Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Pages: 263pgs

The Story

Fourteen year old nerd-boy Dan Cereill is not quite coping with a reversal of family fortune, moving house, new school hell, a mother with a failing wedding cake business, a just-out gay dad, and an impossible crush on Estelle, the girl next door. His life is a mess, but for now he's narrowed it down to just six impossible things . . .

The Review

A big thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

I haven't read anything like this book before and I guess that's why I enjoyed it so much because what makes SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS stand out even more than it already did to me is the fact that it's soooooooo Aussie-like and like any other Aussie person I know, the book contains some clever witty writing (trust me it's so hilarious and socially awkward but in the best way possible) and through this writing alone it's told in a very honest way so of course I ended up loving it!

For one of our main characters, Dan, he is dealing with a lot of family crisis's lately, which includes finding out his father is gay (not exactly ideal right now), his parents are divorcing each other (for obvious reasons) and finding out that the family business is going bankrupt (perfect timing, right?). But apart from all of these problems he is currently experiencing, this is why I love Dan even more as a character because he is absolutely hilarious and I find his situation is just so real and brutally honest in a way that makes me connect with him instantly. He's not exactly - if at all - living the perfect life like some characters usually do, but he's trying to hold his head up high and find something to do to take his mind off things. I just loved him for that! His every action and thought, in the end, just made him such a great and a very interesting character and I think a lot of people will definitely relate to him on any level. Ah, I just loved this guy! I mean, I loved the other characters too, but Dan did it all for me and I can't praise him enough really.

Overall, SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS is a very quick-paced and quite a simple book (a great one at that), but it's one small book with so many entertaining things inside of it and will have you in stitches, so I would highly recommend this one to everyone or rather to my fellow Aussie readers. It's a real hoot this book!

The Rating

4/5 stars

My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Lulu

Pages: 261pgs

The Story

Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylor's and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows. Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

The Review

Don't get me wrong here, I absolutely love Amanda Hocking as an author and in particular her very seductive Watersong series and her wonderfully creative (and my favourite series coming from Hocking) the Trylle series, but as much as it pains to me to say this in a book review of mine, I thought the first installment of her very first book series I believe, MY BLOOD APPROVES, was an absolutely terrible, terrible book and I don't know what to say about it without sounding like an awful person except that I can't believe I actually finished it to be honest with you. It was just so painful to read and I'm so glad I got this one for free when I did instead of buying it. It was just . . . oh dear god why?

While I didn't mind the direction the story was going in, but the book had two terrible faults even before getting halfway into the storyline. For one, it resembled Twilight (of all things!) like it was a mirror of it and all of the characters were exactly like Twilight's characters and let's just say when you combine those faults together . . . it was not exactly a great start for me and it continued being this way until the very end of it, so I'm sure I'm not the only one to say it was again terrible. Not even the simplistic writing or its idiotic characters like Alice and Jack-whats-his-name could save it. However, the one positive thing I could say about this book is that it made Twilight's Edward and Bella look like a sane and normal couple which is surprisingly considering . . . they aren't exactly . . . well . . . "normal".

Overall, MY BLOOD APPROVES was obviously NOT for me but if you love reading something that's more fan-fiction than anything else you may like this book. But I wouldn't bet on it which pains me because I have loved all of the other works by Amanda Hocking so in advance I would like to apologize because I really did try to like this book (I honestly really, really did). It was just Jack and that Alice girl . . . they just made me feel this way . . .

The Rating

1/5 stars

The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Pages: 304pgs

The Story

Strange things are happening on the remote and snowbound archipelago of St. Hauda’s Land. Unusual winged creatures flit around the icy bogland, albino animals hide themselves in the snow-glazed woods, and Ida Maclaird is slowly turning into glass. Ida is an outsider in these parts, a mainlander who has visited the islands only once before. Yet during that one fateful visit the glass transformation began to take hold, and now she has returned in search of a cure.

Midas Crook is a young loner who has lived on the islands his entire life. When he meets Ida, something about her sad, defiant spirit pierces his emotional defenses. As Midas helps Ida come to terms with her affliction, she gradually unpicks the knots of his heart. Love must be paid in precious hours and, as the glass encroaches, time is slipping away fast. Will they find a way to stave off the spread of the glass?

The Review

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this book, only that I've been dying to read for quite some time now and I finally managed to grab a copy of it at my local library. And look, after reading it and taking everything in and what just happened, there's not a lot to say about this book (and without spoiling it too) except that THE GIRL WITH GLASS FEET is one of the most beautiful reads I've across in adult fiction and I admit it did leave a few tears one my cheeks at the end of the book because it's so damn sad now. But in a good way of course.

I don't know what it was that drew me into this book, but I know Ali Shaw did such an amazing job bringing together a beautiful story with a European fairytale into the mix. With those two elements together, it was just simply breath-taking, especially in the little moments the main character, Ida, and her love interest, Midas, shared together and while we know Ida is . . . slowly turning to glass and perhaps is dying which we can also gather since turning into glass is kind of bad (well really bad in fact), but those little moments between those two very unique main characters . . . there was just something there that's so . . . I don't know . . . beautiful. Sad but very beautiful.

