Unwritten Rule

Unwritten Rule
Elizabeth Scott
Simon and Schuster
$12.23 (Barnes and Noble)
April 2010
FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 15/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 15/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: mild
Violence: n/a
Drugs: n/a
Underage drinking: n/a
Swearing: moderate
Total rating: 13+

Summary:
The unwritten rule is plain: "You don't like your best friend's boyfriend." But Sarah does. She likes Ryan a lot, and she has for a very long time. They share a moment at a party, but the next thing she knows, he belongs to Brianna. Then one night, something happens that Sarah can't take back and doesn't want to. She feels guilty, she doesn't want to hurt her friend, but she can't stop thinking about Ryan, either.

My Thoughts:
This was a pretty good book over all but it had its issues. I loved all of the characters except Brianna. She was a total brat and I cant stand her. I guess she had to be that way for the story to work but I still hated her. The plot was super and very connectible. I think that at some point everyone wants something they really cant have. The setting wasn't overly common, nor was it blah. That is why I enjoyed it.

The cover was cute but the feet grossed me out. Can't the people wear some damn socks? ;) That's my weird ticks kicking in there! The ending wasn't expected but it pissed me off big time. I would recommend this to Elizabeth Scott fans.

Invisible Boyfriend

My Invisible Boyfriend
Susie Day
Scholastic
$16.99
April 1st, 2010
FTC: I received this from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation

Characters 10/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 80% B

Total rating: 13+

Summary:
Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motorcycle-riding, poetry reading bad boy. *swoon* Heidi's friends are so impressed they start emailing Heidi's fake boyfriend with their problems . . . including their problems with Heidi.
As if that weren't bad enough, a delicious and possibly single person called "A Real Boy" emails Heidi to say he knows the truth. Can Heidi escape from her world wide web of lies? Or will her chance at romance disappear faster than you can type gtg?

My Thoughts:
There was just something about this book that I could not swallow. It was a good book BUT I did not like Heidi. She just bugs the heck out of me. How can you enjoy a book when you don’t like the main character? She just seemed very immature and kind of rude.

I liked the aspect of a “fake” boyfriend. It’s something one of my friends and I did in 6th grade. Maybe not with an online page but close enough. I feel that if Heidi had seemed more mature it would have added to the plot but because she was not it took away.

I recommend this to female readers between 13 and 14.

Playlist:
1. Breakeven (The Script)
2. The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)
3. One Step at a Time (Jordin Sparks)
4. Secret (The Pierces)
5. Live Your Life (T.I)

Alpha Bet

Alpha Bet

Stephanie Hale

Flux

$9.95

April 1^st, 2010

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: moderate

Violence: n/a

Drugs: mild

Underage drinking: moderate

Swearing: moderate

Total rating: 14+

Summary:

Some teenagers use drugs or sex to escape overbearing parents. I used books.

All my life my mother has been hovering over me, afraid to let me experience ANYTHING. So I got really good grades, graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and escaped to a new life—my own life—at college.

To jump-start my social life, I decided to rush the Alphas, the most exclusive sorority on campus. Things started to get complicated when I told one little white lie. (Okay, maybe not so little.) Then one of the sisters invoked the Alpha Bet, a super-secret set of alphabetical tasks we pledges have to complete to prove our loyalty. Now, the Alpha Bet has taken over my life.

Can you spell B-E-T-R-A-Y-A-L?

My Thoughts:

This was one I wasn’t sure I would buy so I checked it out from the library. I will tell you right now, I will be purchasing this for my personal collection. The story was super fun and pretty fresh. I have always has an interest in the Greek system so reading a fictional tale about it was fun.

Grace was a unique heroine. You could tell from the start that all her crap was going to blow up in her face but you just had to love her. She is 16 and braving the world of college. That in itself is an accomplishment. Being brave enough to make some of the choices she does after the fact that she had the childhood she had was amazing. I really had an appreciation for who she was.

The ending became pretty predictable but I wouldn’t have chosen a different one. I recommend this book to fans of chick-lit. You will receive an awesome book with a heroine that is irresistible.

Playlist:

1. Spinning Around (Jump 5)

2. Jump Then Fall (Taylor Swift)

3. Seventeen Forever (Metro Station)

4. The Little Things (Colbie Calliet)

5. In My Head (Jason DeRulo)

Tangled

Tangled

Carolyn Mackler

Harper Collins

$16.99

December 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: Heavy (lots of referencing)

Violence: N/A

Drugs: mild

Underage drinking: moderate

Swearing: heavy

Total rating: 16+

Summary:

Paradise wasn't supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean.

Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting.

It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn't have to be a jerk just because people think he's one.

It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences.

And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise. . . .

