Blog Tour: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Amazon.com:

Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met. 

 

It's kind of funny that I originally was attracted to this book because part of it was told through emails. I thought it would be a fun book but it turned out to be one of my all time favorite books, and actually I'm pretty sure my #1 favorite of all time. (I don't joke around with favorites I think I've had maybe 6 in my life?)

Let's talk a little about the plot, so yes, there are those emails I was talking about between 2 friends Jennifer (who is married) and Beth (who has a long term boyfriend). Now we get to read these emails because it is Lincoln's job to monitor the emails at the newspaper they all work at and his portion of the story is told through I guess you would call it narrative? Emails with questionable content for whatever reason (flagged words etc), go to Lincoln and he is supposed to crack down on the offenders. I bet you are thinking "Say what, that's a crazy job!" And while it is, it makes a little more sense because the book takes place in 1999. So after reading a bunch of their emails Lincoln starts to feel weird about contacting them about their conduct but can't seem to stop reading their emails and ends falls for Beth in the process.

Lincoln is sort of lost in his path through life, he's gone to school A LOT, lives with his mother still (he's in his late 20s), is sort of shy and is still really affected by his one major relationship he had in his life. Basically he's a really sweet guy but no one but his small group of friends would know it and at first I don't think we the reader do either. In a lot of ways it kind of creeps me out how much I related to and understand Lincoln. And that's one thing I really loved about this book, of many. 

The way the story evolves just hit all the right notes for me, seeing Lincoln starting to better himself for a woman he doesn't even really know, seeing Beth really decide what to do about her relationship... I really can't put into words how just right and wonderful this book is. It made me laugh, giggle and literally cry tears of joy over the ending of this book. I was so invested in the story. There are some wonderful twists and nuances I'm dying to tell you about but it's so much more fun if you read it yourself!

And oh that ending, talk about perfect, I finally realized, reading the ending, Attachments reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies Amelie (the plot, the magic, the wonderful ending just so many things). 

 

I read the book about a month ago over about 2 super busy days (every time I was at home I was reading) and whenever I think of it or mention it my heart literally leaps, I know that sounds super cheesy but I mean it. There is no way I can do this book justice so if you are at all intrigued do yourself a favor and check it out! I try not to tell people flat out, read this book, but seriously READ THIS BOOK!

 

Attachments was released on April 14th

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

5/5 Stars

Review copy provided by publisher for blog tour

And luckily enough I have the chance to give one of you a copy of this book!

Here's how to enter to be the winner of the Attachments:

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. and Canada only.

The giveaway will end May 19th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

Entries left in the comments of this blog post will not be counted, please fill out the giveaway entry form.

**Prize provided by the publisher **

Don't Stop Believin' The Unofficial Guide to Glee by Erin Balser & Suzanne Gardner

GoodReads.com:

he kids in McKinley’s high school’s glee club “New Directions” might not be the most popular in school. For every chart-topping song “New Directions” belts out at practice the glee kids are liable to get a slushie tossed in their face by a football player or harassed online by the creme-de-la-creme of the school, one of McKinley’s “Cheerio” cheerleaders. But fictional popularity aside, the television show Glee is unquestionably a runaway hit, and audiences can’t get enough of their story: from the songs to the students, and especially the wacky teachers.

Don't Stop Believin': The Unofficial Guide to Glee is for Glee fans who demand more once the curtain falls. From information about the stars, the music, the trivia, and the in-jokes, to analysis of each relationship and fashion choice, Don't Stop Believin': The Unofficial Guide to Glee is the go-to guide for all things Glee. The book is thorough enough to satiate even the most dedicated of fans, yet accessible enough that a casual viewer can enjoy it.

Don't Stop Believin' in my mind was pretty perfect when it comes to giving all the dish and facts on Glee. It starts off with a few chapters on how Glee came to be and backgrounds for all the main cast. Then it dives into the bulk of the book, breakdowns of all the episodes.

I loved how the episodes were broken up into sections, so say you weren't interested in the best Sue quotes from the episode (How Sue Cs It) then you could just skip that section, but who wouldn't be interested in that! I personally read and enjoyed all the sections, my only comment would be that it would have been nice to have a Brittany quote section, though her quotes often popped up in other sections of the recaps. I also thought it was cool that there was a section that compared Ryan Murphy's other show Popular to Glee (That's Pretty Popular), which made me decide it was about time to watch Popular again, and so I am.

I think this guide lends itself wonderfully to all sorts of Glee fans, the ones like me that want to gobble up all the information all at the same time and read it straight through, and those that would prefer to leisurely flip through when they are watching a certain episode, it's all here. There is even a small section of color photos in the middle, not so large that it eats up the rest of the book but enough to give your eyes a rest half way through.

