REVIEW: 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

99 Days by Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Day: April 21, 2015
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 5/5
Get it: Amazon

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me. 

My thoughts, feelings and reactions

Katie Cotugno had me at her first novel, How to Love, and even more so with her second in 99 Days. I was consumed, enamored, and swept up in the craziness of Molly’s summer back home. I couldn’t wait to finish her story. 



Can I just say that Molly’s love life was one big unexpected roller coaster ride?! It was very  compelling to read because throughout the book, she struggles with the stares, the whispered remarks, the cruelty of her old friends turning on her all the while having the Donnelly brothers back on her radar. She tries her hardest to get through the days that she has until she goes back to school. During this summer back home, Molly tries to find herself, figure out what she wants in life, mend the friendships she lost, and ultimately decide whether to fix what was broken between her and the Donnelly brothers. 



Right off the bat I knew that Molly would be a tough character. I would have either disliked her from what she did or go head first into her world and see her side of the things. So I have to say that reading 99 Days, you will need an open mind about Molly because I promise that Cotugno will show you the truth. And while the truth is not easy to read you will develop a totally different perspective and understanding in Molly’s situation. 

99 Days is not just about Molly getting through those days, but showing you what lead to Molly and Gabe’s indiscretion. Molly is not perfect by any means and she does make some major mistakes in this book. But for all the wrong choices she made, I still loved her. She was still a bright, smart young girl who had a lot to offer. She didn’t just mope around or hide all summer. She actually made her 99 days work for her. And even with what happened between her and the Donnelly boys, she didn’t deserved to be ridiculed and bullied or driven away from her home. 



I also thought this book really showed the unfairness of how Molly got all the backlash, all the hate while Gabe barely had any. No one that was really close to Molly put a stop to it. It was not to say that Gabe didn’t have any sort of consequence with what happened, but it was plainly obvious that it wasn’t as harsh as the way Molly was tormented. She wasn’t the only at fault, but in a situation like this, she was put as the ultimate bad guy for coming in between the brothers. It really sucked to have to see all that hate geared toward Molly.



99 Days is not a second chance love story, and in my opinion I don’t think it’s a love story at all. Sure, there was romance, but that wasn’t the point or the message I read in between the lines. I thought it was about forgiveness, friendship, and self-discovery. It was about learning from one’s mistakes and becoming the bigger, better person. And I think Molly did that. Like I said, she’s not such an easy character to love or even like, but you really learn to see her side of things, you feel for her as a person.



Overall, I thought 99 Days was a really good book. You have to read Molly’s story to understand the bigger picture between her and the Donnelly boys. I think readers will appreciate a character who makes huge mistakes as a human can do and learn to deal and move forward because of it. 

*Thanks to HarperTeen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor

Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 2.5/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early decision, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either. 

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

I fell in love with Melissa Kantor’s Maybe One Day. It tugged on my heart strings and stayed with me long after I finished the novel. It was only natural for me to be intrigued by her following book, Better Than Perfect. I was excited to dive into the book and I was ready for many emotions to come pouring out of the page. Sadly, I did not get the feels from Better than Perfect the way I did with Maybe One Day. 



Better Than Perfect hints on the realization that the aspirations and dreams that a person strived for isn’t what they wanted after all. This is all seen through the main character, Juliet, who supposedly leads a perfect life with a good family and loving boyfriend and a bright future at a prestige university. While this all seemed something I or anyone could relate to, my detachment and utter lack of concern or care for Juliet was impossible to ignore. 

It was already apparent that Juliet didn’t have a perfect life (who does anyway?) and was not entirely happy with the lot she had. Throughout the course of the book, Juliet faces the dilemma of deviating from all she has ever known and loved and planned while giving in to the urge to try something totally different like dying her hair and singing in a rock band. This all sounded oh so interesting, but lacked in delivery and development and left me bored. 



Many points, conflicts and topics get touched on like Juliet’s mother’s depression and her strained relationship with her father. Those were probably the best parts because of the way the whole perfect concept got shattered by her family. It was the pushing moment to get Juliet to explore other possibilities. However, it wasn’t the center of the book. Those family developments were few and far between and had me wishing there was just...more. The ultimate let down was Juliet’s journey to figure out what she wanted. She really just skated on by with her boyfriend, doing random things and most of the things she did and tried I forgot because they weren’t really important or worthy of remembrance. This especially goes for the misleading romance vibe I got from the summary with Declan. I thought it was a pointless plot line that didn’t tickle my fancy at all.



The message was supposed to be clear cut about being able to lead a life you want without hindrance but this got lost in the void with Juliet’s choices and how much I really couldn’t care for her feelings. I was mostly disappointed by her actions until the very end where she finally pulls herself together a little too late for my taste. 

*Thanks to HarperTeen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Solitaire by Alice Oseman
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 30, 2015
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N

In case you're wondering, this is not a love story.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that's all over now.

Now there's Solitaire. And Michael Holden.

I don't know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don't care about Michael Holden.
I really don't.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

To be quite honest, while I was reading Solitaire, I wasn’t exactly sure what in god’s name the book was really about and what the freaking point was until near the end. But I enjoyed the mysteriousness of what Solitaire was, how it was true to the tagline of not being a love story and how the writing felt like one flow of conversational thoughts that just clicked and worked for the main character. 



Meet a non optimistic, bored, teenaged girl in her Year 12 named Victoria Spring or Tori for short. I thought I wouldn’t like this girl, but the more she showed who she was, I sort of kind of fell for her. She had little quirks about herself that made her interesting such as her not liking people, how she really could care less about certain things, how she was awkward, how she hated the invention of the phone, but loves to blog. Tori was comically cynical and perpetually sarcastic, and her slightly pessimistic demeanor about school and her life in general was refreshing. She was snarky at her best and sleepy at her worst and I liked her for being so brutally honest and opinionated despite the fact that she hated reading books and Disney moves and  had an uncanny ability to have a negative comment about anything and everything. But she was entertaining, yet relatable because she struggled with school, starting conversations with people and making friends. She just felt like a genuine, authentic teenager you could meet these days. 



