Book Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

BITTERSWEET:
Published: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 378 pages
Source: Amazon.com

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. 
So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last...So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last...

I have never read a Sarah Ockler book! So when I decided to pick up Bittersweet, I didn't know what direction it would take me in. But when I finished this one, I thought that it was great!

First, the characters. I think that this is the downfall of the story for me. I felt that Hudson was in a state of denial for a good chunk of the first half of the book. I can understand why she might be due to what happened in the prologue of the book, but I just didn't like her negative mood towards some things. And don't get me wrong, she wasn't always negative either. We also have great characters in the story that Sarah Ockler has crafted brilliantly together and weaved in and out through the story. 

Next, the writing style. This was probably my favorite part of the entire story. Sarah Ockler's voice in Bittersweet was just really great to read. The story always kept my interest, and the pacing was just awesome. I'm now going to have to check out Sarah Ockler's other two novels!

Finally, we have the the two most interesting-driven plot points: ice skating and Hurley's. I've always thought that ice skating seemed really fun, and so when it was incorporated in the story, I loved reading about it. And here comes another one of my favorite things about Bittersweet: Hurley's diner. Diner's just seemed really classic to me, and when that was brought in the story. I was sort of like: YES! 

Overall, Bittersweet was a light read that really showed a great look on love and forgiving. 

My Rating:

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

CINDER:
Published: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Fewiel & Friends
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 387 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, Book One

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl... Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

Alright, I'll be honest. I knew I was going to love this one. The whole concept of this futuristic telling of the fairy-tale Cinderella is original and just purely incredible. I honestly couldn't set this one down.

First, the writing style. So far, this book has the best third-person writing style out of all the third-person books that I have read this year. Marissa Meyer's voice really shined throughout the pages of this book, and it all flowed together nicely and neatly. I actually stayed up very late just to know what happens at the end! That's how much Cinder intrigued me.

Next, the characters. Wow. Cinder (the character, not the book) is such a great character. She's strong and hardworking, but you feel sorry for her because she's being abused by her stepmother, and she's also a cyborg. There's that set back. Iko, Cinder's android, was so funny and quirky. I read somewhere on Goodreads where somebody said that Iko was like Gus from the original fairy-tale. And I get that! Iko is like Cinder's sidekick. Adri (Cinder's stepmom) is a horrible and wicked person. I can not stand her. We also have other great characters like Prince Kai, Dr. Erland, Peony, and The Queen (Marissa Meyer let this character really get inside my head).

Now I just want to talk about just the storyline of this book. It's so awesome and unique! A futuristic version of the original fairy-tale Cinderella where Cinderella is a cyborg with a Prince, the magical ball, and moon people thrown in there? Sign me up! Marissa Meyer is simply a literary genius.

One more thing before I end this: THE. ENDING. Ahh! Marissa Meyer, why must you do that to us? Let me put this in a simple form: I. Need. The. Second. One. Right now. I can't wait for the other three books!: Scarlet (Red Riding Hood), Cress (Rapunzel), and Winter (Snow White). 

Overall, Marissa Meyer's debut novel was just so great. Go pick this one up right now!

My Rating:

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Book Review: Vesper by Jeff Sampson

VESPER:
Published: January 25, 2011
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 288 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Deviants, Book One

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered. 

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human? 

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

I've heard great reviews for Vesper from bloggers who I trust on book reviews, so I needed to check this one out. What I got from this book was a very surprising and utterly awesome book!

The characters in Vesper were awesome. I loved both sides of Emily: daytime and nighttime. In daytime, she's a nerd who always has her head buried in a book or watching DVDs. But by night, she's a fearless and brave person who can do anything she wants -- she's invincible. I also really liked Emily's stepsister: she's funny and she always watches out for Emily when she most needs it. 

The writing in Vesper was the best part of this book. Jeff Sampson's literature voice was absolutely brilliant and stunning. He wrote the book in such a way and manner that really got me into the story and kept me flipping pages way past midnight while I was reading it. Jeff Sampson is a fresh, new voice in the YA world.

Also, another part that I loved in this book was the interviews scattered throughout the novel. It's written as how somebody would write it down if they were listening it for the first time on a tape-recorder. That was just another unique part of this book.

Overall, Vesper was a great book that has an incredible author narrating the story with other great twists incorporated throughout the book like a fearless protagonist and interesting interviews. I can't wait to read the sequel!

My Rating:

Book Review: Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

ONCE IN A FULL MOON:
Published: December 28, 2010
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 292 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Full Moon, Book One


Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves--Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.

Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.

Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon.

Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect. What I got from this book, it was simple but enough to satisfy me.

First, the writing style. Once again, Ellen Schreiber has one of the most simplest writing style.  And that's absolutely all right! Her writing style was the actual thing that captivated me into the story. I've heard that she has a simple writing style before from somebody reviewing her other series, the Vampire Kisses series, and that's what makes us have more books in her series. The writing style was enough to hook me in and finish it within two days.

Next, the characters. I want to talk about one of the side-characters, Nash, first. Nash has a huge ego that I cannot stand. Celeste, our main character, was a wonderful character and Ellen Schreiber gave her a wonderful voice. Another great character in the story was Brandon. He's a outsider, but he always is looking out for her and making sure she's okay. That's the kind of thing I like in a character.

Finally, we have the novel itself. While Once in a Full Moon was just a simple, yet paranormal, novel with great characters and a writing style that captured me into the story.

My Rating:

Book Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS:
Published: December 27, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 352 pages
Source: Amazon.com

If there’s an upside to having your heart broken, it’s this: A broken heart makes you brave. 

The first day of sophomore year doesn’t go the way Lucy planned. After a summer apart from her boyfriend, she’s ready to greet him with a special surprise and instead gets a shocking one in return: He’s breaking up with her. Beyond devastated, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. 

Enter three stunning girls with the unnatural ability to attract boys and an offer Lucy can’t refuse: They can heal her heart in an instant. And then she’ll be one of them—a member of a sisterhood that is impervious to heartbreak and has access to magic distilled from the tears of brokenhearted boys. But to gain their power, Lucy must get a guy to fall in love with her the old-fashioned way, and then break his heart in the next seven days. 

While the sisterhood may need another Heartbreaker, Lucy’s only desire is to get her ex back. But how far is she willing to go, and who is she willing to cross to get what she wants?

So I chose this book to be my Valentine's Day read. I wouldn't say that it's the 'happiest' of Valentine's Day reads I could have chose from, but I went with this one. This book had some great factors but some major flaws.

First, the writing style. I honestly think that Lynn Weingarten is one of the best third person's storytellers. I have not read her other book, but judging on the writing style of this one, I may just have to. The writing isn't awkward, and it's actually really great. I loved how she described things in the book, and I could see the book being played in my head as if it was a movie.

Next, the characters. Oh... no. I thought that almost every character was great and quirky and just a well-rounded character in this book -- except for one: Lucy, our main protagonist. Now we're heading into rough waters here if I, the reader, is having trouble with the protagonist. On almost every page, I heard the world "Alex" and how much she misses him and how much she wants him back. I can understand how your heart may be broken, but I do not like hearing it through the entire novel. But all the other characters were great! I think either Olivia, one of the Sisterhood members, or Tristan, Lucy's best friend, was my favorite. 

Then, we just have the storyline. This is what bumps the star rating back up. I love this storyline. For some reason, I found it interesting to read about getting vengeance over a broken heart. I thought that the story was unique and original, and the story always did keep my attention. It was just Lucy I had problems with!

Overall, THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS had a great writing style, an unbelievable storyline, but, unfortunately, a very annoying main character.

My Rating: 

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