Overall, I'm quite speechless with this book because it's just SO GOOD, but all in all, THE GIRL WITH GLASS FEET was everything I was hoping for and more, and even though I still can't get over that sad ending it offered to me, but I loved this book and it was such a shiny gem this one!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Walker

Pages: 603pgs

The Story

In the riveting conclusion to the acclaimed dystopian series, a boy and girl caught in the chaos of war face devastating choices that will decide the fate of a world.

As a world-ending war surges around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions. The indigenous Spackle, thinking and acting as one, have mobilized to avenge their murdered people. Ruthless human leaders prepare to defend their factions at all costs, even as a convoy of new settlers approaches. And as the ceaseless Noise lays all thoughts bare, the projected will of the few threatens to overwhelm the desperate desire of the many. The consequences of each action, each word, are unspeakably vast: To follow a tyrant or a terrorist? To save the life of the one you love most, or thousands of strangers? To believe in redemption, or assume it is lost? Becoming adults amid the turmoil, Todd and Viola question all they have known, racing through horror and outrage toward a shocking finale.

The Review

This third and final book of Patrick Ness's brilliant-epic-amazing-riveting Chaos Walking trilogy, MONSTERS OF MEN, had really pushed everything over the limit (I mean really, really pushed it with just about everything its got) and by the time I started this book, the sooner I finished it not even realizing just how quickly I read it to begin with. It was crazy I tell you and my god, my god, my god, MY GOD. And what a book this one was! It was action-packed, adventurous beyond belief, emotionally-driven by all of its characters, mind-blowing, and just to sum it all it up . . . it was just like . . . WHOA. Consider myself speechless.

First off, let's talk about Todd and Viola. Honestly these two are the real thing when it comes to main characters and are the main reason why I loved this series as much as I did. So really, it pains me that I never picked up this book series sooner than I did, even after hearing so much about them. I mean, where has this series been hiding all of my life? I want to know because when it comes to Todd and Viola they are one of the strongest characters I have ever met in fiction and even for very young teenagers with so much more to learn . . . they just have this personality that makes them seem quite older than they are and whether they are apart in the book or are working together against crueler forces . . . they still manage to pull through just about everything that is thrown at them and be this unstoppable duo team who are full of courage, heart, intelligence and love. And speaking of love, Todd and Viola's love for each other and their impeccable sense of friendship was one of the most sweetest ones I've ever come across and what I can I say? I'm obsessed with them. Totally obsessed and I'm going to miss them terribly because honestly . . . if they were real people I would be stalking them right about now!

As for the most hated character in the entire book, that being the Mayor, I have to say his character out of everyone had really surprised me in this particular book - at least in a sense that he wasn't what we always thought him to be like. Sure he is what a typical villain should be like and he perhaps never made any heroic attempts to become a better man for everyone else involved in this war going on around him, but I actually felt really sorry for the guy, especially when he started to treat Todd like a second son and make a replacement out of him for the son he had killed in the second book. Yeah . . . he's a different kind of man Mr. Mayor.

Anyway, I don't know why I liked him so much in this book because it was like he was begging for me to hate him, but you could just tell that he loved Todd and admired him so much for his courage in war, and how he kind of wished for him to be the son he always wanted to have, even in his own twisted ways. So I really enjoyed his character despite him being the villain and all. He was - and still is - always interesting to me and is one of my favourite villains til this day and to me he is almost like Javert from Les Miserables - someone who isn't entirely a meanie, just someone who is misunderstood. Well, mostly. It's like, after reading this book, the Mayor was saying to me . . .

Then there's that cliffhanger! Oh that cliffhanger of an ending killed me! Literally. While the ending - to me at least - felt like an open ending for a possibility of another book (though I highly doubt it) but I also think it's the kind of ending where we, as the reader, interpret it in our own way with what happened and in my mind the ending ended perfectly and in a way that surprised me. It was really cruel of course this ending, but mostly it was perfect and was quite clever too. Not to mention completely different to most endings in YA book series and I like that difference. It makes this book stand out even more . . . just . . . gah. I still can't explain my feels on this one without doing it justice.

Overall, MONSTERS OF MEN was so darn good and I can't even think straight because I'm mind-blown by everything that I have just read. So I'm incredibly happy with this book but I'm also incredibly sad too because this series is now over and I just don't know what to do with myself anymore . . . there's this void in my heart and I just don't know how to fix it! I just don't know.

The Rating

5/5 stars

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze & Rina Onur

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 312pgs

The Story

Congratulations! You have been admitted to the most prestigious university in the world. Now what are you going to do?

Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with

Gregory

the guy she loves to hate ...

Evan

the guy she'd love to forget ...

Clint

the guy she'd love to love ...

and Matt

the guy she really should love ...

all vying for her attention.

But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.

Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard?

The Review

A big thanks to Holly on Goodreads for swapping books with me for a copy of this book!

From the cute guys to the feisty girls to the whole college experience, I actually thought THE IVY was a pretty decent read. There was certainly a lot of drama going on in this book - like a lot, A LOT of drama as I already expected from this book - and while it wasn't exactly spectacular in any sense, but I can definitely see its potential later on in the series and why some readers enjoyed the book as well.

