Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
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Publication Date: June 14th 2012
Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers
Pages: 394
ISBN: 9780803736993
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another. (Goodreads)

I’ve had My Life Next Door sitting on my bookshelf for forever, and now that I’ve read the book, I’m kicking myself for not having read it sooner. I am a huge fan of contemporary books; it’s my favorite genre. I’d seen so many rave reviews for My Life Next Door everywhere I looked, and I figured with the release of The Boy Most Likely To coming up, it would be a great time to read ALL the Huntley Fitzpatrick books back-to-back, and feature them all on the blog. So far, this has been the absolutely best thing ever, and I’m thrilled to add this book to my favorite list!

It seems like Samantha has the perfect life. She’s a good girl, she gets good grades, she listens to her mom and never does anything wrong. But her life is far from perfect, with her busy mom who is painfully strict, living in a house that’s too big and cold. Samantha has watched the family next door for years; they are wild and disorganized and so very different from her own. Samantha has always wished she could be one of them, and then one night, her wish finally comes true.

Samantha was an easy character to like. I empathized for a lot of the things that she went through in the book, especially with her family life. It was great watching her grow as a character though, especially after Jase and his family comes into her life. There were a lot of times throughout the book where I really wished that she would just stand up for herself, especially when it came to her mom. Luckily she does finally find the courage to do so, and that made me like her even more.

Can I tell you how much I absolutely adore the Garrett family?? I adore all ten of them, from the awesome parents to the eight wonderful kids who are all different in so many ways. You’d think having so many characters in a novel would be confusing, but it totally wasn’t. I love that each character is so different from the others, they were all so well written. This family is loud and chaotic, but so full of love and affection; it really made me want to just be a part of this huge, awesome family. Jase, of course, is my absolute favorite of the bunch, (is this boy perfection, or what?), followed closely by George.

While the storyline for the book has a really fun, sweet feel to it, it also touches bases on a lot of different issues that young adults face today, like sex, drugs, and even consequences that come with lying and not being true to yourself. I really love the way these issues were wrote into the story. The story came together really well at the end; the only issue that I had with the book was about something that I felt was left unresolved between Samantha and her best friend. 

Overall; I really enjoyed My Life Next Door so much more than I expected to. I really do wish that I had read the book sooner, but now I’m looking forward to starting the next book, The Boy Most Likely To, and I can’t wait for Alice and Tim’s story!

Waiting on Wednesday #211 - Queen by Aimee Carter

Queen
(The Blackcoat Rebellion #3)
by Aimee Carter
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Publication Date: November 24th 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373211616



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PAWN...CAPTIVE...QUEEN?

Kitty Doe is a Blackcoat rebel and a former captive with a deadly connection to the most powerful and dangerous man in the country, Prime Minister Daxton Hart. Forced to masquerade as Daxton's niece, Lila Hart, Kitty has helped the Blackcoats take back the prison known as Elsewhere. But Daxton has no intention of ceding his position of privilege—or letting Kitty expose his own masquerade. Not in these United States, where each person's rank means the difference between luxury and poverty, freedom and fear...and ultimately, between life and death.

To defeat the corrupt government, Kitty must expose Daxton's secret. Securing evidence will put others in jeopardy, including the boy she's loved forever and an ally she barely trusts. For months, Kitty's survival has hinged on playing a part. Now she must discover who she truly wants to be, and whether the new world she and the rebels are striving to create has a place in it for her after all. (Goodreads)

Squeeeeeeeeeee!!
The third and final book in The Blackcoat Rebellion series will soon be ours!!
I can't wait to get my hands on Queen, as I really loved Pawn and Captive,
and I'm dying to see where the story goes!!
Is it November yet, because I really need this book in my life!!

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

Review: How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

How to Say I Love You Out Loud
by Karole Cozzo
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Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781250063595
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Source: Publisher

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Words are strong. Love is stronger.

