The Reader Bee

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17838475-the-taking

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own? (Goodreads)

I’ve had a copy of The Taking to read for a while now, and I finally decided to start it today. What a great decision that was! I have read Derting’s Body Finder series, and The Pledge trilogy in the past, and really enjoyed them both. I couldn’t wait to get started on this book to see what new story Derting has in store for us. Let me just say this, you definitely will not be disappointed with this book!

Sixteen year old Kyra Agnew has a great life. She has two loving parents, an awesome best friend, and a boyfriend that adores her. And all that changes in a flash of white light. When Kyra wakes up one morning behind a dumpster, with no recollection of how she got there, she heads home only to find out that five years have passed. While she hasn’t changed at all, everything else in her life has. Her parents are now divorced, and her best friend and boyfriend have moved on with her lives. Nothing is the same anymore, except for Kyra. With the help of her ex-boyfriends brother, Tyler, Kyra sets out to discover what happened when she disappeared.

Poor Kyra, I can’t even imagine being in her situation. One minute she has it all, the next minute years have passed and she’s lost in a mess of confusion. But Kyra is a very headstrong young lady, and she was determined to figure out what had happened to her. And that’s exactly what she sets out to do with Tyler’s help.

Tyler was such a great character. He has definitely made the list of my most swoon-worthy characters. I love that even when he had no idea what to believe, he still believed in Kyra, and that he would do anything that he could to protect her. Not only did Tyler and Kyra make a great team, but they make a great couple as well. Seriously, I could cut through the romantic tension with a knife! Tyler was such a sweetie.

I am seriously kicking myself for not reading this book sooner. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t stop. I ended up reading the book in one day, which was a bit surprising for me. Once I started reading, I was hooked. There is a LOT of action and suspense in the second half of the book, it was intense! I seriously couldn’t put it down, and was sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting to see what was going to happen. The end of the book left me hanging a bit, so I’m dying to get my hands on the next book to see what is going to happen next!

Overall, if you are a fan of Derting’s already, you will definitely love the beginning of this awesome new series. If you’ve not yet read her work before, The Taking is a great place to start! Add it to your reading list today!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Review: Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527496-catch-a-falling-star

Catch a Falling Star
by Kim Culbertson
Website | Twitter

Publication Date: April 29th 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780545627047
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

A deliciously charming novel about finding true love . . . and yourself.

Nothing ever happens in Little, CA. Which is just the way Carter Moon likes it. But when Hollywood arrives to film a movie starring former child star turned PR mess Adam Jakes, everything changes. Carter's town becomes a giant glittery set and, much to her annoyance, everyone is starry-eyed for Adam. Carter seems to be the only girl not falling all over herself to get a glimpse of him. Which apparently makes her perfect for the secret offer of a lifetime: playing the role of Adam's girlfriend while he's in town, to improve his public image, in exchange for a hefty paycheck. Her family really needs the money and so Carters agrees. But it turns out Adam isn't at all who she thought he was. As they grow closer, their relationship walks a blurry line between what's real and what's fake, and Carter must open her eyes to the scariest of unexplored worlds - her future. Can Carter figure out what she wants out of life AND get the guy? Or are there no Hollywood endings in real life? (Goodreads)

I was originally drawn to Catch a Falling Star by its gorgeous cover. Then I read the synopsis and knew I had to check this book out. It was a really fun book to read!

Carter Moon loves her small town of Little, California. Day to day life is quiet and normal, until movie star Adam Jakes and his Hollywood crew arrives to shoot his latest movie. Then everything changes in Carter’s world.

The main character in the story, Carter Moon, was a very down to earth, girl next door kind of girl. She wanted nothing more than to live her life in her small town and work at her family’s café. She loves her family, friends and she really cares about the people in her small town. She’s definitely not one that is swayed by the ways of Hollywood. She’s definitely not one that is swayed by the ways of Hollywood. However, she’s not without issues of her own. Issues that force her to have to do things she really doesn’t want to do, like pretend to be Adam Jakes girlfriend. I found Carter to be very relatable character.

I wasn’t really sure what to think about Adam Jakes, the actor that is in Carter’s small town filming his movie. Being an actor, he had so many ‘faces’ that he had to put on for people. While this is understandable, it was really hard to connect with him at times. But the times when he showed his true self, those times were really nice. I liked that, over time, they really seemed to bring out the best in each other.

One thing I always love when reading YA books, is when the characters have really awesome parents. Carter’s parents were so great, and they really loved their daughter. She also has two really great best friends that were always there for her when she needed them. I really loved all of these characters.

The storyline for the book was really cute, and made for an easy read. The romance in the book was very light, but still sweet. I really enjoyed that while it was a fun read, it still had some very realistic issues that the characters had to deal with. So not everything was super perfect, and that made the book feel more realistic.

