If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile(April 12, 2009)
ARC: 196 pages

Age Group: Young Adult

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

"Just Listen," Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel. I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen.
"Stay," he says.
Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

When I first saw If I Stay in the mail I was excited. The cover was simple, but beautiful. I had already read the synopsis on Amazon and on Gayle Forman's website, but I never really got what the story was completely about. I sat for a few minutes staring at the cover, wondering why the cover looked the way it did. Trying to see if it would tell anything about the story.

I admit, when I first tried to read If I Stay, I couldn't get into it. So, I moved onto another novel and came back to it at the beginning of April. I started reading and got farther into it, past where I had left off the second time, and I'm really glad I did.

This is one of those novels that really get you thinking about your own life as you progress through the story.

Though I didn't shed any tears at all, it did bring up a lot of emotions that made me stop reading it a couple of times. Especially when I was reading it on my break at work.

Mia was a wonderful character. The love she had for her family, best friend Kim, boyfriend Adam and music, especially her Cello, was extremely real. I could feel how much she loved them and I know it made her decision to stay or to go that much harder.

Usually I don't like when a book jumps from past to present, but in If I Stay it wouldn't have worked any other way and throw off as much emotion as it did.

Honestly, I don't even know what to really say about this novel. I'm having trouble with words and expressing my feelings about it. So please, forgive me.

Gayle Forman's writing was unique and a bit lyrical. It was easy to read, but at times confusing. It didn't take away from the overall story, though.

Overall it was a beautiful read and I will definitely remember it. A part of it will always stay with me, it really got me thinking about what I would do in Mia's situation and really makes me appreciate what I have. Even though my parents drive me completely insane sometimes, I know they love me and I'm not sure what I would do without them when it comes right down to it.

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (March 5, 2009)
Paperback: 264 pages
Age Group: Young Adult

Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Books-A-Million

Annika Truman will go to the ends of the earth to help her little brother— Or at least as fast as Hollywood.

Stalking a famous (and hunky) actor and convincing him to come home with you shouldn't be too difficult—should it? Annika is desperate to get her brother Jeremy's favorite television star to come visit him in person. That's the only thing that will convince Jeremy that wishes really do come true. And Annika's deepest wish is for Jeremy to believe that his upcoming surgery will go well. Annika will stop at nothing to give her brother the power of positive thinking.

Just One Wish wasn't what I expected at all. I mean, I had never read anything by Janette Rallison before, so I wasn't completely sure on her writing. When I first tried to read this, I couldn't get into it, at all. So I put it back in my pile and started reading another book. The release date was growing closer, so I decided to start reading it again, and finally got into it, and boy, am I glad!

It was a really cute read and actually made me cry at a few parts. I felt so bad for Annika and her brother.

The plot was unique, but not very realistic. Which is why they call it fiction, but it did kind of bother me a bit at some parts. But didn't take away from the story too much.

I liked the characters a lot. Annika was a great protagonist and I admired her determination to make her brother's wish come true and her devotion to help him develop positive thinking. It was a bit predictable at times, but she threw in some twists that I didn't expect at all. Especially at the end.

Annika and Steve's relationship was cute and it added to the story, but when you think about how fast paced their relationship was, it isn't very believable. Which is a bit annoying. Sure, every girl (Including myself sometimes.) secretly wishes that a star will fall completely and madly in love with her, but when does that ever happen?

Overall it really was a great read. I would definitely recommend it to any book lover out there! Rallison is a talented writer and I can't wait to read more from her. She knows how to hook you after a while and give you a cute, short read that you won't forget.

The cover was pretty cute as well. I wouldn't normally go for covers like this, but it's cute.

Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of the Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of the Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 21, 2008)
Paperback: 224 pages
Age Group: Young Adult

Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Books-a-Million

The World of Uglies, set in our not-so-distant future, is a complex place filled with bubbly technology and lingo, yet bogus rules about status and appearance. That's why a guide to the world of uglies has been requisitioned from the hole in the wall. Inside you'll find:

* A rundown on all the cliques, from Crims and Cutters to tech-heads and surge-monkeys.
* The complete history, starting with the destruction of the oil bug to the launch of Extras in space.
* How all those awesome gadgets came to be: hoverboards, eyescreens, skintennas, sneak suits....
* Plus an exclusive look at Scott Westerfeld's first draft of Extras—starring Hiro, no Aya.

Bogus to Bubbly isn't exactly a book, it's a guide. Which explains the reason why I have nothing really to say about it. I did like it, it cleared a few questions I had up. It was really useful and I think every Uglies fan should read it at least once after they've finished all four books in the series. It has everything in it, which I was really excited about. I really wanted to know where his ideas came from and how he created this amazing world. All-in-all this is an awesome guide to the Uglies.







Free Signature Generator

Privilege by Kate Brian

Privilege by Kate Brian

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (December 30, 2008)
Paperback: 304 Pages.
Age Group: Young Adult

"Most Girls Would die for a life of Privilege.... Some would even kill for it.

Ariana Osgood ruled exclusive Easton Academy—until she was arrested for murdering Thomas Pearson. She's spent the past two years at Brenda T. Trumbell Correctional Facility for Women plotting her escape and is determinded to get second chance at the glamorous life she left behind. And Ariana will do anything to get her way...."

