To me, it felt awkward and somewhat forced.

I gave this book a 3/5 stars. Despite the fact that I did enjoy it, I was annoyed at the characters for the most part. I think I would've liked it more if it was 50 pages shorter. Anyway, it was a cute contemporary read with a great friendship.

Book Review | Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

Another book from my recent library excursion! So, I'd first like to say that this book is definitely not like The Fault in Our Stars, contrary to many people's initial opinion. Yes, Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts follows two kids with cancer. However, Zac and Mia's story greatly differs from Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters' tale.

Summary:
Zac is an expert on the c-word issue. He's been in and out of the hospital for awhile for

leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. Then, one day, a loud blast of Lady Gaga from the room next door alerts Zac to Mia's presence. Angry, feisty, and pessimistic, Mia is a handful, especially for the nurses and doctors that are trying to treat her cancer. However, Zac feels drawn to her. Simultaneously, Mia finds something endearing about this pale boy. The two's love story unfolds in this tough, tender novel. The odds may be against them, but at least they've got each other.

First, I would just like to say how much I loved the fact that this book was set in Australia. I also really liked how Zac's family ran an olive farm. I just pictured a bunch of baby alpacas roaming the grounds.

Without a doubt, Zac was my favorite character. He was a fighter, through and through. He tried to remain upbeat and positive for some strange girl that he didn't know. I also enjoyed his subtle sense of humor. By the way, I pictured Zac as Charlie from Red Band Society. Man, I miss that TV show...

Mia irritated me from the start. Her attitude towards her mother got on my nerves. And her thing with Rhys? Please. She deserved so much better. I'm glad everything was sorted in the end. Mia was also incredibly too pessimistic. However, I sort of understood where she was coming from. But simultaneously, I got annoyed at Mia and her irrational behavior. Of course, I would say much, but I felt as if she acted so immature. Everything was resolved in the end, so I don't have too many complaints about Mia because she redeemed herself and all was well.

I felt that the plot was somewhat...forced? I know that sounds odd since books need a driving action in order for a plot to even begin to take place. However, I felt that some things were a bit unnecessary (*cough cough* Mia...). The plot didn't feel real to me at times. I don't really know how to describe it, except that I wasn't really impressed by a majority of this book. Yes, it was cute, but I merely felt lukewarm during most of the book. I wouldn't say that this book was disappointing because I really had no expectations, but it wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

The ending was a bit confusing for me. I felt as if the ending wasn't as clear cut as it should have been. However, I was glad that the author included an epilogue. I felt like the epilogue was the perfect ending to the story. It left me feeling happy and warm inside.

Zac and Mia isn't the greatest book that I've read, but it was sweet. I was a little unimpressed; however, I wasn't totally let down. I rated this book a 3/5 stars.

Book Review | No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

I've been reading quite a lot lately, as you've probably seen from my previous reviews. Three books in three days, huh? I'm pretty proud of myself. One of the books I acquired from my recent library visit was another contemporary book: No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown.

Summary:
Amber Vaughn is a good girl. She goes to church every Sunday, babysits her nephew, and hangs out

with her best friend Devon every Friday night. During the summer, Amber meets some hikers on the Appalachian trail, and she finally feels apart of a world that's bigger than her own. However, living in a small town like Sevenmile, it's hard to escape.

Then, Amber learns about an audition at North Carolina School of Arts. She knows that this school is the only ticket out of her small town. With the help of Devon's older brother Will, Amber might just get a shot at her dream.

But things aren't as clear cut as they seem. Amber's family has fallen on tough times, and Amber realizes that the decisions she makes affect everyone.

I hadn't heard much about this book. I saw it recommended on Pintrest since I'm constantly on Pintrest, looking for book recommendations. However, I was somewhat surprised by this book. It went further it to depth than I expected. This book focused a lot more on family aspects than I thought it would. I enjoyed the family aspect of this book since it was so unexpected. I liked the family dynamics, despite the fact that it was a little messed up. I liked Amber's family's imperfection, and I thought that their family's flaws made the book more realistic since no family is perfect by any means.

At first, No Place to Fall was hard for me to get into because of the southern "twang," and I found it hard to picture the setting because well, it's not what I'm used to. However, I ended up liking the southern-feel of the book. I thought it added to the book's dimension.