To counter the pessimistic attitude from Tori, there was Michael. He was the opposite of Tori in a lot of ways, but at the same time he also thought like her too. He just didn’t show it or voice it as much as she did on the outside. Michael was eccentric and loud at best and wacky and weird at his worst, which wasn’t really all that bad if you ask me. He would pop up at the most randomest of times and wouldn’t fail to find Tori and kind of make you laugh and put a smile on your face. There was just something about his oddness and his energetic nature that was hard to ignore. 



The only way to really find out about Solitaire is to just read, experience it, and take it all in. This goes for what Solitaire actually is in the book and the whole book itself. I felt this book was more about Tori and how she saw her life and other things and people and how she felt. There was no rhyme or reason to her thoughts or actions. Her inner thoughts and verbal monologues were super entertaining and full of sarcasm. With the mysteriousness of Solitaire this allowed the pacing and plot of the book to propel forward. There were also little side plot lines that took hold of my attention and I’m sure will do the same to other readers. There was definitely something edgy and realistic about the nature of Solitaire as a book and this definitely had to do with some of the topics of suicide, depression, etc. that got explored here. Like I said, the book’s tagline is true to its word, however, the lightness of Tori and Michael’s friendship really was adorable and quite hilarious so I don’t think the lack of a love story hinders it.



What really stood out with Solitaire is how authentic it is in teenage voice and mind. Nothing is sugar coated and Tori’s blunt responses and thoughts are sometimes uncalled for but they give a refreshing point of view. Solitaire is definitely a different book that many will have various thoughts and feelings on, but I for one really enjoyed it and had a good time reading it.

*Thanks HarperTeen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

REVIEW: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: September 9, 2014
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray.

My Review

Illusions of Fate brought me back to the warm moment when I  finished and devoured Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy. It just brought me back to that place where I just knew I was reading something that good, something that hooked me beyond measure or explanation. Right from the get-go I was completely immersed into White’s latest novel that contained ample amount of whimsicality, magic and edge.

There are many things I love about the main character of this book. Jessamin was such a breath of fresh air, a surprise and a delight to read and be in her head. She wasn’t just independent or strong or brave. She was all that for sure but she was intelligent in a way that she was eager and ready to learn whether it be history, literature or magic. She had sass and snap and just the way she held her head high even when she was stared at or gossiped about made me admire her more and more. 

When it came to Finn, it wasn’t hard to fall in love with him. It was nearly effortless from his out of nowhere first appearance, to his charming personality and his eccentricity. There was just something about him that was so fascinating and magnetic and just gosh darn likable. I loved how he was just so flirtatious and slightly mad. I sort of liked the underlying unhinged powerful quality he exuded. When he wasn’t flirting, he was joking around and being so humorous and even a little naughty. 

My most favorite part of Illusions of Fate was the magic, the fantasy, and the intrigue. Jessamin gets thrust into the cold and rich world of Albion whilst leaving behind her warm and bright island of Melei. When comparing Albion to Melei, Albion lacked the inviting sun and the family traditions and gatherings. Avebury, where Jessamin  lived in Albion, was described thoroughly and richly from the architecture to the cold weather to the snooty people and their elegant attire. White even included how people of Albion treated those who come from the islands through Jessamin’s experiences and encounters of other people. How there was discrimination and prejudices from those with colored skin to those who are not as privileged to those who lacked the power Finn had. All of this just made this book inherently marvelous. 

The main plot was what really had me spellbound the further I got into the book because it just got better and better. It wasn’t just simple magic, it was a war of power and the villain, Downpike, was ready to do just about anything to get his hands on it. He was diabolical, vengeful, evil, and crazed. He was the perfect villain to the hero in Finn and the heroine in Jessamin. The conflict and revelational twists that surrounded these three was absolutely surprising and astounding. I never thought things would go that way and it was freaking awesome. 

My only gripe with this book had to be the romance. There was nothing wrong with it per se. I loved the development of Finn and Jessamin’s relationship and how both had to win over the other. I loved how they were beguiled by one another then at odds until they finally settled onto common ground of partnership and love. I just wish there was more of that romance. I needed just a little more to satisfy. Despite that, I was enchanted by their subtle romance anyhow. 

All in all I thought Illusions of Fate was nearly impeccable. Readers will enjoy the fantasy ride brought on by the magic feud between Finn and Downpike along with Jessamin’s smart thoughts and comebacks. There’s much to love when it comes to Illusions of Fate!

REVIEW: How to Love by Katie Cotugno

How to Love by Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he's never seemed to notice that Reena even exists until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated-and pregnant-Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there's a new love in Reena's life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena's gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she's finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn't want anything to do with him, though she'd be lying if she said Sawyer's being back wasn't stirring something in her. After everything that's happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

My Review

What I loved about How to Love by Katie Cotugno



1. Reena


I adored her from the very beginning and the more I got to know her, the more I wanted to be her friend so badly. She was quiet and reserved, intelligent, driven, and had a lot to learn when it came to love and relationships. I got to see how she was before the boy, during the boy and after the boy. I saw Reena kind of stumble through love and a weird undefined relationship and get hurt and grow up and all that jazz. I loved her because she was so real and flawed. She was a character who was smart and had goals but who made a few mistakes, lived on and tried to become someone better.


