Your classic teen contemporary, that although is stereotypical and full of teen angst, actually tackles some important topics for the reader to considYour classic teen contemporary, that although is stereotypical and full of teen angst, actually tackles some important topics for the reader to consider and question themselves.
Gia is what is considered on the outside to be perfect. She has the perfect family, the perfect life, the perfect friends. So when her boyfriend breaks up with her just before prom, she enlists the help of Hayden, her 'fill-in boyfriend'. But what she soon realises is that her life isn't perfect, and actually sometimes you need the perspective of an outsider to your life, a stranger, to break you away from your routine actions and opinions.
Our characters in this novel although play a key role, sadly were all rather dislikable. Gia and her friends were narrow-minded, self-absorbed and self-important, and it was hard to like them. Their friendships were toxic, but what was highlighted was also their lack of knowledge of one another. They were simply friends on the surface, and that was it. But it is a topic that is tackled in the novel, identifying toxic attitudes of those around you, and in oneself, and how these affect you; it prompts the reader to question whether sometimes losing that toxic friendship is better for your mental health than carrying on with it.
The plot of this novel isn't what left a lasting impact on me as a reader. The plot was not the most exciting, a little bland, and truthfully not the most engaging. The characters were self-absorbed, immature and simply had incredibly self-righteous personalities, which is actually what made me want to stop reading a quarter of the way through. However, one persevered, and pleased they did.
The novel highlighted some key issues with society, and although they were not completely analysed and challenged in-depth, they certainly made you think. One of the key things that stood out is how society is so busy and wrapped up in their own thoughts and agendas, that we take little time to understand and get to know small things about those around us. It highlights to the reader to not be afraid to ask people about themselves, to not allow fear of them not wanting to talk about themselves stop you from wanting to get to know them better.
"What's your story?" The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West, page 223 (Paperback)
It also highlighted the dominance of social media in today's society, and for a teen novel, I felt this was a really great topic for the novel to have brought to attention, and was something West mildly tackled. How many look for validation from those on social media, how many likes they get, followers, connections. And how damaging this can be to people, especially young adults in the way they see themselves and how they express themselves as people.
"I did delete pictures or tweets that didn't get enough likes. I did measure my worth in those terms." The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West, page 202 (Paperback)
Therefore, although the plot of this novel wasn't greatly executed and the characters were extremely dislikable, making it tricky to continue reading; I believe it is worth the read for some of the messages the novel sends on not being afraid to ask people more personal questions in order to get to know them better, to open up, and the impact that social media and technology can have on a young impressionable individual. ...more
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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I could not continue after already struggling through 70%. I can honestly*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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I could not continue after already struggling through 70%. I can honestly say I will not be reading another Kody Keplinger book, they are just not for me. I also really do not like the cover, it is really cheesy.
Amy and Sonny have been best friends since nursery, and have always remained that way. However the one thing that has the potential to break their friendship, overconfident and annoying Ryder Cross. Who has a crush on Amy. Whilst Sonny develops a crush on Ryder. Amy and Sonny's friendship is put to the test; can a boy really come between two best friends?
The characters in this novel were infuriating! We had:
Sonny: She must be one of the worst friends I have read about. She is incredibly selfish, but is also obsessed with lying. Not to mention the way she treats Amy, pretending to be her and saying all those things to Ryder as Amy. I do not understand why she would not just tell him it was her!
Amy: She just would not stand up for herself. I mean, would you really give your phone to your friend to make the guy dislike you? On Sonny's part it was incredibly immature, but I was pleased to read the part where Amy finally stood up for herself more.
Ryder: What sort of a love interest was he?! There was absolutely no character development, we knew nothing about him except for how mean and opinionated he was; from what we knew of Ryder, which was very little, I really disliked him; meaning I had no interest in finding out more.
The plot of this novel from the very start had the ability to be amazing, but it was executed poorly. I constantly found myself bored and tired of hearing Sonny's conversations with Ryder, followed by her repetition of conflicted emotions. But in all honesty, nothing happened in this novel. All that happened was: Sonny and Amy speaking to Ryder, trying to make Amy sound unappealing to him, and Sonny trying to get his attention. It was sadly really boring and unimaginative.
Therefore sadly having DNF'd this novel at 70% I will no longer be reading any of Keplinger's future novels....more
*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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I really struggled to rate The Perfectionists. On one hand, I'm askin*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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I really struggled to rate The Perfectionists. On one hand, I'm asking if you can put zero stars but on the other I say two to three stars. Now this cover, is beautiful; it goes perfectly with the novel.
Nolan Hotchkiss is one of the most hated individuals, and yet he is the most popular. However, his popularity comes from the secrets he holds over many. When five girls decide to utterly humiliate him at his own party, he soon turns up dead. But they did not murder him. The girls must find his real murderer, before they are the ones accused.