If you are a fan of Glee, hands down this Glee guide is for you!

Don't Stop Believin' was released on September 1st
Genre: Non-Fiction, TV
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

Amazon.com:

One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair…

and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect. If that isn't bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home.

Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town's not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark's attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals…. So he's formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it's time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn't shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont's unlikeliest eligible bachelor….

Oooh this book, this book made me burst out laughing on a regular occasion and also had me tearing up at one point. It was everything. You couldn’t ask for a funnier narrator than Callie, days later I’m still thinking about some of the things she said, what a voice!

While this book is classified as Romance it falls right into Chick Lit category for me. People tell me the difference between Chick Lit and Romance is that in Romance, the relationship between the main character and the potential love interest takes center stage and I agree with that, except for that’s not what All I Ever Wanted is like. It’s so well rounded, yes, the relationship is there but there is also a great multiple family and friends storylines, job storyline (yay advertising agency- i loved those passages) and a whole bunch of other things. That well rounded-ness is something that was missing for me in other contemporary romances, but this one hit it right on the head for me, a perfect balance.

I felt like this book was written for me, it's not everyday a book takes place in an ad agency and involves a sad and hilarious scene with a turkey. Yes, I have a turkey obsession, live turkeys that is. And the relationship between Callie and Ian is so great, at first glance they hate each other and slowly they begin to tolerate each other, become friends, lean on each other and you can see where it goes from there.

Overall this is my favorite contemporary romance of the handful I've read and I cannot wait to read more of Higgins'a work! I hear Catch of the Day is a great second stop!

All I Ever Wanted will be released on July 27th 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit
5/5 Stars
ARC picked up at BEA

BLOG TOUR: Leaving Unknown by Kerry Reichs

Amazon.com:

Sweet Lips, Tennessee . . . Toad Suck, Arkansas . . . Okay, Oklahoma . . . Truth or Consequences, New Mexico . . . Maeve Connelly's epic road trip is taking her through every colorfully named tiny town in America on her way to the far less imaginatively named Los Angeles, California. With her foulmouthed cockatiel, Oliver, her only companion, Maeve's heading way off the beaten track with little money and a load of painful baggage she wants to leave behind. But when her beloved rattletrap, "Elsie," breaks down outside Unknown, Arizona, she finds herself taking a much longer rest stop than she anticipated.

The only mechanic in the vicinity is on an indefinite walkabout, so Maeve's in for the long haul—and she'll need to find two jobs to pay for Elsie's eventual repair. But she's starting to feel strangely at home among the quirky denizens of Unknown—especially around her new bookstore owner boss—so Maeve is seriously considering saying good-bye to Hollywood for good . . . if she can keep her past troubles from coming to light.

From Kerry Reichs, author of The Best Day of Someone Else's Life, comes a poignant and very funny new novel about finding yourself after finding yourself in the middle of nowhere.

I could tell Leaving Unknown was going to be a fun and quirky book but I wasn't prepared for how spot-on it would be. Maeve is the type of person you just want to be around because she's fun, spunky and different! But what we (or at least I) didn't realize at first was that she was hiding something, something that had a big impact on her life but doesn't share with others. Other reviews talk about what it is she's hiding but I really liked reading it in the book and discovering it for myself, the hints all adding up!

I loved the little quirks about this book. Maeve's cockatiel Oliver, which had some hilarious phrases he shot out at the most horrible times and a set of little sculptures Maeve's mother made for her when she leaves on her journey. And just the way Maeve interacts with the other characters made her so endearing, she was such a caring person that tries her best but sometimes falls a little short, but definitely not for a lack of trying.

The secondary characters were fabulous, especially bookstore owner Noah, doctor Samuel and co-worker and friend Tuesday. The author cultivates this community not unlike one of my other favorites, Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

Every page was a pleasure to read, I laughed (a lot), worried for Maeve and wanted her to find her place in this world. I was very pleased to find out the author's first book, The Best Day of Someone Else's Life following Maeve's sister Vi, it's sure to be just as good!

Leaving Unknown was released on March 30th 2010
Genre: Chick Lit
4.5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher
Author's Website

Crochet (Klutz) by Anne Akers Johnson

Amazon.com:

Crochet comes with everything you need to get started, including two kinds of yarn, a crochet hook and a button. Projects include a chic scarf, super cute purse, stylish hat and more. All the projects are teen-approved and way cooler than Grandma’s tea cozy.

Between this book and the I Can't Believe I'm Crocheting dvd I learned to crochet. Originally I signed up for a class that only confused and discouraged me but this book set me back onto the path of successfully and not confusing crochet!

