Book Review: Divergent - Veronica Roth

Ok, I had wanted to read this for some time and never got around to it. Since I heard about the movie being made, it slowly eeked up to the top of my To Read list. And finally, now that the movie is out, and with the help of a coupon to use Audible for three months for $0.95, I was able to read, er, listen to it.

From the GoodReads website: "In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves.... or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series - dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance."
This is actually more of a 3 1/2 stars (out of 5) rating for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it. The first 60% was just so slow. I understand there's a need for character and plot development, and knowing that this is a series is the only thing that kept me going on it. It's a good thing I listened to the audiobook because if I was reading it, I probably would've stopped. 

As I've said before, I love YA Dystopian reads, and I'm sure I'll love the second book more than the first one. I was actually considering not seeing the movie until it got down to the last quarter of the book. 

Going back to my character development comment, there are a lot of main and secondary characters that you're introduced to in this book, and they all play an important role in the story at some point. 

One thing that I'm wondering about is that it sounds like it takes place in what used to be Chicago. And so far, that's the only area that has been mentioned in the book. What about the rest of the world? Are these the only people left at this time? Does every city operate with these five factions? Was that explained at some point and I missed it? 

In any case, I am set to see the movie and ready to read the next book.

Book Review: The Here and Now - Ann Brashares

This is another gem from Net Galley. :)

From the GoodReads website: "An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year."

I am totally in love with the YA Dystopia genre! I haven't read a book yet that I haven't liked and this is one more to add to that list. 

Prenna and Ethan are great characters, I loved the twists in the plot that made me say, "Oh!" out loud. Reading about things that happen (and are always a possibility) in the not so distant future was super interesting. It made me think about how old I will be at that time and what life could be like if these things actually happened. 

Well written story, well written characters. I had not yet read anything by Ann Brashares so I wasn't sure what to expect. Though I had seen the Traveling Pants movies and thought they were good, so I figured it had to be good. Didn't count on it being excellent. I am not a fan of science, I find it pretty boring, this book made me want to actually Google some of the concepts that were discussed. 

A definite add to your to read list, you don't want to miss out on this one.

Book Review: Happily Ever After - Elizabeth Maxwell

I was contacted by the publisher directly to ask if I was interested in receiving a copy of this book in return for a review. Again, free? Absolutely! I have one other book from the same publisher that I hope to read soon, and I also hope that I hear from them again!

From the GoodReads website: "In this witty, sexy tale, an erotic novelist meets the fictional hero of her most recent book in real life, and must decide whether she wants to get him back between the pages—or between her sheets.At forty-six, Sadie Fuller’s life isn’t exactly romantic. A divorced, overweight, somewhat sexually frustrated mother of an eleven-year-old, she lives in the suburbs, shops the big box stores, makes small talk with her small-minded neighbors, and generally leads a quiet life. But while her daughter is at school, or when Sadie is up late at night, she writes erotic fiction under the name KT Briggs. 

Then, during a routine shopping trip, Sadie runs into someone familiar…too familiar, in fact. She encounters an incredibly handsome man exactlylike the one in her imagination—and her latest novel. Is Aidan Hathaway really one of her characters? And if so, what is he doing in Target? As Sadie tries to negotiate this strange new world, her eyes begin to open to romantic possibilities in places she never dreamed of looking... places where Happily Ever After might not be so far-fetched after all."

A book about an author whose characters turn up in reality? Awesome! Not something I've come across before with all the books that I've read. So entertaining, and I would love to read more like this. 

The MCs were well developed and felt like people that I might know, with the exception of the fictional characters that came into reality, of course. The plot was so fun, it made me want to be a part of the story. :)

I loved the characters, even the snoopy next door neighbor. Even though she irritated me, I was able to feel bad for her once Sadie caught her spying on them at Central Park. For a while, I thought Gretta, the housekeeper, was behind Clarissa, but that turned out not to be. And I loved, absolutely loved, that Lily decided to do what was best for her and go her own path. Turns out the story had two strong female leads. :) 

Definitely add this to your to read list, it's perfect for a vacation, a day at the beach, or pretty much any time you want an entertaining read.

Book Review: Chat Love - Justine Faeth

Justine Faeth posted in my online book group asking if anyone wanted a free ecopy of her book in return for an honest review. Free? Of course! And I love being able to give positive feedback to authors. I will definitely look for more from her.

From the GoodReads website: "City girl Lucia is having trouble finding a man. With a few nudges from her friends, she decides to try out Chat Love, an online dating service for New Yorkers. Hilarity ensues with one disastrous date after another…where do these men come from? Mars? Certainly not Manhattan! She finally meets someone from work who is almost perfect, but decides to move on as he’s still seeing other women. She keeps in contact with a man named Jack on the Chat Love site. Could he be the one? What about her love interest at work? Just like the lovable cast of characters from Sex and the City, Lucia is Carrie, a stylish woman who has found her “Mr. Big” but can’t seem to get him to commit. Danni is Samantha, who loves to have fun and is wild and promiscuous. Autumn is Charlotte, desperate to meet the right man and settle down. Skyler is Miranda, level-headed and quick to offer advice. Will these ladies ever find love? Will Lucia find her man? Chat Love will give you something to talk about!"