Now the characters… oh dear: It took me a long time, due to the five POVs to understand who was who, who does what, who's friends are who, and their motives for hating Nolan. It took a long time as the majority of the five sounded like the exact same person. They made some really, really irresponsible and silly decisions. I will not say what they did as it will spoil it for you. The majority of the time I had to stop reading and look around in disbelief, as if to say, "Are they serious?!". They also came across as incredibly naive, linking to point two. Especially thinking the Police would believe them after the things they just did! Just… I shall leave it there or I could go on forever. They were strongly unlikable characters, with awful friends. I think nearly every friend turned on each of them. Yes they were academically intelligent, but otherwise they were just infuriating. The plot of this novel, was very similar to Shepard's other novels. I expected more originality and danger, but all I felt I got was five girls making everything worse for themselves with their decisions. I feel my only positive thought of this novel was, that I still want to know who the murderer was. Meaning I am indecisive as to whether I should carry on with the series or not.
Overall, I strongly disliked this novel yet I still really want to know what happens next....more
*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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The first novel The Perfectionists I read earlier this year, and I re*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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The first novel The Perfectionists I read earlier this year, and I really disliked it, largely because of the characters. But Sara Shepard just has such addictive writing and story lines that I had to pick up the sequel, and I am very pleased I did. I really do like these covers, they are so beautiful and girly yet horrifying at the same time.
I am not going to give a synopsis of this sequel, as you really just need to go into it remembering the key events from the first novel like: Nolan Hotchkiss' death, Granger's death and the list the 5 girls compiled.
Nothing about the characters in this novel changed, I really really dislike them all. They were incredibly immature, naive, selfish, cruel, and whiney. Especially to their boyfriends which was a recurring theme with them all. But I shall stop talking about my dislke for these characters for I could go on and on, as I was able to overlook it due to the amazing plot.
This is one of the main things I love about Sara Shepard's novel, she is able to completely capture you in the novel, making you feel like you are there, and the suspense and imagery has you constantly on the edge of your seat. However it was the ending that blew my mind. It was like nothing I had read before, and though I was sort of right when it came to the murderer, I was totally not expecting that, and it really blew me away. And that is why I love Sara Shepard's novels, she crafts them so intricately and completely shocks you; when I thought back to try and understand how I had missed her clues, she was so brilliant in intertwining them that I was truly astonished. And for that reason I had to give it the four stars it deserved, as it was just so clever; I am truly astonished.
Therefore this novel really blew-my-mind, and even if you really disliked the first novel, you have to give this a go as that ending is like nothing I have ever read before....more
*Received from NetGalley (for Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review*
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Addictive, page-turning and smart. Trust Me, I'm Lying wi*Received from NetGalley (for Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review*
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Addictive, page-turning and smart. Trust Me, I'm Lying will certainly leave a positive lasting impression; a definite read for all Ally Carter fans like myself! I love the cover. So dark and mysterious, with the use of the shadows and necklace really capture your eye.
Julep Dupree is a grifter. An expert in her profession, Julep only learnt from the best… until he goes missing and she finds her apartment turned upside down. With the leader trying to find and capture her, Julep recruits her best friend and hacker Sam alongside the charmingly popular Tyler to help her find her Dad whilst uncovering stalkers, family secrets and a herd of criminals.
"Your story is your best offence; your disguise is your best defense." Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer
Julep Dupree was a smart, witty and yet easily likeable character. Julep was a female protagonist who did not rely on anyone else, and though her actions were not always lawful, she had the best intentions to help out those around her. Julep thought carefully through most of her plans which showed maturity and thoughtfulness.What I liked most about her character through the progression of the novel, is she began to find her true self.
"When you can be anybody, you become nobody." Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer
The plot of this novel was fast-pace with a gallon of twists and turns that grab your attention. Alongside this, there was danger and action but most importantly I loved how their actions were not what you expected. I also loved the change in motives and secrets revealed near the end, I felt this added a more serious edge to the novel as the circumstances were of more of a realistic setting. The con theme to this novel was certainly fascinating; there are fake ID's, hacking and much more.
This is a highly addictive novel, perfect for fans of Ally Carter; Mary Elizabeth Summer is certainly an author to watch!...more
*Received from the Author in exchange for an honest review*
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BLOG TOUR STOP: 28TH FEBRUARY! 4.5 stars
Fun and fluffy with unrequited lo*Received from the Author in exchange for an honest review*
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BLOG TOUR STOP: 28TH FEBRUARY! 4.5 stars
Fun and fluffy with unrequited love, this story will pull at your heartstrings. I love the cover, it was what immediately attracted me to this story, it pronounces a fun read with intelligence etched upon it.
When Ashley is forced to move away from her home due to severe bullying, in her new town of her Aunt and Uncle's she meets the lovely and friendly Brendan who welcomes her with open arms; but they have always been just friends. However, when new twins Sofia and Vincent arrive at their school, Ashley begins to encounter the loss she felt without Brendan. But with Vincent vying for her attention, can she love another and ace the Mathletes challenge?
This story from the beginning intrigued me, it was the subject of the Mathletes competition, living in the UK it is something of which I have never encountered before and have always associated with American schools meaning I was immediately intrigued as clubs like this I have only briefly heard about. Furthermore, I loved how there were little notes passes between Ashley, Vincent and Brendan with cute maths problems to solve, I love maths so they had me working them out in my head!
