Review: Finding Paris

Finding Paris
Author: Joy Preble
Published: April 21st, 2015
Hardcover, 272 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads

Sisters Leo and Paris Hollings have only ever had each other to rely on. They can’t trust their mother, who hops from city to city and from guy to guy, or their gambler stepfather, who’s moved them all to Las Vegas. It’s just the two of them: Paris, who’s always been the dreamer, and Leo, who has a real future in mind—going to Stanford, becoming a doctor, falling in love.

But Leo isn’t going anywhere yet… until Paris ditches her at the Heartbreak Hotel Diner, where moments before they had been talking with physics student Max Sullivan. Outside, Leo finds a cryptic note from Paris—a clue. Is it some kind of game? Where is Paris, and why has she disappeared?

When Leo reluctantly accepts Max’s offer of help, the two find themselves following a string of clues through Vegas and beyond. But the search for the truth is a not a straight line. And neither is the path to secrets Leo and Max hold tightly.

The book intrigued me from the start. I love a good mystery and Paris certainly knows how to send her sister on one. Leo wants nothing more than to get out of Las Vegas and go to school in California. She doesn't love that her mom moves from city to city and guy to guy and her newest stepfather is no exception. The only person she loves is her older sister Paris and will do anything to protect Leo from the world. So when Paris leaves Leo alone in a diner, Leo doesn't understand it all there. There must be a reason why Paris only left her a small note and is suddenly sending her on a wild goose chase. Thankfully Leo has just met Max, a physics student who is willing to help Leo find Paris as soon as possible, even willing to drive her across the country to do so. Together, Leo and Max make their way through the Vegas evening into casinos, attractions and track down clues that Paris has left them in hopes of finding her.

This was such a quick read. It was fast paced and less than three hundred pages and I loved every minute of it. I wanted to find Paris just as badly as Leo did and the twists and turns along the way kept me guessing as to how this story would end. I can honestly say I did not expect the ending until it was too late and I was shocked in a good way. It took the world book to a new level and turned this into such an important book. I won't say a lot about it because the mystery behind this book is what drew me in, but I will say that Preble did a fantastic job conveying tension, mystery, and fear. There was also just enough romance to keep this somewhat light and I loved Max. He was full of just as much mystery as Paris was, as Leo knew very little about him and he didn't share that much info with her throughout the night. He was fun, flirty, and didn't leave her behind, even when she was fearing for her life at the top of a ferris wheel. 

This book had everything I was looking for and it was a thrill ride from beginning to end. The mystery aspect combined with how it all ended made for a great read. There are secrets everywhere in this book. Paris has them, Max has them and even Leo has them. I loved the sister relationship, I always love a good sibling relationship and this one was interesting. Paris would do anything to protect her sister and vice versa and that quality in a relationship can be great and dangerous. It's worth a read to me and if you can figure out the ending faster than I did, than kudos to you. 

Review: Most Likely to Succeed

Most Likely to Succeed
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: August 4th, 2015
Paperback, 352 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

As vice president of Student Council, Kaye knows the importance of keeping order. Not only in school, but in her personal life. Which is why she and her boyfriend, Aidan, already have their lives mapped out: attend Columbia University together, pursue banking careers. and eventually get married. Everything Kaye has accomplished in high school - student government, cheerleading, stellar grades - has been in preparation for that future.

To his entire class, Sawyer is an irreverent bad boy. His antics on the field as the school mascot and his love of partying have earned him total slacker status. But while he and Kaye appear to be opposites on every level, fate - and their friends - keep conspiring to throw them together. Perhaps the seniors see the simmering attraction Kaye and Sawyer are unwilling to acknowledge themselves.

As the year unfolds, Kaye begins to realize her ideal life is not what she thought. And Sawyer decides it's finally time to let down the facade and show everyone who he really is. Is a relationship between them most likely to succeed - or will it be their favourite mistake?