For me, Amber's character was a bit "eh," but I got used to her. She tried to do what was best, even though she made some dumb decisions. I really liked Devon's character because I though he was a good friend to Amber. I also really liked Cheerleader Amber. She was great, and I was glad that Amber didn't only have one best friend because I feel like that's a thing in young adult contemporaries where the protagonist only has, like, one friend.

The love dynamics in this book were a tad cliché, but I suppose that's what you would expect from a contemporary novel. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable. I liked Will and his easy-going character. It was sweet and cute, perfect for a contemporary novel.

I really enjoyed the ending. I thought that it wrapped up the story nicely. The ending gave me a satisfying feel, and I'm glad. I ended up giving this book a 3.25/5 stars. Originally, I awarded No Place to Fall a flat 3/5 stars, but the ending made me happy so I bumped up the rating a bit. I think this book is perfect for anyone who's up for a sweet, family-oriented contemporary novel.

Book Review | Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

In my 2015 Reading Wrap-Up, I talked about my newfound love for David Levithan. Like I mentioned in my last post (which was literally three hours before this one), I said I had visited the library. Along with checking out On the Fence by Kasie West, I also checked out Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan since I wanted to read more David Levithan. And I'm so glad that I did. David Levithan never ceases to amaze me with his stupendous writing skills.

Summary:
Paul, like any sophomore boy, is finding love to be difficult. But with the help of his friends Joni,

Tony, and Infinite Darlene, he just might manage to make it through the year with his heart unscathed.

But that's until Paul meets Noah. And Noah is the boy that just might change everything.

Gosh, I love David Levithan. Did I say that already? David Levithan just has a wonderful way with words. I thoroughly enjoyed Paul's character. He's intelligent and such a people-person. I also enjoyed his town and his high school, how they readily accept anything "different." Paul's friends were also great. Infinite Darlene had such a sparkily personality, and deep down, she was a good friend to Paul. Tony and Paul's friendship was beautiful and deep as well. I loved Tony's character development.

The story itself was beautiful It was also heart-warming and even made me laugh at times. I can't get enough of Levithan's witty humor. Boy Meets Boy is such an adorable story. I gave it a solid 4/5 stars.

Book Review | On the Fence by Kasie West

After exam week (giant groan), I decided I wanted some cute contemporaries to read. So I headed over to my local library and picked up some very cute, fluffy contemporaries. One of them was On the Fence by Kasie West. I had heard many good things about Kasie West. I had heard that her books were super cute, so I was excited to see that On the Fence was at my library.

Summary:
Charlie is a complete tomboy. Growing up with three brothers and raised by a single dad,

Charlie hasn't exactly been in touch with her "girly" side. But after getting another speeding ticket, Charlie's dad forces her to get a job. Charlie finds herself working at the last place she ever thought she would: a sparkly, fashion-filled, makeup-loving boutique. To her surprise, Charlie is beginning to actually enjoy her job. However, she feels as if she has to hide her newfound feminine side because she fears for her brothers' and dad's reaction.

Simultaneously, Charlie starts to develop some feelings for her neighbor and brother's best friend, Braden. Every time Charlie meets Braden for a late night chat by the fence, Charlie questions her feelings for him more and more.

Charlie needs to find the right balance between her double-life. But in the meantime, she'll probably just play a pick-up game of football.

I usually love cliché contemporaries. However, I found Charlie slightly annoying which made the book hard for me to read. Although I did relate  to Charlie's lack of emotions, I found it irritating, especially in the beginning (slight spoilers but that pick-up game with Dave...). In the end, Charlie's emotions were more rationalized so I was okay with them. I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to. There were some parts that were a little coincidental and made my eyes rolls a little (*ahem* the first meeting by the fence... it got better though!).

Despite the book's frustrating beginning, the ending was really fulfilling. All loose ends were tied, and Charlie sorted out her feelings. I also learned more about Charlie towards the end, and I really enjoyed learning about her past. Overall, I gave this book a 2.95/5 stars, but since I'm feeling generous, I gave it more of a 3/5 stars.