When Jordyn Michaelson’s autistic brother joins her at her elite school, she’s determined not to let anyone know they're related. Even if that means closing herself off to all her closest friends, including charming football stud Alex Colby. But despite her best intentions, she just can't shake the memory of kissing Alex last summer, and the desire to do it again.

Can Jordyn find the courage to tell Alex how she really feels—and the truth about her family—before he slips away forever? (Goodreads)

I was really intrigued when I first discovered How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo. There just aren’t enough books out in the world with autistic characters, so I’m always very interested in reading a new one when it crosses my path. I really, really enjoyed How to Say I Love You Out Loud!

I have to admit, it was kind of hard to like Jordyn in the beginning of the book. She came across as very selfish and self-absorbed.  I’m not sure if I felt this way because I have firsthand experience with autism, and it made me kind of angry about how she felt about her brother. Over the course of the story, we start to understand her reasoning for the way she feels, and you’re definitely able to empathize for her because of it, but she still came across as really selfish throughout most of the story. She does have moments, however, where we get to see the ‘real’ Jordyn, and these are the moments where she shines, and I really like her in those moments.

There are SO many secondary characters in the story that I really love. Jordyn’s mom was amazing, the woman definitely had the patience of a saint, and I loved her so much for that. Her brother, Phillip, was so well characterized, and so very much autistic, and you can’t help but love him. Jordyn also has a really great best friend, Erin, as well as another best friend-turned-love interest, Alex, who was all kinds of swoon-worthy. Also, the romance in the book was very swoon-worthy as well. Wink.

I’m always a little weary when I start reading a book that deals with autism. I have an autistic niece, so I know all the little things that make an autistic child perfect and special, and I’m always worried how an author is going to portray the disorder. Cozzo did a wonderful job describing not only the characteristics of an autistic person, but also described perfectly what parents and other family members endure as well. I was pleasantly surprised by this, and it made me enjoy the book so much more.

Overall; I really enjoyed How to Say I Love You Out Loud! I’m so glad to see more and more of these books being published, as I think it really to help people understand more about the disorder, and just like the book says, the Autism Awareness really helps!! I really enjoyed the book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Cozzo’s next book, How to Keep Rolling After a Fall, out in 2016!!

Waiting on Wednesday #210 - Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

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Blackhearts
by Nicole Castroman
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Publication Date: February 9th 201
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781481432696



Available for Pre-Order:
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Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. This is their story.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay. (Goodreads)

In my opinion, there just aren't enough books about pirates.
I LOVE PIRATES, and anything related to pirates!
And this retelling has Blackbeard, which makes me even more excited.
This book sounds really awesome, I can't wait to go on this adventure with Teach and Anne!!

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

Top Ten Tuesday: Fairytale Retellings I Want To Read

August 4: Ten Fairytale Retellings I've Read/Want To Read


1. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige -I've had this book on my TBR for too long now, and I still haven't read it yet. I'm SO SUPER CURIOUS though!! I love that it's a retelling of The Wizard of Oz, but with an evil twist.

2. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige - Same as above!! I Must read these books soon!



3. Spelled by Betsy Schow - This is another Wizard of Oz retelling that I'm so super curious about. I love the cover, it's just stunning!

4. Wicked by Gregory McGuire -And one more Oz book that I've had on my TBR for a while. I've always been curious for the Wicked Witch's story.



5. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer -I read Cinder, the first book in this series, and absolutely loved it. Scarlet is the second book in the series, and it's also Little Red Riding Hood's story!

6. Cress by Marissa Meyer -Book 3 in the same series as above is Cress, which is Rapunzel's story!! I love that every book in this series is about a different fairytale character!! I must read these soon.



7. Splintered by A.G. Howard -Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I've been wanting to read Splintered for a while now! I hope it's awesome!

8. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce -Another Little Red retelling that I can't wait to cross off my TBR!!



9. Towering by Alex Flinn - I really enjoyed Flinn's Beastly, and I have a couple of her other retellings on my TBR as well, but I'm most excited about Towering! This is another Rapunzel retelling, and I really want to try to read it soon. The cover is stunning!