2. Sawyer


He was kind of the mystery boy, the enigma, the one to snag Reena’s heart and attention. I wasn’t quite sure what was up with him, but I knew he had some issues he needed to deal with instead of just run away from. I had a love and hate relationship with Sawyer because he could be the sweetest, deepest, cutest boyfriend towards Reena and then other times I wanted to bop him in the head for being so dumb and making dumb choices and tossing Reena around. But even though, like Reena, I had a soft spot for Sawyer. He wasn’t entirely bad and he did redeem himself in my eyes. 

I do wish for his own book because I'd love to get to know him more and get lost in his mind.

3. Romance


The relationship between Reena and Sawyer was an odd one because they just “hung out” most of the time, there wasn’t any labels until later on. Most of the time Reena didn’t know what they were and there was a lot of ups and downs. They were not the perfect couple and they fought a lot. Reena kind of conjured up this great ideal Sawyer she knew from childhood and as she got to know him, it was clear that he wasn’t like what she thought and vice versa. Still, they kind of made it work, but they struggled with letting each other in. Their romance to me was very genuine, something that couldn’t be defined clearly, yet you know it was there and you know it’s important and meaningful. They meant something to one another, but they just needed time to work their own issues out and grow up some more.



4. Reena & Hannah


These two were probably my favorite tandem and held the best moments in the book. Reena shined most when she was with Hannah. I felt the love she had for her daughter and though she lost her future plans, she gained a new one in Hannah. She never resented Hannah, but loved her so much. She wasn’t a perfect mother, but it was obvious how much Reena cared. Reena had to grow up and mature really quickly and I saw just how much she struggled, but rejoiced with Hannah. They were adorable together.
 


5. Before & After


How to Love was spilt between the time before Sawyer left and then after. This worked so well for the book because I got to see how Sawyer and Reena came to be, how unclear and rocky their relationship was and why Reena ended up being stronger, more mature after everything she went through. We get to see exactly what lead up to the events of Sawyer’s departure to his return and the affects this all had on Reena and how she coped. A lot of things are learned about Sawyer and Reena both individually and as a couple and this is drawn out wonderfully throughout the whole book at a really nice pace. And the best thing is that the before and afters alternate in a way that made sense as if the present Reena was thinking about the before events, like a day dream. It just worked so well and it made everything flow beautifully.



6. The Writing


Katie Cotugno did an incredible job of giving Reena a very distinct, clear, and personably voice. As I read the novel, I knew and felt it was Reena. There was something about Reena’s voice that immediately had me taken and so absorbed into her story so quickly. Cotguno completely developed Reena’s character and brought her out so throughly in the writing. It was amazing.
 


All in all, How to Love was an incredible story. It was engaging, thought provoking, and just relatable in many ways. There was just something about it that really captures the heart and keeps you glued to the very end. 


REVIEW: The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno

The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

You take it for granted. Waking up. Going to school, talking to your friends. Watching a show on television or reading a book or going out to lunch.

You take for granted going to sleep at night, getting up the next day, and remembering everything that happened to you before you closed your eyes.

You live and you remember.

Me, I live and I forget.

But now—now I am remembering. 

For all of her seventeen years, Molly feels like she’s missed bits and pieces of her life. Now, she’s figuring out why. Now, she’s remembering her own secrets. And in doing so, Molly uncovers the separate life she seems to have led…and the love that she can’t let go.

The Half Life of Molly Pierce is a suspenseful, evocative psychological mystery about uncovering the secrets of our pasts, facing the unknowns of our futures, and accepting our whole selves.

My Review

I have so much words and feelings and thoughts for The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno. It would be a severe understatement to say that this book was just beautiful and breathtaking and one that swept me off my feet. From the beginning I realized that this book was going to be different in so many ways. We really dive deep into a young girl suffering from the clutches of a mental illness and watching her come to terms with it hoping she finds the happiness within herself.


I didn’t so much as learn who Molly was, but I learned, felt, and experienced what she was feeling and thinking and struggling with every single day. She was a very sad girl who struggled to wake up day by day. The mere act of brushing her teeth and combing her hair and getting dressed was tiring and awful. She was quiet, reserved, and though she had two loving parents and siblings and two good friends, Molly still felt alone and lonely and sad. She was a depressed, she was living and forgetting and losing half of herself with no one to tell that she was. Molly may sound like character you rather not read about or get to know, but her desperation and need to find out why she felt she had no control of herself was profound. It was very obvious how erratic Molly’s thoughts were. They quickly flowed together at a rapid pace. She moved from one thought to another on and on. I have to admit that this was disorienting, but it totally worked because I got to feel how out of control Molly felt. The sense of being utterly lost and on the edge of sanity was always present. The panic and confusion reached out toward me like an extension cord and just sucked me right in. I liked the way I was firmly placed into Molly’s mind. Leno really captured Molly’s thought process and her voice and brought that to life on the pages of this novel. I felt the chaos, messy and confusion rippling from Molly every time she lost time, every time she tried to reorient herself, and every time she was starting to remember something new.

After witnessing an accident and death, the ball starts rolling for Molly. Things become stranger and more unusual even for her. We’re taken on this journey of Molly figuring out for herself what is wrong with her as patches of memories start to trickle back to her. As she sorts it all out, I collected clues, came up with my own theories, maybe even guessed what I knew to be true deep down inside of me, but waited for it all to be confirmed. Leno had little subtle hints dropped that were clever in their placement and worked well at keeping me on the edge of suspense. Along this morbid trip down memory lane, Molly realizes secrets and lies that are being kept and told to her. But on the other hand, she discovers a friendship and a love that changes everything for her. She figures out the lost part of herself has been there this whole time and she tries to reconcile the guilt and pain from what she has discovered and learns to stand on her own. For me, there was so much emotion and depth to both Molly’s character and what she went through and I commend Leno for creating a book that contains many memorable, very quotable lines.