If you've ever met someone from the internet, you should enjoy this story. Having been on a few of the dating websites in the past, and I actually had some luck as I met my boyfriend on one, I loved the story, internet dating is becoming more and more common and I love reading about all the good and bad dates that come from it. 

Even though I could tell where the story was going, and figured out a few of the couples that ended up pairing up before they did, I still enjoyed reading how they got there. It's a fun, quick read with a lot of laughs and some romance that we all love. 

Definitely add to your to read list!

Book Review: Don't Even Think About It - Sarah Mlynowski

This book, I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Reader ECopy through Net Galley, as she is one of my favorite authors.

From the GoodReads webiste: "Contemporary teen fiction with romance, secrets, scandals, and ESP from the author of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have).

We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.
So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening."
I'm a sucker for YA, especially when it involves some sort of paranormal element. The whole telepathy thing is not something I've encountered in any of the YA books that I've read so far so I thought it was awesome, and it made me way more aware of the thoughts that go through my head every day. I can only imagine the pros and cons of having telepathy, and most of those were pointed out in this story. Not only was I more aware of my thoughts, but it made me start to think about what may be in other peoples' heads as I'm talking to them. LOL!

It would've been cool to get a little more background on how some of the flu shot batches got botched, but that info isn't all that integral to the story - it'd just be for the nerd in me. :) I can almost see a second book out of this. Not entirely sure from what angle, but I think it would be possible. 

Add this to the list of Sarah Mlynowksi books that I have really enjoyed (which has been every single one I've read, lol)! It's good for a quick beach vacation read, or a stay-cation read.

Book Review: Must Love Dogs - Claire Cook

Normally, I try to read the book before I watch the movie because we all know the books are better, right? So wait, thinking about it....maybe I shouldn't do that since Hollywood takes its liberties....maybe it is actually better to see the movie, THEN read the book? Yes? No? Your thoughts?

From the GoodReads website: "Ready to put her divorce behind her, Sarah Hurlihy is not sure where she's headed, or if she'll survive the journey. It takes a few wrong men--and some tangles with a St. Bernard--before Sarah appreciates the riotous ride she's on. Now a major motion picture starring Diane Lane ("Under the Tuscan Sun")."

Anyway, I saw the movie YEARS ago and I liked it. Recently, I decided to read (or attempt to) all the books on a top 100 chick lit book list that I found, and a similar one with the top 100 authors. This book killed two birds with one stone and I'm so glad I came across the list because I was able to add another author to my list of want-to-read-more-from-them.

I liked it. I liked Sarah's character, even if she was confused most of the time. I had already watched the movie before reading the book, but it was so long ago, that I don't really remember it. My favorite character is probably Sarah's dad, he's such a lovable cad! And the rest of the characters just felt like real people, people that I might know. They were very well written. I look forward to reading the sequel.

Book Review: Unenchanted - Chanda Hahn

What a superfun read! Love the new take on Grimm's Fairytales. And I'm a sucker for fairy tales, so if there's a new spin on it, I'm reading it.

From the GoodReads website: "Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is a descendant from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its' next fairy-tale victim.
To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end."
Can't wait to read the rest in the series and see how far she gets with the tales, and the rest of the crazy characters she's bound to meet. This is probably going to be one of those series that I'm not going to want to end.

Book Review: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal - Laurie Notaro

I've read a few of her non-fiction and fiction books and liked them better. This one....I don't know, there were parts that made me laugh out loud, one part that made me cry, and quite a few where I was ready for the chapter to end quicker than it did. I just didn't enjoy this one as much as I did some of the others. Another one of those, it-feels-almost-like-a-chore-to-read-it-books. 

From the GoodReads website: "Laurie Notaro has an uncanny ability to attract insanity–and leave readers doubled over with laughter. In The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death, she experiences the popular phenomenon of laser hair removal (because at least one of her chins should be stubble-free); bemoans the scourge of the Open Mouth Coughers on America’s airplanes; welcomes the newest ex-con (yay, a sex offender!) to her neighborhood; and watches, against her own better judgment, every Discovery Health Channel special on parasites and tapeworms that has ever aired–resulting in an overwhelming fear that a worm the size of a python will soon come a-knocking on her back door."

Book Review: Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

This is the case of constantly hearing about an author and finally getting around to reading one of their books.

From the GoodReads website: "Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try."
Love it, love it, love it. That's what I thought while reading this book. Then when I was done, "WOW!" This is another book that should be moved to the top of your To Read list. 

The life that Eleanor had to live, the things she had to deal with not only at school, but at home....I don't think I've read a book from that perspective before. Yes, I've read books where a kid gets made fun of at school, and from their perspective. But to throw in the kinds of experiences she had at home....just, wow. I loved her character, and I loved Park's character. And I seriously wanted to be able to throttle Eleanor's mother - stupid, stupid woman. 