From confused to confident and back again, one thing's certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book. I will be buying a copy for sure. I thought it was cool seeing how these four lives intertwine. The characters were so very lovable and each had their own story to tell me. I loved each and every one. I felt a bit deceived, Paradise was not a big part of the book, but it didn’t really bother me because it was still superb. I know the cover is bit plain but it just really seems perfect to the story.

Because of how the story was split it had a great ending. As you moved on to each person’s story you saw the ends of the other person being tied up within theirs. The very end was awesome. It left everything at a perfect close.

For some reason I am coming up short on words. Maybe it is the fact that this book was so good it has refreshed my desire to read. Go buy a copy… NOW!

Playlist:

1. T-Shirt (Shontelle)
2. Cinderella (Play)
3. Ridin’ Solo (Jason Derulo)
4. Fearless (Colbie Caillat)
5. Miss Independent (Kelly Clarkson)

A Field Guide For Heartbreakers

A Field Guide for Heartbreakers

Kristen Tracy

Hyperion

$16.99

June 2010

FTC: I received this from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 85% B

Total rating: 14+

Summary:

Best friends Dessy and Veronica arrive in Europe with wildly different plans. Dessy hopes to heal her newly broken heart by diving into the creative writing workshop that brought the girls to Prague. Veronica's plan, meanwhile, is to conquer as many hot-dudes as possible in one month--and help Dessy recycle her heart in the process. Her method:

- Dress like you are the party.

- Explore the terrain. (Moderate stalking is totally allowed.)

- Be adventurous. And that means being prepared to hide in your suitcase.

- Ask questions that make your hot-dude feel smart.

- Gloss early, gloss often, and bring bum. Because a kiss can happen when you least expect it!

At first, Veronica's plan is working so well that Dessy thinks she might be a love genius. But soon it's clear that Operation Maneater has a few holes. Like its failure to anticipate crazy mixed signals--and worse, its mysterious tendency to plague a friendship with secrets and lies.

Well, no one ever said breaking hearts was a simple craft....

My Thoughts:

I adore the cover of this book. It is super cute and fun. Upon beginning to read this book I was surprised with the slow start. It was not what I was hoping or expecting to find. It took too long to really pick up, which messed up the plot for me. I felt kind of off and on about the characters. Sometimes I really liked them and others they were kind of blah. The romance in this book was super fun though. When things got moving it was much better. I recommend that all my chick-lit readers pick up a copy and head to the beach, or pool, or even the backyard.

Playlist:

1. Teardrops on my Guitar (Taylor Swift)
2. Solo (IYAZ)
3. Forever & Always (Taylor Swift)
4. Summer Boy (Lady Gaga)
5. Picture to Burn (Taylor Swift)

Love You Hate You Miss You

Love You Hate You Miss You

Elizabeth Scott

HarperTeen

$16.99

May 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: heavy

Violence: none

Drugs: moderate

Underage drinking: heavy

Swearing: heavy

Total rating: 16+

Summary: Amazon

Tall, awkward Amy feels unloved by her parents, who are too smitten with each other to pay her any attention. Along with her beautiful, fearless, and free-spirited friend Julia, Amy turns to drinking and casual sex to feel loved. After a devastating car crash leaves Julia dead and Amy only slightly injured, Amy goes into rehab. There, a therapist gives her a journal, which Amy uses to write letters to Julia, each dated with the number of days after Julia’s death. Amy recognizes the privileges of her upper-middle-class life, and both mocks and indulges her angst.

My Thoughts:

I expected so much from this book and it just didn’t quite meet my expectations. Don’t get me wrong. It was a great book. It just took way to long to drag me in. I had no desire to keep reading for the first third of the book.

The characters left much lacking, they weren’t well rounded. Too many of the characters were very similar and dull. The plot just couldn’t keep me for so long that it started to drag but once it picked up I adored it. I loved the way the book ended. All the strings were fully tied up.

I recommend this to most older teen girls.

By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead

By the Time You Read This I’ll be Dead

Julie Anne Peters

Hyperion

$16.99

January 2010

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: mild

Violence: heavy (self-violence)

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: moderate

Total rating: 15+

Summary: (Amazon)

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www.through-the-light .com.

While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life…isn’t it?

My Thoughts:

Let me start by saying this book broke my heart. It had me in tears at a couple parts. For someone so young to feel that way is just horrid. It made me stop to think about the girls at my school who just need someone to reach out. Being teased and bullied is hard. I know from personal experience (a story for another day). I think this is a great curricular read for middle and high school students.

The plot was great. It was very developed and could really sway your emotions. I cried, I laugher, I wanted to scream. This girl was the kind of girl I want to be friends with. Not the suicide part, but she is seriously smart. The thoughts that girl has are amazing!