Overall, I found The Half Life of Molly Pierce to be extraordinarily poignant and enigmatic. It was brilliantly written, utterly thought-provoking and so ensnaring that just one more chapter simply became two, four, six, the end.

*Thanks to HarperTeen for sending a copy for review purposes in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Take Me On by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #4)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

My Review

Take Me On has come extremely close to topping Pushing the Limits for me. There was just something powerful and heart wrenching when it came to Haley and West’s story that nearly gave me as much emotion that I got from Noah and Echo. Katie McGarry just continues to dominate with her fantastic stories!

The Characters


West was impulsive, prideful, and had a temper that needed to be reined in. He had a strained relationship with his father and felt immense guilt for Rachel’s accident. Haley was strong, fierce, and self-sacrificing. She too felt extreme guilt for her family and bottled up many problems and emotions that she needed help with.What I loved about these two were how opposite they were of each other on the outside, but so alike in the inside. Haley wasn’t as privileged as West was, but both seem to carry the weight of the world, both love their families to death, and both would do anything to protect them. I ached for Haley because of all the things her family lost, her living arrangement, the horror she went through and the fear that continued to haunt her. I loved West for being so protective, for wanting to help Haley, for realizing how lucky he was and how much he needed to change and be a man.

The Romance


This book really does deal with the touch stuff and personal issues. It wasn’t always happy go lucky times between West and Haley. They had to keep working at it. What I loved about what McGarry did with their relationship was allowed them to do stuff not for the other person, but for themselves alone. There was give and take and there wasn’t a clear set happy ending. The future was still unknown and I liked that for Haley and West because their journey to each other wasn’t easy at all. I also really enjoyed the training that went with West and Haley’s story. I liked how fighting became their symbol, but in a good way. Fighting was what kind of broke them individually, but it also fixed them and led them to one another. It was nice to see how the training and the kickboxing played a significant role in their relationship. 

The Plot, Conflict and Setting


The book takes place in a “not so good” neighborhood. There’s drugs, drug dealers, drug users, people getting jumped, fighting, etc. It wasn’t picture perfect and it suited how difficult it was for Haley and West to be together. The book mostly centered on fighting, especially between Haley’s family and of her ex boyfriend’s family and gym. It also focused on using the sport of fighting for the good versus the bad. There was definitely some heavy stuff well worth mentioning such as homelessness, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and dysfunctional families. But opposite that, McGarry celebrated familial love and the depth in which such bonds reach and also the love felt between West and Haley. There were also plenty of surprises and revelations that should rock the boat and keep readers totally mind boggled.

All in all, I thought Take Me On was wonderfully written. McGarry really brought forth the intensity and whirlwind moments full of heartbreak of different varieties. She left a message to never give up and to push through the demons bringing you down. She displayed the importance of family and the ability to discover what makes you truly happy.


*Thanks to Harlequin Teen for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Crash into You by Katie McGarry

Crash into You by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #3)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane. 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

My Review

Oh Crash into You, I have been waiting for you the moment Isaiah showed up in Pushing the Limits and even more so when he was so torn up in Dare You To. And while I can’t say you were my most favorite of the bunch, you surely did not disappoint in being absolutely fabulous. Katie McGarry continued to amaze me with her incredible characters and soul touching story lines.

It’s only fair to start with Isaiah.


I knew I would love this boy that very first encounter and now, I’m head over heels completely crazy gaga in love with him. He was mister tough guy with tattoos and piercings and someone you don’t mess with, but deep inside he’s this super loyal and dependable guy. I was so heart broken for him in the previous book, I was glad he had his own story now. There was just so much more to him than what meets the eye. Though he thought he didn’t deserve love or that he couldn’t possibly be good enough for love, he was. He wasn’t lacking in kindness, tenderness, concern and devotion for every single person he cared about. 

Sweet sweet Rachel.

I liked Rachel, I really did. It sucked that she struggled with panic attacks and how she was overlooked by her family. I understood her need to make her mother and her whole family happy. She was strong because she held up for so long, but weak because she didn’t speak up when she should have. However, Rachel was super cool because she was down to earth, loved cars just as much as Isaiah, and she was also loyal as hell. When she finally broke out of that shell of hers, I was damn impressed.

Isaiah and Rachel sitting in a tree...

I think the reason why this book was not my favorite of the three so far was because of how easily Isaiah and Rachel got together. It felt sudden to me, but it got better along the way because they were both starting to get under each other’s skin and starting to feel things. They were trying to overcome a bunch of obstacles that were attempting to keep them apart. And I loved that Isaiah learned to let Rachel in and to let go of the control he needed and Rachel was able to be herself around him and allow her to realize that she was indeed strong and brave. While they were not my favorite in the beginning, they were just lovely by the end.

Cars, drag racing, fundraisers, and threats!

I loooooved that this book was all about cars, which brought Isaiah and Rachel together in first place, even though I know jack about cars. Can’t say I wasn’t confused by the terminology and gadgets and gizmos, but it was pretty awesome. I even loved all the drag racing and I appreciated the danger that became the conflict of the novel. And I adore McGarry for bringing the gang together in order to help Isaiah and Rachel in need. That’s one the main reasons I love her books because they have a family aspect in them between people who are not blood related, but close enough to become the real deal. As of her previous books, there’s a good amount of laughs, tension, make out sessions and family drama to keep you hooked.

REVIEW: The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke (The Assassin's Curse #2)
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

My Review

I fell in love with Cassandra Rose Clarke’s The Assassin’s Curse because of the originality and the creativity of the novel that had so much adventure. She gave me exactly what I wanted from the first book and brought it back into the second with even more action, danger, and even better... some romance!