While I had learned the actual stitches from the dvd this book slowly and patiently showed me where each stitch goes with great illustrations highlighting the specific stitch. There is information given on yarn, gauge, tools, the stitches and the projects of course.

In most craft books there are always a few duds in the projects but this book had great projects that I actually wanted to make and use. I'm still trying to make a perfect flower and master the granny square but I've basically made everything in the book already!

I would highly suggest this to anyone that wants to learn to crochet. The instructions are simple and easy to follow, the projects are fun and it comes with all the tools you need to get started in the kit!

Here's what I've made so far!

Jewelry Roll

Flower

Bath Bag

Envelope Purse

Hat

Enter my giveaway for an envelope purse here!

Crochet (Klutz) was released on August 1st 2006
Genre: Crafts
5/5 Stars
Purchased at Joann's

Blog Tour: Get Lucky by Katherine Center

Amazon.com:

How do you change your luck? Katherine Center’s marvelously entertaining and poignant new novel is about choosing to look for happiness—and maybe getting lucky enough to find it.

Sarah Harper isn’t sure if the stupid decisions she sometimes makes are good choices in disguise—or if they’re really just stupid. But either way, after forwarding an inappropriate email to her entire company, she suddenly finds herself out of a job.

So she goes home to Houston—and her sister, Mackie—for Thanksgiving. But before Sarah can share her troubles with her sister, she learns that Mackie has some woes of her own: After years of trying, Mackie’s given up on having a baby—and plans to sell on eBay the entire nursery she’s set up. Which gives Sarah a brilliant idea—an idea that could fix everyone’s problems. An idea that gives Sarah the chance to take care of her big sister for once—instead of the other way around.

But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. After a decade away, Sarah is forced to confront one ghost from her past after another: the father she’s lost touch with, the memories of her mother, the sweet guy she dumped horribly in high school. Soon everything that matters is on the line—and Sarah can only hope that by changing her life she has changed her luck, too.

Oh boy did I ever LOVE this book. The author's voice was just perfect, honest, frank, silly and utterly hilarious. I just loved the way she wrote and the way Sarah came across. I couldn't get enough of Sarah and her friends and family. After I finished the book I just held it and smiled.

The situations Sarah found herself in were so quirky and original that I couldn't help but fall in love with the book from pretty much page one. Sarah's relationship with her sister Mackie was just this beautiful thing, how they come together, drift apart and come back together like the most connected sisters do. And Sarah's high school boyfriend Everett, that she dropped for another guy... and encounters again all these years later. Their interactions are so awkward and flirty, it was just so cute.

The dialogue was beyond entertaining and the cast of secondary characters was unforgettable. Just thinking about the book while writing this review has me laughing and remembering what a great time I had reading this book, it was so eccentric and original, what's not to like. It had this perfectly unperfect quality that rang so true for me.

I would highly recommend this one! Will definitely be checking out Center's other books!

Get Lucky was released yesterday, April 6th 2010
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher

TLC Book Tours

The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow

Amazon.com:

Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang are best friends with one goal: to crack the code of popularity. Lydia’s the bold one: aspiring theater star, stick-fighting enthusiast, human guinea pig. Julie’s the shy one: observer and artist, accidental field hockey star, faithful recorder. In this notebook they write down their observations and carry out experiments to try to determine what makes the popular girls tick. But somehow, when Lydia and Julie try to imitate the popular girls, their efforts don’t translate into instant popularity. Lydia ends up with a bald spot, their parents won’t stop yelling, and Julie finds herself the number-one crush of Roland Asbjørnsen. Worse, they seem to be drifting farther and farther from their goal—and each other.

Amy Ignatow’s hilarious debut novel introduces the intrepid fifth-graders Julie and Lydia, whose quest to understand popularity may not succeed in the ways they want, but will succeed in keeping readers in stitches.

Visually this is one of the coolest, fun, and well put together fiction books I've ever seen, and I don't say that lightly. I loved every page, unlike some illustrated middle grade or children's titles every page in this book is a production, color pencil illustrations, handwriting to represent 2 characters, knitting swatches, photos. It's pretty darn believable that this was put together by 2 5th graders. Ok maybe Julie is an extra talented artist for a 5th grader, but I'm willing to buy that this is the journal of two girls.

And the story, it was HILARIOUS! Spying on the popular girls at school and attempting tasks to be like them, that usually end in disaster (bald spots, stick fighting lessons, having a boy write a poem about you that the whole school sings.)

This book is golden. The story is great, the illustrations are great, and together it's hilariously perfect! Anyone that has an appreciate for multimedia books, graphic type novels, or funny kid drawings would like this. And I can't stress enough that it's not just about the art, there is a great story here about 2 friends learning about themselves, and how to make new friends, and getting to know their families better.

