REVIEW: I'd Tell You i Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You - Ally Carter

GENRE: Contemporary YA

PAGES: 320

PUBLISHER: Orchard Books

FORMAT: PB

BUY IT: Waterstones

RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses - but it's really a school for spies. Cammie Morgan is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti). But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for is what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without his ever being the wiser, but can Cammie have a normal relationship with a boy who can never know the truth about her?

REVIEW

Cammie and her friends go to an exclusive school for exceptional girls. But really, it's a cover for a school for SPIES. Whilst on her first training mission shadowing a teacher, Cammie meets a boy that she can't stop thinking about. How can she risk blowing her cover for a boy she doesn't know?

I put off reading this series for so long because the cover made me think they were going to be shallow stories about girls who are obsessed with makeup, clothes and sneaking out to see boys. I was so wrong. It is a smart, witty novel that made me totally jealous that I had to go to a normal boring school for normal boring non-spy people.

The female characters are fantastic role models: they are serious about their schoolwork, are ambitious about their careers and make the most of each particular skill set they have. I liked that although they had to be privileged and of a good background to attend the school, the don't squander it. They recognise how lucky they are and know that their lives will never be normal or safe. They're also really loyal friends, which is what a girl needs when you have to spend the whole of you life looking over your shoulder for impending danger.

The school itself is also as much of a cool character. If you have never visited the school you would think it was just an academy for over-rich, bored 'preppy' types, but you would never make it up the drive; a series of booby traps would stop you on your way. And if there is ever a surprise visit the school can go all Harry Potter and convert itself inside. It's so much fun. They learn lessons like 'Covert Ops' and have to speak different languages on different days. It is so smart, and so witty.

In terms of Cammie's relationship with Josh, the boy she meets in the town, I was worried that it would go really soppy, that she would forget about her studies and because a helpless depressed damsel. I'm so glad she didn't. She still tries to have a normal life, growing up and starting to notice boys, and although she is nowhere near a normal teen, she is still relatable for any teenage reader.

The writing style is simple and easy and I devoured it, so my advice is to read these, they're so much fun. I recommend them for anyone wanting an easy fun read, or for any parents who want something for their girls to read that isn't smutty, depressing or just bad for the psyche.

These girls can kick anyone's ass, and most importantly they could outsmart you in a second.

- Bex.

REVIEW: A Little Something Difference - Sandy Hall

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 272
PUBLISHER: Macmillan
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop-culture references, order the same Chinese food and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush it looks like they are never going to work things out. But somehow, even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative-writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at the local Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Now they just need to realize that they're meant for each other, and start falling in love...

REVIEW

The most enjoyable romance book I have read for a long time! This book was so refreshing, it took the basic principle of two young people falling in love and deals with it in an interesting and touching way. Told from the point of view of 14 people (it's easy to follow despite so many view points), each person has their own take on Lea and Gabe, and each of them has their own personality that makes it really fun to see what they think is happening. My favourite is Inga, I wish I had had a teacher like her! This is such a great book, the perfect book to curl up on the sofa with and the next thing you know you'll have read the entire thing and be grinning from ear to ear! I knew I was going to like it after 7 pages when there was a Buffy reference... Read this now :)

- Gem.

REVIEW: Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson

GENRE: Contemporary/Issues
PAGES: 240
PUBLISHER: Scholastic
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Seventeen-year-old Tyler is totally enjoying his position as high school Alpha male after years of being "the geek". But then Bethany - rich, blonde, beautiful and the girl Tyler wants - is the victim in a teenage sex scandal, and somehow Tyler is the prime suspect. Tyler had nothing to do with it, but when everyone - including his hard-nosed father - believes he did, Tyler starts to spiral into a nightmarish, paranoid state of mind. He is desperate to find a way out of the mess he's in ...Will he have the courage not to take the easy option?

REVIEW

A quick read, this tale of one boys struggle against gossip and scandal is fascinating. Tyler is snarky, funny and interesting, and it was great to see how he dealt with the situation he found himself in...he is accused of a crime he didn't commit and his family is a total nightmare. I honestly didn't know how it was going to end, and once I'd read it I found myself flicking back through to reread passages I liked. Perfect for an indulgent afternoon of reading!

- Gem.

