John Green's new book!!

John Green posted a live YouTube chat today in which he announces the title for his new book: The Fault in Our Stars. Here's the link to his video.

A mock cover of the book made by:
sweetsummersparrow

To summarize:

• He discusses the book title
• He talks about the runner up book title
• You should pre-order the book (he will sign all pre-ordered books)
• It will be released May 1, 2012  January 10, 2012 (thanks to awesome nerdfighteria)
• John answers some nerdfighter questions
• John reads us the first chapter :) (the video reading begins at 0:37:58)

I think you guys should order this book and here is why...
(1) It's $9.89 now (on Amazon)
(2) John Green will sign ALL the pre-ordered books.

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

The DUFF
by Kody Keplinger
Pages: 288
Released: Sept. 7, 2010

The DUFF
Summary: One night, seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is at a club with her two friends, Jessica and Casey. J. & C. are drop dead gorgeous dancing their hearts out while Bianca is sitting at the bar drinking her Cherry Coke. Along comes Wesley Rush, the charming "man-slut." He starts up a conversation with her and tells her straight-on that she's "the DUFF." What is the DUFF you say? It's the designated ugly fat friend. Bianca reacts by dumping her Coke on Wesley and storms out of the club. Wesley is the least of her problems though, at home she is faced with family drama and ex-boyfriend problems. In order to escape, Bianca creates a "no strings attached" relationship with Welsey--a completely physical, no drama ordeal. It isn't until we learn more about Wesley and how bad his life is as well. See as Bianca and Wesley open up with one another as they deal with their issues.
 
My Thoughts: This was a quick read and the premise was refreshing.

What I liked: I thought that the plot of this book was great, it kept me turning the pages and there wasn't a dull moment. The character development in this book is very good, we get to see how Bianca and Wesley change one another and where their road leads. Another thing I enjoyed was the concept of the DUFF--what it really means to be a DUFF and how we all have our insecurities, etc. Bianca's character was great, I liked her snarky remarks, wittiness, and the humor that was place throughout the book.

What I disliked: I thought the writing was pretty genuine to a teen, but there were some parts which threw me off. Such as the "BTW" "WTF" text chat that was used in some conversations and although the swearing was alright, there were some parts I felt like they were a bit out of place or too much.  

Conclusion: I found this book enjoyable and interesting and I liked seeing the relationship between Bianca and her Dad, Bianca and her friends, and Bianca and Wesley.

4/5 stars

Source: Library. 

WANTED: HERO Prelude to a Hero by Jamie Buckley

Prelude to a Hero
by Jaime Buckley
Pages: 106
Released: May 27, 2011

WANTED: HERO Prelude to a Hero by Jaime Buckley 
Summary: Wendell is a young man who learns what his potential is while on a strange, enchanted world with a funny old wizard and ugly troll to mentor and guide him.  Prelude to a Hero, the first book in the chronicles, relates how Wendell came to be the one expected to save an entire world. . . by accident.  Against slim odds, through unsurmountable foes -- join us on Wendell's journey to greatness.  

My Thoughts: I would say that this book is for younger kids, but I was still able to follow the story. Something interesting about this book is that it began as a series of comics.

I enjoyed the opening of the book (prologue), it introduces you to the narrator and the interesting writing style of the book. After that, I was pushed straight into chapter one and I did find it a bit confusing at first because it was a sudden leap. Once Wendell (the protagonist) is introduced in the second chapter it then became easy to follow along. Wendell was a fun, lighthearted character and when he gets pulled from Earth into this other world it was entertaining to see his reactions to the unconventional situation. My favorite character out of the book would have to be Dax since he brought a lot of humor and 'fun' to the book, but he wasn't there for most of the story.

Since this is the first book in the series, it sets up the world, the creatures, and some of the terminology that is used. This seems like an adventure book so I was expecting it to be really action packed, but there isn't a lot of action going on (I think that the follow books in the series is where the action will be!). One of the best parts of this story is the twist in the book--it really drew me in and I wanted to know what was going to happen as a result.The book ends at a good spot because it gives readers enough info about the characters and world, but we still want to know what's going to happen next.

Conclusion: I enjoyed the humor that was dispersed throughout the book and some of the strange characters that were introduced. The author does a great job creating characters with a lot of personality to them and I think this series is going to be interesting. Also, there's also a pronunciation guide at the end of the book, check it out!

P.S. I received this book from the author and my review is not biased. :)

3.5/5 stars

Source: Received from Author.

Here's where you can purchase this book: (ebook format) for $0.99.
Amazon (for Kindle)
Directly from the book's site (for: Kindle, Epub, PDF)

Here's the author's website.

Currently not taking in any book review requests at the moment

I apologize to authors that have contacted me about reviewing your books. I have not abandoned them, just haven't been able to read yet (trying to catch up with my library books before they expire and almost done with finals). My goal is to finish them before June ends so I can get them out asap.