Overall; I found this book to be a really fun read. The summer theme would make it a fun book to add to your summer reading list, but don’t wait until the summer to check it out.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Review: House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15728807-house-of-ivy-sorrow

Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves. (Goodreads)

I was drawn to House of Ivy & Sorrow by its gorgeous cover. I couldn’t wait to dive into the story because the synopsis sounded really fantastic. Here are my thoughts on this book.

After hiding out for the past 10 years from the curse that killed her mother, Josephine’s luck seems to have run out. With her mom’s killer lose in her small Iowa town, it’s up to Jo and her group of friends to save and protect her Hemlock bloodline at all costs.

The characters in this story were very interesting. Josephine seemed like a very determined young lady. Her best friend, Kat, was SO cool. I love really awesome best friend characters. Jo’s grandmother, ‘Nana’ Dorothea was a very funny and wise lady. I loved that she had an addiction to chocolate pudding! The kids that she went to school with seemed like a great group of friends as well.

There are two boys in the story, Winn and Levi, but I hesitate to say that it’s a love triangle. While there is a bit of romance in the story, it’s definitely not enough to overpower the storyline. What little bit we do see is sweet and pretty chaste.

I went into this book expecting a really dark story, and that’s not what I got at all. Although there are some parts of the story that are dark and some even kind of gross, but otherwise the story is pretty light. Not saying that that is a bad thing at all, it just wasn’t what I expected. The story was a very quick, fun read for me. I think a lot of teenage girls will really like this book.

Overall; this was a very fun book to read! It’s been a while since I read a book about witches, and I really enjoy witch stories. Check this out if you’re looking for a quick, fun read.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #141 - Stitching Snow & MARY: The Summoning

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20706656-stitching-snow

Stitching Snow
by R.C. Lewis
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: October 14th 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423185079

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back-but that's assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane's arrival was far from accidental, and she's pulled into the heart of a war she's risked everything to avoid.

In her enthralling debut, R.C. Lewis weaves the tale of a princess on the run from painful secrets . . . and a poisonous queen. With the galaxy's future-and her own-in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival. (Goodreads)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17661402-mary

MARY: The Summoning
by Hillary Monahan
Website | Twitterhttps://twitter.com/HillaryMonahan | Facebook

Publication Date: September 2nd 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423185192

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

There is a right way and a wrong way to summon her.

Jess had done the research. Success requires precision: a dark room, a mirror, a candle, salt, and four teenage girls. Each of them--Jess, Shauna, Kitty, and Anna--must link hands, follow the rules . . . and never let go.

A thrilling fear spins around the room the first time Jess calls her name: "Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. BLOODY MARY." A ripple of terror follows when a shadowy silhouette emerges through the fog, a specter trapped behind the mirror.

Once is not enough, though--at least not for Jess. Mary is called again. And again. But when their summoning circle is broken, Bloody Mary slips through the glass with a taste for revenge on her lips. As the girls struggle to escape Mary's wrath, loyalties are questioned, friendships are torn apart, and lives are forever altered.

A haunting trail of clues leads Shauna on a desperate search to uncover the legacy of Mary Worth. What she finds will change everything, but will it be enough to stop Mary--and Jess--before it's too late? (Goodreads)

Do these two Disney-Hyperion releases sound awesome, or what???
Retellings are the BIG thing right now,
and I'm super excited to read the retelling of Snow White in Stitching Snow.
And MARY: The Summoning sounds like the perfect read to add to my Halloween Reading list!
I can't wait to dig into both of these books!

What are you Waiting for this week??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Monday, March 31, 2014

Review: Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465577-second-star

Second Star
by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Website | Twitter

Publication Date: May 13th 2014
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9780374382674
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Retellings
Source: From Publisher for Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them. (Goodreads)

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel is described as a modern day retelling of Peter Pan. I couldn’t wait to get started on the book because I’ve recently come to really love retellings. Also, I couldn’t resist the gorgeous cover for this book!

The main character in the story is Wendy, a teenage girl whose life was turned upside down after the mysterious disappearance of her two surfer brothers. Not wanting to give up on finding her brothers, like her parents have, Wendy sets out to try to find the boys with the help of the mysterious Pete.

Wendy was an interesting character. She was very determined to find her brothers, at whatever cost, so it seems. At times it felt that her search was fueled on pure desperation, which leads her to make somewhat irrational choices. Of course, there is a reason for this, but it’s a while before we find out this reasoning. I did admire Wendy for her determination to want to find out what happened with her brothers, and not to let the mystery remain for the rest of her life.