In regards to the characters, I thought all of them were pretty good. They're not people I would necessarily like or be friends with if they were real people, but each one had their own set of personal quirks and personality styles that I found were easy to connect with because there was always a character where I could say, 'I knew someone like that back in the day.' As for our main character, the "smart", "talented" and "high achiever", Callie, she wasn't exactly all of that and she may have made a  few choices here and there that seemed too immature for her age (it seemed more high school-like her drama than college), but I still managed to like her and sympathize with what was going on in her life. And, as for the romantic love interests, they were the only downer of this book. They're not swoon-worthy, but it'll still be interesting how all of that develops later in the series.

Overall, THE IVY may not be everyone's cup of tea but that's okay. Some books are like that. As for me, I really enjoyed this book in the end and it has really got my curiosity going after what happened at the end . . . so I'm going to continue with this series in hopes something good happens in the sequel and where there is more development (and perhaps more romance) when it comes to the characters. So if you love a cross-over between Mean Girls and Gossip Girl, you're definitely going to love this book!

The Rating

3/5 stars

The Blood Countess by Tara Moss

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Pages: 389pgs

The Story

Pandora English is no ordinary small town orphan. When she's invited to live with her mysterious Great-Aunt Celia in New York City, she seizes the opportunity to escape her stifling hometown break from her tragic past and make it as a writer. Things, however, are not what she is expecting. For starters, her great-aunt's Gothic mansion is in a mist-wreathed Manhattan suburb that doesn't appear on maps. And then there's Celia herself - a former designer to the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age - who is elegant, unnaturally young and always wearing a veil. Pandora lands a job at a fashion magazine and her first assignment is covering the A-list launch of the latest miracle cream, Blood of Youth. But something is not right about the product, nor Athanasia, the drop-dead beautiful face of the brand. It seems there may be a secret ingredient in Blood of Youth, a secret worth killing for...

The Review

I have been a small-time fan of Tara Moss's adult crime books so when I heard she was moving into the paranormal genre, I thought it would be really perfect for her. Now I've owned this book for a couple of years now and it's been sitting on my bookshelf for what seems like forever and I do remember reading some of the book but I never quite finished it due to a busy schedule of mine. However now, after finally reading and finishing it, I enjoyed it immensely.

THE BLOOD COUNTESS has a little bit of everything needed in a paranormal book - including elements of well-hidden conspiracies, century-year-old ghosts, intriguing vampires, and all sorts of villains with the unusual zombie here and there. It was all needless to say an unique read and was one I could see many enjoying as well.

While we are surrounded with plenty of entertaining and memorable supporting characters, but Pandora's voice, the main character, had stood out the most to me as she was a pretty easy-going narrator and one I had followed through with without too many troubles along the way. So personally for me she is someone who is relatable to everyone in one shape or form because she had showed such strength in the book and never gave up in the terms of her own survival, so I think because of that . . . many readers will love her, especially towards the end of the book where she shows the most courage.

Overall, THE BLOOD COUNTESS is very cleverly written and it's a great escape from Tara Moss's usual crime-fighting world. I would highly recommended this paranormal series to those fans of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight and Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series!

The Rating

3 1/2 / 5 stars

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Pages: 586pgs

The Story

You can't always run from danger . . .

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden's Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn't mean danger isn't far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery - but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raise ana'Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will ofer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

The Review

In ranks with some of my favourite books of all time including Lord of the Rings, Eragon and A Game of Thrones, I too absolutely adored Cinda Williams Chima's The Demon King, the first book in the series, and I wished I had read this series sooner than I did because this series alone is a true beauty that stood out from all the rest and this fantasy world Chima has managed to create . . . is something that just fascinates me to the core.

With her second installment of the Seven Realms series, THE EXILED QUEEN sure doesn't disappoint its readers and if anything, from the superb character development to the exciting, fast-paced action sequences, everything just keeps on getting better and better as the series progresses which only pumps up my enthusiasm once more. THE EXILED QUEEN continues the story of where The Demon King left off from, where the book is told alternatively by two of our main characters, Han Alister and Princess Raisa. However unlike the setting we've seen from the previous installment, this time round the majority of the book takes place in Oden's Ford with Raisa disguising herself as a cadet for Corporal Byrne, fearing for her own life, her own kingdom and not to mention she's also trying to escape an arranged marriage, and as for Han, who is now currently traveling with his friend companion, Dancer, he wants to be enlisted into a Wizardry school so he can gain the necessary training for his new and dangerous powers that could - and will - possibly destroy an entire kingdom. But as these two teens tread through many triumphs and downfalls, to the strict and cut-throat politics of this mundane and magical world, Han Alister and Princess Raisa will soon cross paths again and every single decision they choose to make will affect both themselves and for the rest of their lives.

Here's the thing about this particular book series . . . I'm so in love with the characters. Literally I love every single one of them, no matter the wrongs they do to themselves and to others! I mean, much like with another favourite book series of mine, the popular A Game of Thrones, neither character is painted as fully good or fully evil which only goes to prove what a great book series this actually is because I believe every character can have many sides to them, no just one entirely! But out of all the characters the two major ones I love most with all my heart and soul is of course the main characters we see through their lives, Han Alister and Princess Raisa ana'Marianna, who totally deserve more praise than other readers are willing to give them.