Our two main characters in this story are undeniably cute and adorable! We see Ashley battling her struggles but with delight she grows confidence throughout the novel. We also meet Brendan whom is Ashley's best friend, he is kind and friendly to all, never judging anyone her is very popular throughout the town. At times I did want to shout at him for not seeing the affection that Ashley clearly had for him, however, it was a delight to see his character evolve throughout the novel.
This is an adorable story of a boy and girl in high school, finding out about themselves and conquering their fears, alongside doing their hobbies alongside their closest friends....more
*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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I had previously seen this novel around, with a review popping up eve*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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I had previously seen this novel around, with a review popping up every once in a while. Then all-of-a-sudden my Goodreads page exploded, and I knew I had to read it! Overall, it was okay. I cannot think of another word to describe it except it was, 'okay'. I have admitted before, fluffy contemporary romances are not my favourite genre, but I do keep trying because of novels like Anna and the French Kiss, Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys, and Babe in Boyland. However moving onto the cover, I do really like the film covers for this novel; definitely prefer them to the originals.
Bianca has not had it easy, she never sees her mum meaning home life is tough. But to top it off, Wesley Rush names her the DUFF, the designated ugly fat friend. Ouch. And good for Bianca, because she throws her drink in his face. But with everything getting worse at home, when paired with Wesley for a school project, Bianca begins to confide in Wesley, and starts to understand that they may not be that different after all.
I struggled to understand whether I liked Bianca. I cannot pretend to understand why she does what she does, because I do not. Which is where I struggled to connect with her, yes she could be funny and entertaining, and she went through some struggles, but I just did not get it. All I could think about was how irritating and frustrating she was. Then we have Wesley, for some strange reason I sort-of liked him. He did protect Bianca and look out for her, but also had a lovely soft side when it came to his family, or more specifically his sister; making me even more interested to read Lying Out Loud. Although I cannot deny that he definitely was incredibly frustrating and disgusting at times.
"No matter where you go or what you do to distract yourself, reality catches up with you eventually." The Duff by Kody Keplinger, Paperback
The plot was predictable, specifically with one event adding raw emotion to the novel. However the rest you just sort of float through, it is a coming of age novel, one that yes, needs to be told but there was just that spark missing for me. It was just like any other contemporary, and I felt I could have easily skipped to the end, meaning there was nothing to make it stand-out from the crowd.
Sadly this novel was just not for me, and though our protagonist Bianca could be humorous at times, I constantly found myself becoming frustrated with her....more
This is a novel that will definitely make you think and witness inside the head of a bully, but also why she does it. I re
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3.5 STARS
This is a novel that will definitely make you think and witness inside the head of a bully, but also why she does it. I really like the cover, though it is a little weird and creepy I think it fits the novel well.
Bridget Duke believes she is the most popular and likeable girl in their school, if someone does not like something or she does something wrong; it is always their fault. She is a bully. However when Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car whilst simultaneously dying, she is faced with the truth. What everyone really thinks about her and how she effects others. Though she soon realises saying 'sorry' just isn't enough.
More thoughts rushed into my head: the betrayals of my friends, the fact that few (if any) people loved or cared about me, the fact that everyone was too focused on themselves to think a little bit about what they were doing to me. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison (paperback), page 107
Like the quote above, a lot of things Bridget said made you shake your head and look say "really!?". She was self-centred, selfish, immature, deceiving, lying… you get the point.
The plot and scenes (though cliqued) were quick, and it certainly did not hang around; it was perfect, short-and-sweet. It was a quick read that kept you wishing and wishing someone would shout at Bridget!
This novel was a quick and simple read that made you frustrated with our main character, but also make you think a little....more
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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*This will contain spoilers*
I have been wanting to read this trilogy *Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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*This will contain spoilers*
I have been wanting to read this trilogy for a long time, so when I requested all three on NetGalley I was incredibly excited to marathon it. Then I find out, when I was accepted, that this is now a five-book series... WHAT?! This third novel, I was not a huge fan of at all. It was predictable and annoying, but I am just pleased that I can say I have read the trilogy (because the next two novels are companions about their daughter.) However, I cannot say that these covers are not beautiful. But I must say, this is a series that relates to the phrase 'Don't judge a book by it's cover'.
With the daunting threat of rebels at an all time high, the lives of those still remaining in the Selection are put in grave danger as the rebels begin killing down the castes; specifically targeting those close to the remaining girls. However, with the threats America receives from the King, she must decide whether her love for Maxon is strong enough to survive, or whether she goes for the safer option of Aspen?
America, like in the previous novel really annoyed me. And when I say really, I mean REALLY. I was so disappointed. The way she acted was what she complained about others doing, she was clingy and all she spoke about was whether Maxon still loved her or not, and then whether Aspen did, and then who she was going to choose... it went on and on; America was so indecisive. Yes, one thing I did like about America is she was compassionate towards others, she always tried to help them as much as she could, and tried to do the right thing, speaking up for what she felt was right. But otherwise she was rude and selfish.