The end of this book confused me. There was no real conclusion. You are left to wonder what happened. If you happen to read this Julie, I would be very interested in what you think happens.

I recommend this book for all teens. Its an important read.

Hold Still

Hold Still

Nina LaCour

Dutton

$17.99

October 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: low

Violence: moderate (suicide)

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: mild

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

After losing her best friend, Ingrid, to suicide, Caitlin is completely immobilized. Unable to function, and refusing to visit a therapist, she begins the long journey to wellness alone. During this year of heart-wrenching, raw emotion, Caitlin finds Ingrid's journal, which not only reveals her descent into irreversible depression, but also serves as Caitlin's vehicle for renewed hope in the future. The book is written with honesty, revealing one's pain after the loss of a loved one. Caitlin learns, with the help of new friends and her parents, that there is life after Ingrid.

My Thoughts:

This book started off very well. I was able to fall right into reading it. The problems happened about half way through. I began to get bored and could not just sit and read very much. I think it could have been a much better book if certain parts were cut.

I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a sad book. It was relatively clean but the topic of suicide is a tough one.

Stupid Cupid

Stupid Cupid

Rhonda Stapleton

Simon Pulse

$9.99

December 2009

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20

Plot 18/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 98% A

Sexual content: moderate

Violence: low

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: moderate

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adored this book! It was super cute and fun to read. The characters were all well developed. I enjoyed each one of their stories. The only thing that bothered me about the plot was the time. It felt like more time had passed but then you were suddenly told it had only been two days. Other then that I would say it was flawless.

I love this cover. Is it just me, or does anyone else think the girl on the cover could be related to the author? (: That made me love the cover even more!

The end of this book was awesome! It made me want to read the second one even more. Lucky for me the second one is already out!!!

I recommend this to romance novel fans.

Beautiful Americans

Beautiful Americans
Lucy Silag
Razor bill
$16.99 Hardback US
January 2009
FTC: This is my book that I bought. I did not receive it from the author or publisher.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 18/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 98% A

Sexual content: 10/20
Violence: 0/20
Drugs: 5/20
Underage drinking: 15/20
Swearing: 10/20
Total rating: 15+

Summary: (goodreads)
What happens in Paris...
Secrets--PJ's deep blue eyes and angelic long blond hair conceal a truth that's anything but. Will her dark past stay where it belongs in the backwoods of Vermont, or haunt her in the city of light?

Passion--Always the good girl, Olivia plans to twirl her way to the top of the Parisian ballet scene. But that's not supposed to include dancing on a table all night...or stumbling into the arms of the wrong boy.

Lies--With his emo-trendy bedhead, hilarious comebacks and Southern drawl, Zack could win over anyone. Too bad he's after the only one who's forbidden...

Scandal--All Alex wants from Paris is to nab that berry-red Dior coat and seduce the perfect penny-loafer-wearing boy - and Alex always gets what she wants. But will her scheming pay off? Or is she risking more than she knows...?

Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are spending a year at the prestigious Lycée de Monceau in the sparkling city of Paris. This is their chance to sip cafe au lait in Le Marais, throw secret parties in their host families' Versailles-size apartments, and have the time of their lives. But when the secrets they thought they left behind come out, everything could be ruined…

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! I had seen a few reviews that were not so great but I like to be my own judge. I feel that I can be a bit over critical of books so for me to love one its for real.

There were so many characters in this book and they were all so unique. I found a part of myself in each and every one of them!

The plot was very unique too. Come on, foreign exchange AMERICAN students? Not something we really ever read about! We should though because it was super fun. I have the sequel in my TBR pile and I don’t know how I’ll wait for its turn! What a cliff hanger!

I recommend this book to all of my readers! Give it a try!!

Quotes:
Here is a random quote (or 2) I found opening to a random page:

“What were they taking pictures of?”

“Leave her alone!” I yell as people heckle her.

Wednesday Wishlist

Here is what is on my wishlist this week! *hint hint mom, my birthday is in just over a week :)*

Bff
by Lauren Myracle

Summary: Barrnes and Noble

Readers fell in love with Angela, Maddie, and Zoe, the three great friends who shared their ups and downs in ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r. Now readers get to chronicle their own BFF experiences as they fill out the quizzes, questionnaires, and lists in this fun, interactive companion to the series. Together, friends can figure out which character they most resemble, cast the movie of their lives, and make promises to their adult selves. (“I hereby officially swear I will never ever EVER wear ‘mom jeans,’ so help me God. And if I do, I will have to eat my own shoe.”) Perfect for a car trip or sleepover, this book will provide as many laughs and blush-worthy opportunities for reflection as the series that inspired it.

Why?

I love the series!!! Loved it!!!

FTC: I am not being compensated for mentioning this book.