Han and Raisa couldn't be anymore different. Han basically lives in the slums whereas Raisa lives in total luxury or so it would seem at first. Han knows nothing more than of the dangers in the world and being the common criminal whereas Raisa knows nothing more than being presentable for her kingdom and looking pretty for the suitors who want to marry her to gain power and status. The list goes on when it comes to these two main characters but as you can see this hero and heroine are completely different and yet when they cross paths with one another, they couldn't be any more than perfect for each other . . . ahhhhh . . . I just adore them so, so much! The same goes with the supporting characters too and in particular with Raisa's I guess "bodyguard" Amon, who is so super sweet to Raisa and so beyond the line of duty that he possesses. I just adore him as well. But to get to real point, what I love more about this sequel compared to the first book was having more moments shared between Amon/Raisa and Han/Raisa, making me LOVE this book even more than I already do right now. So well done Chima for doing that to me!

Overall, THE EXILED QUEEN was so AWESOME in many respects and it was the sequel I expected it to be like so I'm one happy reader! To prove a point here, it's the kind of book that needs to be read by all if you catch my drift even if you might think it's not your cup of tea because in all honesty I believe this book is underrated for the most part which is a real shame since this series is so brilliant in every way, shape and form! I just LOVE it so, so much! Obviously.

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Puffin

Pages: 276pgs

The Story

Some summers are just destined to be pretty.

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer - they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

The Review

Oh wow, why didn't I read this book sooner? I knew bloggers and other authors alike have been non-stop raving about this book since its release back in 2010 and talking about the author's talents in creating the perfect book, but for whatever reason I overlooked this title and hadn't thought much about it until now. And then after I read it, it quickly became one of those rare books that changes your life forever (well, so to speak) and it's by far one of my favourite YA romance books of all time! An unforgettable one to be honest with you.

Reading THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is almost like watching your favourite tv program such as The OC where you're daydreaming about yourself attending those bonfire parties on the beach, hanging out with your friends like the world had stopped just for you - for only you - to enjoy those fun-filled moments that you may never experience again and falling for those beautiful boys with the timeless summer romances that comes along with them. Combining all of those elements together that's exactly what you get inside of this book and if not more than you first expect from it, and no matter the cutesy love . . . it was perfect in every single way.

Belly, the main character, tells her story through the present times and through several flashbacks of past summers - the different memories she had whilst growing up as a kid. Not even once did this distract me, switching back-and-forth, because all of her experiences and memories were needed to truly understand what Belly was going through in the actual book. The heartbreaks she's suffered, the intense feelings she had - and still has - for her long-time unrequited love, and also the strong bond ties that she's never dared to cut with her childhood friends. In this present times story of Belly's, she is now sixteen-years-old and has returned with her mother to the beach house where she used to live in from past summers, and she soon reunites with her friends, brothers named Conrad and Jeremiah. Upon seeing them again, everything from the tension, the jealousy and the heartbreak will soon come to a head, and Belly will need to find out what exactly 'growing up' means for her and for everyone else.

While I do enjoy the summer romances and the teenage themes displayed throughout this book, but what made this story even more remarkable than it was already was the characters and the realism the author brought into her characters - both in the boys and in the girls. For Belly as the main narrator, she was such a gem and was presented in a way where I, myself, could relate to her on many levels. I may not have had two gorgeous brothers as my best friends in my own childhood but her strength to keep going, believing in the best of everyone, and her capability of dealing with the most difficult of all things - love - is something to really admire about her. Some reviewers suggested Belly was 'too whiny' for her own good, but I say she was a girl who was still trying to find herself in the world like all of us must do eventually and no matter the angst she experiences . . . that's what teenagers are. Whiny. Complicated. Confused. Angry. Self-doubting. Naive. It's all written in this book in a way of today and come on . . . we've all experienced teenage angst at least once in our lives.

Lastly, I need to mention the two leading young men of this story. The dark, the alluring, the mysterious, the bad-boy Conrad (the unattainable one Belly has FOREVER loved) and his funny, doting, and charming brother Jeremiah (the one Belly had her first kiss with). In my own past time I've read about many boys with their own sets of appeals, but these two boys right here have really cut it for me - to be one of the best and the most honest of them all. With Conrad's character, he maybe frustrating for the most part, but there's so much more to Conrad's character and personality than meets the eye. After all, he's dealing with a lot of heavy stuff. Whereas Jeremiah, the good guy, is the exact opposite of Conrad. He's the boy that would make any girl happy to be around with. He's the boy that mother dearest would approve of. But like so many fangals out there of this series, it's Team Jerad because you change your minds with who you love more with both of the boys like . . . constantly. Especially when it comes to the boy's love of their mother. For those who've read this book already and have witnessed how the boys love their mother . . . it kind of hits home for me.