Goodbye Alan Rickman

Today is such a sad day. As everyone on the internet has heard, Alan Rickman died at the age of 69 in London. Apparently, he was surrounded by friends and family. Rickman died of cancer. Like many fans, I wish his family the best and hope they are okay. Also like many fans, I am terribly upset. My mom told me that people die all the time. Yes, but Alan Rickman will be missed...

Alan Rickman was a phenomenal actor who deserves all of the praise. Of course, my favorite role of his was Severus Snape. I firmly believe there is no other actor who could have portrayed Snape like Alan Rickman did.

Although this post is short, I just wanted to make a simple tribute to an amazing man who will be dearly missed.

Rest in peace, Alan Rickman. My thoughts are with the Rickman family.

Wands raised to you, Alan Rickman.

Book Review | The Rose Society by Marie Lu

I finally got around to reading The Rose Society by Marie Lu. A few months ago (or possibly a year ago), I read the first book in Marie Lu's fantasy series, The Young Elites. If you're familiar with Marie Lu, you might know that she wrote the Legend trilogy. I absolutely loved that trilogy. And, not surprisingly, I love The Young Elites series/trilogy (I'm not too sure yet).

Summary:
The Rose Society is the sequel to The Young Elites so I won't give you a summary of the second book. Instead, I'll give a summary of the first book, The Young Elites. The Young Elites takes place in a world where a deadly blood fever has broken out. Those who have been ill and survived have been forever marked and are known as malfettos. Some of these malfettos have special powers. Those chosen malfettos are called Young Elites. Adelina Amouterou is a malfetto and has been marked by the fever with pale hair and a scar on her eye. She escapes the wrath of her father and encounters the Dagger Society, a group of Young Elites. Adelina questions whether she can be a member of the Daggers while trying to suppress her growing dark side.

I apologize the summary wasn't as good as it could have been. However, I hope it was still informative. The Rose Society picks up right where the first book ended. It focused a lot on Adelina's character as she uncovered the darkness within her. I absolutely loved this book. Although I forgot most of what happened in the first book, I still found the story to be extremely fast-paced and interesting. The novel was written like it was meant to be a movie, much like how the Legend trilogy is. I thoroughly enjoyed Adelina's character, despite the fact that she is very dark. She's more of an anti-hero, and I found that refreshing.

Overall, I rate this book a 4/5 stars. The main reason that I didn't give it a 5/5 stars is that I wasn't absolutely blown away, even though I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be continuing with this trilogy (series?) since I believe the third book should be coming out soon-ish.

I hope you check this book out! Happy reading!

Book Review | Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Yesterday, I read my first book of 2016. How exciting! I read Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid. Last year, I read Alsaid's other book Let's Get Lost. I adored Let's Let Lost. In fact, it made my Top 15 Books of 2015 list. Sadly, my love for Alsaid's new book is not as strong. Actually, I found this book to be a disappointment.

Summary:
Never Always Sometimes follows Julia and Dave who have been best friends for about five years. The summer before their freshmen year of high school, they decide to make a list of all of the things they will never do in high school to avoid being unoriginal and a cliché. Then, in their senior year, the two decide to complete everything they swore they would never do.

I thought that this book sounded very cool before I read it. The summary intrigued me, and I expected cool road trips and crazy but exciting tasks that the duo would need to accomplish to cross it off their Nevers List. However, I was let down. I expected a more thrilling adventure, but the only adventure that was in the book was basically mediocre. The plot ended up being just meh for me instead of whoo yeah!, if you know what I mean.

In addition to the uneventful plotline, I found the character Julia to be slightly irritating at times. Occasionally, I thought she was fun and exciting. In Dave's point of view, he painted Julia as a beautiful and spontaneous girl who was always ready for something fun. But as the story progressed, I thought that Julia was actually really immature. She was supposed to be a senior in high school but she acted more like a freshman. Julia didn't know how to handle her feelings at times, and I found that frustrating. On the other hand, I happened to really enjoy Dave's character. I was rooting more for him and his happiness than Julia's. (Although in the end, I was kind of rooting for Julia too.) Dave was kind and a little awkward, but he was a great friend to Julia.

The ending was the reason why I ended up giving this book a solid 3/5 stars on Goodreads instead of maybe a 2.85/5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion. The novel ended almost exactly how I wanted it to. The ending turned out to be slightly unexpected, shying away from the stereotypical conclusion I had originally imagined.

