My First Blog Award!

When I went to visit Danielle's blog at Every Last Page, I had the lovely surprise of seeing she had awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award!

If you receive this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.

4.Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

Seven things about me:

1. I was a competitive runner all through high school and made championship finals every year.

2. I love anything to do with music, I’m pretty much always singing.

3. I have lived half my life in Europe and can’t wait to go back.

4. I can actually read books in English, French and Spanish (and speak those three languages) but I just review English ones.

5. I make jewelry and actually wear a lot of it.

6. I have played way too many sports to actually count and danced for 10 years.

7. This might be stating the obvious but, I ADORE reading.

As for the awards, I love these blogs and visit them every time I have a chance:

21 Pages
Confessions of a Bookaholic

A Fanatic’s Book Blog

Katie’s Book Blog

Collegiate Bookworm

From My Nightstand

In the Closet With a Bibliophile

The Nerd’s Wife

Mindful Musings

Young Adult Books Reviewed

Emily’s Reading Room

Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf

Random Ramblings

Larissa’s Bookish Life

Eleven Pages

Book Blogger Hop (4)

Since I have some free time, I decided I would do a hop post even if I'm on vacation. The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. I've now been blogging for almost one month and I've found a lot of lovely bloggers through the hop.

This week's question:

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE NEW-TO-YOU AUTHOR SO FAR THIS YEAR?

I'd have to say my favorite new-to-me author so far would be Simone Elkeles. I recently read and reviewed Perfect Chemistry and after finishing it I quickly ordered Leaving Paradise and Rules of Attraction. I really like how she writes and the characters she creates. I really look forward to reading more from her.

In other news, I should be posting a review for Leaving Paradise sometime in the near future (basically as soon as I have enough time to sit down and write it). I will keep posting but not as often as I normally would because, like I mentioned, I'm on vacation with limited access to a computer and Internet.

So happy hopping and enjoy your weekends!

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

Title: Waiting for You

Author: Susane Colasanti

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: May 14, 2009

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Friendship...and falling in love?

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start, and hopefully her first real boyfriend. Could it be popular, dreamy Derek? Or geeky Nash, who just might have a crush on her? Then there’s the underground, anonymous DJ, whose podcasts are the hottest thing at school and who seems to totally understand Marisa. But she doesn’t know who he is...or does she?

This was my first time reading something by Susane Colasanti and after reading the book, I can say that it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed Waiting For You, it makes a really good summer read. It’s light, enjoyable and a quick read. Had I not been so busy, I would have probably read it all in one sitting. I thought it was the perfect summer read, I just relaxed and enjoyed it the whole time I was reading it.

Marisa has been waiting for a boyfriend for a long time. She has an idea of who she wants him to be: Derek. But Derek has a girlfriend and doesn’t seem to know that Marisa exists. In the meantime, Marisa spends time with Sterling, her best friend who is an amazing cook, and Nash the geeky boy who lives a few houses down. And all of a sudden, Derek breaks up with his girlfriend and starts showing interest in Marisa, who couldn’t be happier. And then there’s Dirk, the late night radio broadcaster who seems to know exactly how Marisa feels, the only problem is she doesn’t know who he is.

Marisa was a great character but I have to admit I would sometimes get annoyed with her. Almost from the start we know she has an anxiety disorder and can sometimes make a bigger deal out of things than she needs to. But then there were other times when I just wanted to tell her to stop over analyzing and over exaggerating everything. Besides that I really liked Marisa, you can tell that she actually wants to get the bigger hand over her problem and actually improve her condition. It wasn’t only about seeing her evolved, but about her being the reason for her evolution and forcing it. Let’s just say I liked her better in the second half of the book because of this.

Nash was such a sweetheart. Right from the beginning you could tell he was in love with Marisa but he was afraid to admit it to her...until he did. The whole length of the book I was rooting for him. I really wanted Marisa to figure out that he’s the one she’s supposed to be with and get over her whole obsession with Derek. I really liked Nash and just like Marisa you really see him evolve and the whole time his motivation is really obvious...and there just may be more to him than meets the eye.

The story was great, I liked how it was divided into the different seasons and how with each season came a different Marisa...or maybe I’m just over interpreting this thanks to having taken so many literature classes. The way it was divided gave it a sort of pace, everything was evenly spaced and the timeline made sense. The story was easy to follow and at times I could predict some of what would happen but at other times I really didn’t see them coming. It was really enjoyable...but that might not mean anything considering most of what I read.

Waiting for You was a great summer read. It doesn’t actually take place in the summer but just how the story is and how it’s written makes it feel like it should be summer the whole length of the book. If you’re looking for a light summer read you should definitely pick up a copy of this book.

