Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

This book made me laugh, smile, and cry. On a day where nothing extraordinary was going on, I was just laying in bed reading all day this book made me feel so emotional it brought me to tears. My favorite lines were:

Maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there's a tomorrow. Maybe for you there's one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around in it, let it slide like coins through your fingers. So much time you can waste it.
But for some of us there's only today. And the truth is, you never really know.

This just really made me think. What if today was my last day? It seems like I've wasted so much time doing nothing. I've spent countless hours on the internet, napping, and other things that are so unimportant in the grand scheme of things its laughable. Reading Sam's story kind of opened my eyes to that.

Sam was such a real character and that's part of why I felt her emotions as my own. Lauren Oliver has penned a breathtakingly beautiful story and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it. I can't imagine anyone not loving this book. I highly highly highly recommend it. I'm excited to pick up more of Lauren's books in the future.

Waiting On Wednesday (21)

Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer

Publisher: Delacorte
Pub. Date: July 12, 2011

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Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra—the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.
Having recently lost her beloved Auntie—the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra—Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .
Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?
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 I have been waiting for the sequel to Meridian for what seems like forever and now it's finally just a month away. I read Meridian back when it first came out in 2009 and loved it. I'm sure that Amber Kizer's newest book will live up to the awesomeness of her first. I can't wait to read it and see!


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

3 reasons why you should read this book:

1. It's readable. Meaning, it isn't written in old English to the extent that you can't figure out what the heck is going on. For being published in 1847 or heck just in general, it's quite clear and concise.

2. It has a strong female main character. Even though Mr. Rochester is at least 20 years older than she is, she calls the shots. She definitely holds her own even though she is younger and significantly poorer than he is. You gotta love a kick ass female MC!

3. It's not boring. I originally bought Jane Eyre because I felt like I wasn't very well-read because I hadn't read very many "classics." At the time I thought I was going to have to force myself to get through it but it turned out to be pretty awesome. There are some pretty unexpected twists going on that made it a joy to read.

I recommend getting yourself a copy that has decent size print and getting busy reading! If you have any questions about the book I'd be happy to answer them!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

After reading nothing but textbooks for months, I could not have picked a better book than Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick to get me back in the swing of YA lit. I'm a sucker for anything with romance and Hush, Hush had just the right about of that plus mystery and paranormal elements.

I thought Nora was an interesting character. Her brain worked in such a logical way and I could relate to that. She knows there is chemistry between her and Patch and she did a really good job of ignoring it at first. I didn't find it too, too predictable. Some parts I had pegged from the start but others I definitely didn't see coming. I think it was well-balanced in that respect.

Of course, I can't not mention Patch. Can I just say that he was H-O-T!! I can't wait to learn more about his past and just him in general in the next book in the series.

I adored Becca Fitzpatrick's writing style. Something about it made the book so readable. I didn't want to put it down and when I had to I found myself thinking about what was going to happen next. I think that shows how much I was into this book. If it wasn't that great I wouldn't have thought about it when I wasn't reading it. Kind of like if you think about someone when they're not around that means something.

So basically I think you should go out and get this book. Read it. I promise you won't regret it!

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Pub. Date: May 10, 2011
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Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself - whoever that is. Perhaps her neighbor Dave, an academic superstar trying to be just a regular guy, can help her find out. Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.
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Sarah Dessen is definitely one of my top 5 favorite authors. Every one of her books is amazing. I have no doubt that this one will be just as awesome and I can't wait to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

In My Mailbox (21)

I haven't done an IMM post in a really long time but this post is only going to include books I've acquired in the last week or two. So let's get started!


Zombies vs. Unicorns by various authors, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (bought) I am definitely on Team Unicorn!

The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant (won from Books Obsession)

Have you read these? Which one should I pick up first! I'd love to hear your thoughts and what books you got this week!

Credit for creating the In My Mailbox feature goes to The Story Siren. You can find out more about it here.
Images from bn.com

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.
Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.
In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth.as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.
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This series has come to be one of my favorites. Spy books aren't all that common in YA so consider turning to this one if you're looking for something different and unique. Only the Good Spy Young is the fourth installment in the series, as well as the darkest one.