There is a tiny bit of a love triangle in the story between Wendy, Pete, and Jas, the mysterious and dangerous drug-dealer who is Pete’s rival. We actually see a bit more interaction throughout the story between Wendy and Jas than with Pete, and I was kind of okay with that. I don’t know if this is because of the whole ‘bad-boy’ thing that I have going on lately, or what… but I think I really liked Jas more than Pete. I think Jas really wanted to be a better person because of Wendy.

Other than the characters names, there’s not really much similar in the storyline to the original Peter Pan. I actually went into the story kind of expecting a story more like the Peter Pan story, but that’s definitely not what you will get with this story. There was a bit of a plot twist toward the end of the book that kind of caught me off guard, even though there were hints about said twist mentioned in the book a few times. I kept waiting for something really big to happen the closer I got to the end of the book, but the ending was pretty mellow, and it kind of left me hanging a bit. I'm curious to know what happens next for Wendy.

I really enjoyed the beach setting for the story, as well as all of the surfing that the characters did in the book. I think that aspect of the book will really make this a great book for summer reading. At 256 pages, this book was a really quick read for me as well.

Overall; while the story was not what I expected, I still found this to be a very interesting read. The book will definitely make for a quick summer read to check out while you spend the day at the beach!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Review: Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16081202-open-road-summer

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

The first thing that attracted me to Open Road Summer was the gorgeously designed cover. Then I read the synopsis for the book, and I just knew that it was going to be a must read for me. After reading so many great reviews for the book, I couldn’t wait to get started on it. Let me tell you this, the book definitely does not disappoint!

The story revolves around Reagan, who sets out with her best friend on a summer music tour, in attempt to give up her rebellious ways and become a better person. Reagan has definitely not had the best childhood/young adulthood, and as a result she has been in some situations that she’s not exactly proud of. She jumps on the opportunity to go on the summer tour with Dee, what better way to leave the past behind and start over fresh. Reagan was a really great character. She was snarky and hilarious, and she did not let what happened in her past define her, and I found that to be very admirable. I found her to be a great young lady.

Reagan and Dee have been friends for FOREVER, and what a wonderful friendship they have. They have always been there for each other, through thick and thin, and nothing was going to change that. Even though Dee was a country music superstar, she was still really down to earth and just such a sweet person. I found her to be an extremely likeable character. Their friendship is the type that every girl dreams of.

Matt Finch is the love interest of Reagan’s in the story, and is also a singer on tour with Dee. I love that Matt makes Reagan want to be better; he brings out the best in her. Though their relationship did not get off to the best start, his charm finally wore her down and she saw the good in him as well. They were so insanely sweet together.

The storyline for the book was very cute, and makes for a really great summer read. The writing style flows gracefully, which also makes this a very quick read. I flew through the pages a lot faster than I expected to.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed reading this book! It definitely makes for not only a great summer read, but a great anytime read! I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #140 - Snow Like Ashes & The Jewel

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17399160-snow-like-ashes

Snow Like Ashes
(Snow Like Ashes #1)
by Sara Raasch
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: October 14th 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062286925

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Sara Raasch’s debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one’s destiny. (Goodreads)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068780-the-jewel

The Jewel
by Amy Ewing
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: September 2nd 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062235794

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty––because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence . . . and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for. (Goodreads)

Can I first say that both of these books have amazingly gorgeous covers??
And the stories sound pretty awesome as well.
I can't wait to read both of these!!

What are you Waiting for this week??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Monday, March 24, 2014

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18296030-don-t-look-back

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive? (Goodreads)

I was extremely excited to start reading Don’t Look Back, because I had heard nothing but great things about Jennifer L. Armentrout, but I had never had the chance to read one of her books before. I was curious to see just why everyone loves this author.

Samantha was the ultimate mean girl, the kind of girl that I have always despised. But after losing memory, we get to see a completely different side of her. This ‘new’ Sam was sooooo much better than the ‘old’ Sam. I don’t think I could have tolerated her in the novel as a mean girl. Just reading about some of the things that she had done in the past made me uncomfortable while reading the book. But after losing her memory, Sam definitely became a more likeable person. I liked that she was really determined as well, not just to find out what had happened to herself the night she lost her memory, but as to find out what happened to her friend.

Ok, and can I just say that Carson is kind of perfect?? Throughout all the bad stuff, he always believed in Sam. Even after all that she had put him through in the past, he never gave up on her or thought that she was crazy like everyone else seemed to. Also, he was a real gentleman. How rare is that these days?? I should also mention that Sam’s brother, Scott, and his girlfriend Julie were pretty great characters as well.

I loved the mystery in this book, it was seriously addicting! The secondary characters were all well written, and it was fun trying to decide who the bad guy in the story was. I guess the person pretty early on, and even thought I second guessed myself a few times, imagine my surprise when my suspicions were correct! Seriously, this book messed with my head a few times, and I loved every single minute of it!