Vacation

I'm on vacation for the next 3 weeks, which is really awesome. But I don't have as much Internet access as I would like...the one computer that has Internet access right now, I have to share with 5 other people.

I'm still reading and writing reviews but they might not be going up as much and as quickly as I would like them to. I will do my best to keep posting but there might not be updates as often as I would like.

But one thing's for sure, as soon as I'm back home, I will be back to posting regularly

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

Title: L.A. Candy (L.A. Candy #1)

Author: Lauren Conrad

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 16, 2009

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Los Angeles is all about hot clubs, cute guys, designers...everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts and her BFF, Scarlett, can’t wait to start living it up. And when a TV producer wants them to star in a “reality version of Sex and the City” they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!

Soon Jane is television’s hottest star and she’s lapping up the VIP treatment with her entourage of new pals. But those same friends are also angling for a piece of her spotlight. In a city filled with people chasing their dreams, it’s not long before Jane realizes that everyone wants something from her and nothing is what it seems to be.

Jane and Scarlett are two best friends new to L.A. Jane is there to begin an internship with a famous event planner, putting off college to do so, and Scarlett is starting college at U.S.C. Everything seems to be going like they thought it would until one night they are approached by a TV producer in a club. He wants them to be the stars of his new reality show about girls living in L.A. Jane and Scarlett decide to do the show and everything changes. They meet Madison and Gaby, the others girls on the show, and from there their adventures in L.A. really begin.

Even though she’s the main character, I had trouble liking Jane. She was portrayed as being really naïve and innocent but sometimes it almost felt overdone. There were moments when I just sat there reading and thinking that there is no way someone can be that naïve. She was just too trusting of everyone. I can understand wanting to try new things and looking for new experiences but you don’t necessarily have to jump on the first opportunity that presents itself. Jane wasn’t a bad character in any way, she just felt like the stereotype of the innocent girl in the big city.

Scarlett, on the other hand, I really liked. Her character felt more realistic than Jane’s. It might have something to do with the fact that she was not what she appeared, being a pretty girl with major brains, or the fact that she wasn’t like Jane. Scarlett felt more real, she had accepted to be on the show but at the same time she was annoyed with everything that came with it. She knew not to trust everyone and she wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion. I just liked Scarlett better than I liked Jane. Why? I’m not sure I can explain all that clearly.

As far as the story goes, it was quite enjoyable. Sure at times I was forcing myself to keep reading but there were other times when I just kept turning the pages without really realizing I was doing it. The story is original and I liked the fact that it was based on reality. It gave insight into what the people on reality shows go through on a day to day basis, which shows that what we see on the screen isn’t necessarily reality.

Overall, I enjoyed L.A. Candy more than I thought I would. It wasn’t anything really deep or full of meaning but a good summer read. And I may just pick up the sequel, Sweet Little Lies, next time I go to the bookstore.

Book Blogger Hop (3)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. This is my third time participating, and each week I meet awesome new bloggers who share my passion for books.

This week's question is:

TELL US ABOUT THE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING!

Right now I'm actually a few chapters away from finishing L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad. I was actually a bit skeptical about this book but after having read a few positive reviews online I decided to give it a go. And I actually like it...I may just go and buy the sequel. The story is sort of based on Lauren Conrad's own experiences with reality TV in L.A. and follows Jane and Scarlett two best friends who are total opposites. The two move to L.A. so that Scarlett can start university and Jane can start her internship with a well-known event planner. And then they eventually become the stars of a reality show. It's actually quite an enjoyable read if you're not looking for something deep and meaningful, it's a great summer read.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Truth About Forever

Author: Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: May 11, 2004

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

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 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 wonder, Is it really better safe than sorry?

I don’t know how many times I’ve read The Truth About Forever, but every time I read it I just love it that much more. This is by far one of my favorite books ever and I just love reading it every so often. It’s basically my go-to book when I’m looking when I’m looking for a good read. Even if I’ve read it so many times before, I always find something new in it and I just enjoy rediscovering the story and characters.

Whenever someone asks her how she is feeling Macy always gives the same answer: she is fine, just fine. Since her father’s death, Macy has been striving to be the perfect daughter for her mother who seems to be drowning herself in work as a way to deal with grief. When summer begins, Macy is ready for her job at the library and to spend her free time preparing for the SATs. But one night she meets the people of Wish Catering and everything seems to start changing. She now as new friends and learns that everything doesn’t always have to be perfect, in fact it’s a lot better if you don’t expect it to be. And then there’s Wes, who seems to be the one who understands Macy the most and who may just be the cause of the biggest change in Macy.