This book picks up where The Assassin’s Curse left right off with Ananna and Naji stranded on the Isles of the Sky. From there the adventurous tale of these two trying to break the curse begins. Like its predecessor, The Pirate’s Wish takes my favorite duo to many places. Why I fell in love with this duology was clear from the world building alone. Clarke brought in such detail and vibrancy in both books, but so much more in this one. Much of the setting is described so clearly from the unpredictable Isles of the Sky to the beautiful nature in the Island of the Sun, to the rich city of Jokja. Even more so, I appreciated the way in which sailing across the vast sea was described and all the fights that ensued when it came to battling another ship and taking it.

The journey for Ananna and Naji to completing the three tasks was indeed epic and made way for new characters to join in. We get royal manticores, a former noble Empire soldier, a Queen of Jokja, and even talking fish and sharks from an underwater palace. All these character played a role or helped in someway. Marjani, though a recurring character, felt like a new one because so much was revealed about her. She was by far my favorite of them all, well beside the manticore.


I’ve always loved Naji and Ananna because they were so different. They just worked so well together despite their rocky alliance in the beginning. Especially with Ananna’s stubbornness to stay clear of danger and Naji‘s anger and harsh demeanor, these two clash more than once but it created an entertaining and endearing banter more than anything. I liked how Ananna was a lot more assertive in being able to protect herself. Although I did find her to be a little more insecure, she was still that awesome outgoing pirate I loved. Naji was still reserved and brooding, but I adored him because he protected and cared for Ananna even when she didn’t see it. Plus Naji could conjure up some blood magic to kick some serious ass. What’s even better between these two was how Clarke gave me the romance that I was hoping for. She gave me attraction in the first book, but gave me a foundation, substance and kindling romance that held much more depth in this one. It wasn’t legendary or monumental in any shape or form, but it was the perfect amount of affection that really snared my heart. 

Definitely a lot goes on plot wise, but it’s not difficult to read at all. There’s a mixture of revenge, doubt and near death experiences to grab attention. And why I continued to love this book despite the crazy pacing and roller coaster completion of tasks was because it was always unpredictable. I never knew what to expect from the characters or even with the magic that surrounded this book completely. There wasn’t a shortage of pirates, assassins, monsters, and spells. Naji and Ananna go through so much. Tears shed, blood is lost, and life tips in the balance because there was always a threat for them at every corner and I absolutely loved that. 




Overall, The Pirate’s Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke reminded me why I fell in love with the world she created in The Assassin’s Curse in the first place. She gave me a fit ending and conclusion for my favorite pirate and assassin that still have me thoroughly enchanted.

Check out my review for the first book that started it all - The Assassin's Curse.

REVIEW: The Warrior by Victoria Scott

The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

War between heaven and hell is coming, but Dante Walker makes it look damn good.

Dante’s girlfriend, Charlie, is fated to save the world. And Aspen, the girl who feels like a sister, is an ordained soldier. In order to help both fulfill their destiny and win the war, Dante must complete liberator training at the Hive, rescue Aspen from hell, and uncover a message hidden on an ancient scroll.

Dante is built for battle, but even he can’t handle the nightmares where spiders crawl from Aspen’s eyes, or the look on Charlie’s face that foretells of devastation. To make matters worse, the enemy seizes every opportunity to break inside the Hive and cripple the liberators. But the day of reckoning is fast approaching, and to stand victorious, Dante will have to embrace something inside himself he never has before—faith.

My Review

The Warrior by Victoria Scott was an exceptional end to a trilogy that introduced me to the one and only Dante Walker. In this epic finale, Scott doesn’t hesitate to raise the stakes in every level and form. Again, she entertained me, captivated me, and had me on the edge of my seat for the most part. 

Like I said previously in my review for The Liberator, I appreciate Scott for keeping Dante true to his character. He really has come full circle, even more so in The Warrior. He was still self conscious about his Liberator role, but Dante was so determined to help with the impending war, to protect Charlie and save Aspen from hell. I really thought I saw an even more deeper side to Dante in this book. True to his form, he was still arrogant, but my favorite parts of him were his doubts, his fears, and the guilt he felt even for the enemy. Dante learns a lot about himself, he pushes himself to be stronger and better, and he opens himself up to friendship and opens his eyes to the Big Guy. Dante was not perfect as much as he wishes to be and he made plenty of mistakes, but he continued to redeem himself, he continued to keep on trying and he made sure that he was giving his all every single time. 

I loved how plenty of new characters showed up and helped shaped Dante in this last book. Granted not all of them were truly on the good side, I did like the good I saw in them. My favorite quirky new character had to be Oswald. He was fun and smart and his role in the book was awesome. And speaking of characters, although it pains me to see some that I grew to love meet their end, I was glad that Scott wasn't afraid to kill certain characters. It was upsetting and heart breaking, but she gave their deaths meaning. She never once cut corners or did it just to give the book dramatics. Those deaths were legitimate and was given a close. I was also surprised by the amount of betrayal in the book, how certain characters turned from the Liberator side. It’s funny how love and war are tricky and dirty and desperate and Scott totally managed to rock my belief in those particular characters.

The amount of action and fighting in The Warrior was immense compared to book one and two. The strategies, the killing, the battles, the weapons were all exciting and shocking and probably the best parts of the book. Scott gave me exactly what I was looking for when it came to wars and epic battles and she did not disappoint in that last showdown between Dante and Rector. She built up the anticipation, she gave the thrill, she put in the drama, and the harsh reality that many will fall. 