The Superlatives is a series I quickly fell in love with after reading the first book, Biggest Flirts. The characters are real, their struggles are real, and the love is swoon-worthy. I love the underlying superlatives titles being the name of the books, especially since they cause so much drama between the students when they are announced. Each of the characters from the first book get their own books later and this one follows Tia's friend Kaye as she struggles to figure out who she really wants to be after high school finishes. She's been dating Aidan for as long as she's known and they've made plans together for college, but lately he's been a different person and Kaye isn't sure she wants to be with him anymore. Her friend Sawyer, the school mascot and all around bad boy, makes her feel like a totally different person and notices her more than Aidan does. The more time she spends with him, the more she loves that he flirts with her and hates that he flirts with everyone else. Can Kaye recognize her feelings for Sawyer before it's too late, and does he feel the same way about her?

Kaye has everything that high school students dream of, and though she wasn't happy with a lot of it, not once did I roll my eyes at her. I understood exactly how she felt with the pressure of trying to be someone she no longer was. Being with Sawyer made her feel alive, normal, and more loved that she ever felt with Aidan. Kaye, like Tia and Harper, is loveable and real. I especially loved that she was a woman of colour and even though she'd worn her hair for so long in a way to make it less of an afro but one day just goes all out and lets her glorious hair free. The reactions are what you might expect, some people hate it, but most people love it, especially Sawyer. Moments like this in the book stood out to me, small moments where Kaye finds herself more and more and Sawyer is there to help her along the way. Sawyer has a lot of his own problems. His dad was in jail, his family doesn't have much money and all his classmates expect him to fail. The amount that Kaye believes in him and him her is enough to make anyone believe in real love. Their mutual support is all anyone really needs in life and if you can find that, than you're golden.

I'm glad we got to see Tia and Matt still in a happy relationship and Harper and Brody at a point in theirs where things may be going further for the first time. Series like this that follow different friends always make me smile when old friends show up throughout the pages. This series has gone through so many teenage experiences following people with different experience and not once making anyone feel ashamed for how sexual they are. It's realistic and will hopefully show real teens that there is nothing to be ashamed of when wanting to go further with someone you love and that real friends don't call each other sluts. Sawyer and Kaye's relationship is something I think we all dream of and they are just so darn cute together. I love a good story like this and this series has brought many smiles to my face. Perfect addition to my contemporary collection!

Review: The Summer of Chasing Mermaids

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids
Author: Sarah Ockler
Published: June 2nd, 2015
Hardcover, 403 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d'Abreau was destined for stardom - until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can't sing. She can't even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend's invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse's home in the Caribbean isn't: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people to polite to pry - except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy - insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He's also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn't treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove's high stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn't the only thing making waves, though - swept up in Christian's seductive tide and entranced by the Cove's charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn't what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who's best known for breaking them...

This is the kind of retelling I can get behind. It is subtly a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but it never comes off in a fairy-tale sort of way and it stands on its own as a contemporary story. Elyse is one six sisters from Trinidad who was born from the sea as it took her mother from her. A freak accident years later took her talented voice from her and ruined her life. She fears the sea is trying to return to her and finish her off so she takes a long vacation to see her aunt and cousin in Atargatis Cove in Oregon. This small town is just what she needs, no one asks her questions and they just think of her as Kirby's odd cousin. Before long she catches the attention of the Cove's coveted playboy, Christian, and he isn't afraid to ask her questions and find out all about her. Soon Elyse is caught up in Christian and falling for his charms. She agrees to be his first mate for the Pirate Regatta, the first time she will be back on the water since her accident, and the fear that comes with this and new love is strong, but Christian shows her that in order to find her voice, she must do things she's afraid of. Along with her cousin Kirby, her aunt, and Christian's hopeful little brother Sebastian, Elyse will finally take the plunge she's been dreading all her life.

