The Luxe

The Luxe
by Anna Godbersen

The year is 1899 in Manhattan.

Elizabeth and Diana Holland are the rulers of the social scene. Or are they? When the girls' widowed mother tells them they are not stable financially, it is Elizabeth's job to marry a rich man so she can take care of her mother and sister. But can she marry a man she doesn't love and leave Will, an employee of the house, the man she truly loves?

There is Penelope Hayes, Elizabeth's "friend," who is trying to get Henry Schoonmaker to propose. And she is willing to just about anything to get her way with him. But Henry's father, William, will disinherit him if he marries Penelope.

Elizabeth's carriage is found, overturned, near the East River. And the most celebrated girl in the city has disappeared.

What are these girls to do?

Grade: B-

First off, this book took me FOREVER to read. Really, I've been working on it for months. I was totally excited to read it at the time I got it, because I heard it was like Gossip Girl in 1899. Only it wasn't. Only towards the end of the book it seemed to be so, since there was a lot of drama going on. It wasn't until about the last quarter of the book that I got into it and was actually enjoying it. I gave this a B- because I basically only enjoyed the last bit of the book. But I adore the cover; it's a stunning dress! Overall, I know a lot of people have enjoyed this, but I'm not really one of them. But I do intend on reading the next books.

Waiting on Wednesday 6

Tempo Change
by Barbara Hall

Pub. Date: July 9, 2009

From amazon.com:

It’s tough enough defining your identity—imagine if your father was a rock legend.

Blanche Kelly's dad is a famous indie rock icon, but not many people at the private school she attends on scholarship know this. Her father left when she was in the first grade, and she can’t quite forgive her mom for not understanding that an artist like her dad needs the time and space to connect to his muse.

When Blanche creates an all-girl rock band, their sound captures a wide audience and the band is invited to compete at the Coachella Music Festival. Blanche feels this could be the perfect time for a reunion with her father. Won’t he be proud to hear her band? Won’t he be happy to get to know his only daughter?

I think...
This book sounds totally great. I love music, and I love books about musicians. And the cover is amazing. It is absolutely gorgeous. I will for sure be reading this when it comes out!

To Be Mona

To Be Mona
by Kelly Easton

Sage just wants to be a normal seventeen year old girl. But that's kind of difficult when she has an eccentric mother who can't keep a job. This means they have hardly enough money to get by, and she has clothes from the Salvation Army.

Then she decides to change. She wants to be more like Mona, the popular girl. She wants popularity. She wants Roger Willis to notice her. She wants her mother to normal.

Can she get what she wants? Or will she lose her friends in the process? And in the end, will she know what it's like "to be Mona"?

Grade: A

This book was pretty amazing, if I do say so myself. And I do! I was hooked from the very beginning. Sage was funny and I really liked her. I loved how by the end of the story, Sage knew she couldn't pretend to be something, or someone, she wasn't. So, the story has a good lesson in it. I recommend this book. It was a fast and fun read, and you'll really enjoy it!

*Reviewed for teensreadtoo.com

The Lit Report

The Lit Report
by Sarah N. Harvey

Julia and Ruth have been friends since they met in Sunday school at the age of four. They have been inseparable ever since. They attend a Christian school. Julia's mother is all about God. Her father, a neonatal nurse, was remarried to Miki, a pediatrician. Ruth's father is "Pastor Pete."

One day Ruth doesn't show up at school, making Julia somewhat unhappy about it. After school, Julia calls Ruth after getting a a bunch of "CALL ME NOW" text messages. Ruth confesses that she had sex at a party and is now pregnant.

Julia comes up with a plan that will help conceal the pregnancy from everyone. And they will leave the baby on the steps of Ruth's father's church after it is born. Will the plan work out, or will Ruth decide she wants to keep the child?

Grade: A

This was a really good book. I loved the way Julia and Ruth conversated; it was like my friends and I. I really liked the story line as well. I've never read a book where the girl is hiding her pregnancy from everyone but her best friend. Julia was a strong and smart character. I disliked Ruth for the way she treated her best friend; Julia was helping her and she didn't appreciate it. I think anyone could enjoy this book.