Overall, I really love The Warrior. It was a fine piece of work to end Dante’s story. Scott was well rounded in this one and I’m completely content with how everything wrapped up so nicely. There is only one Dante Walker and Victoria Scott made sure we would never forget that. 

*Thanks to Entangled Teen for sending a copy for review purposes

More Reviews on Dante Walker:

The Collector by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #1)
The LIberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)

REVIEW: The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

My Review

The Truth about Alice shows an important moral about not being so quick to judge and gives us insight in how rumors and lies can be taken too far. It also shows the importance in kindness, friendship and forgiveness. 


The unique thing about The Truth about Alice is not knowing who Alice was or what the truth was directly from her. We get to know Alice through the eyes of other students in her high school who knew her on a friendship or acquaintance basis. The book was split between four perspectives: popular girl Elaine, former outcast and best friend to the book’s namesake, Kelsie, football star Josh, and last but not least, shy genius Kurt. All had a role to play in Alice’s downfall and at least one person stuck by her side. 

I thought too many perspectives would get confusing or even tiresome, but I actually thought it was a wise and clever idea. I got to see how these characters saw Alice and what they really thought of her. Jennifer Mathieu did an excellent job of making sure each character had a distinct voice so we can set them apart from one another. All four characters had different personalities and opinions and I loved that I didn’t have to know whose head I was in. 

I’m going to start with my least favorite character: Kelsie. To be quite honest, I loathe her. She was the worst best friend or even friend ever. It was obvious she was jealous of Alice’s popularity and experience, but she completely abandoned Alice because of one little tiny insignificant lie. Kelsie abandoned Alice, whether those rumors were true or not, to keep her social status. To make sure her popularity was still in tack. The more I was in her head, the more I disliked her with every page. She was disgusting. I just thought Kelsie was extremely selfish. 

Josh and Elaine were kind of mildly the same in how they both felt slight guilty about Alice, but they were still obviously pretty bad. Elaine was the lesser of two evils. She was the typical popular girl, conceited, and so full of herself. She wasn’t a bad person per se, but she sure didn’t set a good example either. I say she’s the lesser of the two evils even though she instigated and didn’t do anything to debunk the rumors, she still redeemed herself in the end because she looked at the bigger picture. Josh on the other hand, was almost as bad as Kelsie. He wasn’t horrible or even a bad guy. He was a good friend towards Brandon and even had some nice memories about Alice, but his selfishness reared its ugly head. And I believe Josh may have been a catalyst to the night of the party and other things. He felt sorry for Alice and he certainly felt guilt, but he did nothing about it and that’s where my disappointment stayed.

Kurt was the best character. He had his own selfish reasons for helping Alice, but he was nice to Alice even when she wasn’t pleasant. He was cute and awkward and shy and I liked that he got out of his shell to approach her. He took his chances and he saw something in Alice that no one else saw. And out of the four, he had the strongest, clearest and most intelligent voice. I adored him. 

I cannot say whether the rumors of Alice were true, you’ll just have to read for yourself. I just love that Mathieu created an original book like this. She kept me riveted and slowly trickled down the information about Alice and what really happened through every single chapter in the eyes of each character. It was great build up. She didn’t give a happy ending, she just gave a realistic, believable one. Mathieu made Alice imperfect allowing the reader to form our own opinions about her and to judge her too while reading along. But in the end, Mathieu leaves an important message about not believing everything you hear and not being so quick to judge a person despite past faults. 



REVIEW: The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (The Murder Complex #1)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

My Review

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings was a fantastic dystopian that had me gripping for the next chapter and kept me on the tip of my toes. I was throughly enraptured!



Meadow was trained by her father her whole life to survive, to kill or be killed in a world where murder was practically the norm. There are glimpses of this cruel and unusual training and I’m sure parts of it will take the reader aback. I really got a sense of who Meadow was, what was important to her and what truly went through her mind. She was very protective of her family and was willing to do just about anything to keep them alive, especially her young sister. Meadow was stronger than she looked. She didn’t take pride in her killing, but she didn’t regret it either. While I knew it was wrong, I understood that Meadow needed to do such things to survive and I was grateful for Cummings for keeping it that way and not sugarcoating it.



I liked Meadow, but I loved Zephyr because he was so different compared to Meadow. He, too did what he could to survive, but he was street smart, someone who put his head down to not be noticed. He was the comic relief when things got real serious. Zephyr was funny, sarcastic, sweet and warm and he was really too cute for words. And while he was the light in the book, he also was the darkness. He felt extreme guilt for killing people though he didn’t really have recollection of the actual killing. He felt like he wasn’t in control of his body. I felt true sorrow for Zephyr because it was obvious that he felt remorse and disgust.

I was impressed by the world building because it was throughly explained. I was able to adapt myself into this world easily and know exactly what was going on, what it was all about through the eyes of the two main characters. The world was complex, but not hard to grasp. There were different elements that really made this world unique from the making of the Initiative, to the implanted Pins, the Catalogue numbers on every citizen, the 4 Commandments that are not meant to be broken, The Pulse and the nanities. Even some small phrases that were specific to the originality if this book were fit for the world. The world itself was described thoroughly. I could see how bleak and frightening it could be, how cut throat and lonely as well. The people in this world were either starved for food or afraid of being murdered and the food given was just not cutting it and the Initiative wasn't protecting them. Even to get a job was brutal. I loved it and cringed at the same time. It did have a reminiscent feeling between Divergent, The Hunger Games, and the movie Hanna, but it still held its own. 



I think my favorite part of the whole book besides everything else I already mentioned has to do with the pacing. It was steady in the beginning, letting me get a feel of the world, allowing me to get to know Meadow and Zephyr and get attached on some significant level. I saw the lives they lived, the ways in which they survived, and how both became their own personal monster they couldn’t really control. The pace picks up drastically to a certain point and from there it becomes a whirlwind of twists and turns and revelations. It was super thrilling and exciting and totally left my heart racing.