I liked how their families were important to the story, Julie's 2 dads, and Lydia's mother and goth sister. I loved Melody (the goth sister) and how slowly it turns out she isn't as weird as the girls thought she was, don't judge a person by their appearance! And there is knitting in this book, it's like the author read my mind and put things I specifically would like into this book. I will be on the lookout for anything else she creates, you can count on that!

The Popularity Papers is released today!
Genre: Middle Grade
5/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean

Amazon.com:

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake (or 9 Rules for short) is the first ever adult romance novel I have ever read and I think Sarah MacLean may have just led me to a whole new genre to explore! After having read her Young Adult title (and first book), The Season I knew I would read anything else she wrote and this book took my breath away! Coming to 9 Rules from The Season was very natural and just ramped up everything a little bit more. I love that they are both from the same world and time period.

Now it's time for some details. Main character Callie is someone that I could instantly relate to, she isn't as young as the other society girls and has been labeled a spinster and has been almost forgotten about. She realizes that after playing the part society has cast her in she really hasn't had any fun and hasn't gotten anything out of being a good polite woman and so the list is born.

The whole idea of Callie completing a list of basically un-lady like and scandalous tasks is written in a very clever and funny way. Seeing someone try something new is usually always funny and when they have to sneak around in disguises and in the pitch black night it's all the more fun. And add in Ralston and you are very much set!

I loved every single character in this book, pretty much as much as I loved Callie (except for maybe her mother, lol!). From her younger sister Mariana who is engaged, to her older brother Benedick, to Ralston (swoon) and his brother Nick to everyone else. The characters are fabulous. I'm very excited that this is the first of 3 books in this series because I definitely want more where this came from (as if you couldn't tell!).

And the romance, how can I say this politely, it was HOT! (And 2 months later having read a stack of romances, it's still the HOTTEST!) I loved all the back and forth between Callie and Ralston too, the misunderstandings, the stubbornness, the flirting and the silliness it was just adorable! I loved how they would end up hidden in corners, empty hallways and all sorts of places just slightly out of range of the ton, it was dangerous!

I took my time with this book, a week to be exact because I really wanted to enjoy it. I finished it 4 days ago and I haven't really been able to get into anything else since. This book was a complete and absolute treat! RECOMMEND!

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake will be released on March 30th
Genre: Adult Romance
5/5 Stars
ARC provided by the publisher

*** As you can tell I read this back in January, which is when I also wrote my review***

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Amazon.com:

Summer is here, and 16-year-old Allie, a self-professed music geek, is exactly where she wants to be: working full-time at Berkeley’s ultra-cool Bob and Bob Records. There, Allie can spend her days bantering with the street people, talking the talk with the staff, shepherding the uncool bridge-and-tunnel shoppers, all the while blissfully surrounded by music, music, music. It’s the perfect setup for her to develop her secret identity as The Vinyl Princess, author of both a brand-new zine and blog. From the safety of her favorite place on earth, Allie is poised to have it all: love, music and blogging.

Her mother, though, is actually the one getting the dates, and business at Allie’s beloved record store is becoming dangerously slow—not to mention that there have been a string of robberies in the neighborhood. At least her blog seems to be gaining interest, one vinyl junkie at a time….


The Vinyl Princess is perfect. Main character Allie lives her life loving music, her job selling vinyl and her friends and family, basically she's awesome and I want to be her friend. The book was realistic but in the way that everyone in the book was cooler than me and I only wish I was that awesome. From Allie's extensive knowledge of music to her best friend Kit's fashion know-how I bow down to these people and am extremely jealous of them.

While the characters were great the overall atmosphere of the book was rocking as well, it gave off a bit of an Empire Records vibe for me, independent record store with a bunch of musicheads and freaks running around humor etc. There was also a bit of a mystery (that I solved just before Allie) involving a string of robberies in town and a bit of romance. Basically The Vinyl Princess is a very well rounded story with music holding the whole thing together.

Another awesome thing about the book I really appreciated was that the Vinyl Princess zine is real, I actually have a copy and I believe the blog is real as well! I love when an author takes the time to make the book come to life and doesn't just use something for the book but takes the time to make it real for the readers. That gets a major thumbs up from me.

Overall a great young adult book for teens and music lovers alike!

The Vinyl Princess was released on December 22nd!
Genre: Young Adult
5/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Amazon.com:

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account of that year, Rubin carves out her place alongside the authors of bestselling memoirs such as Julie and Julia, The Year of Living Biblically, and Eat, Pray, Love. With humor and insight, she chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier.