Then we have the love interests. Usually, in a love triangle such as this, you are suppose to have a favourite, but I strongly disliked both Aspen and Maxon. Mason was selfish and annoying, there was just something that I did not like about him. And then we got an insight into how his father is, and at points in the novel I could see him in Maxon, especially at the end when he was threatening America when he was suppose to choose. But the thing is, he knew something was going on, and if he really loved her, wouldn't he have just asked. The same with America, if she really loved him, wouldn't she have just told Maxon about Aspen. However, the part I found hilarious was how quickly his opinion changed, one minute he hated her, the next he was shouting he loved her; this is one confusing relationship. This leads me on to their declaration of love, my goodness the two were way too stubborn. It seemed like from the very beginning they didn't trust each other to be truthful, and they were both waiting for one another to do it.
"Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway." The One by Kiera Cass, Ebook
And then we have Aspen, goodness he would not leave her alone, and she too. They were always trying to find each other, and similarly he was just really clingy. I mean, how did Maxon not see the relationship between America and Aspen? But the one thing that annoyed me about America was how Aspen kept trying, I am assuming, to tell her about himself and Lucy, but she kept thinking he was about to declare his love for her! Goodness she was selfish, thinking everything was centred around her. But also at these moments I assume he was with Lucy, he was still seeing America.
The plot, oh my. It was really boring. Yes we had some action, but I felt the only real action was at the very end, when the rebels horrifically open fired. It was predictable that Maxon and Aspen would both be hurt, but still alive. But I must say, the killing of Celeste did shock me. But the ending was predictable, the evil King and lovely Queen died for their country and Maxon and America live happily ever after as the new King and Queen.
Overall this novel could have been so much better and rescued the series, but it really did not. The only reason I have given it two stars is that the series is addictive, and though I hate to say it, I will probably read the next two books someday, just as a hope that their daughter may be more tolerable....more
The cover is so... so pink! the complete opposite of the colours Toby likes, playing a big part to how much she had to change.
"If you’d told me at the beginning of sophomore year that I was going to end up a government operative, I would have thought you were crazy, but if you’d told me I was destined to become a cheerleader, I would have had you committed, no questions asked."
16 year old Toby ‘antisocial’ ‘anti-cheerleader’ Klein was one of those girls who slouches at the back of you maths class, is the culprit of ‘jock directed violence’ and who hacked Pentagon at the age of 14. She ‘has been known to use her sharp mind and clever puns for evil, rather than good’ but also, as many of the cheerleaders and jocks know through experience, has a very ‘infamous temper’.
When Toby (or Ev) thought things could only get worse after being invited to a varsity cheerleading try-out, through coded notes and blue dye, she is proved wrong. She described it as ‘Charlie’s Angels meets James Bond meets Bring it On’... yes, you hear me, these cheerleaders were government operatives and wanted Toby to become their new third degree black belt hacker. Little did she know, already on her first day she had ‘attended her first cheerleading practice. Been recruited to work for her first top-secret agency, had her first makeover, and slapped a hot guys butt’ (which Tara seemed ‘well jel’ about...I can't believe I just wrote that!) for the first time.
Toby is one of the best characters ever! Her sarcasm is epic and will cause you to struggle to come up with acceptable comebacks. I love the way she can just be herself and threaten the jocks (with a fork) and then they just laugh, because thats Toby. But she can't resist the idea of becoming a spy, even if it means spiralling into the popular crowd and cheerleading. She is bad-ass and will make you laugh-out-loud like never before!
This book is full of laughs and sarcasm to last you a life-time and is perfect for gossip lovers with a touch of danger and for those of you who, like Toby (and me!) are not early risers and when we feel like something needs to be said, we just can’t keep our mouths shut. This book will leave you begging for more and trying out all of Toby’s comments and puns, hopefully for good and not evil, like Toby. There was one thing though, at times I found the book slow paced, but it all depends on the pace of which you like your books.
I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Killer Spirit....more
PLEASE NOTE: If you have not read the first book... you will probably not want to read this review, sorry. However, here is my review for the first book in the series, The Lying Game.
I love the cover, they are simple but extremely effective, its as if at the start of the story it completes the mystery of the last book by completing the face then by the end of the story you have the start of the face for the new suspect. All the books also seem to have a new colour combination every time.
After Emma rules out the idea it was just a twisted game Sutton was playing on Emma, Ethan finds out about Sutton's death meaning Emma must be more careful than ever. As Emma collects information about who Sutton had made contact with in the months before her death, she starts to realise that those who where closest to Sutton may be the ones with the strongest motives.
In The Lying Game-1 here is what I thought of Emma and Sutton: Emma: Loving, kind, friendly, happy-as-she-can-be, determined, never-gets-into-trouble, sensible, and does not like the lying game. She also finds it hard to cope with accusations of things she doesn't know about of which Sutton did, making everything that much harder for her. She is also a very likeable character who is mature and practical.