Overall, THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is an absolutely solid and splendid summer story. It's about a young girl deciding to grow up and take control of her live, but also falling in love all over again and find out what it means to be loved by somebody. If you love those sweet romances with the sweetest boys ever presented in a contemporary YA novel, then this book is most definitely something for you! I'm still deciding who I like best - Conrad or Jeremiah? Hmmm it's very hard to choose between them let me tell you!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Release Date: 7th September, 2010

Publisher: Little Brown/Poppy

Pages: 280pgs

The Story

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff", she throws a Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly wrong. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

The Review

Bianca Piper is quite content with her everyday life. Being pretty smart, unafraid to speak her mind, having two best friends that she cares a lot about and having an innocent long-time crush on a boy who doesn't know she exists, that being Toby Tucker, there's no reason to change anything in her life right now. But that's until Wesley comes into the picture. Already feeling overshadowed by her two good-looking best friends, Casey and Jessica, Bianca is disgusted when man-whore (pardon my term but it is true because the terms relates to the character so well) Wesley comes along and calls her 'the Duff' - the designated ugly fat friend. And as much as Bianca wants to hate him and tear him into tiny little pieces - by ignoring and continuing to hate him - she's also drawn to him but for all the wrong reasons. And, as it turns out, Wesley isn't as bad as he seems and not all that he appears to be which complicates Bianca's life much, much more.

When I first read reviews on THE DUFF and read many mixed opinions concerning the novel, I wasn't entirely sure whether to have a crack at it or not. For one, some people had said it wasn't enjoyable as they hoped, and two, some said they couldn't connect to any of the character. But I'm so glad that I changed my mind and bought this novel. While I understand readers concerns, I didn't see anything super wrong with this novel. Personally for me, the major appeal of this novel is that it's written by a very young author, someone close to my age, and that alone held great inspiration to me since I too want to become an author. With that being said, I actually loved this book and I loved Kody Keplinger's writing style - its simplicity and rawness in details. THE DUFF examines insecurities in teenage girls (including the whole deal of body image issues), dealing with boys, and not to mention the heavily explored issue of teen sexuality. Sex is the main element of this book and the way Keplinger writes it . . . she sure doesn't shy away from it. Which I admire also. Reading about Bianca and Wesley's sexscapades - while it being a little unrealistic at times, but I appreicated the way it was written and it was pretty dawn sexy.

Okay let's talk about the characters. Bianca Piper was great character. With her heart being broken in the past, it has turned her into a very smart, cynical and sarcastic young lady. I couldn't exactly say I 'related' to Bianca on a personal level, but I did see why she did what she did. A lot of teenagers in dire family situations want to escape from their lives and nowadays kids do pretty crazy things. Sex . . . drugs . . . you name it. Bianca's life isn't exactly a happy picnic and I totally understand why she thought Wesley Rush was the solution to all her problems. But let's just say, Wesley himself would be the last person I would want to deal with but I loved him anyway.

Wesley Rush get's a lot of love and praise from me. I admit, I wasn't sure what to expect from him nor understand why so many people loved him. Or hated him. When you first met this character, readers will know straight off that Wesley is a complete jerk, because he likes to sleep around no matter the girl he's with and clearly he's not a nice guy at the beginning by the way he treats Bianca and calling her the famous words of 'the Duff'. But once the many layers are removed from Wesley, you finally get to see why he acts the way he does and why Bianca fell in love with him. He's dealing with issues much like her's - trying to find some way of coping with his everyday life. His relationship - if that's what you would call it - with Bianca was very intense and sometimes irritating, but I loved the way this relationship reminded me so much of Gossip Girl's Blair and Chuck relationship. There's outwitting of each other. Steamy kisses and love scenes. And like most YA novels, there's plenty of teen angst to go around. However, despite my love for these two teens, the only flaw I had with this book was how Wesley changed his ways. Some people can change others bad ways, but in Wesley's case I found it a little bit unbelievable and for me it happened rather too quickly. Other than that, Wes and Bianca were fantastic characters to have.

Overall, by the time you finish this novel and learn from the characters common mistakes, readers will come to the realisation that everyone can be a 'Duff'. It could be your gorgeous best friend or just plain old you. And whether you're a Duff or not, it doesn't matter because you should love yourself for who you are no matter the ugly sides of us. We all have them. On a whole, THE DUFF is brilliant debut novel for Kody Keplinger and she's captured the beautiful essence of teenage experiences: peer pressure, problematic families and friendships themselves. If you love something a little gritty for a YA novel, then be sure to pick this book up! It's one of the angsty novels you're ever going to read and one of the best at that!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Release Date: 5th October, 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 315pgs

The Story

How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend, Isaac, alive, and the first to find him dead. It was another night, just another party, just another time when Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn't wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend's death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth soon realizes he isn't the only one who needs saving . . .

The Review

FREEFALL is an absolute breath of fresh air in young adult fiction. It might not have been my ultimate favourite when it comes to YA contemporary, but with a much darker side of a boy's crazy-driven life and a somewhat clever depiction of high school normality, Mindi Scott's debut novel brings the right amount of heavy issues - ones that impact us as a society - as well as touching on the true reality of how teenagers act, think, and feel in our everyday lives. Whether it's about drugs, sex or dealing with peer pressure itself, it's what happens to most kids and in this book it was written very well.

Lately I've been a huge fan of the male perspective and when I read the storyline of FREEFALL, I knew almost immediately that I had to read this book (especially with a simple and yet effective cover like this one!). I think what I miss most about these type of books is the male's view on life since there's so little of them voicing in YA fiction. And that's a real shame since there's way too many female perspectives in books and I think its one of the main reasons why boys don't read so much as they should be. After all . . . what's so appealing to a boy when reading the inside of a girl's mind? This book however is a nice change up and I could definitely see a lot of boys enjoying this novel.