This one by far contains the most action, danger, and near-death situations. The main character, Cammie, and her friends never know who they can trust and they frequently come up with more questions than answers. The evil organization the Circle of Cavan is still after Cammie and she doesn't know why. The first few books in the series are certainly more lighthearted than this latest addition. The older, wiser, and more experienced Cammie gets, the more trouble she gets into. Her definition of trouble, however, isn't really on par with that of a typical teenage girls. For Cammie, trouble equals life or death situations. Failure may well mean people die. I think, for me, this is a lot of the appeal. What she goes through is on such a huge scale that it's thrilling to read.

I want to be semi-fangirly for a second and talk about Zach, Cammie's love interest. He's cute, mysterious, and she doesn't have to hide her spy status from him because he's one too. How much more could you ask for? I really hope we get some more information about him in the next book, though. I mean, there is such a thing as too much mystery. We know next to nothing about him, which when he was first introduced worked but now I can't take much more of this being in the dark. Overall, if that's the only problem I had with the novel, I'd say that it's still excellent and worth being added to your to-be-read pile.

4/5

Image and synopsis from bn.com

Wanted by Sara Shepard

Synopsis from bn.com:
In Rosewood, majestic estates sprawl for acres, and Tiffany toggle bracelets dangle from every girl's wrist. But not all that glitters is gold, and the town harbors secrets darker than anyone could imagine-like the truth about what really happened the night Alison DiLaurentis went missing. . . .
Back in middle school, Ali plucked Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer from obscurity and turned them into the beautiful, popular girls everyone wanted to be. Ali was the best friend they ever had. But she also made them do terrible things and taunted them with their worst secrets. Now, three years later, all their questions about Ali have finally been answered and they can put this awful chapter of their lives behind them. Or so they think.
Not every story has a happy ending, especially when four pretty little liars have done so many wicked things. In the dramatic conclusion of Sara Shepard's bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer could get everything they've ever wanted-unless A has one more horrifying twist in store.
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In case you didn't know, Wanted is the 8th book in the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. (If you didn't know about this series, you may want to reevaluate some of your life choices and get out of the house and into a bookstore more often.) Anyway, I want to warn you that once you start reading this series, it is just impossible to stop. It's seriously addicting.

On to the Wanted specific stuff! On the acknowledgment page Sara wrote that this is the last book in the PLL series. However, she apparently changed her mind and a 9th installment called Twisted is coming our way in July. See the amazon listing here.

For those of you who have been faithful followers of this series from the beginning, you should know that Wanted is just as amazing and full of unexpected twists as every other book in the series. If Sara Shepard had decided to end the series with this one, I would've been satisfied. The mystery about what happened to Ali is finally solved in a way that I surely could have never guessed. Room is left, however, for another novel.

For those of you who might be new to the series, I highly recommend you run (don't walk!) to the nearest bookstore and purchase this (beginning with the first novel, of course.) I promise you won't regret it. This series is truly unlike anything else I have ever read. It's extremely mysterious, with dashes of family and romance issues thrown in for good measure. But don't take my word for it - read for yourself and see!

I loved the 5 main characters. I could picture each girl so vividly that it was like I was really there. Type in "Aria/Spencer/Hanna/Emily Pretty little liars inspired look" into youtube and see what comes up. Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks this. Each girls individual style and look comes across in the books without taking ages to describe what each one is wearing etc.

Love, love, love this series! 5 stars.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City. Her nineteen-year-old brother, Spencer, is an out of work actor facing a family deadline to get his career in order. Eighteen-year-old Lola has the delicate looks of a model, the practical nature of a nurse, and a wealthy society boyfriend. Eleven-year-old Marlene is the family terror with a tragic past.


When the Martins turn fifteen, they are each expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett’s fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn’t quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.


With Mrs. Amberson calling the shots, Spencer’s career to save, Lola’s love life to navigate around, and Marlene’s prying eyes everywhere, things won’t be easy. Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deception.


The show, as they say, must always go on . . . .
Synopsis from bn.com

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I've been in somewhat of a reading rut lately. I've had to do so much reading for school that after all that was done I just wasn't in the mood to read anything else. But thankfully, Suite Scarlett helped pull me out of that rut.