But again, you seriously need to read this soon if it's on your To Read list, and if it's not, get it on there! :)

Can't wait to read more of her books!

Book Review: The Meryl Streep Movie Club - Mia March

Ever have a book on your To Read list for-freaking-ever and finally get around to it, then when you're done reading it, you want to kick yourself for waiting so long? Yep, this is one of 'em.

From the GoodReads website: "In the bestselling tradition of The Friday Night Knitting Club and The Jane Austen Book Club, three women find unexpected answers, happiness, and one another, with Meryl Streep movies as their inspiration. 

Two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy are summoned home to their family matriarch's inn on the coast of Maine for a shocking announcement. Suddenly, Isabel, June, and Kat are sharing the attic bedroom;and barely speaking. But when innkeeper Lolly asks them to join her and the guests in the parlor for weekly Movie Night's Meryl Streep month, they find themselves sharing secrets, talking long into the night . . . and questioning everything they thought they knew about life, love, and one another. 

Each woman sees her complicated life reflected through the magic of cinema: Isabel's husband is having an affair, and an old pact may keep her from what she wants most . . . June has promised her seven-year-old son that she will somehow find his father, who he's never known . . . and Kat is ambivalent about accepting her lifelong best friend's marriage proposal. Through everything, Lolly has always been there for them, and now Isabel, June, Kat, and Meryl, must be there for her. Finding themselves. Finding each other. Finding a happy ending."
Loved it. Absolutely loved it! Loved Lolly, Isabel, June, Kat, Charlie, Henry, Griffin, Pearl. All these characters were so real. I laughed and cried right along with them. And thanks to the discussion of Meryl Streep movies, I now have a bunch of movies to watch! :) Great writing, awesome author. Can't wait to read her next book!!

Book Review: Innocence - Dean Koontz

Normally, I get through Dean's books in two days or less. This one? It took ten days. Ten I-really-don't-want-to-continue-this-story-but-I-have-to-because-he's-my-favorite-author days.

From the GoodReads website: "He lives in solitude beneath the city, an exile from society, which will destroy him if he is ever seen.
 
She dwells in seclusion, a fugitive from enemies who will do her harm if she is ever found.
 
But the bond between them runs deeper than the tragedies that have scarred their lives. Something more than chance—and nothing less than destiny—has brought them together in a world whose hour of reckoning is fast approaching."
Normally, I love Dean Koontz's books, but this one was right there with Icebound and Your Heart Belongs to Me - just not my favorites. It pains me to say that, but I felt like reading this one was a chore. It was so hard to get through, and I really wasn't a fan of the religious aspect of it.

I'm BAAAAACCCKKKKKK!!!

Hey, it's only been about two and a half years since my last post. LOL

What can I say? I was busy. Work, kid, school, life. Not a whole lot of time for much else in there. Especially considering all the BS I had in my life at some points, from an alcoholic, pot-head, prescription pill abusing boyfriend that turned out to be a psycho stalker when I broke it off, to a selfish, immature, cheating boyfriend whom I was dumb enough to get back with a second time, but smart enough not to a third time.

In the midst of all that, I finally bought a house. And I have finally found a boyfriend that met and exceeds my list of standards that have been revised three times in the last four years. This one's a keeper! Oh, and I finished school!!! Wa-hoooo!!!! Now I have more time to do the things I want to do, rather than the things I have to do. I originally had a plan to challenge myself to do one thing from Pinterest daily (yes, I am a Pin-a-holic) for 30 days starting January 1st. Yeah, didn't happen. You know what did happen? Frickin' TV shows. OMG, I have become such a couch potato and I have the weight gain to prove it.

During the time in between the first mistake (the selfish, immature, cheating boyfriend) and the second (same boyfriend), I was so depressed that I ended up losing 69 pounds. Mostly from not eating. I know, I know, terrible way to lose weight. Kills your metabolism and all that. Not that mine had much life in it anyway. And of course, now that I'm happy, I have put back on 47 of it. GRRRR!!!! It's not all from watching TV though. I had stopped drinking soda, stopped any kind of snacking, and stopped eating chocolate/candy. And those are habits that I have picked back up again that need to stop. I tried going cold turkey and made it to just over a week before I broke. Yesterday, I had a soda and two Reese's Eggs (those things are the devil, I tell you). I reasoned with myself that once a week isn't bad. But really? It is. For me anyway. It's a gateway to more and more including more and more excuses as to why it's ok. I think I'm good now though because the soda really wasn't that great anyway. The Reese's on the other hand, always awesome. I wonder if there's some recipe out there for them that I can make - one that's healthier.

Anyway, so I want to get back into blogging. I've read a lot of really good books since I last posted and while I only have two followers at the moment, I want to post about them and get the word out. And hopefully grow my follower list. In the mean time, I plan to try Pinterest things and post about them too. Maybe share a picture if I can figure out how to do that. :)

Until the next time I finish a book or do something Pinteresty, I'm going to post book reviews. And after that, I'm going to Google how to write a review so I don't sound like a moron. :)