I fell right into the story and didn't want to let go. I drowned in Elyse's sorrow from losing her voice and trying to move on with her life away from her twin sister and family. Having lost the only thing she thought she was good at, she hides away inside herself and just tries to survive in this new town. But Atargatis Cove is full of mermaid lore and there's too much to learn and see to keep herself away. Sebastian believes that she is the mystical mermaid come to life and Elyse plays along with him. They go on mermaid adventures as she falls for his older brother. Sebastian was my favourite character. He is so lively and unique and not afraid to be himself, even when he is told he cannot dress like a mermaid at the regatta, he will do whatever it takes to be able to look pretty that day. I love how hard everyone tried to make sure he could dress up how he wanted and would not let his spirit diminish. Christian, who started off the notorious playboy who would have anyone he wanted turned out to be very sweet and caring towards Elyse, wanting her to find herself again and willing to help in anyway needed. Their love was quick to happen, but I think everyone would fall in love with Christian that fast. The moments they shared alone on the boat were wonderfully written and I loved that he fell in love with her spirit and voice, despite not being able to talk.

So much happens over this summer and it's all so magical yet real. The surreality of the town and the mermaid legend gave this story a twist and a bit of an edge as we never knew if the ocean would catch up to Elyse. Atargatis Cove sounds mystical and alluring with its mermaid legends and Wiccan lore. Everything about the town felt magical and I loved that it played just as big a part of Elyse or Christian did in this book. The drama in Christians family was just enough to make for a suspenseful ending where the town hung on whether Christian and Elyse won the Regatta. Ockler's writing is gorgeous and lyrical, and it's amazing how well she tied in the themes throughout the book with feminism and power. There is so much diversity in this that it will stand apart from other summer reads for a long time and I can't wait to pick up another one of her books. This is the kind of book you want to read in the summer, it has substance, hope, love and a bit of magic. Now that's the kind of book I can get behind.

"Love didn't save me; it changed me. Changed me into someone who could save myself."

Review: Jesse's Girl

Jesse's Girl
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Published: July 7th, 2015
Paperback, 304 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she'd get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville's teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He's as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he's accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya's lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse's pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya's playing back up to other people's dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart - and go solo?

The Hundred Oaks books always put a smile on my face. The characters are fantastic and I love how each story weaves into the others without any over lap. There is always a new main character, but old characters always pop up to say hi and check in and I love series like that. Maya Henry is Sam's younger sister from Catching Jordan. She dreams of being a rock star and wants desperately to play her own music with her band, but they are into music that's so far beyond her. When she has to pick a job for career mentoring day, she picks rock star and is very surprised when she gets to job shadow Jesse Scott, Nashville's heartthrob. Maya is excited, but Jesse is not at all like she imagined him to be. He's rude, cocky and seems like he doesn't want Maya following him around. Maya isn't looking forward to spending the day with him telling her she's not trying hard enough to play her own music. But then Jessa starts to show her how he really lives, his secret hiding spots, and they have moments where Maya starts to think that maybe she is putting her music second and maybe it's time to step up and take charge of what she wants, and Jesse Scott may just be one of those things.

Miranda knows how to write a swoon worthy boy, and Jesse Scott is no exception.I could picture Hunter Hayes or any other country boy as I read the book, or even a male Taylor Swift. He has a sweet demeanor, but knows just how famous he is and how to use it. His relationship with Maya, though it had a rocky start, is wonderful and heart warming and I love how their relationship progresses through the day. The moments they share together alone, where they can be completely honest about their lives were great to read and made me fall for him even more. He sets her up with his recording studio, helps her with her vocals, and shows her that she is capable of so much more than she's been accomplishing. Compared to her ex-boyfriend, he treats her like a princess and I loved watching Maya gain confidence throughout the novel thanks to Jesse.

Maya and Jesse are adorable together. Miranda knows how to give me all the romance and love I look for in a YA novel and this one delivers. Hundred Oaks is one of my favourite worlds to go into and I was so happy to see Sam and Jordan have a part in this one. It's fun to see a couple that you saw get together being all relationshipy and domestic. They are adorable together and bicker like an old married couple and you can tell that they just belong together. They were there to help Maya when she needed advice and to appease us fans who desperately wanted more of them. I can't wait for more from Miranda and more in this series. This is one of those series that never has to end because it follows different characters every time and there's no way not to make a story about teens in this small town. I love that the other books are sports related and this one focused on music. It branched out from what we've come to expect from Hundred Oaks books and I can see great things in the future of this series. Can't wait for more, Miranda!