10. Entwined by Heather Dixson - I've had Entwined on my TBR every since I discovered YA books years ago, and I still haven't had a chance to read it! One of these days, I will finally have a chance to read this 12 Dancing Princesses retelling!!

Review: Most Likely to Succeed by Jennifer Echols

Most Likely to Succeed
(Superlatives #3)
by Jennifer Echols
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Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781442474512
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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In this sexy conclusion to The Superlatives trilogy from Endless Summer author Jennifer Echols, Sawyer and Kaye might just be perfect for each other—if only they could admit it.

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 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 to 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 favorite mistake?  (Goodreads)

Most Likely to Succeed is the third and final book in the Superlatives series by Jennifer Echols. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books in the series, with Perfect Couple being my favorite, and I couldn’t wait to see how Most Likely to Succeed would compare. It was definitely a fun read!

I was super excited to read Sawyer and Kaye’s story. I’ve really loved Sawyer since the first book, and I really wanted to know more about him. While he’s always been a fun guy in the previous books, we discover in Most Likely to Succeed that things aren’t exactly perfect in his life. Actually, they are so far from perfect, you couldn’t help but empathize for him for the situation that he was in. In the story we get to see so many different sides of Sawyer, parts of him that we really didn’t get to see in the previous books. I really enjoyed getting to know him better, and after reading his story, I love him even more.

Kaye was a bit of a harder for me to connect with. I like her, but I really just wanted her to stand up for herself more, and to be more confident. For being a cheerleader and vice president of student council, you’d think that she would be more confident, but thanks to her boyfriend, she really wasn’t. She did grow more confident throughout the story, however, and it was great to see that from her.

The relationship between Sawyer and Kaye got off to a bit of a rocky start, and there were lots of drama throughout, but there were also some really sweet moments as well. Also, there were more than a few steamy moments as well, ones that were definitely swoon-worthy.

The book followed the same storyline for the previous books, and all the character we’ve already met previously were in this book as well. I love that each book in the series is about a different couple, but the secondary characters still play a really big part throughout each other’s stories. I love so many of these characters, and it’s going to be really hard to let them go now that the series is over!

Overall; Most Likely to Succeed was a really great ending for the Superlatives series. I really enjoyed Sawyer and Kaye’s story, and getting to spend some time with the characters in the series again. I can’t wait to see what Echols' as in store for us next!!

July Wrap Up & Book Haul

 

*Books Read in July*

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Paper Towns by John Green

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

*July Book Haul*

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Everything but the Truth by Mandy Hubbard

Undeniable by Liz Banks

How to Write a Novel by Melanie Sumner
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

_________________________________________________________

July was a crazy busy month for me,

and I didn't get to read as many books as I had planned to read.

Actually, this whole summer has not gone as planned,

and it's really affecting my summer reading list.

Sigh.

I did get to read 7 really great books though, so I can't really complain.

I'm super excited to start my August reads, and I'm hoping to get caught up as well!

Happy Reading, Bookworms!!

Review: After Hours by Claire Kennedy

After Hours
by Claire Kennedy
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Publication Date: June 16th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781481430159
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn know that a job at the high-end Waterside Cafe isn't just about waiting tables. It's about the gossip, the hook-ups, the after-hours parties and, most of all, it's about Tips.

Tips--the high-stakes game based on dares. Whoever completes the most dares wins the collected money. A sum that could change a wasted summer into a Summer to Remember.

Isa is the new girl with an embarrassing secret, and as long as she stays on top of her game, she sees no reason why anyone could ever find out.

Xavi will do anything for the money...absolutely anything.

Peter, Xavi's stepbrother, has been in love with her for years, and he thinks the game is the perfect time to confess his feelings.

Finn is in the game just for the thrill. He has enough tips coming in to keep him happy...even if those tips come with some conditions.

From seduction to stealing to threats, the dares are a complete free-for-all, and only the best can win.