Here are the books that have been sent to me that I still need to review (I apologize because some of these are very late):

- Prelude to a Hero
- Solid
- Tower of Parlen Min

Thanks so much for sending me your books and I will get to them soon.

Nikolas and Company (new book)

Nikolas and Company: A Creature Most Foul by Kevin McGill 

I was contacted by the author, Kevin McGill, about this new book coming out on September 15, 2011. The book trailer looks amazing and you can read the synposis on Goodreads. It sounds pretty exciting and the book's "world" reminds me of some sort of pirate MMO. They are also going to be releasing the first 100 pages on their book site. Check it out. :)

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (Leaving Paradise #1)

Leaving Paradise 
by Simone Elkeles
Pages: 303
Released: April 1, 2007

Leaving Paradise
Summary: Caleb Becker's is finally going to get out of juvie. He was sentenced to a year in confinement after leaving a party drunk and driving home. Maggie Armstrong has been going through months of physical therapy after being hit by a car and left on the road. Yes, that car belonged to Caleb. After the night of the accident, their lives will never be the same--Maggie the tennis star now crippled and Caleb the tough wrestling champ is now an ex-con. Caleb blames Maggie for being sent to juvie and Maggie blames Caleb for her limp. Follow their journey as Caleb and Maggie's lives intersect.

My Thoughts: Another 5 star book. Finally! :) I picked this up because I enjoyed reading her Perfect Chemistry series.

What I liked: There are many things that make this book great. First off, the writing style is very realistic, Elkeles has a talent for writing characters and the dialogue is well written. The main characters are genuine because Elkeles writes them as real teens (not sugar coated or super cliche). One of my favorite parts of the book are the characters: you love them, hate them, or laugh with them. The concept of this book is creative and the storyline keeps you reading. Also, the twist in this book really shocked me and it explains quite a lot about the characters and why they are they way they are.

What I disliked: I wish there was more on information on the characters and the night of the accident. There are some flashbacks and snippets of it, but I would have liked to know about that night.

Conclusion: The ending leaves you hanging (and a bit heartbroken) and you'll need to pick up Return to Paradise a.s.a.p.

5/5 stars

Newer cover

Source: Library. 

I don't know if you can tell... but I really like Simone Elkeles's books and I need to read them all :)

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry #2)

Rules of Attraction
by Simone Elkeles
Pages: 324
Released: April 27, 2010

Rules of Attraction
Summary: Now it's Carlos Fuente's turn. Carlos has been living in Mexico with his mother, but she sends him back to America in hopes that he will stay out of trouble. He moves in with his older brother Alex and begins high school in Colorado. Carlos used to worship his brother Alex, but now that Alex has left the Latino Blood and is dating Brittany, he's not too fond of living with his brother anymore. It's until Carlos meets Kiara that his life gets a bit more interesting...

My Thoughts: This is a really steamy novel. I would say it's for older teens maybe 16+.

What I liked: I like how similar yet different this book is from Perfect Chemistry. The chapters alternate between Carlos and Kiara and we get to see exactly what they're thinking and how they feel. I like the characters that Elkeles creates--they're not perfect and they've endured quite a lot. The character development is very well written and we get to see how Carlos and Kiara change one another. This book was fun, entertaining, and you're rooting for the two characters until the end.

What I disliked: I would say there are maybe two or three pretty cheesy parts that could have been edited out in the dialogue), but other than that I think it's great.

Conclusion: If you liked Perfect Chemistry, you'll enjoy this. I enjoyed the series so far and I'm looking forward to read more of Simone Elkeles's books.

5/5 stars

Source: Library

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Babe in Boyland
by Jody Gherman
Pages: 292
Released: Feb 17, 2011

Babe in Boyland
Summary: Natalie (or Dr. Aphrodite) is a columnist for her school newspaper--giving students relationship advice. People (mainly guys) begin to complain about her advice saying she only tells girls what they want to hear. She decides to take this as her calling and goes undercover as "Nat" to find out how guys really think. Natalie plans on spending an entire week at Underwood Academy, a all-boys private boarding school to answer the questions that girls want to know:
1) When you say you're going to call and you don't, what happened?
2) Why are you so different when your friends are around? Which one is the real you?
3) What do you really look for in a girl?
4) Is it true that guys think about sex every eight seconds, or is that just a myth?
5)What's the surest way to tell the difference between a guy who's being sincere and one who's just looking to score?
6) What can make you lose interest in a girl overnight?
7) If you won't talk about your feelings, how are we supposed to know what they are?

During her time at Underwood, she meets some new and interesting guys including her roommate, Emilio, who she falls for. Will she be able to pull this off or this end up being a huge disaster?

My Thoughts:  Reminds me of She's the Man.

What I liked: Natalie, the protagonist is my favorite part of the book. She's quirky, funny, witty, clever, awkward as a boy, and just a really likable character. I thought the story was very entertaining and I didn't want to put this book down. I think the fun really starts when Natalie starts school at Underwood, that is when hilarity ensues. I just found this book laugh-out-loud funny. Gehrman's writing style is fantastic, I enjoyed the dialogue exchange between the characters and it's a page turner.