Overall, I adored The Murder Complex. It was a job well done and oh god, I need book two so bad it’s like I’m on some serious withdrawal. 


REVIEW: Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel

Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 2/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

When a death threat arrives with teen celebrity Vivian Divine's fan mail, Vivian has no choice but to go on the run to Mexico. She soon discovers, though, that her Oscar-nominated performance killing villains on-screen did nothing to prepare her for escaping a madman in real life. Some people say he's a hero, others tremble in his presence, but one thing is clear: he won't stop until Vivian is in his grasp. Why didn't she pay more attention during those judo lessons for her role in Zombie Killer?

Vivian finds an ally in the mysterious and charming Nick. He is everything Hollywood boys are not-genuine, kind, and determined to see Vivian for who she really is. But even he seems like he can't be trusted-what could he be hiding?

Beat up, hungry, and more confused than ever about who she's running from, Vivian is living in a real-life blockbuster horror flick. But there's no option to yell "cut" like there is on set....

Lauren Sabel's Vivian Divine Is Dead is a creepy, witty, fast-paced adventure about family, fame, and having the courage to save yourself.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

I have two words that completely describe Vivian Divine is Dead to me and that’s disappointing and ridiculous. 



The beginning of the book showed real promise. There was suspense and mystery about Vivian and her impending death threat. It was creepy and scary because what kind of death threat isn’t? I even liked Vivian because while she was a famous movie actress, she seemed down to earth. She didn’t sound stuck up or superior in any way. She was just a teen grieving for her mother, wishing for the attention of her father and broken hearted over a cheating boyfriend. It wasn’t long before some action started, forcing Vivian to go to Mexico.


It was that trip to Mexico and most the middle of the book where it started to go downhill for me. It was absurd that Vivian’s bodyguard/stand in sort of mother figure allowed Vivian to go to Mexico by herself. The fact that someone obviously wanted Vivian dead it rang bells in my mind (and should have for Vivian) when Mary let her go off. While in Mexico, Vivian was no longer that regular teen. Vivian had some ugly American tourism going on. She complained about how dirty and disgusting everything was and it became obvious that she was sheltered her whole life. While it was understandable because of her upbringing, it just turned me off when she was ungrateful for some of the things that were given to her. Her complaining was just the beginning.

My next problem was how Vivian fell in love with Nick, the boy who helped her. Vivian was in Mexico for about 5 days give or take. The L word starting coming out day 3 or 4 which was absurd because they barely had any real interaction and most of that was him calling her a spoiled brat. It didn’t make sense. I could not believe these two were in love, let alone be friends especially after what happened. This was also the time where other characters started to pop up and where a few clues to what was going on came through. The things leading up to this point probably could have been cut because I thought it was unnecessary.

The last half of the book and the end was even more ridiculous because this was where the author dropped the bomb on some of those characters, on who and why Vivian was taken and other twists. I have to admit that there was some things I didn’t expect that surprised me, but other revelations were just so odd. The fact that Vivian was so outraged by the betrayal was beyond me because everything was practically pointing to that person. And the ending by all means, does not wrap up anything at all. We are left hanging in every way and I didn’t like that.

All in all, Vivian Divine is Dead was not the book I was hoping it would be. I just thought that the plot was unrealistic, the romance was forced, and Vivian was just too naive of a character for me to like or understand. 


*Thanks to Harper/ Katherine Tegen Books for sending a copy for review purposes

REVIEW: The Liberator by Victoria Scott

The Liberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Bad boy, meet bad girl.

Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

My Review

Victoria Scott brings bad boy Dante Walker back in The Liberator along with the rest of the crew we’ve all come to love. There’s a splash of new characters here and there, romance for sure and lots of action to keep you on your toes.

I have to say that while Dante has changed from the person he was in The Collector, he hasn’t completely become a new person. For that I was thankful to Scott because she still made Dante, well..Dante. In The Liberator, Dante was still that sarcastic, super funny, cocky, bacon and red color loving guy. But he was different in the sense that he struggled to come to terms with being a Liberator instead of a Collector. He continued to believe he was a demon, bad to the bone, and that he was never going to be good enough for Charlie. I really liked how Scott kept Dante the way he was, but gradually changed him on his own terms. Charlie makes him a better man, but it was ultimately he himself who discovered that he wasn’t all bad and that his love for her was proof of that.


This book definitely showed a more softer, vulnerable side to Dante. We see him doubt himself when it comes to his relationship with Charlie and with his assignment towards Aspen. We see what really haunted Dante, what his true inner demons were. He really learns to let go and care for not just Charlie, but for Aspen and other characters. 

There was appearance of some old characters that we get to further know and love and Scott even throws in a returning characters I never thought I would see again. And of course, she takes away as well and that in of itself was a heartbreak for sure and probably the most vulnerable I have ever seen Dante to be. It was so well written and touching. Anyway, Aspen was the new addition and she was misunderstood for sure. Don’t let her rebellious, free spirit nature fool you because Aspen can kick ass with her big attitude to match. I liked that she was like the female version of Dante in almost every sense, emotion and inner demon wise. And like Dante, Aspen learns a lot about herself, about Charlie, about her purpose. I do wish that there was just a tad bit more of Aspen and Dante in the story. It was mostly in the beginning and especially in the end, but she sort of faded into the background around the middle. However, the sister-brother relationship that formed between Dante and Aspen was my favorite of the whole novel.