Sutton: Unkind, hates-everyone, goes-along-with-it, ALWAYS-in-trouble, rebellious, selfish, immature, moody, and loves the lying game! She also seems to revel in everyones unhappiness and does not think about others before herself.
Has my opinion of them both changed? Yes! Emma: Loving, kind, friendly, happy-as-she-can-be, determined, gets-into-trouble-on-purpose-if-thats-what-it-takes, sensible, and does not like the lying game. She now easily copes with accusations of things she doesn't know about of which Sutton did as she is very clever in twisting it around to use it to her advantage and acts as clues for Suttons death, making everything that much harder for her. She is also a very likeable character who is mature and practical.
Sutton: Unkind, hates-everyone, goes-along-with-it, ALWAYS-in-trouble, rebellious, selfish, immature, moody, and loves the lying game! She also seems to revel in everyones unhappiness and does not think about others before herself. Now that we have seen her view from the outside... she seems to regret a lot of things she has done, is great at encouraging her sister even though she knows she can't hear her and shows that she can also be practical and think through the situations and come up with valuable and accurate conclusions.
In this instalment of The Lying Games we see peoples true colours begin to come out and to what lengths they would go to, to get their revenge. We also learn a lot more about the Twitter Twins and in what ways they could be involved in Sutton's murder and why. This book is fast paced with more flashbacks that help to build on the story, making you want to shout at Emma to tell her what you have just learned. You will also, like the first instalment of The Lying Games suspect everyone... I even found myself suspecting the policemen and shop assistant! You see a little more about the relationship of Ethan and Emma (which is undoubtably adorable!) and the ways they are both put on edge about the murderer finding out... otherwise she is next. We also get to know a little more of Sutton's past and the way in which some of their games can give others the motive for a dangerous revenge.
I highly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! The next book in the series: Two Truths and a Lie....more
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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This was an adorable story with a twist of bad-ass roller girls... they m*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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This was an adorable story with a twist of bad-ass roller girls... they made me want to grab my skates and run to the nearest roller derby club and attempt to skate! (For me, thats the first step.)
The cover is gorgeous, I love the theme of yellow as it causes it to stand out and the whole roller-derby-game-face thing going on, very creepy which makes me scared and not want to face her.
Annie is a fourteen-year-old teen and just moved from London to the quiet town of Illinois. To be honest, she sticks out like a sore thumb, but immediately becomes best friends with Lexie, one of her neighbours. Due to Annie's height, she was unable to continue doing gymnastics of which she loves! So, she auditions to become a cheerleader which allows her to use her effortless gymnastic skills to blow the audiences minds... but she never thought she could use them in roller derby. After seeing the life of a roller girl, where all are equal, they all help eachother and are never sore losers against the cheerleaders who are only in it for themselves, are selfish and treat others with complete disrespect, Annie must decide if she goes down the path of fun and bad-ass roller derby or to the ever jealous cheerleaders...
Annie is a wonderful character. Born and bred in London with an overworking mum of whom she rarely sees and a dad who could give Jamie Oliver a run for his money, she moves miles away to start a fresh... and help her dad bring his dream to life. Being British, she is immediatly hounded with questions and comments about her accent of which she deals with very maturely, even if she does find it very annoying at times. She thinks things through and always does her best in everything she does. She is mature, five foot eleven and faces the challenge of surviving the first week of school without making any enemies... lets just say that failed IMMEDIATELY! Then we have Lexie, everyone needs one of her. She is a very quirky character who says it how it is and never holds back, she is also a very dear friend to Annie and earned a lifetime of scones for painting their british themed cafe.
Megan Sparks highlights a lot of key aspects of the challenges a British teen would face when moving to the States, for example her words, accent and references. This was a very refreshing read of which made you laugh in hysterics and bite-your-nails with nervousness, it also gave a real insight into the sport of roller derby which I really enjoyed seeing as I haven't heard much about it before.
I highly recommend this book as I enjoyed it greatly and could not stop laughing!...more
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
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This novel. I have a love/hate relationship with contemporary novels. And*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
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This novel. I have a love/hate relationship with contemporary novels. And this one, after all the praise surrounding it, was not my cup-of-tea. I do like the cover though, it is cheesy, but its simple, bright and cheerful.
Sam has always lived next door to the Garretts. A massive family whom Sam has been banned from interacting with for the majority of her life, yet watches from her bedroom window. But when she meets Jase from next-door, things start to become complicated, and Sam begins to contemplate whether the life she is leading is really what she wants.
I found Sam to become very frustrating through the progression of the novel. At first, she seemed like a happy and bubbly girl, who helped those around her and always tried her best. But as the novel progressed I found myself frustrated with her, she just would not do what she had and wanted to do. Everything seemed to revolve around her. And then Sam would go on and on about how everything happened to her, alongside the fact that she didn't want to be seen outside with her boyfriend. My other character dislike in this novel was Sam's 'best friend' Nan. I use these apostrophes because she was no best friend, I wouldn't even class her as a friend. She was an absolutely horrible person. Nan would make little terrible comments towards Sam and then cheats on all her test, Sam finds out and confronts her, yet Nan blames Sam for Nan doing it, does not talk to Sam at all and basically gets mad at Sam, stating it is her fault and she cannot be friends with her anymore because apparently Sam is horrible for finding out Nan has been cheating and making her have to cheat... what?! It made no sense whatsoever.