In FREEFALL it tells the story of Seth McCoy who is your average teenage boy - or rather was. Because everything changed when his best friend died from binge drinking. Haunted by regrets in his past, Seth continues to fight through the unsteady world of high school life and find a place of safety for himself, in order to getaway from everything that he used to love. Especially music.

Seth for me was such an authentic character and he was written in a great boy-ish manner that I think girl readers can easily appeal to. He's the kind of character that is constantly trying to find himself - like so many teenagers are nowadays - but he is continuing to be pulled down into the very dangerous world of sex, drugs and alcohol, which again a lot of teenagers find themselves involved with when suffering from a tragic event in their lives. Even with a loss of a friend. The same goes with the other supporting characters who were just as dynamic as Seth was. Sure most of the characters had their faults, but they had a meaning to Seth's story. Rosetta, for example, is one of those characters. She's beautiful and rich, but she has an element of mystery about her, and much like Seth, you will be drawn to her character. And I think what I liked most about this book was their relationship, Seth and Rosetta's, that was a bumpy road at first but in the end . . . it was damn interesting to read about their struggle and their own personal demons. They had great chemistry.

Despite my liking of what was discussed in the book, the only reason why I'm giving this book 3 stars is because I couldn't exactly 'connect' with the characters themselves - either it's because I wouldn't be friends with them in real life (definitely not) or because they have way more issues than I, myself, do. Back when I was in high school, sure there were drugs floating amongst ourselves but that's not exactly the typical high school life like the teenagers in this book experienced. Trust me here - there's a lot of heavy stuff going on throughout the novel. Also another reason - another problem - was Seth. I liked him on a whole as character and I realize he was going through the several stages of grief, but some of the things he'd done in the past were not so swoon-worthy and he treated people - the girl's most - with some disrespect but he came through eventually which I was glad to see. Overall, FREEFALL is a very well-written contemporary novel and is an excellent read for people looking for something a little different.

The Rating

3/5 stars

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Pages: 287pgs

The Story

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre . . . to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria . . . to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own - scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history - and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

The Review

Okay here's a well-known fact about me - I love heist stories! Love them! But ages ago when I picked up this book on a whim at the library, I unfortunately never finished it because I was either 1) not in the mood or 2) because I wasn't all that interested in the first few chapters. So for this year when I eventually bought a cheap copy of the book, I decided to give it a second attempt due to the many raving reviews and as I flipped through the pages, I managed to finish it and now to my surprise I actually really liked it. It had a fun story, interesting characters and plenty of fun twists, and I could definitely picture this book becoming a movie and being a truly great one for teens. For those who've seen the film The Italian Job, then you'll going to love this book right here!

Unlike the classic tales of Robin Hood and Aladdin, Katarina Bishop - the main heroine of this snazzy story - is not just your stereotypical thief with a hidden agenda and a heart of gold. She's a thief with some sympathy, a thief with a loving family, and a thief with a very, very complicated lifestyle. What can I say? I'm a huge fan of the thief life and the saying of being "in the family business", which is always a great twist for any storyline. I admit, some of the heist activities featured were a little unrealistic at times and some of the events weren't clearly explained like I wanted them to, but neither of these things bothered me all too much. Everything was a bag full of tricks and I love the story for it!

While the storyline was part of the reason why I liked the book but for me the character's were the strongest point. I loved Kat's sassy, self-assured and confident side, and I can see why a lot of readers liked her so much as the main character and why they could connect with her instantly. In this case of loving this particular character, I'm quite glad that I gave this book another go and got the chance to meet Katarina herself. As for Katarina's co-conspirator, Hale, he had amazing chemisty with Kat and he too had some sexy personality hidden underneath his belt. I loved the way he always tried to understand Kat for who she is and I loved how he complemented her so, so well. Also, it's a plus to know there's a mystery behind Hale's first name, which is a really nice touch for Ally Carter's writing. And I'm dying to know what that name is like everyone else!

With an intriguing fast-paced story, plenty of interesting locations including the stylish streets of Paris all the way to the likes of the crazy Las Vegas, Ally Carter paints a vivid picture of places where a lot of young readers would only dream of. And she did it with awesomeness. Overall this was a fun, quick and an easy-to-read book with a variety of elements to satisfy any sort of readers.

The Rating

4/5 stars

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Pages: 368pgs

The Story

London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?

Meticulously based on newly discovered information, this riveting novel is as rich in historical detail as Catherine, Called Birdy, and as sizzling with intrigue as The Luxe.

The Review

I picked up this book on a whim at the local library. But for two reasons and two reasons only. For one, because of the gorgeous vintage-like cover which immediately drew my attention to it. And two, because the story revolved around Queen Victoria whom I've been fascinated by for a while now. For the last year or so I've been getting back into the historical genre and I'm glad to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would. Once I started reading it I couldn't dare myself to put it down and the writing was spectacularly awesome and I'm sure a lot of readers who don't love historical fiction will end up loving this one.

Without revealing too much of the storyline, what I loved most was how Michaela MacColl's had written the most engaging characters and developed them into this empowering storyline. PRISONERS IN THE PALACE had a little bit of everything: drama, suspense, deception, romance, humour and intrigue, but when the author used various newspaper articles, journal entries and other written letters, it made the book even more fascinating than it already was. And based on everything I've read, what surprised me was how closely the book followed true facts of Queen Victoria- the young girl before becoming a Queen - and her London society, which added an in-depth realism to the book in question.