Rubin didn't have the option to uproot herself, nor did she really want to; instead she focused on improving her life as it was. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions: give proofs of love, ask for help, find more fun, keep a gratitude notebook, forget about results. She immersed herself in principles set forth by all manner of experts, from Epicurus to Thoreau to Oprah to Martin Seligman to the Dalai Lama to see what worked for her—and what didn't.

Her conclusions are sometimes surprising—she finds that money can buy happiness, when spent wisely; that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that "treating" yourself can make you feel worse; that venting bad feelings doesn't relieve them; that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference—and they range from the practical to the profound.

Written with charm and wit, The Happiness Project is illuminating yet entertaining, thought-provoking yet compulsively readable. Gretchen Rubin's passion for her subject jumps off the page, and reading just a few chapters of this book will inspire you to start your own happiness project.

I have no idea how to properly convey how I feel about this book. I felt so much for it and because of it and it's kind of crazy. I saw so much of myself in the author and some of the examples she explained, half the time I was sitting there dumbstruck. She breaks down her resolutions in such a way it's very easy to follow along and she is so specific in how they work out you really can't ask for much more.

Rubin writes in a way that it was very easy for me to relate to and understand. It's a real achievement how much research she did and how many information she is easily able to get across to the reader. Just her Happiness Project in general was a large undertaking but it seemed like so much fun as well. I actually feel happier just having read it and also trying out and noticing little things here and there about myself. This is a book that I think will stay with me forever and one that's definitely worth a yearly read, I can not stop talking about it. I would consider it a must read for just about anyone. I found myself only reading a bit a day so I could draw it out longer, I didn't want it to end.

It's funny that I've reacted to The Happiness Project so strongly too because originally it just sounded like a cute and fun memoir which is something I love to read, but it was so so much more than that. You might think with it being a bit of a self help book that it could get preachy or be filled with boring clinical talk or charts and graphs but it's nothing at all like that. It's someone sharing their wonderful experience with great insight that is very easy to transfer to your own life.

The Happiness Project is an achievement by the author and I would strongly suggest this book to everyone.

The Happiness Project will be released on December 29th!
Genre: Memoir/Self-Help
5/5 Stars
ARC provided by Amazon Vine
The Happiness Project blog

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Amazon.com:

An exchange student who's really an alien, a secret room that becomes the perfect place for a quick escape, a typical tale of grandfatherly exaggeration that is actually even more bizarre than he says... These are the odd details of everyday life that grow and take on an incredible life of their own in tales and illustrations that Shaun Tan's many fans will love.

This book is an experience. Shaun Tan's mind, I don't even know how you would describe it and coupled with his extremely beautiful art, it's just mind blowing. Basically everything you've ever heard about Shaun Tan is true, he's a master and this book is a true gem.

The stories range from one page to several, from tiny simple illustrations to full page extremely detailed ones. I haven't read his book The Arrival yet, but Tales From Outer Suburbia sure seems like a masterwork to me. Even the Table of Contents which is usually very simple in books is extremely beautiful, it might actually be my favorite page in the book. It is a series of postage stamps one for each story.

While the stories explore a variety of situations and events they all carry this feeling of a beautiful and haunting imagination. Pick this book up now, seriously.

Tales From Outer Suburbia was released on February 1st 2009
Genre: Children's Book
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney

Amazon.com:

Doomed loves, failed families, nixed dreams—someone else's leftovers are heaped on our plates the day we come into this world.

Big Macs and pop tunes mask the emptiness as Madeline watches her mom drink away their welfare checks. Until the day Tad, a quirky McDonald's counter boy, asks Madeline out for a date, and she gets her first taste of normal. But with a life that's anything but, how long can normal really last?

Hanging with Jeremy, avoiding Mam, sticking Do Not Disturb Post-its on her heart, Desiree's mission is simple: party hard, graduate (well, maybe), get out of town. But after Desiree accepts half a meatball grinder, a cold drink, and a ride from her mother's boyfriend one rainy afternoon, nothing is ever simple again.

Too many AP classes. Workaholic mom. Dad in prison. Still, Ariel's sultry new boyfriend, Shane, manages to make even the worst days delicious. But when an unexpected phone call forces a trip to visit a sick grandmother she's never met, revealing her family's dark past, Ariel struggles to find the courage to make the right choice for her own future.

Three girls from three different decades find out it's what they do with their leftovers that matters—because, after all, life is your own blue plate special.

Blue Plate Special is best if you go into it knowing nothing more than what you read on the jacket flap. It will reveal itself to you bit by bit until you are left sitting there stunned and extremely impressed, at least I think so. Unfortunately for me I knew a bit more than what the jacket tells you but it didn't matter. It just gave me a few more clues to work with. I was still very very impressed with Kwasney's ability to weave these three stories together. It's heartbreaking, honest, raw and real.