"You have to take chances to get a chance at your dreams."

Review: Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Published: September 1st, 2015
Hardcover, 320 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window and I see him. He's tall, lean, and wearing all black - black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me, I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.

I opened this book casually one afternoon to test it out, maybe read a chapter or two, but within two pages, I was hooked and didn't put it down until I'd read the last page. I fell in love with Madeline and her rare disease and her solitary life. She is a dreamer, as one would be if they haven't left their house in seventeen years. The first sentence of the book is "I've read many more books than you," and this immediately told me I'd love her. She's a dreamer, a lover, and doesn't really get down about her disease. She is literally allergic to the world. We find out about her life through journal entries, a reprieve she gives herself after long days of studying and reading. She is both incredibly mature, studying at a much higher education level and incredibly naive, as she hasn't left the house. This combination made her wholly relate able and I wanted so badly for her to get a happy ending. Her life changes when Olly moves in next door. She is immediately drawn to him, watching him as he goes day by day, sneaking up on the roof and ignoring his parents. I can see why he's fascinated by her as well, and the first time they make contact, it sent a rush through me. They communicate through the window and then through messenger in the computer. Madeline takes nothing for granted. Her moments with Olly are heartbreaking and wonderful and watching them fall in love from afar was romantic and beautiful. The way Olly speaks to her is something every girl dreams of and I loved that Madeline got the opportunity to feel like a normal girl around him.

The moment Madeline and Olly meet is amazing and tragic. They cannot touch and the visit is short and over too fast. But Madeline lives for them. Heightened by the fact that she is in danger of her life, it makes for a tragic romance the more they see each other, both knowing she can never leave the house. The synopsis tells us just how heartbreaking falling in love with Olly will be and it's a roller coaster ride throughout the book. The book takes a drastic turn and the last third of the book took me on a terrifying journey that I wasn't sure how would end. I won't say more as I think it's the most important part of the book, but it certainly kept me reading.

What I loved most was the format of this book. Journal entries, charts, diagrams and tidbits sprung from the pages and gave this book a life. Madeline's small quirks were well orchestrated and wonderful, making her charming and real. She writes spoiler book reviews which are hilarious and jokes about Bundt cake with Olly. Her dictionary will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Yoon's husband did the illustrations throughout the book and I think they really set this apart from other books of this genre. They made the book fun and kept me turning the pages. I loved the short chapters, the direct writing and the blank space that really put me into Madeline's shoes, living in a bubble but dreaming of everything. This book just blew me away and I loved everything, everything about it (ya, I just did that). I'm so glad I was given an ARC from Penguin Random House and discovered this book early. Sick lit has quickly become a new genre and I've read some great books focusing in sick characters and this one tops the list. Some people did not like the ending, but I'm a sucker for it. If you see this book on the shelf, pick it up, read it in one sitting, all in love with Madeline and Olly like I did, and tell me it doesn't make you want to go outside and start living your life.

"Everything's a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It's up to you."

Review: Things We Know By Heart

Things We Know By Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Published: April 21st, 2015
Hardcover, 304 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend's donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent's heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent's, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas - a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it - especially since he has no idea how they're connected - but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she's falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all that she's lost... and all than remains at stake.

I knew this book would be a tearjerker, it's written all over it. Young girl loses her boyfriend in an accident and must continue living without the boy she's fallen in love with. It's hard to lose anyone at any age, but when you're seventeen and you think you're invincible and you lose someone you love, it does something to you. So Quinn does the only thing she thinks will help her, she tracks down all the recipients of Trent's organs to give herself closure. But when the boy who got Trent's heart doesn't reply to her letter, she takes it into her own hands to find him. But the man she finds blows her away. He is sweet and kind and after a freak fender bender, he takes her to the hospital and doesn't leave her side. He keeps his past hidden, his time in the hospital with his heart problems where he felt weak and afraid, and she keeps her reasons for finding him locked up tight, even though she knows she eventually needs to tell him who she is and that she knew Trent. The closer she gets to Colton, the harder it is to tell him the truth.