REVIEW: Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins? - Liz Kessler

GENRE: Contemporary

PAGES: 256

PUBLISHER: Orion

FORMAT: Hardback

BUY IT: Waterstones

RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Jessica Jenkins is missing...Jessica Jenkins has always thought she was a perfectly ordinary girl, until the day that part of her arm vanishes in the middle of a Geography lesson! Her best friend Izzy is determined to help Jessica realise what a great opportunity the power to turn invisible could be, but where has her new ability come from? Does this mean she's a superhero? And, when her friends are threatened, can Jessica use her superpower to help?

REVIEW

This an exciting and enjoyable book, perfect for 9-12 readers who love Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson. I thought the plot was inventive and clever, and the kind of thing I wish would happen in real life - being able to turn invisible! As the plot progressed, Jessica has to solve the mystery of what is happening to her and her friends. Although it says it is a standalone novel I felt it would make a great series as it was so different from anything else I'd read for this age group, and the way the theme of friendship was dealt with was really clever. I'll definitely recommend this book to people.

- Gem.

GUEST REVIEW: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 352
PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3.5 Stars

SUMMARY

Amy Curry is having a terrible year. Her mother has decided to move all the way across the country and needs Amy to drive their car from California to the East Coast. There's just one problem: since the death of her father, Amy hasn't been able to get behind the wheel of a car. Enter Roger, the son of an old family friend, who turns out to be unexpectedly cute...and dealing with some baggage of his own. Meeting new people and coming to terms with her father's death were not part of Amy's plans for the road trip. But then neither was driving on the Loneliest Road in America, seeing the Colorado Mountains, visiting diners, dingy motels and Graceland. But as they drive, and she grows closer to Roger, Amy finds that the people you least expected are the ones you need the most - - and that sometimes you have to get lost in order to find your way home.

REVIEW

When I went to buy Isla, I saw that it was one buy one get one half price and I just couldn’t pass that up so I decided to finally purchase Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour since everyone raves about it. The original UK cover was just horrendous but they recently re-released the book with the US cover so I finally bought it. So after finishing Isla, I started reading Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour and I really enjoyed it. I finished it yesterday when I just spent the majority of the day sitting in bed reading it.So here I am, attempting to write a review of it. I always find it hard to write reviews of contemporaries, especially romances. So this review will probably be a bit all over the place and will definitely not be my best review but let’s go anyway. 

Let me just start by clarifiying something; this is most definitely not a lighthearted contemporary romance. I went into this book thinking that it would be for some reason but it wasn’t. Even though the synopsis suggests a cute romance story, it really isn’t that and I was disappointed because of that. This book mainly focuses on Amy as she starts learning to live her life again, after her father’s death. And while I found it incredibly interesting and moving, this wasn’t what I was expecting it to be like which contributed to my slight disasppoint in the book.

Amy was quite annoying at that start. I guess I can’t really judge how she acts because I’ve never been through the death of a close family member but I thought that she had been a bit too down in the dumps at the start. It makes sense since she felt like she was to blame but it didn’t make for a good protagonist. However as the book went along and she learned that she needs to start opening herself up and stop kicking herself for something that happened in the past, I really enjoyed her as a character.

Roger himself wasn’t that fabulous. He spent 95% of the book obsessing over an ex girlfriend and I just grew to be sick and tired of him. He also wasn’t impulsive or amazing as the synopsis suggested. I honestly expected someone completely arrogant yet lovable and he wasn’t anything like that. I was slightly disappointed with Roger.

The romance itself wasn’t all that great. There was no suggestion that Roger had any feelings for Amy at all throughout the book but suddenly they were just together. There was no progression to falling in love and recognizing that they like each other. It wasn’t a swoon worthy relationship and it didn’t make me feel any feelings. The book also ended somewhat openly and that irritated me. I’m fine with open endings but not this sort of open ending. How do they figure it all out? It doesn’t always just work out perfectly.

I understand that if you’ve read this whole review, you probably think I hated this book. I didn’t. I enjoyed it. It just wasn’t what I thought it would be and it didn’t make me feel anything. It was a good book to read in between other books but it really didn’t live up to it’s hype. I gave this book 3 stars on goodreads but it is closer to 3.5. I did quite enjoy it and if you go into this book expecting it to be more of a coming of age story, you will like it a lot more.

- Sofia.

GUEST REVIEW: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 240
PUBLISHER: Headline
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4.5 Stars

SUMMARY

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? Imagine if she hadn't fogotten the book. Or if there hadn't been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn't fumbled the coins for the toll. What if she'd run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else - the weather over the atlantic or a fault with the plane? Hadley isn't sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it's the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver...Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

REVIEW

I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley and I have to admit at first I thought it would be your typical boy-meets-girl YA novel, but I was wrong as it turned out to be much more than that.