All three girls have rough lives for one reason or another. While there was just a tad bit of overlapping in their struggles (a dilemma or two were similar for two of the girls) I thought Kwansney did a great job of distinguishing their voices and making them all likeable. I thought it was a nice touch that Desiree's part was written in verse. She used far fewer words but you get to know her just as well as the other girls.

I think Blue Plate Special is a book that begs to be read a second time. Once reading it you know a lot more than when you started and reading it a second time would allow you to put together the pieces as you read, more so and start to notice things you might have missed the first time.

This is a book that will stick with me and I was extremely impressed by it.

Blue Plate Special was released on September 23rd
Genre: Young Adult
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

From Melissa Walker's website:
This is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship.

She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name 'Party Penny.' Their personalities clash, big time.

But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can't Quinn keep her mind off Penny's friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?

One thing's certain: Quinn's in for a summer she'll never forget!

Lovestruck Summer has got to be one of my favorite summer romances of all time. I seriously squeeeeeeed throughout the whole book. Oh My God. I felt like Melissa Walker wrote this book for me. I totally and completely got Quinn. I'm sort of a music snob myself and could totally see myself in her. I don't do country music, I just don't. I'm sure I like a few songs that I don't realize are country but that is all. Also, I've never thought of a cowboy/fratboy as hot, never, until now. I really appreciated this book's message of not dismissing something or someone just because you think you should or because you believe the stereotype about something.

I loved the back and forth between Quinn and her cowboy/fratboy neighbor Russ. Holy heck was that boy as sweet can be! But no, Quinn is set on finding herself an indie/emo boy and sets her sights on Sebastian a local dj who might not be as good inside as he looks outside.

Then we have Quinn's cousin Penny and her sorority sister/next door neighbor Chrissy who at first glance Quinn writes off. And then there's co-intern Jade who comes off kind of cold at first. By the end of the summer Quinn will get to know these girls so well and come to learn a lot about herself and her beliefs in the process.

Ok, I could just go on and on about how much I love this book, but just really see for yourself. You will squeal and laugh and go aww about 1,000 times!

Lovestruck Summer was released on May 5th.

Genre: Young Adult
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival by Dene Low

Amazon.com:

You would think Petronella’s sixteenth birthday would be cause for celebration. After all, fashionable friends are arriving at her country estate near London, teas are being served, and her coming out party promises to be a resplendent affair. Everything is falling nicely into place, until, suddenly—it isn’t. For Petronella discovers that her guardian, Uncle Augustus T. Percival, has developed a most unVictorian compulsion: He must eat bugs. Worse still, because he is her guardian, Uncle Augustus is to attend her soiree and his current state will most definitely be an embarrassment. During the festivities, when Petronella would much rather be sharing pleasantries with handsome Lord James Sinclair (swoon), important guests are disappearing, kidnapping notes are appearing, many of the clues are insects, and Uncle Augustus is surreptitiously devouring evidence. It’s more than one sixteen-year-old girl should have to deal with. But, truth be told, there is far more yet to come . . .

This has got to be one of the strangest, cutest, most wonderful starts to a series I've ever read and I think I'm in love with it. The language, the characters, their behaviors to me everything was spot on.

Right off the bat we are introduced to Victorian manners and ways of doing things and then all of a sudden we find Uncle Augustus T. Percival having a bite to eat, a bite to eat of BUGS! His compulsion is just so hilarious, the way the author writes it, seeing him hopping around in the background grabbing bugs out of the air and such, it just never got old! That was probably my favorite part of the book.

Next we have this wonderful mystery of two very important people vanishing from Petronella's party and she and her friends and relatives take it upon themselves to help out the police to find them. Oh and did I mention that Petronella's Aunt and son and Great Aunt and two daughters show up to try and help sort out this mess but are basically in the way the whole time. They make for some great comedy.

And most surprisingly and most welcome too is a bit of romance in the story. Petronella's best friend happens to have an adorably handsome brother who Petronella swoons for, if only he would notice her as anything other than a sister. Let's just say I can't wait to see where the story picks up in the next installment of this series!

I would highly recommend this book for something a bit out of the ordinary. I was highly impressed.

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival was released on June 1st.
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult
5/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

Willow by Julia Hoban

Amazon.com Product Description:

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy —one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.

Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.

Willow is a real, honest, and emotional book. From the moment you pick the book up, you are invested in Willow and her well-being. Not only is this story about grief and guilt, it is about love and never giving up. It's beautiful.