Overall, this book was a super highly addictive read. I enjoyed it so much more than I expected to, and I’m really, really looking forward to reading more by Ms. Armentrout in the near future. Add this to your reading list today!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Review: The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18242896-the-here-and-now

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year. (Goodreads)

I was really looking forward to reading The Here and Now, as I have just recently been introduced to the awesome writing of Ann Brashares’ with her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by the wonderful ladies in my book club. I actually didn’t know that this was a dystopian novel when I first started it, so that was a pleasant surprise as well. It turned out to be a pretty interesting read.

The two main characters in the novel were both very interesting characters. With Prenna being from the future and having to hide all of her secrets and her true identity, and Ethan being way too smart for his own good and knowing everything that was going on, I thought they made a really interesting pair together. Both were very determined to find out a way to keep the future from becoming the ruined world she left behind. I really liked their relationship as well, Ethan was a sweetheart.

I really enjoyed the storyline for the book; it felt very realistic to me. There were some things that happened in the book that I could totally see happening in our future world, which is very scary to even think about. I find these types of dystopian novels completely fascinating. This made the book a very quick read for me; I read this in just a little over a day.

The only thing that bothered me about the book was the amount of information that was packed into the pages. I really felt that with so much info, it could have been spread out into a second book, or this even could have been made into a series. (I’m assuming that this book is a stand-alone novel, but someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.) There were also a few things that I felt were left unanswered in the novel as well.

Overall; I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read. There are still SO many books by this author that I still need to read, so I can’t really compare it to her previous work, but I did enjoy the book.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Review: Far From You by Tess Sharpe

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18296034-far-from-you

Far From You
by Tess Sharpe
Twitter | Tumblr

Publication Date: April 8th 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781423184621
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Mystery
Source: Publisher
*In exchange for honest review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Sophie Winters nearly died. Twice.

The first time, she's fourteen, and escapes a near-fatal car accident with scars, a bum leg, and an addiction to Oxy that'll take years to kick.

The second time, she's seventeen, and it's no accident. Sophie and her best friend Mina are confronted by a masked man in the woods. Sophie survives, but Mina is not so lucky. When the cops deem Mina's murder a drug deal gone wrong, casting partial blame on Sophie, no one will believe the truth: Sophie has been clean for months, and it was Mina who led her into the woods that night for a meeting shrouded in mystery.

After a forced stint in rehab, Sophie returns home to a chilly new reality. Mina's brother won't speak to her, her parents fear she'll relapse, old friends have become enemies, and Sophie has to learn how to live without her other half. To make matters worse, no one is looking in the right places and Sophie must search for Mina's murderer on her own. But with every step, Sophie comes closer to revealing all: about herself, about Mina and about the secret they shared. (Goodreads)

Far From You by Tess Sharpe is a book that somehow managed to slip under my radar. I had seen the book around the internet, but never really took the time to read up on it. After receiving a copy from the wonderful people at Disney Publishing, I decided to give the book a read. Now I am really, really glad that I did!

Sophie, the main character in the story, has not had the best young-adulthood. She survived a car crash, barely, which lead to her addiction to pain medication. After sobering up, she and her best friend Mina have a confrontation with a masked gunman in the forest, which leads to Mina’s death, and the blame falling on Sophie. After a few months in rehab, Sophie returns home to a world that was completely different than the one she left. With the help of a few friends, Sophie sets out to find out exactly what happened in the forest the night Mina died.

It was interesting reading the story from Sophie’s point of view, because we not only get to experience the story from her while she is clean and sober, but we also experience things from her while she was deeply addicted to pain medication. The story about her addiction was gritty and realistic. She did not have an easy time with everything that had happened, and even with other parts of her life that she couldn’t control. Escaping into her drug-induced bliss was the only way that she could cope. That just shows how imperfect this character was, but I still really, really liked her, and found her really relatable.

There are no perfect characters in this story, and I loved that because the story seemed so much more realistic this way. The secondary characters were very well written, and I found myself enjoying them all. (Well, the good people, anyways.)

The story is told in both present and past tense, the past tense being over a course of a few years. I thought going back and forth in the story would be confusing, but it wasn’t at all, and it was really more interesting reading the story this way. The storyline was completely mysterious and very addictive. I couldn’t stop turning the pages; I had to know what was going to happen, and what had happened in the past, and who the bad guy was. There were also quite a few surprises in the book that really caught me off guard. I read this book in a day, and that doesn’t happen very often with me lately. But I love it when it does!

Overall; I really didn’t know what to think about this book when I first started it, and honestly I really didn’t know if I was going to like it, but the book proved me wrong. I enjoyed the book so much more than I expected to, and now I’m really looking forward to reading more from this talented author in the future. Definitely check out Far From You today!