Hadley’s relationship with her parents was very interesting and as I got further in to the book I enjoyed reading about her interactions with them. Hadley’s relationship with her father had suffered due to him leaving her mother and moving to London, and she disliked him for a while. As the book progresses we see Hadley’s feelings for him change as she realises that her father is very happy and that he never had any intention to cut Hadley out of his life. With regards to her mother, Hadley almost blamed her for what had happened but, again, as the story goes on, she realises that it wasn’t her fault and nothing could have been done to stop her father from leaving.

Oliver is a key character in this book and I thought that he and Hadley were very cute together. Over the 24 hour period that this book is set in, their lives intersect in intriguing ways and it was very fun to read. I will try to avoid spoilers here but when I find out why Oliver was travelling to London, it changed my whole perspective of him.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and although I would have loved to read more about Hadley and Oliver, the book ended in the best possible way it could have. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because it was a wonderful quick and easy read and I look forward to reading more books by Jennifer E. Smith.

- Zarin.

GUEST REVIEW: Every Day - David Levithan

GENRE: Contemporary/Fantasy
PAGES: 384
PUBLISHER: Electric Monkey
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Every day I am someone else. I am myself - I know I am myself - but I am also someone else. It has always been like this. Each morning, A wakes up in a different body. There's never any warning about who it will be, but A is used to that. Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere. And that's fine - until A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with - every day...

REVIEW

I personally enjoyed this book and thought that the idea was original because I haven’t read a book similar to this. The only book I’ve read by this other is Will Grayson, Will Grayson which is co-authored by John Green- an author I really enjoy reading the books of.

THIS WILL HAVE SOME SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!

This book is about a being who has named themselves A who borrows other peoples’ bodies for a day. This being goes to sleep and wakes up in a different body and this happens every day. A has no gender and no own physical body. 

Click through to read more.

GUEST REVIEW: The Best Thing That Never Happened To Me - Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice

GENRE: Contemporary/ Romance
PAGES: 368
PUBLISHER: Corgi
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Everyone remembers their first love. Holly certainly remembers Alex. But she decided ten years ago that love wasn't about mix tapes and seizing the moment - though she's not exactly sure it's about secret dates with your boss, either. But what if the feelings never really went away? Alex wants to make every moment of his new job count. It's a fresh start in a big city, and he's almost certain that moving to London has nothing to do with Holly. Almost. How do you know if it was meant to be ...or never meant to happen at all?

REVIEW

I recently got a copy of The Best Thing That Never Happened To Me by Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice and I knew that this book will be amazing (I got a feeling). The only book that I have read that two authors writing one book is Will Grayson, Will Grayson (by David Levithan and John Green) so the format is similar to that.

This book is about Alex and Holly who had a teenage friendship but they lose contact with each other and do not rekindle their relationship until they are nearly thirty. Holly doesn’t really know what love is. She doesn’t think that it is about giving each other mix tapes to remind them of you or living in the now and forgetting about the future. She doesn’t think having a secret relationship with her boss is what love is really about. Alex, however knew what love is. He has always loved Holly, however when they started to drift apart and stopped talking to each other, he had doubts about whether he actually did love Holly in the first place. However, when he moves to London (where Holly lives) he thinks that he is moving for himself, not for Holly but he has his own doubts about this theory.

Main Characters:

Alex: Alex is a babe. Honestly. His character is very interesting because he has tried to convince himself that he doesn’t like Holly anymore but really his feelings for her grow stronger as the book continues. What I also love about his character is that the humour is lacking but for me that makes Alex hilarious. He never forgot about Holly (which is really sweet), she was always that friend that got away and never came back.

Holly: Holly is such an amazing character. She is ambitious, hard-working and determined to be successful in life, which is what we all strive to be, she is just a regular person (with a irregular relationship with her boss). Due to her personality, she wants her boss to announce that they are a couple but he doesn’t, which really annoys her. I love her character because regardless of what happens, she sticks to what she believes in.

I love this book because it jumps from present day, back to the past and then back to the present so you get to see how the characters have developed without having to read masses of paper. This book is also very funny and it is very enjoyable. THE ENDING WAS AMAZING.

This book is such a good read, when you are feeling down, it will honestly warm your heart.

