Review: I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Dial Books
Page Count: 371 pages

Summary: Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

I’ll Give you The Sun is the second young adult novel by Jandy Nelson, her debut being The Sky Is Everywhere. I enjoyed her debut so much; the imagery in her writing captures the emotions of her characters so well and the writing is beautifully poetic, which gives a certain feel to the words on the page. It’s almost overwhelming to read her prose and the emotions that are evoked. I can say the same for this one as well. She so easily makes my chest tighten for Lennie, Noah, and Jude.

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

While this review isn't full of spoilers I don't recommend reading it unless you've read the previous books. Unless of course, you're a rebel, then read on!

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (Book Three)
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 562 pages

Summary: Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat–and his own toughest enemy. While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love? (via goodreads)

A Return to Erilea: Review of Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Book Two)
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 420 pages

Summary: From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil. Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart. Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for. (via goodreads)

Review Time: Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Publication Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Walker Children's
Page count: 342 pages

Summary: After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Open Road Summer was something I'd been greatly anticipating after hearing about it while going around visiting book blogs ( you've probably heard enough of it by now but I just have to talk about it). Whether it was people who had already read it or wanted to read it, I saw nothing but good things and my hype was quickly building. I even attempted to wait it out because school had me so busy and I was also currently reading something else. Alas, I'm not good at denying myself what I want! I started it....and I was immediately drawn into the book.

What I liked about it: Reagan O'neill, for starters. She was heart weary and a bit shattered emotionally after too many mistakes in her life, but she wanted to change things and to become a better version of herself. She didn't make excuses about her actions and she didn't take anyways crap. I also enjoyed that this was another female character in the young adult genre who wasn't squeaky clean; Reagan has had her fair share of fun with boys and other things and she's had her moments of carelessness.

“I wanted to reach back into my history with a grade-school pink eraser, scrubbing away my decisions like mistakes on a math test. Too bad I drew my mistakes in ink.”

Dee Montgomery was another great character. She was the complete opposite of Reagan in so many ways but she didn't judge Reagan for who she was or what she did. She was a sweetheart but she wasn't a bland one; you couldn't not love her and you certainly couldn't go without loving their friendship. It's one that most of us yearn for or are lucky enough to have ourselves.  They love each other to death, they trust one another so much with everything they have, and they support each other without a second of hesitancy when something goes wrong. Even if they're mad at each other. However, this doesn't mean their friendship was “perfect”. You can't be as close as they are and not occasionally butt heads. What's important is they don't let their fights get in between what's important to them: their friendships.

The third reason I liked it is the Romance of course! And Matt Finch. Thinking his name gives me warm feelings because he was such a beautiful addition to this novel. Reagan was hooked on him the moment they meet and so was I. But, Reagan being her new and improved self who doesn't want to do anything stupid, doesn't let him now just how much he affects her. They clash in the best of ways and his teasing is so perfect when it comes to breaking down Reagan's walls. His songs, his feelings, his actions, everything about him is so genuine and different than what Reagan believes she deserves so seeing the romance between them as they fell harder and harder was beyond any words I can type to try and explain. Did I mention he sings?

“Do you want me to beg you? Do you want me to say please? Then this is the rest of my pride, girl. This song is me down on my knees. Just give in, give in to me, girl. I'll give everything I've got.”

Overall, I enjoyed everything about this book. All of the characters, the plot, the dialogue and all the beautiful quotable words. Emery Lord gave me a contemporary young adult novel that I'll be thinking about for a long time, and will be making me switch up my list of favorites! Go forth and read it immediately!

Review: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sara MacLean
Publication Date: April 26th 2011
Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)
Page Count: 367 pages

Summary: She lives for passion. Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips…and precisely the kind of woman the Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him. He swears by reputation. Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening–risking everything he holds dear–he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety. She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

I decided to take a look through some old favorites and post a review! Might possibly make it a thing to occasion look back at past books I've read and do some reviews, maybe even reread to refresh my mind. It had been a while since I'd read any Historical Romances when I tried this one. I'd forgot how good they can be so I think I need to read more. Specifically, more from this author. Her writing was amazing when it comes to this genre and style.