Macy is such a great character. Out of all of Dessen’s characters I would have to say that Macy is the one I like the most. I find that she’s the one I can relate to the most. I haven’t lost a parent like she has, but I have a tendency to always want to be perfect and do what everyone expects me to do. You can really see that Macy grows throughout the novel, by the end she is the same person but different. I always love seeing her evolution every time I read the book. Macy is just a really likable and realistic character. And like I said before she is one of my favorites.

Wes. How to even begin describing Wes. The first time I read this book and found out about Wes was also the first time I basically fell in love with a fictional character. I don’t even know how to describe him. There is just so much to Wes and I’m afraid that any description I could give of him just wouldn’t do him justice. So instead I’m just going to tell you to go pick up the book and find out about Wes for yourself.

I’ve read about people saying that most of Sarah Dessen’s books have the same storyline. I’m going to have to disagree with that. I’ve read all of her books and I can honestly say that not one is the same. The only thing I find that come back from book to book are some of the characters and places. Personally I like it when that happens, it sort of allows me to see what happens to the characters after the books are over. That’s hardly enough to say that all her books are the same.

The Truth About Forever is one of my all-time favorite books. I’ve read it countless times and just love it even more every time I read it. There’s just something about the story that makes it so I can read it over and over again. If you’re looking for a new favorite, I definitely suggest you pick up The Truth About Forever...or any of Sarah Dessen’s books.

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we share upcoming releases that we are looking forward to.

Summary (from Amazon):

Ethan Wate use

d to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Beautiful Darkness is the sequel to Beautiful Creature. That alone should be enough to explain why I am looking forward to this book. I read Beautiful Creatures and was totally blown away. As soon as I was finished reading it, I went online to look up the authors and found out that there would be three more books to follow in this series. All I can say is that I am really excited for the release of Beautiful Darkness. You can be sure that when it comes out on October 12th I will be at the bookstore getting my own copy.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Title: Going Too Far

Author: Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books

Release Date: March 17, 2009

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes too far...and almost doesn’t make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won’t forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won’t be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge--and over...

Like a lot of book I’ve been reading lately, I picked up Going Too Far because of all the great reviews I had seen online. I now see what all those reviews were going on about and I have to say I absolutely agree with them. It was a fantastic read that had me from start to finish. I absolutely could not put it down until I had read every last word. That’s just how good a book it was.

Meg wants nothing more than to get away from her small town and go to university. She already knows the night of her graduation she is leaving and most likely not coming back. The last thing she wants is to end up like her parents. And then one night she gets in trouble and meets Office John After. John just wants to stay in this small town and protect teenagers from what happened ten years before on the train bridge. Both have their secrets and will push each other to new extremes and who knows where it will take them.

I loved Meg as a character. You can really see that she grew through the course of the story. She starts out as someone who doesn’t really care about anything except getting away from home. She is the go-to bad girl even though her reputation may not always be accurate (it just may have something to do with her hair). She doesn’t plan anything because that would mean thinking too far into the future and that’s something she just can’t do. By the end of the book she is making plans and actually enjoying making plans and looking forward to the plans she made. Meg was also a really realistic character; despite not having gone through all the same things as her I could relate to her on so many occasions.

I don’t even know where to begin with John’s character. You think he’s one thing and then a few pages you realize you may have gotten it wrong. And when you think you finally have him figured out it turns out you were wrong once again. He is such a complex character and you don’t understand him completely until the very last page of the book. I’ll admit that may have had something to do with me not putting the book down. I was so obsessed with figuring him out that I would not stop reading until I was able to know who he truly was. It was really a great incentive to keep reading...at least for me.

The story is basically all about Meg and John’s relationship. Their relationship is such a complex one that you need the entire book to figure it all out. Just like with John’s character, I just had to keep reading so I could find out what happens between them. And like many things in this book, I didn’t find out until the very last page. Despite everything not unravelling until the very end of the book, the was never a time when the story dragged on. The book was relatively short and the story was fast paced which only served to make me read further.

It was my first time reading anything by Jennifer Echols and I can honestly that I will be picking up more of her books in the future. I truly enjoyed Going Too Far and would recommend it to anyone looking for something different. It wasn’t completely out there but it was definitely different from most of the books in the same genre.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)

Author: Simon Elkeles

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Release Date: December 23, 2008

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south siders and north siders aren’t exactly compatible elements. So when head cheerleader Brittany Ellis and gang member Alex Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, the results are bound to be explosive. But neither teen is prepared for the most surprising chemical reaction of all--love. Can they break through the stereotypes and misconceptions that threaten to keep them apart?