- Ambi.

GUEST REVIEW: Eleanor And Park - Rainbow Rowell

GENRE: Contemporary
PAGES: 336
PUBLISHER: Orion
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.

REVIEWSo Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite books so, why not tell you guys why you should read one of the best books known to the YA universe. I love Eleanor and Park, the whole is book beautiful from the first letter to the last, I loved it.

Eleanor and Park is about a girl called Eleanor and her difficulties at home from her abusive stepfather and her almost absent mother (her mother is always there but never for her daughter). She doesn’t have proper clothes so she has to do with what she got. She sits next to a boy called Park. In a normal situation, you think they will talk, seeing they go to the same school, but no, not for while that is. They soon develop their relationship by Park lending his comics that he reads, then his mix tapes and then finally they TALKED. Even though their relationship started in an ordinary way, it became an extraordinary romance (Eleanark FOR LIFE). However Eleanor, throughout this book, has so many tough experiences from being bullied, to be fearful from her stepfather. Park is to be part of the popular crew (due to him being the only Asian at the school, ASIANS ARE AMAZING) however he is also judged as his father doesn’t think he is masculine enough.

Main Characters:

Eleanor Douglas: Eleanor is amazing. She is strong, beautiful, amazing and just so warming to read about her, shes just awesome. I love her amazing red hair, that gives her character that extra depth. Eleanor kept her head up throughout all the hard times she faced and she never thought the worst in people. Eleanor goes through so many difficult experiences, which is so unfair to her because she is portrayed as such a lovely person like how can you harm a hair on her body, like how?

Park Sheridan: Park is perfect. I love him, I love him, I LOVE HIM. Anyone who knows me, I love PARK. I even have a T-Shirt with his name on it (look at bottom for pics). He is just an amazing character, he always made Eleanor smile (which made me smile) through her bad times, and he always was her comfort blanket (and became mine).

What does Eleanor and Park teaches us?

It is so easy to judge someone so easy and we should never judge anyone. Never ever EVER. It makes the person feel like crap, and we shouldn’t judge someone by the way they look. Eleanor dressed they way she looked because she couldn’t afford to dress in the latest trends. Park doesn’t want to be muscular like his dad wants to him to be. That’s because he doesn’t want to, he feels different. That’s okay. It is okay to be different because it is our life, and we can do whatever we want, and other people shouldn’t judge because we don’t know the full story about why they look like the way they do, or why they act the way they do.

Eleanor and Park is such an amazing book because you get such feeling reading the book, that it just warms your heart and feels with such comfort that undescribeable. It has the teenage awkwardness that we get everyday yet it is prosed so beautifully that if you feel that you are actually living in that moment, and that is what any book should be about; living in the moment of the book.

Eleanor and Park (like Rainbow’s other books) is written beautifully and it is just perfect, honestly. Perfect. However, there is one thing I don’t like; the ending. (You’ll see why).

 

- Ambi.

GUEST REVIEW: Love Letters To The Dead - Ava Dellaira

GENRE: Contemporary/Fantasy
PAGES: 336
PUBLISHER: Hot Key Books
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

It begins as an assignment for English class: write a letter to a dead person - any dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain - he died young, and so did Laurel's sister May - so maybe he'll understand a bit of what Laurel is going through. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people - Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Amelia Earhart ...it's like she can't stop. And she'd certainly never dream of handing them in to her teacher. She writes about what it's like going to a new high school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time - and how her family has shattered since May died. But much as Laurel might find writing the letters cathartic, she can't keep real life out forever. The ghosts of her past won't be contained between the lines of a page, and she will have to come to terms with growing up, the agony of losing a beloved sister, and the realisation that only you can shape your destiny.

REVIEW

I received a free copy of this book from Hot Key Books in exchange for a honest review. This does not affect my review/opinions in any way. Thank you Hot Key!

I read Love Letters to the Dead during exam week and I seriously regret it. No, I don't regret reading it, I just regret reading it right before an exam.

Because... it's one of those books that stays on your mind for a long time. In that respect (and that respect only), I'd compare it to The Book Thief.

Because... it makes you think. Laurel's history is one quite similar, yet so different to my own. And I wonder, if I'd ever have written letters, or done anything like this, what difference it would have made to me.

Because... it shows what words can do. What they can do to heal. What they can do to help. What they can do to hinder.