I was hooked into this book from the start. Kirby is a great writer and fills her pages with emotion, realism, heartbreak and love. Quinn is living half alive, her heart still belonging to Trent, but when she meets Colton, suddenly the world is colourful again and her heart starts beating for real. Colton lives life to the fullest. After years of hospitalization, he can finally surf and canoe like he used to. He shows Quinn a world she thought she'd lost and the more time she spends with him, the more she falls for him. I loved how the romance built in this book. They were both hesitant at first for different reasons. Colton's family protects him but he just wants to live. Quinn looks at Colton like he's Trent, knowing Trent's heart beats inside him, but the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes he is his own person and that's his heart now. Quinn's growth is amazing and watching her come back to life with Colton's help was a joy to read. The drama that came with all her lies was expected and predictable, but I loved it all the same. It was only a matter of time until the truth came out and I loved how Kirby played it all out.

This is contemporary at its finest. Kirby is a great writer and this book proved she still has it. She weaves stories I would never think to write and creates characters that stand out from the page. Quinn's heartbreak is palpable and her recovery is amazing. This is a great book about moving on without forgetting, finding joy again, and falling in love without fear. This book made me smile, cry, and want to hold my loved ones close. And maybe go surfing, living life to its fullest and knowing that adventure awaits.

"For so long, I was the one with his heart. I just need to see where it is now."

"But it's terrifying to realize how much of your world is wrapped up in loving another person."

Review: Miss Mayhem

Miss Mayhem
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 7th, 2015
Hardcover, 273 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they'd rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can't stay David's Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her or make her more powerful than ever.

I was so excited to jump back into Harper Price's crazy world. The first book in this series, Rebel Belle, blew me away with its mix of girly Cotillion and bad-ass demon hunting. It was a mix between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The O.C. with drama, fighting and some super cute romance mixed in. This one had all the same elements as the first book, but something about it fell flat for me. It was short read but not very much happened to make it seem like it only needed to be 273 pages. The book starts off with Harper and her friends trying to find Bee after she's been missing since Cotillion. It bings them to this magical house where they find out she is being trained to be a replacement Paladin if Harper does not pass her tests, tests she knew nothing about. Turns out she's not a real Paladin until she passes and the Ephors want David for reasons other than just killing him. Add to that the fact that Harper and Ryan have been actively forcing down David's oracle powers to protect him, and this whole book just calls for drama.

I went into this book thinking this was a duology but was incredibly surprised at the end with the cliffhanger-ish ending to find out that there will be a third book. Knowing this, made me enjoy what I had read a bit more because as an ending it would have been awful. So now that I know it's the middle book, I see total second-book syndrome all over it. There is very little plot progression and character development that left me disappointed. Harper and David are adorable at the beginning of the book, something I love once two characters get together. I know we need drama to make things interested, but I would rather that drama have been between Harper and the Ephors or Harper trying to save David's life. Instead, my OTP fought for most of the book and David was very upset when he found out what Harper's been doing to his powers. I did love Harper and Bee's relationship, something I find very important in books. Even though things are tough and Bee is potentially dating Harper's ex-boyfriend, that doesn't get between their friendship and Bee is always there to help Harper when she's in trouble.

The humor in this is equal to the first book, a lighthearted way of looking disaster in the eye. Harper is a fun character that holds her own throughout the book and keeps her spirits high in the hardest of times. Like the first book, Harper joins into a group event to save the day. This time she's part of the Miss Pine Grove pageant, surrounded by young girls who are way more into than her. The last 50 pages of this book, including the pageant, were the highlight of this book. As much as I hated the ending, the event leading up to her made for some action-packed fun. Of course, I must get my hands on the third and final book because what Hawkins did at the end of this book still haunts me a month after reading it and I just need everything to wrap up perfectly. Is that too much to ask?

"Honestly, not enough people know how to use good manners as a weapon."