For me the main character, Liza, was a great protagonist and in the time period she was surrounded in, I enjoyed reading and relating to her experiences that all women face regardless of the era - the longing for love, acceptance, success, and the most important one of all, independence. I admired her strength in an all-man world, her determination, her courage and the way she encouraged the young Victoria that went beyond her expected duties . . . something that was much more than a servant and royalty relationship.

Supported by other intriguing characters such as the adorable Will, the young entreprener who publishes his own news, and the humourous scoundrel Inside Boy who surprises you in every turn he makes, I just loved their characters and their own personalities, especially Will's. But what made this book even more special was learning about Victoria before she became the peoples' Queen and the events that unfolded before such events occurred. It was a real treat.

The great thing about historical fiction is that everyone can love it. And I thought Michaela MacColl did an amazing job with her research and the way the romance outshined the historical aspect. Ahhhhh . . . how I loved the romance and how it didn't dominate the storyline. It was very sweet to read about. Overall if you love historical fiction or - like me - were already interested in Victoria's young life before she became the Queen or perhaps are looking for something interesting to read in your spare time, then definitely go out to your local library or go buy it yourself, because with well-rounded characters and a great, well-plotted storyline, PRISONERS IN THE PALACE was such a delightful read and I wished it didn't have to end.

The Rating

4/5 stars

Radiance by Alyson Noel

Release Date: 4th February, 2011

Publisher: Macmillan Childrens Books

Pages: 183pgs

The Story

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife - a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she's summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn't an eternity of leisure. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who's definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley's first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .

The Review

The main reason why I picked up this book is because I received book two from the publishers, so it makes sense to start with the first one of the series.

RADIANCE is the spin-off to Alyson Noel's Immortals series and unlike that series, this one is told through the perspective of Ever's dead younger sister, Riley. Right from the start readers will get to see how Riley is dealing with her own death as well as how she really feels about walking away from Ever, then venturing into the afterlife of Here and Now. Now here's the thing: I loved Riley in Evermore and I'm glad we finally get to read her story, seeing exactly what she's up to. In this book, Riley has a lot of spunk about her - which I love her for - however there were times where I found her quite annoying. I don't know whether it's because this is a middle grade novel or because the main character is a 12-year-old girl, which seems unappealing to me since I'm way older, but either way, this book is recommended more for younger readers. But that doesn't mean it's wasn't a good read, because it was . . . in a fun and quick sort of way.

I admit, I rarely read short books. Very rarely. The issue with shorter books - at least for me - is that they lack in character and story development. For Noel's spin-off RADIANCE, it was a shame in novel length especially when the author here had great potential in making this spin-off series a real kicker. But despite some 'little' things that I didn't like, I was still invested in the unique take on the afterlife. Anyway without getting into too much detail since it's a pretty quick-paced story and since I read this book under a half hour, I will say this book will most likely be enjoyed by a younger audience. However, if you're like me who'd read the Immortals series, then RADIANCE is a nice addition to Noel's writing.

The Rating

3/5 stars

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Release Date: 28th December, 2010

Publisher: Murdoch Books

Pages: 292pgs

The Story

Beware of a kiss under the full moon.

It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to heading scary stories about werewolves - Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everyething in the small town until the mysterious Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run. Despite already having the perfect boyfriend, Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. After a chance encounter late one night with a pack of wolves, Celeste is rescued by gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon. Is Brandon's transformation a trick of shadows in the moonlight? Or is there more to the werewolf stories of Legend's Run?

The Review

Hmmmmm how should I put this? I absolutely loved Ellen Schreiber's series Vampire Kisses and while they aren't your EPIC reads of the entire reading world, but they're cute and adorable ones that everyone will enjoy. When it came to Schreiber's new young adult series and when I found out this time she was going to be writing about werewolves, I immediately thought of a win-win type of book. Sadly though, I didn't enjoy this one . . . not one bit except that it was about werewolves. That's about it I'm afraid. I feel really bad for not enjoying ONCE IN A FULL MOON and I feel bad because I'm a fan of Schreiber's other series . . . but damn I'm really sorry to the author. Clearly this book wasn't for me.

The main problem of the book was the characters! I loved the setting of Legend's Run and the 'scary' werewolf stories being told throughout the events of the novel, but the characters were the real let down when it came to ONCE IN A FULL MOON. Celeste was the issue. When I read a book and cannot AT ALL connect with the main character, the story is pretty much going to fly by without a care. Same goes for the love interest - Brandon. I thought, "Oh cool there's a hot new boy and he'll totally be mysterious . . . " but he wasn't mysterious at all and I felt like I was watching a parody unfold, like it was Taylor Lautner without the abs. *insert pouty face* And there I thought the supporting cast were terrible. *sighs* The one pro that I would give Schreiber was her take on the werewolf myth. It was a little different than most werewolf takes in young adult fiction. Other than that, sadly for me, Celeste and Brandon fell in love too quickly, there were some one liners that were really cheesy, and everything else was too rushed for my own liking.