The plot of this novel. It was one of the only reasons I carried on because there were certainly some twists that I was not expecting. However, apart from those areas, there was nothing unique about it. Nothing there to make stand it out from any other contemporary out there. It could be slow-paced at times, and uninteresting. Sadly it started great, and just went downhill from then-on.
Sadly My Life Next Door just did not live up to my expectations and I am very disappointed....more
The cover is gorgeous, it immediately gives the identicalness of the twins and the title instantly allows you to conjure up what th
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The cover is gorgeous, it immediately gives the identicalness of the twins and the title instantly allows you to conjure up what the lying game is. The colours are also really effective with the black background, the pink of the title and the blue of her top instantly stand out.
Lies, betrayal and murder is what Emma finds when she stumbles across her own long lost twins life. Emma's life has always been spent moving from one family to another, never feeling like she belongs and never feeling as if she has anyone to call family. Until she sees a video of a girl who looks exactly like her... being strangled. As Emma goes on a wild goose chase to find her twin's murderer, she faces a realisation. To find the murderer, she must become Sutton or she is also as good as dead. As she attempts to hide her secret identity and secretly unveil the murderer, she doesn't expect to feel that the murderer might actually be one of them, someone within the Lying Game.
Emma couldn't be any different to Sutton, heres a list I made: Emma: Loving, kind, friendly, happy-as-she-can-be, determined, never-gets-into-trouble, sensible, and does not like the lying game. She also finds it hard to cope with accusations of things she doesn't know about of which Sutton did, making everything that much harder for her. She is also a very likeable character who is mature and practical. Sutton: Unkind, hates-everyone, goes-along-with-it, ALWAYS-in-trouble, rebellious, selfish, immature, moody, and loves the lying game! She also seems to revel in everyones unhappiness and does not think about others before herself. I liked the character of Ethan, at times he could be really funny, but I also like the way his character slowly evolved with him at first being very hesitant but slowly warming to Emma. But then the explosion at the end...
The story itself was genius! Such careful planning and intricate lies under all the words caused you to be instantly drawn in. I also liked the way we got Emma speaking her thoughts and feelings, but we also got Sutton's as she appears to be a ghost trapped in Emma's body, she was able to understand what Emma was doing and thinking but had no control over it. It also allowed us to see how Sutton saw the accusations thrown at Emma making it even more interesting to see her reaction due to her not be able to remember anything of her life.
The ending was not as I expected it to be, I was adamant there was going to be a cliffhanger, but like everyone else to our surprise there was not. The Lying Game was a mystery in itself, but very clever as it caused Emma's life to be even harder due to the expectation of her being unforgiving and ruthless but in-fact people started to see how she had changed. But it also helped create the mystery as Emma was unable to do anything without others assuming she was playing a prank and her not being able to understand if those around her were playing pranks at all, but-on-top-of-that for revenge.
I highly enjoyed this book, with such intricate pieces of the puzzle sliding together and then smashed into tiny pieces again, you will never know which way to look. Everyone has a lullaby, but what if the murderer isn't under their noses?
The next book in the series (of which I am going to run and get right now...*runs as fast as possible, people give her strange looks* GOT IT!): Never Have I Ever....more
You know those times when your smiling, but it starts to really hurt and you feel like your mouth is frozen in that position becaus
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You know those times when your smiling, but it starts to really hurt and you feel like your mouth is frozen in that position because you just find something so funny you can't stop, so you just ignore the pain? Thats what its like all the way through this book, it is hilariously funny.
The cover is great, it really adds to the theme of her going undercover as a boy with the moustache, I couldn't help but smile.
Natalie is Dr. A from the school newspaper, but nobody knows that. She dishes out the tips on relationships every girl wants to hear, telling them they are fabulous and if the boy can't accept them to 'buy yourself a cute pair of shoes and strut your fabulousness elsewhere!' But she never considered it from a males point of view, obviously because she's a girl. After being hounded with fair accusations and rude comments, Natalie begins to come up with the ultimate article for the reporter competition. And how she does that? She enroles in an all boy prep school to try and solve the crossword puzzle of a boys brain...(lets just say you are in for a hilarious, and a lot of the time, some awkward moments!)
Natalie is a very funny character but she is also very determined. She lets no one stand in her way and definitely gets most of her attitude from her best friends. Though her time at the boys prep school causes her concentration and patience to be taken to the limit as she attempts to act as one of 'the guys', such as controlling her giggling habit, staring and sayings that just don't sound manly enough especially when she starts gushing and twiddling her hair (big mistake!) She also finds out some insightful revelations about herself and others and the way an outside person might view it. But she is very clever in the way she does and avoids situations easily and she is not easily put off and so does not run away at a first chance (even if the urge passed through her brain constantly) I also loved the characters of her best friends, all three of them were the complete opposite but they got on well with each other so well, you would never have thought they were different. They are also all very loyal to one another and have some very funny moments in the prop room. You also got to see Natalie's friends through the view of her as their best friend and the way they are completely different with others, through the eyes of Nat.