Because... it has gorgeous writing. Dellaira captivated me throughout the book, and it never stopped. Even when I should have been thinking about chemical formulas, I just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Because... I loved it. Many are saying it is too much like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I guess certain elements are similar, but this book, to me, is completely unique. It's absolutely beautiful, both on the inside and out.

- Charli.

REVIEW: Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Levithan

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 3852
PUBLISHER: Penguin
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with...Will Grayson. Two guys with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high-school stage. Told in alternating voices from two award-winning authors.

REVIEW

I completely and utterly loved this book, and then joy of joys, I read that David Levithan is going to be doing a Tiny Cooper spin off! How fabulous!

I really enjoyed the split narration, each Will Grayson had their own idiosyncrasies and when they met I was excited to see what would happen. The book deals with some serious issues of friendship, sexuality and relationships so it was very relatable and felt honest. It's quite "american" with the whole musical aspect - I can't imagine it having happened in my school, but then again that was about 15 yrs ago (Chris I feel old...)

Regardless, I loved it and will now be reading David Levithan's other books.

- Gem.

REVIEW: Blue - Lisa Glass

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 384
PUBLISHER: Quercus
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Surfing is sixteen-year-old Iris's world, and when the ultra-talented Zeke walks into her life, it soon becomes her passion. Over one amazing summer, as she is drawn into his sphere, she experiences love, new friendships, but also loss, with an intensity she never dreamed of. But is Zeke all he seems? What hides beneath his glamorous and mysterious past? When Iris decides to try for her own surfing success, just as her ex-boyfriend comes back into her life, she will test her talent, and her feelings for Zeke, to the limit...

REVIEW

Ok, I have to say it, please don't be put off with the cover - unless half naked boys are how you choose your books ;) - because this story is very original and engaging.

Iris is a wonderful character, she knows her own mind and is inspiring as she is not afraid to try new things and fight for what she believes in. The main two points of the plot (very simply put!) are the romance element and Iris entering a surfing contest - I know nothing about Surfing and thought this might put me off, it didn't, what it did was transport me into a world I'd never experienced and made me feel as if I was there with her. The romance element was fab and really interesting to see how it developed and how she dealt with the issues that arose.

The end was so unexpected I felt like I was holding my breath! I can't wait for more from Lisa.

- Gem.

REVIEW: Code Red Lipstick - Sarah Sky

GENRE: Contemporary/Humour

PAGES: 336
PUBLISHER: Scholastic
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Jessica Cole is just your average teenager, except when she's strutting down the glamorous catwalks of Paris. When her father, a former spy, vanishes mysteriously, Jessica takes matters into her own hands. She's not just good at striking a pose, she's going to take on MI6 and beat them at their own game. Following her father's trail, Jessica's investigation lands her hot on the heels of a deranged former supermodel, Allegra Knight, who plans to unleash mayhem on an unsuspecting teenage population with the launch of her new miracle face cream, Teenosity.

REVIEW

A fun and fresh take on contemporary fiction - it blends everything I love about books; engaging characters, an exciting plot and the ability for me to picture what is happening. 

Jessica Cole is great - a modern day Nancy Drew (kind of like a grown up Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child) combined with an even more sarky version of Harriet Manners in Holly Smale's Geek Girl. Even though I'm comparing the characters, they are different enough for it to be a totally different reading experience - Jessica is involved in both the modelling world and that of spying, full of high tech gadgets and dark and deadly secrets. I found myself completely captivated by Jessica's world, I read the book so quickly because I wanted to know how she was going to save the situation... 

I can't wait to read the next instalment :)

- Gem

REVIEW: The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting - Holly Bourne

GENRE: Contemporary/Issues

PAGES: 464
PUBLISHER: Usborne
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

This book will be released on 1/08/14 and can be preordered in store with a £3 deposit.

SUMMARY

Bree is a loser, a wannabe author who hides behind words. But when she's told she needs to start living a life worth writing about, The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting is born. Six steps on how to be interesting. Six steps that will see her infiltrate the popular set, fall in love with someone forbidden and make the biggest mistake of her life.

REVIEW

Wow, this book is awesome!

Bree is my ideal main character - she is relatable, funny, observant and even before she tried to become interesting, I wanted to know about her and her situation. 

After being rejected for a publishing deal for a second time something in Bree cracks and she feels she NEEDS to transform herself for the sake of the writing, and being able to see her transformation is brilliant. Holly touches upon lots of pop culture references and combines them all the create something new and unique. Important issues are dealt with and they never feel gratuitous, there is a point for them being in the story and I felt they were dealt with sensitivity and the Q&A with Holly at the end further highlights the importance of these issues (can't say what they are or I'll spoil it!).