What I disliked: There wasn't anything I really disliked. I just wish the ending would give us more, but other than that it's great.

Conclusion: It's a fun light read. For some reason, this reminded me of Anna & the French Kiss in a way because of the writing, protagonist, and silliness. (E.g. when Natalie gets nervous around Emilio and some awkward moments).This is one of those laugh-out-loud type books. 

4.5/5 stars

Source: Library.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Maze Runner #1)

The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Pages: 375
Released: August 24, 2010

The Maze Runner
Summary: Imagine this, you wake up with no memory of your past and only remember your name. You then realize you're in some sort of elevator and its been ascending for around 30 minutes. Once it stops, the shaft opens and you look around seeing 50 or so eyes gazing back at you. You're welcomed by the kids into a place they call the Glade--no one remembers how they got there or how to get out. Outside of the Glade is an intricate Maze which is seemingly impossible to solve and contains no exit. (Sorry this summary might not be that great... this story's a bit complicated to explain with minimal text so check out goodreads for a better summary :D)

My Thoughts: So many questions!!

What I liked: Wow. This book is insane. The beginning of the book explains to how the Glade works, how it functions, what happens each night, the creatures that lurk outside, etc, etc. Okay, at first there were so many questions and I thought this book was never going to be able to move along, but surprisingly it does. Dashner does a great job explaining the glade and what the heck is going on. The concept of this book is great and really refreshing. I think the author has a great imagination and is able to write a great story. The characters were fun and I ending was shocking.

What I disliked: Um, can't really think of many. Well, I would say that this book was a bit complex (for me at least). I was asking so many questions throughout and the answers were not very satisfiying at times--because they weren't really answers (if that makes any sense).

Conclusion: I don't think I've read a book like this one before. It's definitely a mystery and at times I don't know what the heck's going on. This might not be for everyone because some people just want to get straight to the point and this book does anything but that. Be warned: practically every chapter ends with a "cliffhanger" and I told myself I would stop after the next one... but I couldn't. It keeps you turning the pages and is a mystery. I would say pick this book up and don't get discouraged when you feel like your questions are never going to be answered... they will eventually (in the third book....).

Here's another cover

4.5/5 stars

Source: Library.

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Candor
by Pam Bachorz
Pages: 256
Released: Sept. 22, 2009

Candor
Summary:  Candor is a small town in Florida where the kids are... perfect. Seriously, they always do their homework, obey their parents, never lie, eat really healthy, and are very respectful and polite. These kids weren't always this way though. Before arriving in Candor, most of them were brats, rebels--the exact opposite of what they are today. The reason they are so "good" is because Candor feeds them subliminal messages hidden in music that is played throughout the town. These messages say things such as obey your parents or respectful space in every place. The story follows Oscar Banks who is the son of the town's founder. Oscar's father believes that his son is being controlled by these messages, but little does he know Oscar figures out a way to block the messages from controlling his life. It's until he meets Nia, a rebellious girl, who changes his life.

My Thoughts: Think: Stepford Wives meets YA.

What I liked: The premise of the book is very refreshing and interesting to read. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, it really had me hooked and I wanted to learn more about the strange town of Candor. The ending was excellent and the author couldn't have chosen a better way to write it. It's haunting and after finishing it, I was constantly thinking about it.

What I disliked: The middle is what really fell flat for me. I felt that it was a bit rushed and the love story was just happening all too fast. For example, the love story between Oscar and Nia started with them being acquaintances to saying "I love you" instantly. I was a bit confused and felt like I skipped 100 pages or so of a building romance.

Conclusion: All in all, I would give this book a lower rating if it wasn't for the awesome beginning and really moving ending. I say pick this up if you have the time (it's a short read) and read it for the beginning and ending.

4/5 stars

Source: Library.

Quick review of: Candor

Hey, sorry I haven't been posting as I usually do. I've been having computer problems and was too lazy to write up a blog post at the library. My apologies! I hope I'll be putting more reviews up soon. In the mean time here's my review of Candor from my Goodreads:

Candor by Pam Bachorz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is like "Stepford Wives" meets YA fiction.

Ok. This book starts off very well I from then on I only expected it to get better as the story unraveled. The ending was great as well (I really really like the way the author took the story). It's just the middle that didn't seal the deal. I felt like the love story was a bit... rushed? I seriously thought that my copy was a "cut" version and that I was missing around 100 pages of a love story building. I just thought that Oscar and Nia were one minute looking at each other and the next they were in love. I was going to give this 3/5 stars first but I thought about it and I think it does deserve a 4/5. Here's why: I would recommend this book to my friends even though the middle was a bit disappointing. It's because the ending of the story really made me think and that's what I like. I finishing a book and still be thinking about it. I would say pick this book up and give it a read... it's only 275 pages and you should get through it pretty quick. :)

View all my reviews