Every time I saw a review for a book by Simone Elkeles, it was always extremely positive, especially when it came to Perfect Chemistry. That was all the convincing I needed to pick up the book. I was certainly not disappointed. I started reading the book this morning and didn’t put it down until I was finished...at times despite my growling stomach. It was just too good a read for me to interrupt it.

There is no way Brittany Ellis and Alex Fuentes should end up together. She is the head of the cheerleading squad and comes from the north side of town. He is a gang member and comes from the south part of town. But when they become chemistry partners anything can happen. Neither Brittany or Alex knows how to deal with what seems to be happening between them and the effects it can have on both of their worlds.

I am officially in love with this book. I don’t know how to explain it but I am just in love. The characters, the story, all of it. But moving on. Elkeles is able to take a storyline that has been done time and time again and makes something truly wonderful out of it. There have been so many stories about two people from opposite sides of the tracks falling in love when everything is going against them. Perfect Chemistry is that and so much more.

I love Brittany and Alex. The alternating point of view chapters were a great way to get insight into both of these amazing characters. Brittany is not the typical cheerleading captain. Despite the image she puts on for everyone she is just about the furthest thing there is from the golden girl. Her family life is falling apart as is her relationship with her boyfriend. It’s all she can do to keep it all under control. Brittany grew so much through the book. At the beginning all she wanted to do was please everyone but by then end of the book she had grown so much and it only made me love her more.

And then there was Alex...who I think I may have fallen in love with over the course of the novel. He wasn’t a real gang banger, his heart was only ever in it in order to protect his family from the dangers of his neighborhood. Alex was such a great character to get to know. You could tell that he really cared about the people he allowed to get close to him. Despite what he said and did sometimes I just couldn’t help but root for him. I wanted for him and Brittany to work things out and make everything right.

Like I’ve already said, the general storyline is one that has been done so many times before. Who hasn’t read a story about two people from opposite sides of the track falling in love against all odds? But Elkeles manages to make the story so much more than that. I don’t know how she does it but while I was reading the book it felt like the furthest thing from an overdone plot line. I don’t know how to explain it without giving things away so you will just have to read the book to find out yourself.

I’ve said it already and I’ll said it again: I absolutely loved this book! It is most definitely one I am adding to my list of all times favorites. I look forward to going to the bookstore and picking up Simone Elkeles’s other books because from what I’ve heard they are all as good as Perfect Chemistry. 

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Title: The Luxe (Luxe #1)

Author: Anna Godbersen

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: November 20, 2007

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with sly smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899...

Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. But when the girls discover their family’s status is far from secure, suddenly everyone is a threat to their golden future. Set in a world of luxury and deception, this thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

For the past couple of years I had kept hearing about The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. Most of what I heard was positive so I decided to give the book a shot and read it. I’ll be honest, I have mixed feelings about the book. It wasn’t a bad book by any standards but it wasn’t anything extraordinary either. I enjoyed reading the book but at times I found myself having trouble getting into the story which sometimes made the book a little difficult to read. That is not to say that there weren’t parts of the book I didn’t like.

Elizabeth Holland has always had everything she wished for. Her family has always been part of the Manhattan elite and thought that her life would always be the same way it has been. But when she returns from France, she discovers that things may not all be as they appear. Her family’s status may be in danger and others may also discover that Elizabeth is not everything she appears to be. In 1899 Manhattan, who knows what is real and what isn’t--nothing is really what it appears to be.

I have to say it felt at times like I was reading a nineteenth century version of Gossip Girls, there were just so many parallels that I was able to make between the two series. Some of the characters seriously felt like they were the same just a century apart. The most obvious connection I could make was with Penelope--at times I couldn’t help but think of her as Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. All the manipulating and tricking and going behind people’s backs were just some of what led me to make the connection between the two characters.

I had trouble with Elizabeth at first but as the story moved forward I found that she sort of grew on me. When the book began Elizabeth just seemed superficial and only wanting to please everyone. I get that it was a different time but sometimes I just wanted to yell at her to stop worrying about pleasing everyone and doing something for herself once in a while. But like I said, as the story moved along she grew on me. By the end she was starting to do things she wanted without thinking about pleasing everyone else. Maybe that’s something I’ll see more of in the other books of the series, at least I hope.

I liked Diana a lot better than I did Elizabeth. Right from the start she was going against what was thought as proper in her society. I have to admit that those are the kinds of characters I like. She wasn’t afraid to do what she wanted despite constant warnings to be proper by different members of her family and friends. The other characters were interesting as well but Diana was my favourite, there was just something about her that made me like her and I don’t really know how to explain it.