Suite Scarlett was so much fun to read. Scarlett, her crazy family, and their unpredictable lives were just what I needed to get me back into the swing of things again and help me remember why I love YA lit. Scarlett was a great main character; she was resourceful, funny, and got things done while being unsure of herself and confused at the same time. Basically, any girl can relate to her - whether it be to her not-boyfriend, complicated family, or summer job.

Maureen Johnson's writing is fantastic; she was hilarious, sarcastic, and witty. Suite Scarlett was an all-around good read and I am so looking forward to reading more from this author.

A-

Disclosure: I bought Suite Scarlett myself. Cover picture and synopsis from bn.com

Update

As you may have noticed, I haven't been posting reviews lately. That's because I haven't been reading anything other than textbooks (seriously, if you value your free time, don't go to college.) This post is just an update letting you all know what I've been doing.
I definitely didn't finish my 100+ reading challenge, or any of the other challenges I said I was going to do for that matter. I only got to  56, which is less than half of my total last year.
If you're interested, here's the list:

100+ Reading Challenge 2010

1.   The Hollow by Jessica Verday

2.   The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

3.   Hunted by P.C Cast + Kristin Cast

4.   Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

5.   Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson

6.   The Circle of Blood by Alane Ferguson

7.   Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

8.   Max: A Maximum Ride novel by James Patterson

9.   Fang: A Maximum Ride novel by James Patterson

10.                     Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

11.                     The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

12.                     Liar by Justine Larbalestier

13.                     Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

14.                     City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

15.                     The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

16.                     I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

17.                     Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

18.                     Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

19.                     Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez

20.                     Heist Society by Ally Carter

21.                     City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

22.                     Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell

23.                     City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

24.                     Ambition by Kate Brian

25.                     The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

26.                     Shadowland by Alyson Noel

27.                     North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

28.                     Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

29.                     Don’t Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter

30.                     Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

31.                     The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

32.                     Tempted by P.C & Kristin Cast

33.                     Ruined by Paula Morris

34.                     Kiss in the Dark by Lauren Henderson

35.                     Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

36.                     Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

37.                     Cum Laude by Cecily Von Ziegesar

38.                     The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

39.                     The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

40.                     Perfect by Sara Shepard

41.                     Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

42.                     Wicked by Sara Shepard

43.                     Runaway by Meg Cabot

44.                     Monster High by Lisi Harrison

45.                     Wish by Alexandra Bullen

46.                     The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

47.                     Classic by Cecily Von Ziegesar

48.                     The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

49.                     The Clearing by Heather Davis

50.                     Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

51.                     The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

52.                     Heartless by Sara Shepard

53.                     Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

54.                     Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

55.                     Witch & Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson

56.                     Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Support Your Local Library Challenge

1.      Hunted by P.C Cast + Kristin Cast

2.      Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson

3.      The Circle of Blood by Alane Ferguson

4.      Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

5.      The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

6.      Liar by Justine Larbalestier

7.      The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

8.      I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

9.      Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

10.                     Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

11.                     Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez

12.                     Heist Society by Ally Carter

13.                     City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

14.                     Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell

15.                     City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

16.                     Ambition by Kate Brian

17.                     The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

18.                     Shadowland by Alyson Noel

19.                     North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

20.                     Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

21.                     Don’t Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter

22.                     Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

23.                     The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

24.                     Tempted by P.C & Kristin Cast

25.                     Ruined by Paula Morris

26.                     Kiss in the Dark by Lauren Henderson

27.                     Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

28.                     Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

29.                     Cum Laude by Cecily Von Ziegesar

30.                     The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

31.                     The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

32.                     Runaway by Meg Cabot

33.                     Wish by Alexandra Bullen

34.                     The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

35.                     Classic by Cecily Von Ziegesar

36.                     The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

37.                     The Clearing by Heather Davis

38.                     Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

39.                     The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

40.                     Heartless by Sara Shepard

41.                     Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

2010 Debut Author Challenge

1. The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

2. I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

3.   Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

4.   Ruined by Paula Morris

5.   Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

6.   Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

7.   The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

8.   The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

9.   Wish by Alexandra Bullen

10. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

11. Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

 Someone please tell me you didn't finish your challenge either?!