As I previously stated, I gave Adi Alsaid's contemporary novel Never Always Sometimes a 3/5 stars. Even though this book was somewhat a disappointment, it was still a quick read and pretty enjoyable. On to my next read of 2016! Hopefully it'll be better...

Happy reading!
Kellie

2015 Reading Wrap-Up

Happy New Year! I can't wrap my mind around the fact that it's 2016. Crazy, huh? 2015 was a fantastic reading month for me. I completed my challenge of reading 70 books and ended up reading 81 books (four of which were re-reads). I'm sincerely hoping that 2016 will be even better! I'm aiming to read closer to ninety books, but we'll see what the future holds.

However, I do want to wrap-up my reading year for 2015. One of my resolutions is to blog more since I really do love it. I want to really develop my blog and post as often as I can. This is the start of many more days of blogging!

As I stated before, I read so many amazing books in 2015. I plan on uploading a video of my favorite books of 2015 (you can watch it here when it goes live). But there were of course some disappointments in my reading. My most disappointing book of 2015 was Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon. Doon follows these two best friends who enter the magical world of Doon. I'm sure you can find a Goodreads synopsis since the exact details escape me at the moment. I heard many great things about Doon so I was excited to pick it up for my BookInvaders Book Club. However, I was thoroughly disappointed. The book was written as if it were directed toward preteens instead of young adults. The romance was rushed (insta-love anyone?) and I felt little to no connection to the characters. As much as I wanted to love the book and become entranced by the world of Doon, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Sadly, Doon, you were a disappointment.

Next up in my reading wrap-up for 2015 I'm going to be talking about the prettiest book cover of all the books I acquired this year. I also happened to have read this book, so bonus points for me! This book is Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon. Nicola Yoon happens to also be a debut author for the year of 2015. I thoroughly enjoyed Everything Everything. It tells the story of a girl named Madeleine who is allergic to everything and cannot leave her home. One day, a family moves in next door and Maddie is absolutely taken by the boy, Olly. The story was really fun and cut, not to mention there were awesome illustrations. Congratulations, Everything Everything, you were the prettiest book I acquired in 2015.

I'd like to also award my favorite manga to Ouran High School Host Club. I swear, I'll never shut up about this series. I love it with all my heart. Ouran follows the story of Haruhi Fujioka who attends Ouran Academy on scholarship. One day, she enters Music Room 3 and encounters the Ouran High School Host Club (I've heard host clubs are popular in Japan). Haruhi accidentally knocks over a very expensive vase and must repay her debt to the club by becoming a host. This series if filled with ridiculous antics and loveable characters. 10/10.

Since I talk about Ouran so much, I'd like to give a runner-up to my favorite manga. It seems only fair, ya know? So I'm giving my runner-up spot to The Legend of Arslan by Yoshiki Tanaka and Hiromu Arakawa. I believe Arslan is strictly a manga series so the award is fitting. The Legend of Arslan is about this boy named Arslan who is son to the king. There is a war going on and Arslan must learn how to defend his kingdom. However, there are betrayals that force Arslan to flee from his home. I found this newly released series interesting. It's a nice blend of medieval times and newly created ideas. I hope to see more of it in the New Year (since it is unfinished as of now).

Next, I'd like to name my favorite re-read of 2015. I did a lot more re-reading this year than I did last year. So that award goes to *drum roll please* Cinder by Marissa Meyer! Basically the entire Lunar Chronicles series before Winter. I re-read the series in preparation for Winter (which I still have not read yet... I know, shameful). I fell in love with this amazing series all over again. It was beautiful, really.

Lastly, I would like to reward my favorite author of 2015. I read quite a few debut authors this year (maybe like two, but who's counting?) and would like to honor them in my little blog post. So, my favorite author of 2015 is David Levithan. Prior to this year, I've only read one book that Levithan had a stake in and that was Will Grayson, Will Grayson which was co-written by Levithan and John Green. This year, however, I read three books by Levithan. Two of those books were also co-written by Levithan but still.... I extremely enjoyed Levithan's writing and the story he fabricates with his intelligent language. I hope to read more of his books in the new year.

I suppose that wraps up this post! Happy New Year, everyone. I hope 2016 is good to you and your reading.

Thanks for reading!
Kellie