But here's the thing. ONCE IN A FULL MOON is definitely a book for you if you like quick-romances and especially if you're a younger reader. For those Vampire Kisses fans, this book maybe a little similiar in the romance aspects but it's very different - at least to me - from her other series. The writing is aimed more at a younger audience and maybe that's why I didn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to, so if you can get passed the cliche lines and the lack of character development, then I say good luck to you!

The Rating

2/5 stars

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Release Day: 12th October, 2010

Publisher: Little Brown/Razorbill

Pages: 503pgs

The Story

Ethan used to think of Gatlin, the small southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that has been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of undeground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

The Review

Shamefully I had this book on the shelf for quite some time since the release of BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS but I never had the chance to read it. You know, since I have and own soooooo many books nowadays. But thankfully, I had some time to settle down and read it. In the first book of the Caster Chronicles series, Beautiful Creatures, I remember how much I loved it and it had become one of my favourite paranormal books in the young adult book department! However, in this sequel, I was very disappointed . . . not in the writing but more so in the way the events unfolded. There were some moments that definitely surprised me, but there were others that left me going, "Oh, come on!"

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS was quite hard to get into and the only time I felt myself engaged with the book was after the half of the book was read . . . that's when the real action happens. Without spoiling the events in this sequel, I'll just give you a run down what I loved and hated about the book. Okay, what I loved? I loved Ethan's character and in this book he only proved himself to be a real worthy main character, and I love him for it! He remains strong throughout all the Hell-ish things that are thrown at him and he always impresses me in the way he handles things. As for Lena . . . well, I'll get to her later. But when it comes to Liv, a new character introduced to the book series, I just loved her to death! She's funny, a little quirky, and VERY smart! To be honest, I wanted her and Ethan to get together but since that seem beyond impossible . . . that's a reason why I didn't like the book so much. But Ridley earns herself some points! She maybe dark on the inside and a little annoying, but she definitely knows how to make you laugh! Same goes with Link!

Moving on, let's talk about what I didn't like about BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS. First off, LENA! Now in the first book, I loved Lena's character and I could relate to her . . . but in this sequel I lost track of what I loved about her from the beginning because not only does she annoy me, but she depresses me. She has her reasons, of course. Still . . . I was tired of hearing her complain about her choice in turning Dark or Light, and most importantly . . . I hated the way she treated her suppose "boyfriend", pushing Ethan away to "protect him". But if this was "true love" as they say it to be, then I don't believe in it. Another thing I didn't like was John Breed (cause I expected a total badass and got nothing great) and I hated the way things turned out at the ending pages . . . *sighs* MAJOR LET DOWN! I wished I could go into further details about the book but since that would spoil it for those who haven't had a chance to pick this big baby up . . . I won't say another word!

Overall, BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS was still a very entertaining book though I have to warn you: stuff doesn't really happen until you pass the middle half of the book. Despite my dislikes of events here and there, there is certainly a lot of twists and little surprises along the way, some that really surprised me and others that just make me shake my head and sigh. So, if you've read Beautiful Creatures, expect this book to have a very different vibe . . . it's a bit darker and a bit crazier!

The Rating

3 1/2 / 5 stars

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Release Day: 2nd December, 2010

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Pages: 411pgs

The Story

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with a crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in with a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and conflicting, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - from one's family and for another.

The Review

I had very high expectations before I started this book. I've heard the many praises about it and although I haven't read Jenny Downham's previous novel, Before I Die, the storyline seemed very promising and indeed I was right. It's quite unusual for me to love a book like this since I don't usually read contemporary-like books. To be honest, YOU AGAINST ME didn't exactly BLOW my mind, but with all the intense emotions running throughout the book . . . it was certainly a very well thought out book and beautifully-written, leaving you with a very calm feeling by the time you reach the last page of the book. And I liked that feeling.

The main thing I loved about YOU AGAINST ME was the switching of points of view between the two main characters, Ellie and Mikey. Both of them are going through a very difficult time and it was great to see what's going through their minds, comparing their sides of the story and the two worlds they live in. As for the romantic relationship itself, the way it builds between these two characters . . . finally for ONCE it felt realistic and believable and it kind of reminded me of a Romeo & Juliet style of a relationship, but with a more modern day feel to it. Sometimes the characters were selfish and stupid, but as the pages kept on flipping and you suddenly become addicted to the storyline, you can then completely understand why they did what they did and I'm glad the way things turned out.

Now as for the general topic of the book - that being rape - that again, like the relationship itself, seemed very real to me too. Rape is a very sensitive issue that we talk about and explore in today's society and sometimes when it's portrayed in young adult books, it can also become quite a frightening and uncomfortable discussion. Especially nowadays. But not for me, not when it comes down to this particular book. I think the author, Jenny Downham, wrote the issue of rape with complete seriousness and most importantly she wrote it in a way that sympathizes with all of the characters involved. For that being the families that have to suffer along with the victims, and for that I was grateful with how well written that was!

While the ending didn't exactly resolve everything, but it leaves the reader to question things on their own terms and decide for themselves what would've happened if all the questions were answered. I like those guessing endings if they're done well and it definitely was. Nonetheless, YOU AGAINST ME is a fast-paced and a beautiful love story in its own way! With the likes of love, loyalty, and courage being displayed throughout the book . . . it only goes to show that you would do anything for family and protect those you love the most! It was bloody brilliant!

The Rating

5/5 stars