As you can tell, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from this author (I've already read and LOVED Soulmates, so bring on book 3!)

- Gem

GUEST REVIEW: Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 384
PUBLISHER: Usborne
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3 Stars

SUMMARY

Budding designer Lola has an outrageous sense of style, a hot rocker boyfriend and big plans for the future. Everything is perfect - until Cricket Bell returns to the neighbourhood. When he steps back into her world, Lola must reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. And perhaps discover that true love can be closer than you think.

REVIEW

So Lola. Strange but cool. When I say I love this book, I seriously mean it. This book is beautiful.

I love how Anna and Étienne feature in this. I adore the fact that Anna has taken a big sister role over Lola. But I have to be honest. I love Étienne way more than I do Cricket Bell.

Cricket Bell is adorable in all aspects but he is no Étienne. Let’s be real now. No-one can be as beautiful as Étienne is.

Serious question though. How do you get from Delores to Lola? This is the one thing that bothered me throughout the whole book. I love the name Lola because it’s one of my own but how do you get such a drastic name change?

Anyway back to the point.

I like Lola because she is strange and cool. The issues she has with Calliope Bell are certainly interesting and the young romance with Cricket are some of the aspects that I love the most about this book.

Cricket is cute. I definitely imagine him as tall and quietly handsome. He is a very quiet character and I love him for it but I think that this is one of the reasons I prefer Étienne- he shows his affection more openly.

I like the fierceness that Calliope shows and she reminds me of Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments, Cassandra Clare) in that sense. Calliope is one of those characters you don’t expect to change but you hope for it to happen.

My favourite line in this book would have to be the last but you can read that for yourself. When you read the whole book and the get to that last line, it just made me smile so I am hoping to share the joy.

- Makayla

REVIEW: Alex As Well by Alyssa Brugman

GENRE: YA/Contemporary/Issues
PAGES: 216
PUBLISHER: Curious Fox
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

What do you do when everybody says you’re someone you’re not?

Alex wants change. Massive change. More radical than you could imagine. 

Her mother is not happy, in fact she’s imploding. Her dad walked out. Alex has turned vegetarian, ditched one school, enrolled in another, thrown out her clothes. And created a new identity. An identity that changes her world.

And Alex—the other Alex—has a lot to say about it. 

Alex As Well is a confronting and heartfelt story of adolescent experience—of questioning identity, discovering sexuality, navigating friendships and finding a place to belong. Alex is a strong, vulnerable, confident, shy and determined character, one you will never forget.

REVIEW

Alex doesn't believe he is a boy. He's not always sure that he is a girl either - but for the purpose of this review I'll refer to Alex as a girl. The book opens with Alex at a make-up counter, allowing herself to get a make-over. It's so interesting how this part is written. It's not obvious at first what gender Alex is and my brain tried to pick up keys in the text to find out if Alex is actually a boy or a girl, because this is what we are programmed to do. It is this programming that the book explores and you do find yourself wondering what you would do if you were Alex or Alex's parents.

Alex As Well does exactly what a good book should do - it puts you in someone else's shoes. Live as Alex for a few days and understand exactly how precarious our ideas of gender are. I could understand her Mother's reaction. There must be a certain amount of denial and bewilderment and social pressure. I understand this, I don't condone it. For Alex, I sympathise. How many of us have wished we were someone else? Imagine if you believed you were someone else and had the guts to make that huge change to your life. The most frustrating part of the book is that Alex's parents knew that this day would come.

It made me so angry. Parts of the narrative are made up of forum posts made by Alex's mother, and replies from other mothers. The way it highlights the fixed ideas and prejudices of what a child's identity should be are so shocking. The responses to a post saying that Alex is selfish and spiteful is just appalling. I can understand that it must be difficult for a child not to grow up to a parents expectations but there is no communication. Alex's dad tries but... sometimes we need to take a leap of faith to allow people to be happy with themselves and who they want to be. What does it even mean to be a boy, or a girl? Who decided how we should be? And why does it even still apply in the modern world?

Alex begins to confide in a solicitor and through her new friends at schools she falls into modelling in a fashion show. There is a lot of deserved criticism of the modelling industry but for people like Alex, being tall and looking androgynous is the height of fashion and no one is interested in who you are inside. It's kind of perfect. Alex rocks being the best at both genders.