Alrigtht, I admit, when I first got this book from Pulse It, I was dreading having to read this. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I'm not normally into these type of books. I thought it would be another Gossip Girl type thing, which don't get me wrong, I love watching Gossip Girl. Haven't read any of the books yet, though. I thought that this would be filled with snobby, stuck up girls who love spending their daddy's money.

But Goddess was I wrong!

Privilege was actually very good and I would highly recommend it. But, one suggestion would be to read the Private series first. I haven't read them yet and I was a bit lost in this book in some areas. But not completely lost, so that was good.

The writing itself was really good. I think I found one error, though. It said something about Kaitlynn, when I think she meant Brianna Leigh. It had me reading over the sentence for about five minutes, trying to figure out if Ariana was thinking of Kaitlynn or seeing Brianna Leigh as Kaitlynn, or if it was just an error.

I really liked Ariana, despite the fact she's killed a lot of people. She was a really good character though and I feel as if she's one of my friends. She came from a wealthy family, but she didn't let that take over how she saw things, mostly. She really started appreciating what she had and I was happy for that.

I can't wait to read the sequel to this and I'm really thinking of reading the Private series. I've added them to my list. I may wait until the sequel to make a final decision.



If you'd like to purchase Privilege, here are a few places to do it!
Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Books-a-Million

Here is a Privilege goodie for you!


*Note: I did not make this wallpaper, so I don't take any credit for it. You can find it here!

Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (February 2009)
Paperback ARC: 288 pages
Age Group: Young Adult

"Meet Maybelline "Maybe" Chestnut. She may be named for her mother's favorite brand of mascara, but she has a mind—and a hair color—all her own.

Meet her mother, Chessy—that is, Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez and soong-to-be Himmler. The one man she didn't marry? Maybe's father.

Meet Ted and Hollywood , a.k.a Maybe's best friends. When Chessy chooses her latest scuzzball fiancé over her daughter, the trio sets out to find Maybe's dad in California.

Where they meet Los Angeles: city of swimming pools, movie stars, and a whole lot of surprises, including an aging screen goddess, a famous photographer, thee makeovers, a Rolls-Royce, and a taco truck. Hollywood makes a film; Ted makes his fortune. But the biggest surprise may be Maybe herself, as a charm-school dropout becomes a drop-dead charmer in Lisa Yee's terrific new novel."

Absolutely Maybe was a really great book. I really connected with the main character, Maybe, which made her seem more real to me. At the end of the book, I was happy I was done with the book because it was a great story, but I was also very sad for the same reason.

Absolutely Maybe contains amazing characters. They make you wish that you had friends like them. They were absolutely hilarious and their names were really unique. Absolutely Maybe is a great book for anyone, especially those who feel like they are outsiders. I think everyone has a little bit of Maybe in them somewhere, even if they don't let it surface.

Also, don't forget about the awesome cover! I love the models hair on the cover. Makes me want orange hair!




If you'd like to pre-order Absolutely Maybe, here are a few places to do it!
Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Books-a-Million

Here is an Absolutely Maybe goodie for you!
*Note: I did not take this picture, so I don't take any credit for it. All I did was edit it a bit. :)

Watched: A Detective Lindsey Scott Thrillstery by Tom Tancin

Watched: A Detective Lindsey Scott Thrillstery by Tom Tancin

Publisher: Destifire Books (November 18, 2008)
Paperback: 312 pages
Age Group: Older Young Adults

"Detective Lindsey Scott takes six months vacation from her stressful and grueling job. But she never expected to face her scariest case while on vacation. The 'solver of the unsolvable' is face to face with the task of raising her teenagers, something she avoided up to this point.

When a cohesive group of killers start to target webcammers, she'll have to cut her vacation short, really short. Lindsey is on the case trying to track multiple killers with unique personalities yet one common link. Tracking down killers, especially when you don't know how many there are, is not an easy task.

Pressure adds as bodies continue to turn up across the country on a daily basis. And when Lindsey finally gets the upper hand, one of the killers target her fifteen year old son."

Watched was just as amazing and bone chilling as the first book in the Detective Lindsey Scott Thrillstery series. It kept me wanting to read and read to figure out who the killers were and what was going to happen next. It kept me up late at night with chills from reading it. I got paranoid many times while reading this late at night. But I couldn't get enough of it.

Mr. Tancin captures you in the first few pages and keeps you wanting more until the last page of the book. His characters are so real that you really tell he knowns them inside out. A true thrillstery!

Watched didn't disappoint me after reading the first thrillstery in the series, The Man in the Moon. Though I found a few errors throughout the book, but nothing too drastic.

I can't wait for the next thrillstery in the series. This has left me wandering what Lindsey's next big case will be and how Tyler, her son, will be like now, since he's changed a lot since The Man in the Moon.



If you would like to purchase Watched, here is a place to do it!
Amazon


Other titles in the Detective Lindsey Scott Thrillsteries: The Man in the Moon

Here is a Detective Lindsey Scott Thrillstery goodie for you!


*Note: I did not make this video, so I do not take any credit for it.