The book starts with Juliana Fiori, the half sister to the Ralston twins, who are all marked by scandal in some form due to their mothers abandonment for another man and a more adventurous life. Because of this Juliana struggles with fitting in with the ton and acting the way they approve of. She's failing every step of the way in their eyes, especially since they believe she'll turn out to be just like her mom. So she decides to stop trying. The way she deals with the stuffy and snobby characters of English society makes me love her even more. She doesn't hold back for anyone. She's got spunk, she's witty and sassy and oh so lovable. I don't usually fall for the female characters of Historical romances the way I did with this one! I'd definitely want her as my friend.

The hero of the story, Simon Pearson, The Duke of Leighton, is one of the people who have the most disdain for scandal and impropriety so from the start it seems like he can't stand Juliana or her family and what they represent. He doesn't waste a chance to turn his nose up at her and her careless behavior. But he desires her and he has passion for her like he's never had for anything in life and of course he's equally confused and frustrated over this fact. Because of this, he lashes out at Juliana in result. Simon was very stiff and polite in a regal manner in the beginning, but there was still something intriguing about him even then. His confusion over his interest in her and the evolution of his character was done so smoothly, not choppy or extreme at all. 

The tension and chemistry between the two characters is off the charts from the very beginning. Usually when characters are bickering back and forth it can often become more annoying than sizzling but MacLean does a tremendous job at keeping away from crossing that line. When it came to Simon, Juliana was challenging and fierce; a perfect opponent against Leighton's sharp tongue. At every moment I read I was saying to myself, just kiss already! MacLean also gives us a very nice growth in their relationship outside of the steamy tension. The love scenes, of course, were sensual and magnificent and another thing done very well considering the genre. Most Historical Romances can get a little too flowery and overdone!

Juliana is the perfect person to make the stiff Simon a little wild, two opposites couldn't be more perfect for each other. The evolution of his feelings and his beliefs (as well as hers) in the face of their changing relationship was one of the best things about the book, outside the characters themselves. This is the first book I've read from Sarah MacLean and it definitely won't be the last, and it will be the reason I go back into this genre in search for nice little gems to read.

This one definitely deserves five stars.

What I Thought Was True by Huntley FitzPatrick (Arc Review)

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Publisher: Dial (Penguin)
Page Count: 416 Pages

Summary: Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and house cleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

I was beyond excited to start this book before I had even received it. Excited because I'd won the giveaway and excited because I was so satisfied with My Life Next Door I couldn't wait to see what else Huntley Fitzpatrick had written and if she had the ability to get me hooked on another story. She did, with such ease. 

What I Thought Was True is one of those stories about summertime. It's about the lives of people who live year round on an island and what it's like for them outside the vacation frenzy of the rich people, as well as how important those people can be for them. I immediately fell for the setting and how Ms. Fitzpatrick so easily has you lured into the beauty of Seashell Island. Less so for the occasional bout of snobbish ways for a few of the characters.

Gwen and Cass (Especially Cass, one of my favorite boys of YA now) were both such wonderful and delightful characters to read about and get to know. Their back story was more complicated than I at first was expecting, but I enjoyed the back and forth between them. It was another thing so well done when usually it's something that leaves me annoyed with the characters. They were so hooked on each other and just didn't know what to do about it with their past mistakes hanging over them and so much fear to go forward. I was rooting for them from the very start. I enjoyed the chemistry (so much), and the dialogue, and especially the sweetness.

The side characters were also very enjoyable, more specifically Gwen's family. These were lovable and supportive people with their own problems and experiences into the story. They balanced so well with the drama and plot of the story. They were as important in Gwen's life as Cass and even her relationship with Mrs. Ellington. The book was so specific in every little detail, there isn't anything I didn't love about it. It's almost as if you're learning about life and what the future holds right along with Gwen, Cass, and the rest of the gang.

Definitely 5 stars for this one, I think in many ways I enjoyed it even more than My Life Next Door. I can't wait for what Huntley Fitzpatrick has prepared next.