If a boy is not hurting anyone by wearing lipstick or a girl wants to play football then what is the harm? It seems to be more socially acceptable now for girls to be 'tomboys', which is great, but it's still really hard for boys who want to be more feminine.

All in all, I loved Alex As Well. Alex is a tough cookie and deserved to be allowed to live however she wanted to. Changing minds and opinions is difficult, but books like this are part of the solution.

- Bex

GUEST REVIEW: Panic - Lauren Oliver

PAGES: 416
PUBLISHER: Hodder & Stoughton
FORMAT: Hardback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do. Heather never thought she would compete in panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She'd never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought. Dodge has never been afraid of panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game; he's sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he's not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for. For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them-and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. In this gritty, spellbinding novel, bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping narrative of friendship, courage, survival, and hope.

REVIEW

I am a big fan of Lauren Oliver’s writing having read her Delirium trilogy which I absolutely adore. However going into Panic I was a bit hesitant since it hadn’t had the best reviews. However, I did end up really loving it. Overall, I really enjoyed the writing and the plot and I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. Let’s start with the full spoiler-free review.

Panic is all about a series of tough challenges that are created to make the competitors, well panic. Reading about these challenges terrified me because they were all so scary! I couldn’t even begin to imagine doing them for myself. This may have been just me, but when they starting doing the challenges I was always confused with what they had to do. It might have been just me not paying enough attention but I kept saying “Why are they in water?” and “What is she doing in the road?”. Carrying on from that, the start of this book really confused me because it started out during a challenge but then went back in time to the start of the challenge. The first few pages were confusing but once I got past them, I was so engrossed and I didn’t want to put it down. The challenges made the book suspenseful and intense and I loved that!

Heather was an excellent main character. She was strong and she dealt with all the various issues she had to deal with throughout the whole novel. Participating in Panic, she went through quite a lot with the tough challenges. On top of that she also went through a lot of personal issues in her life. I really admired the fact that she could deal with both challenges at the same time and not go crazy.

Since it is a Lauren Oliver book, there was a range of amazing supporting cast such as Nat and Bishop. But the other main character was Dodge. Dodge I didn’t really understand and whenever it was one of his chapters, I was counting the pages until Heather’s next chapter. I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it was just in Heather’s perspective. Dodge does go through a lot and he is probably the most determined to win but I just couldn’t connect to him. All of her characters had their own unique story and I loved that. Bishop was a great character and I honestly wish we knew more about him and I wish we explored him better. Actually I would have liked it, if the book was split between Heather’s and Bishop’s POV instead of Dodge’s because it would have given us as readers a sense of dramatic irony.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the lack of romance. Most YA books have a romance as a central story that keeps popping up everywhere but in Panic the romance was very much on the down low. There still was one but the book focused more on the challenges and I loved that. When I went into it, I wanted romance since I’d been reading romance for a while beforehand but there was simply no space for anymore romance in the story when most of the story is all about tough challenges.

For anyone who has read Requiem, you will probably have experienced the fact that Lauren Oliver isn’t exactly the best at writing endings to stories and this unfortunately showed in Panic. I found the ending to be a bit of a cop out and slightly rushed. If the book was a little bit longer, it could have been almost perfect.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and Lauren Oliver’s writing but I wanted a better ending! A solid 4 out of 5 stars to this novel and I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes action and suspense.

- Sofia.

(http://fifisofa.wordpress.com)

GUEST REVIEW: The Sound - Sarah Alderson

PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda. What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...

REVIEW

I’m still, ultimately, wondering what I actually think of this book. I started to enjoy it straight away, and then slowly, there were many elements I loved and many I began to hate. It’s taken me at least an hour to mull all my thoughts over and actually come to a decision as to what to rate it. 

The Sound follows Ren, who moves to the States to babysit for a family. She plans to read and blog, a casual summer, but it doesn’t quite go to plan; she meets a group of friends who have a problem with a certain boy; Jesse Miller. 

I loved the romance in this book; I loved the action scenes; I loved how the final 100 pages gripped me. I adored the beginning, learning about Ren, her background, who and what she was interested in. 

But then, in the middle of the book, from about 60 pages in to the 100 pages before it finished, I just wanted it to end. It made me cringe, it made me raise my eyebrows; and I wondered when the clichés would end. Things like the stereotypical representation of America, girls being “scared” to eat carbs; almost making out like every girl has an eating disorder. 