The story itself was interesting. I don’t really read that many books that are set in a different time period so it was a refreshing change. I really like the concept of the story but at times I felt like it could have been taken further, I sometimes felt like there were holes in the story. Maybe I have to read the others books in the series to get that. Despite that fact, I was entertained by the story and for me that is enough to pick up the sequels.

The Luxe was an enjoyable read but not anything extraordinary. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something different without looking for anything with a great amount of depth. 

Book Blogger Hop (2)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. I participated for the first time last week and met lots of lovely book bloggers so I thought I would take part again this week.

This week's question:

RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

This is actually kind of hard to answer. There are so many books I want to get my hands on but I think I have to go with Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I absolutely loved the Mortal Instruments series and now I can't wait to read the debut to this new series. And to make things even better this series, The Infernal Devices is a sort or prequel to the books I've already read.

So that's the book I am dying to get my hands on. Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping!

Waiting On Wednesday (1)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we share upcoming releases that we are looking forward to.

Summary (from Amazon):

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

So basically I love the Hunger Games books. I came across the first one on a random trip to the bookstore. To be honest, there was a 3 for 2 promotion and The Hunger Games was the third book I picked up since I was essentially getting it for free. All I can say now is that I am glad I decided to choose that book because I pretty much read it in a day.

And then came Catching Fire, which once again I basically read in a day. When I was done I was just that much more in love with this trilogy. There's just something about these books that totally draws me in and I only surface when the book is over.

And now the final book, Mockingjay, is coming out and I already have it on pre-order and am eagerly awaiting August 24th when it will finally be shipped to me.

Awesome Giveaway

I was looking around at the different blogs I follow and came across an awesome giveaway. Linna of 21 Pages is having a giveaway to celebrate having 400+ followers. She is giving readers the chance to win the following ARCs:

- Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

- Delirium by Lauren Oliver

- Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

- Firelight by Sophie Jordan

- The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

- Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

The best part of this giveaway? It's open internationally.

I've been waiting for some of these books for quite some time and this seems like a great opportunity to maybe get them.

So head over to Linna's blog to check out the details of this awesome giveaway!

Paper Towns by John Green

Title: Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Release Date: October 16, 2008

Source: Puchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life--dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge--he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues--and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...

I picked up Paper Towns by John Green following the recommendation of a friend. I had been told it was an excellent book, which turned out to be quite true. From the first page I was drawn in, and didn’t leave the world Green created until the very last page, and even then I wanted more. I’m glad I decided to follow my friend’s recommendation and pick up this book.

Quentin Jacobsen has been in love with his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman for as long as he could remember. They had been friends as kids until they found the dead body of a man in a park near their houses, after that things change. Then one night Margo shows up in his room asking him for help with an elaborate revenge plot. When the night is over and they go their separate ways, Quentin wakes up the next morning to find Margo gone. Discoveries are made, new friendships are forged and unlikely relationships happen all the while trying to figure out what happened to Margo.

I loved Quentin. He was just so easy to like and from the start of the book you just felt for him. Also he was the narrator and a great one at that. Most of the books I read either have a third person narrator or a female first person narrator so it was really refreshing to to read something narrated by a boy. Throughout the book I was always rooting for him no matter what he was doing. I was reading and just hoping he would figure out the clues Margo left behind and eventually find her. I mean the guy had waited for Margo his whole life and when she finally goes to him she just ups and leaves the next day. I just couldn’t help but feel for him.

Quentin’s friends were awesome, I always found myself laughing at whatever went down with Ben and Radar. Even though some of their comments were really cliché most of the time I couldn’t do anything but just sit there a giggle. And when Ben finally got a girlfriend it just made things that much more funny. The other characters were also great; Lacey wasn’t all she seemed to be and the other characters just added to the story. And Margo, well there aren’t really any words to describe Margo because you don’t really know who she is until the last few pages of the book, so you can read it and see it for yourself.

The plot wasn’t what I was expecting it to be, not that this is a bad thing. I had read the summary on the back of the book and had a vague idea of what the story would be like but it was so much better than what I had originally thought. I don’t want to describe it as a mystery because, while there is a mystery in the story, I don’t really feel like that was the point of the story. And the writing was amazing, just like everything else in the book, the writing just made me want to read more.

Overall, Paper Towns was a great read that I would recommend to anyone looking for humor and mystery or even someone looking to learn something about how we see ourselves and each other. I had never read anything by John Green before but I will be sure to pick up some of his other books the next time I come across them.