The sophisticated Waterside Cafe is anything but classy behind the scenes...and things are about to get dirty. (Goodreads)

I picked up After Hours because it sounded like a really quick, fun read to read over the summer. I was definitely intrigued once I read the summary for the book, and I just couldn’t wait to finally check it out.

The characters in the book were interesting, and each for different reasons. I do wish that they had been fleshed out a bit more, as I feel like I didn’t get a chance to really connect with any of them. But, since this was such a short read that was to be expected. I did enjoy that the story was told from the different characters points of view. That is always a great way to get more information, and it was fun to experience each character’s different adventure.

The storyline for the book was really fun at times, and pretty easy to follow for the most part. There were some things in the book that were a bit confusing, but otherwise it was a pretty fun storyline. I really liked the game, “Tips”, which the characters played in the story. Some of the dares were really funny, especially one in particular that really had me rolling. Some of the characters deal with some really serious issues throughout the story as well, and it was interesting to see how the characters work through these issues, most of the time with the help from their friends.

Overall; After Hours was a really quick, fun read. While it doesn’t really get in depth enough to get to know the characters very well, it was an enjoyable read to pass the time.

Waiting on Wednesday #209 - Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Their Fractured Light
(Starbound #3)
by Amie Kaufman • Website | Twitter | Facebook
& Meagan Spooner • Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: December 1st 2015
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423171041



Available for Pre-Order:
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A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.

Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide. (Goodreads)

I read, and COMPLETELY LOVED both These Broken Stars and This Shattered World.
Seriously, I devoured these books. They are amazing!
I can't wait to get back into the story and to reconnect with Flynn, Jubilee, Tarver and Lila,
AND meet the two new characters in the story, Gideon and Sofia as well!!
If this book is anything like the first two, it's going to be AWESOME!!
And I absolutely can't wait. :)
Also, the covers for these books just get more and more stunning!!

What book are you excited for this week?
Leave a link in the comments so I can check out your pick!!

Happy Reading, Bookworms!!

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

Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

The Truth About Forever
by Sarah Dessen
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Publication Date: May 11th 2004
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 374
ISBN: 9780142406250
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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A long, hot summer...

That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.

But sometimes, unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to question her sheltered life.

Is it really always better to be safe than sorry? (Goodreads)

When I first discovered that Penguin Teen was hosting a summer long read-along for Sarah Dessen, I knew I wanted to participate. What is summer without reading a Sarah Dessen book, anyways?? While I didn’t get to participate as much as I wanted during the summer, I was able to read The Truth About Forever. I’ve had this book on my to-read list for a really long time, and I was super excited to finally start it. I feel in love with the book just a few chapters in, and I have to say it is now on the list of my most favorite Dessen books!

Macy was a really easy character to like. She was a good girl who did exactly as she was told and never got into trouble. The last year and a half of her life was pretty much built around her boyfriend’s schedule, but once he went away to Brain Camp, things started to change for Macy. Life has not been perfect for Macy at all, and my heart hurt for her for some of the things that she had been through. But she is a strong girl, and I really enjoyed watching her character grow so much throughout the story.

There are so many wonderful secondary characters in the book that I absolutely feel in love with as well, and I really loved the friendship that was formed between Macy and the crew at Wish Catering. Kristy and her sister Monica, Delia, Burt and Wes were all such well written characters; it was hard not to absolutely love them. They all had such interesting stories of their own as well. Also, I’m kind of completely in love with Wes. Sa-woon.

I really loved the storyline for the book. I am an absolute sucker for contemporary novels, and while this one as sweet and had all the heart-warming parts to it, it also deals with deeper issues as well, like dealing with grief and how everyone copes differently to tragedy. I love that Dessen included this in the novel, as I know this could comfort readers who may have been through something similar in their lives.

Overall; there’s absolutely nothing I love more than adding a new book to my list of favorite books, and that’s exactly what I did with The Truth About Forever. This book was absolutely wonderful, and I’m so glad that I read it this summer, as that makes it even more special. I still have a few books by Dessen that I still need to read, and I’m even more excited to read them now. If you’ve not checked out Dessen’s books before, I highly recommend that you do so!