And at first, the love triangle of Ren-Jeremy-Jesse worked really well, but then it became tedious, and predictable as to what would happen. This book had a beautiful, gorgeous romance by the end; but through the trials of the love triangle… Honestly? It just really annoyed me. 

There were also things like how Ren tackled Brodie being bullied; telling her theories and things to do. The fact that this bully told her about things like “skanks” and so forth made me feel… slightly vulnerable, almost, and shocked, to see what four-year-olds are actually exposed to in this day and age. I wasn’t naive, but I certainly didn’t know things like that at that age. 

But for these faults, I really enjoyed this, reading it in the space of two hours. It has romance; it has mystery; it has action; and it tackles serious issues like sexual assault. Once you get past all the predictability and clichés of this book, it’s a really pleasing, gripping yet beautiful read. 

- Charli

You can follow me on Twitter @charli_taw and see my blog at charliotherworld.blogspot.com 

REVIEW: Tape - Steven Camden

GENRE: Contemporary
PAGES: 368

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Children's Books
FORMAT: Hardback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

This review refers to an uncorrected advance edition.

SUMMARY

TAPE is the outstanding teen debut of 2014. Told with crackling prose, shimmering with humour and deeply moving, it will haunt anyone who reads it...Record a voice and it lasts forever...In 1993, Ryan records a diary on an old tape. He talks about his mother's death, about his dreams, about his love for a new girl at school who doesn't even know he exists. In 2013, Ameliah moves in with her grandmother after her parents die. There, she finds a tape in the spare room. A tape with a boy's voice on it - a voice she can't quite hear, but which seems to be speaking to her. Ryan and Ameliah are connected by more than just a tape. This is their story.

REVIEW

I really enjoyed this book; the plot was intriguing and wonderfully written, and the way the two narratives weaved the past and present together was fantastic. Both Ryan and Ameliah's narrations were distinct and vivid - Steven Camden's work as a spoken word artist was evident is how strongly his characters shone through from the page. Ryan's story evoked a real sense of 90's nostalgia which made me smile throughout, and Ameliah's sections made me laugh constantly. I guessed what would happen quite early on but that didn't make me love it any less. I'm really excited to see what he comes up with next!

- Gem.

REVIEW: The Worst Girlfriend in the World - Sarra Manning

GENRE: Contemporary/Romance
PAGES: 352

PUBLISHER: Atom
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3.5 Stars

PUBLICATION DATE: 01/05/14

This review refers to an uncorrected advance edition.

SUMMARY

Alice Jenkins is the worst girlfriend in the world according to the many, many boys who've shimmied up lampposts and shoplifted from New Look to impress her, only to be dumped when she gets bored of them. Alice has a very low boredom threshold. But she never gets bored with Franny, her best friend since they met at nursery school. Friends are for ever. Ain't nothing going to come between them. Girls rule, boys drool is their motto. Well, it's Alice's motto, Franny doesn't have much time for boys; they're all totes immature and only interested in one thing. But then there's Louis Allen, lead singer of Thee Desperadoes, the best band in Merrycliffe-on-sea (though that could be because they're the only band in Merrycliffe-on-sea). He's a tousle-haired, skinny-jeaned, sultry-eyed manchild, the closest thing that Franny's ever seen to the hipsters that she's read about on the internet and she's been crushing on him HARD for the last three years. She's never worked up the courage to actually speak to him but she's sure on some deeper level that goes beyond mere words, Louis absolutely knows that she's his soulmate. He just doesn't know that he knows it yet. It's why he cops off with so many other girls. So, when Alice, bored with callow youths, sets her sights on Louis it threatens to tear the girls' friendship apart, even though they're better than fighting over a boy. They strike a devil's deal - may the best girl win. Best friends become bitter rivals and everything comes to an explosive conclusion on their first trip to London. Can true friendship conquer all?

REVIEW

I've read a few Sara Manning books before and this one is my favourite so far. I enjoyed seeing Franny B's character develop as the story progressed and each new person she met helped her see a different bit of herself that she hadn't realised was there before. There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, and plenty of cringeworthy ones too. I admired her for sticking to her guns and following her dreams with her desire to be a fashion designer, at that age it's all too easy to back down to your parents when they think they know best but I loved how she stuck with it. 

A great read and it will be a surefire hit when it comes out later this year.

- Gem.