Like I said, there was plenty of action and adventure in The Liberator. So if you’re looking for some Liberator vs. Collector fist fights, you won’t be disappointed. It wasn’t just collectors anymore, but Sirens as well that are after Charlie and Dante. Secrets start coming out, especially the ones pertaining to Charlie and Aspen’s purpose. There was mention of scrolls and training at the Hive that adds great twists to the book. Questions do get answered along with why everything is the way it is and what may come. The witty banter rivals all of this, but it no means does it overtake. It just adds the perfect amount of humor and entertainment to keep the novel going. 

All in all, The Liberator was a fantastic follow up to The Collector. Dante grows up a lot and it really shows and I’m sure readers will be surprised by how much. I can’t wait to wrap this series up in the next book!

REVIEW: The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 29, 2014
Source: Negalley*
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

My Review

I can describe The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel as a clever, odd and very funny. The book had a very charming and endearing quality because of the main character, Becca and because of the young love that surrounded the book. 



What I do like about this novel is that we get to know Becca and see her in action. She had a very strong, personable voice and had this sarcasm and wit that was very entertaining. The way she breaks up couples is explicitly explained from the initial contact, to the planning and to the step by step take down. Becca wasn’t exactly a “good” character, but she certainly wasn’t bad or evil either. She of course, had good intentions, but was just a little misguided. Her reasonings and justifications were very hard to wrap my mind around, but I could see where she was coming from especially with what she saw around her. Despite Becca’s shortcomings, she does grow as a character. She develops a stronger bond with her sister and mother through the schemes. Becca especially learns the value of true friendship and what love should be. 

Being the break up artist was not all it was cracked up to be for Becca. It seemed like a sweet deal and it felt like she was helping those hiring her and the single people of Ashland, but ultimately it was manipulation and deceit on Becca’s part. She learned the hard way, but the upside was being able to see how wrong she was. Becca was starting to feel and see Huxley in a new light, she realized the difference between liking someone for the excitement vs the real thing, and how love can be seen in different ways. By the end of the book, Becca wasn’t cynical anymore. 



I have to say that Becca was pretty smart and sly for her business. All the diabolical planning she did with her sister was super entertaining. Some of the schemes make you go “whaaaaat” but it somehow worked though. Because of Becca’s sarcasm with her bitterness and clever comebacks, it does make way for more than a few chuckles here and there. I did love Huxley and Steve's relationship because it was the perfect example of high school love that could potentially grow into more later on. I only found Becca’s best friend to be the one downfall of this book because of her behavior. I didn’t like how she was obsessed with wanting and needing a boyfriend for the sake of having one and then ditched Becca when she did. I also found the exaggeration about girls only caring about having boyfriends and looking down on those who are single really extreme. Some parts of the book were over the top and slightly unrealistic, but I really liked The Break-Up Artist. 


Overall, this novel was creative and enjoyable. It was very reminiscent to Mean Girls, but focused on relationships and friendship. Great book all around. 

*Thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #2)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Source: Netgalley*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

My Review

Katie McGarry gave me another amazing hit with Dare You To. I’m banging my head against the fall for taking so long to pick up and read this book because it blew me away. There was more humor, darkness and sexiness and I love how different yet familiar this book was to me.

Like PTL, Dare You To has dual perspectives split between two main characters, Ryan and Beth. I got a glimpse of Beth in the previous book, but I didn’t fully understand or begin to like her until I got to know her. Beth was described in the book as rough around the edges and I completely agree. Beth showed this front of being tough, didn't care what you think type of bad attitude. But deep down, she was broken and missing the girl who she once was. She showed this vulnerability and softness I failed to see in PTL. Ryan was new altogether and he had me from the moment he described his love for baseball. On the outside his family seemed picture perfect, but they were falling a part from within. Ryan struggled with this, a family secret he still harbored, and his own independence from his father on his own life. Ryan had this endearing arrogance, hated to lose and loved dares, but what I loved most about him was his respect for people and for women. 

I say that Dare You To was darker because of Beth’s past and the life she continued to live and her inability to break free from a mother who obviously did not care about her. I loved the topics covered here because Beth dealt with real life issues: abuse, drugs, trust, moving, love and so much more. I appreciated McGarry giving Beth a new start even though she had a hard time accepting it. Beth really showed her fears of trust and love when it came to family, friends and romance and it really broke my heart to see how much she tried to deal with it all. I loved seeing someone from her past come back and finally take care and love her the way she deserved. Their relationship and how much he impacted her life touched my heart. Their interactions were my favorite because it was rough, it was tender, but it was also humorous. 

Ryan’s part of the story was just as prominent as Beth. He definitely changed and grew throughout the book. He had realizations about his future with baseball and he even found something he loved and excelled in besides the sport. With the help of a teacher and Beth, but mostly Ryan’s way of not backing down from a competition, he ended up standing up for himself and making his own decisions no matter what his parents or other people thought. Ryan was a great character because he had the best of intentions, he was always as respectful as can be, and he saw through Beth and gave her the benefit of the doubt despite her past. 

Beth and Ryan’s relationship was rough in the beginning because of the trust issues and the dares, but it blossomed beautifully. There was attraction which both characters tried to fight off, but their dare lead up to something more. To see both of their walls slowly crumbly down does wonders for their romantic development because I got to see and feel how they were affected by the each other. I loved how hard it was for them to open up, but once they did they still had to keep trying to work things out. It wasn’t perfect or easy. When one wanted to give up, the other kept on going and this helped make their relationship stronger, the trust to build up more solidly and easier for them to finally show how they truly felt. Together, Ryan and Beth were better.



Overall, Katie McGarry allowed me to fall for Beth and Ryan just as strongly as I did for Echo and Noah in PTL. Dare You To does not fail to evoke emotion and keep you engaged. 

*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review