Throughout this book you could not move your mouth from a smile to a frown, it is completely impossible! You also could not help but feel exactly how Natalie felt at times, especially the awkwardness... there was more awkwardness there than I have ever witnessed in those 292 pages, I'm surprised it hasn't scarred her for life. But it is described incredibly well and all the different ideas and uniqueness really made it very realistic and even little things you never thought about and then read it and your like 'Oh yeah!'.
This book is a fun and hilarious read that will keep you turning and turning the pages to see what Nat wakes up to next. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading another one of Jody Gehrman's books: Audrey's Guide to Witch Craft....more
Number one, I love the cover! It gives such attitude and the colours (especially of the uniform) sent out an immediate Sherlock Hol
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Number one, I love the cover! It gives such attitude and the colours (especially of the uniform) sent out an immediate Sherlock Holmes vibe. It stood out instantly and I could not wait to read it. But it was not what I expected... in a good way though.
Kate Lowry's life changes when she discovers her best friend, Grace, died in the basement one of the old school buildings at Pemberly Brown. But one thing that really hit home, Kate was suppose to be there. She feels guilty for leaving her best friend because of some guy distracting her, but she soons finds out there are more involved and whom of which she would never imagine to be twisted into this uncertain game. But she has also been under suspicion that there was more to Grace's death than meets the eye. As she goes on a large trek through the secret tunnels of one of the worlds most famous and high achieving private schools, she starts to discover that some secrets should be left alone and the deeper you go... the harder it is to get back out.
Kate Lowry is a great character. She has pink hair (LOVE IT), is very pretty and has a lot of attitude. She is also very stubborn which creates an even more explosive character, making her very 'cool' in a not-even-trying way. She is very intelligent and has found it hard over the past six months to come to terms with the death of her best friend and the betrayal of another. She is a well developed character, of which you can really warm towards and can be very funny and sarcastic at times.
Then there is her next door neighbour Seth. He has to be one of my favourite characters in this book, he is one of those people who everyone could do with. He was funny, very intelligent and has a fascination for history and the-impossible. He brought such an uplifting vibe to the book, he was also one of those people who doesn't really care what people think about him which added such fun and sweetness to his character. Likewise, he is one of those awesome people who has a tree-house and uses it to spy on the neighbours of which he believes they are secret agents working for the CIA (yeah...). But, with his mass of bright red frizzy curls and and massive beaming smile to accompany it, who wouldn't want to see him bounding down the street towards you? Then we have Liam, he's a bit of mystery. His history and personality are very slow to come out which adds a lot of theories to him, meaning you find it hard to chose as to which path you should take, the trusting path... or the not-so-trusting path.
This book, as I quoted earlier, was not at all what I expected. But in a good way. It was very dark and more mysterious than I could imagine this book to be like. The plot and idea of the book was very original and the school reminded me a little bit of a haunted castle and the way people would sneak in and out through the secret passages. The writing was also brilliant and I loved the added touch of latin to give the school more character and a darker, dead history.
This book was full of mystery, suspense and a much darker aroma than originally expected. As secret societies rain havoc on the school and surrounding town, you will find yourself thinking of as many possibilities as possible to solve this mystery. So when you see the cover, grab it and never let go as you will be in for one big ride.
I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next book in the series, The Lies That Bind.
What can I say, ANOTHER exceptional novel from the Gallagher Girls series, I am speechless, utterly speechless!
Cammie Morgan has awoken in the Alps under the care of nuns, she only remembers leaving the Gallagher Academy, but the rest of summer is blank. As Cammie and her friends go on a dangerous journey to uncover the mysteries of Cammie's lost memories, what they find makes Cammie wish she had never remembered.
Cammie is an intelligent, determined, indépendant and truly-awesome character! Like before, she stays calm, plans efficiently and can be very secretive at times. However, she is very professional at all times and is not deterred from near-impossible situations. She is kind, friendly and will always do whats best for her friends and family. We also get experiences from Zach, their relationship is very adorable.
The plot of this novel, as always, was truly gripping and engaging; I can never tell what Carter will do next! The use of amnesia in the novel really highlights the emotions of the frustration Cammie feels and it adds a vulnerability to her. And that ending!? Where did that come from!? I would never have thought of that conclusion, but it seemed so fitting!
This is ANOTHER wonderful and explosive sequel to the Gallagher Girls series of which all must read....more
Okay, first the cover is undoubtedly bright and colourful making it stand out immediately. Its also a bit like she is the light to
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Okay, first the cover is undoubtedly bright and colourful making it stand out immediately. Its also a bit like she is the light to his dark.