The characters in Willow are real people with complex emotions and personalities. So many books are just full of stereotypes but Willow is full of character's so lifelike it's hard to believe they aren't actual people. I also really love the world that the author has created for these characters. I couldn't help wishing that I was one of the people hanging out in the library that Willow worked at or enjoying the park or a walk through the city. I wanted to be there in that world.

My only initial concern about reading the book was that it would be sad for me to handle or that the cutting would scare me away. None of those things happened, I think having the deep emotional factor that it has only enhanced the reading experience and made it that much more meaningful. The author's skill is so great that for the first time in my life I feel like I understand the reason that people can do such horrible things to their own body. It's always shocked and saddened me but I had never fully understood it until I heard it through Willow's voice.

I don't want to talk too much about the plot itself because I think this is one that's best discovered as you read, as you let it reveal itself to you. Reading Willow was definitely one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had in a long time. Every time I had to put the book down I daydreamed of picking it back up and re-joining Willow's world.

5/5 Stars
ARC provided by author

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Amazon.com:

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 way 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 soon 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....

This book was HOT! The chemistry and banter between Meg and John (Officer After) could keep me reading for probably a 1,000 pages. It was an absolute pleasure to read I couldn't get enough of it.

Echols writing style is just perfect to me, it's humorous and detailed and random, everything I love. She created a very likable character in Meg, someone who intentionally creates a somewhat shocking appearance (blue hair) and attitude to protect herself but little by little we learn more about Meg and the reason she is the way she is and you can't help being on her side and wanting to be her friend. And John, man, I loved reading about this boy. I don't even know what to say.

I loved reading about John and Meg on night patrol and watching Meg realize she's falling in love with him. It's pretty cute to see this punk haired bad-a%* girl get kind of self conscious around John. There is a great push and pull between them that keeps you on edge, needing to know where this is going to go.

I'm at a loss for words of how to express how much I loved this book! It has so very many things going for it, GREAT characters (main and secondary) a great premise, humor, pain.... just please, do yourself a favor and read this book! I'll definitely be reading the rest of the author's books!

And seriously, when can I see the movie version? :P

Going Too Far is released March 17th.

5/5 Stars
ARC received from author

The Season by Sarah MacLean

Amazon.com:

Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!

Review:

Did someone say perfect? Well I did! This is the most enjoyable, fun, and romantic book I've read in a good long while! And I suggest you read it RIGHT NOW!

I don't usually go for historical books, there are usually all sorts of things I haven't got a clue about (what are they riding in, what is this weird hobby etc, remember I remember nothing from history class) but in The Season but I didn't have to put up with that frustration and what was left were the beautiful clothes, traditions, and manners of Regency England. It was seriously so much fun and instantly put me in a good mood when reading.

The characters were absolutely wonderful, each with their own personality and vibrancy. Of course Alex was a wonderful character accompanied by her two friends Ella and Vivi, they made a great team be it out at a ball or doing detective work! I love the balance in the book between the trio of girls and Alex's three brothers and their family friend Gavin. A lot of great teasing and conversation going on! They all brought something to the table! Gavin was a brilliant character, and could make any girl swoon, good lord! It's impossible to not be memorized by him!

I wasn't sure exactly how the mystery would fit into the rest of the plot when I started reading and I think it worked in perfectly. While the mystery wasn't very hard to solve it provided a great element of suspense to the book! And brought certain characters closer together! And speaking of bringing certain character closer together, I felt like everything I wanted to happen did. While I was reading I would think to myself "Oh my gosh, what if this happened what if that happened" and then they did time after time! It was like the author was reading my mind or something! Very satisfying to read.

I really cannot say enough good things about this book. All I have to say is there better be more where this came from, I'm waiting!

The Season was released today!

5/5 Stars

ARC received from publisher

What is your favorite romance?

And P.S. Whenever Gavin aka Blackmoor was mentioned I couldn't help but think of the font, Blackmoor. Yes, I'm that strange! Hehe.

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Amazon.com Product Description:

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

So this is what it feels like to be in love with a book...

Best thing for me about this collection? How all the stories overlap slightly. Characters from the first story show up in the second, characters from the second are in the third etc. The authors have put together their heads and created a world that all of their characters could live in, and I loved it! I also loved getting the chance to read stories by Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle for the first time, it definitely will not be the last time! Now onto the individual stories..

Maureen Johnson's, The Jubilee Express starts like a normal day, a girl (Jubilee) waiting at home for her parents to arrive and looking forward to getting to spend the evening with her boyfriend. It quickly steers off course and Jubilee finds herself stuck on a train going nowhere with a group of cheerleaders (she HATES cheerleaders). She makes her way off the train and that's when the adventure really begins...