Alone is perfect... to the untrained eye. However, she is that one girl in all schools who is pretty, popular and gets her own way, always. But she is not perfect, especially when she gets hit by a bus, of which kills her. Now, as you would expect, she has a large number of enemies and a mountain of things she has done wrong in her life that need to be made up for; meaning she does not go into the light and so instead is left to roam the earth to redeem herself and earn the reward of moving on. But her first encounter as a ghost is Will... who laughs right in her face (*shouts* G-O-W-I-L-L, what does that spell? GO WILL *giggle fit begins*) How was he to know that The Alona Dare was destined to roam the earth alone? But he has also put his foot in it... as he is the only one of which ghosts know of, who can see ghosts. Will Will (no pun intended) be able to help Alone? Or is it best to leave her be and let her feel bad for the things shes has done to others?
Alona Dare is a really strange character. In a way I really wanted to hate her because of all the mean things mentioned that she has done to others and her Miss Perfect persona, but I ended up liking her character as she was very funny and in a way, her bossiness came in handy when controlling all the ghosts. She always gets her own way and can easily control a room as soon as she steps over the threshold, but you also see some real emotion seep through, especially where her mum and dad are concerned. I also think she handles the situation of her friends well. Well, as well as you can knowing they have always disliked you and don't-give-a-monkeys that you are now gone... what friends! Though she really surprised me at the end by how much emotion went into that one scene (you will instantly know which one... Clue: Her mum.)
I really liked the character of Will. He didn't appear to care what others thought of him and so got on with his life which was really nice to see. He also isn't perfect, as he struggles to hide his contact with the ghosts around from his mum and ensure her he is not lying. It doesn't really work out right, meaning he is aloud to listen to music in class (no fair! But I guess its better for him to concentrate on his music than alert the ghosts to his presence) to keep out 'the voices'... not that he is complaining. He is a great character, who is aware of his surroundings, and I am glad to say, slowly comes round to the idea of passing his exams. Yay, GO WILL! The relationship between Will and Alona is adorable, even though he originally wanted her to get as far away from his as possible due to her talkativeness and moaniness, but they begin to build a slow but happy relationship. They are both very funny with some very sarcastic comments and laugh-out-loud moments, but they both have a lot of focus and so keep to their 'missions'.
The plot was really good, I also love the involvement of Wills friend which gave more mystery and suspense to the situation. Also the 'seething cloud of negative energy' is really scary, I mean, we don't even know what it does let alone how to fight it! This was a lovely read of which made you smile and reconsider the image of Miss Perfect and that they are not always as they seem... sometimes. And that the goth kid isn't always a goth just because they always wear dark coloured clothes, Alona did expand his wardrobe to a grey t-shirt though!
I highly enjoyed this book, the next book in the series: Queen of the Dead....more
Okay, many of you don't know this yet... but the Gallagher Girls series is one of my favourites, EVER! The cover, as always relates
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Okay, many of you don't know this yet... but the Gallagher Girls series is one of my favourites, EVER! The cover, as always relates so much to the school, they all have a powerful colour theme, and they are undoubtably awesome. I also love the other covers: With all the objects they are holding relating to some part in the story.
When Cammie accepts the opportunity to go with Macey to Boston as they rehearse their perfomance with the senator, Cammie can't help but feeling as if something or someone is always watching her. Then they attempt to kidnap Macey... Oops. As the secret services become involved, Aunt Abby makes an appearance and everyone working secretly behind one-anothers backs to solve the mystery, Cammie's suspicions start to build that there are more secrets to the Gallagher Academy than she ever knew possible.
Cammie is an awesome character, she stays calm, plans efficiently and can be very secretive at times. But sometimes her plans can fall when a little someone gets in the way *cough* Zach *cough*. However, she is very professional at all times and is not deterred from near-impossible situations. She is kind, friendly and will always do whats best for her friends and family.
We then have her three best friends, Liz, Bex and Macey. Liz is intelligent and when I say intelligent... I mean intelligent. Bex is feisty, will jump-in-head-first and will never back down from a challenge. And Macey is probably one of my favourite characters of all, the change from when she first set foot in the Gallagher Academy to the present is just massive, but I also like the new her. She is also very good, taking into consideration she has only been there for one year, she seems to be well driven to reach to her friends level and beyond. She is also a very ambitious and dangerous character who could strike fear into anyones eyes, especially those who are about to see her inner spy.
Like the first and the second book in the series, Ally Carter definitely does not disappoint. There is more danger, suspense and secrets than ever of which will drive you crazy... but in a good way :0) There is also more mystery around the history of the Gallagher Academy and the lengths they would go to to keep the secrets in the Gallagher Academy exactly like that, they stay inside and are never released. You see the struggle of friends and family releasing one of their own head first into danger and the extent best friends would go to, to keep their friends out even if it means risking their own life and future. We also see a special appearance from a very overprotective someone... well, lets just say I don't mind! And then Mr Solomon and Aunt Abby, oh dear, I can't stop laughing *wipes tears from eyes*.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Only the Good Spy Young (I am very excited to start reading this book!)...more
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