John Green's, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle also starts like any ordinary winter day. Three friends are enjoying a Bond marathon until they receive a call that they must get down to the Waffle House to partake in the oogling of some cheerleaders. This would just be a typical guys being guys story except one of these three friends happen to be a girl (and she's not in it to oogle any cheerleaders). Their journey through a huge snowstorm to see the cheerleaders ends up stirring up some hidden feelings between two of the friends...

Whenever I think of Lauren Myracle's, The Patron Saint of Pigs, this is the image that will come to mind, you'll have to read the story to find out why! Anyhow, this story centers around Addie who, when in a confused and drunken state makes a mistake and because of it loses her boyfriend. She spends some time feeling bad for herself but is forced to get back to the daily grind at Starbucks. Through a series of events she learns a little something about herself...

So if I had to choose, I'd pick John Green's story as my favorite. But I like to look at it one big story! This is a great book, especially for this time of year! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I think it's a great way to get introduced to some of the biggest names in young adult literature!

5/5 Stars
Purchased by myself

Merry Christmas!

The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer

From the Publisher's website:

The Official Rules of the Teashop Girls

1. Teashop girls are best friends forever.
2. Tea is held every week, no matter what.
3. All tea and scones must be split equally at all times.

Annie, Genna, and Zoe have been hanging out at the Steeping Leaf since elementary school. The Teashop Girls do everything together -- at least they used to. With the end of eighth grade approaching, Genna's too busy with theater, Zoe's always at tennis, and Annie feels totally left out. What happened to tea every week, no matter what?

When Annie convinces her grandmother to give her a job as a barista at the Leaf, things begin to look up. In between whipping up chai lattes for customers, and attempting to catch the attention of her Barista Boy crush, Annie is finally beginning to feel as grown-up as her best friends. But an eviction notice spells trouble for the Leaf and unless they can turn the business around, the teashop will have to close its doors forever.

Fresh, honest, and sweet, Laura Schaefer's debut novel is sure to resonate with readers everywhere.

I adored this book! It definitely soared above my expectations! It was sweet and warm and just all things good!

The book centers around Annie and her beloved Steeping Leaf that her grandmother owns. She loves the Steeping Leaf so much she wants to get her very first job there, and it doesn't hurt that a cute older boy named Jonathan also works there! Her initial meeting with Jonathan is too funny! Everything is going well until one day the power goes out and Annie finds out that her grandmother has been having problems paying all her bills. Annie and her friends become determined to save the Steeping Leaf!

One of my favorite things about this book is all the old tea leaf ads and recipes. When Annie was younger she and her friends started a scrapbook of all things tea and these are clippings from it! The book is also full of beautiful watercolor illustrations. These just add to the experience of an already great book!

I had assumed it would be alternating perspectives based on what I read in the synopsis but that wasn't the case and it did not matter at all. Through Annie's voice we definitely also get a sense of her family and friends, Geena and Zoe. The cast of secondary characters were great. I especially loved the "very annoying" Zach!

I really hope this is just the beginning of the Teashop Girls adventures and that there are more books to come! Fingers crossed! This book has definitely peaked my interest in tea and I definitely hope to try a variety of teas in the near future!

The Teashop Girls is released on December 30th!

5/5 Stars

Review copy provided by publisher

What's your favorite tea? I want to try some but don't know where to start! Does anyone know of a great sampler pack I could purchase? Or a particular brand that's great?

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

From the author's website:

When “Perfect” Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter’s High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher’s pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn’t want to talk about it. She’d just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there’s a nice guy falling in love with her and he’s making her feel things again when she’d really rather not be feeling anything at all.
Nobody would have guessed she’s turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

I have no idea how to express my feelings about this book. It's powerful, emotional, important, and really spoke to me.

The book takes place a good time after some sort of upsetting event has occurred. Everyone has gotten over it to the best they could except for Parker and that's because she finds herself guilty for some reason and no one else knows about it.

When reading this book you literally see Parker fighting with her memories. Everyday things bring up the memories of that night and we only get a little taste before they are pushed back out of her mind. Because of the way this is written you can't put the book down and also can't pinpoint what this upsetting event is. You can guess, but you are probably wrong.

I was so wrapped up in this book that in the end when that night is fully explained and I found out just what has happened, I sat up and said out loud, "Oh My God" for me that moment of understanding Parker was very powerful. Everything came full circle and I found myself identifying (to a less severe degree) with her feelings of guilt and loss of control.

This book is amazing. Just read it, immediately. I could talk about the tons of other things I liked, like Parker's sassy Veronica Mars-like attitude, the great secondary characters etc. but I rather you read the book and fall in love with it just the way I did!

5/5 Stars
ARC provided by LibraryThing Early Reviewer's Program

Cracked Up to Be will be released on December 23rd!

What's the last book you really identified with?