*Also reviewed for teensreadtoo.com

The Rule of Won

The Rule of Won
by Stefan Petrucha

Caleb Dunne is a slacker. When his girlfriend, Vicky, an over-achiever, asks him to join a club about some book, he agrees. Now, not only does he have to join this club, but he has to read the book too!

At first, Caleb doesn't really believe in The Rule. The club is growing, and it is out of control with the weekly Craves. Caleb must decide whether or not he believes that he can get what he wants just by thinking he will, or if it is just a coincidence.

Grade: A

I was lucky enough to get this book directly from the author himself, signed and all! This was a really good book. It was kind of slow at first, but once Caleb joined the club, it picked up its pace. I really enjoyed Caleb's character. He was really funny, and seemed like one of my friends! The story flowed really well, and I was sad the story came to an end. I wasn't totally satisfied with the ending, because I wanted to know more about Ethan, but it was still really good.

Bleed

Bleed
by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Bleed is a story of 10 teenagers, woven together, over the course of a single day.

Nicole's decision to betray her best friend is a shock, mostly to herself. Maria, who believes her only true friends will cut her and make her bleed. Kelly deciides to meet the felon she's been writing since he was convicted. Derik, who can get any girl, except the one he actually wants, until now. Sadie's family is out for the day, leaving her alone in the house, making the snack cabinet a must, seeing how her mother is obsessed with weight. Robby just wants a girl to love him back; a girl to hold him and kiss him and whisper in his ear. Mearl (that's Pearl with an M) wants to actually be from some place. Ginger needs to find one thing to bring that girl down from her high post. Joy is sick and tired of boys messing with her; now it's her turn. Sean needs to decide which girl he likes more.

Grade: A

WOW! This book was pretty amazing! I recommend it to anyone, but just a warning, it is pretty sexual. It was a fast and easy read, and I couldn't stop reading it. It pulled me in from the first sentence. The only thing I disliked was that it was only 1 day in their lives, which makes me really curious to find out what happens the next day with everyone. It leaves me hangin'! Anyway, go read this. It was great.

Waiting on Wednesday 5

Just Another Girl: A Novel
by Melody Carlson

Pub. Date: January 1, 2009

From amazon.com:

Aster Flynn is stuck. She has to spend all of her "free" time with her younger sister, Lily, who, though fifteen, is mentally handicapped. At age seventeen, Aster should be hanging out with friends, dating boys, and working at a fun job. But her dad's MIA, her mom is always at work, and her older sister Rose is too self-centered to give her any help. It's not that Aster doesn't love Lily--it's just that for once she'd like to be able to be a normal teenager.

So when a cute popular guy seems to take an interest in her, Aster hatches a plan. Somehow she has to get her workaholic mom and deadbeat dad to be the parents Lily needs so that Aster can have a life of her own. But can she ever get her parents to start acting like adults? Is this new guy worth the trouble? And, most importantly, will Lily get hurt in the process?

I think...
This book sounds so good! I can't wait for it! It's just about a girl who wants a normal life, which is like most girls. And also there is a boy involved, so it is potentially a love story as well. And Aster is such an interesting name. I looked it up and it means Star. Well, that's it. It just seems really interesting to me, and I'm for sure readin' it when it comes out.

The Nature of Jade

The Nature of Jade
by Deb Caletti

Jade DeLuna has Panic Disorder. But she tries her very best to stay calm all the time. The thoughts, loss of breath, and dizziness is scary for her! She starts to go to the zoo in Seattle to watch the elephants, which soothes her. Since she obviously can't always be at the zoo, she has the live webcam up on her computer screen daily. Which is where she first saw the boy in the red jacket, with a baby.

They meet. His name is Sebastian, and he and his grandmother are raising Bo, his son. She believes this truly was love at first sight. She spends all the time she can with either Sebastian, Tess (his activist grandmother), or Bo. And then she finds out about his past, and it is surprising. Sebastian's past forces Jade into deciding on what is right, and what feels right.

Grade: A-

This book was really good. It took a while for the plot to get started though. One thing I really enjoyed about this was that it took place in Seattle, which is like, half an hour away from where I live! And she mentioned Point Defiance, which is a park I absolutely love to go to! :) There were 2 things that I didn't really like. First, I got kind of bored hearing about the elephants, but that was a part of Jade's character, so I know why it had to be in the story. And then the ending. I liked what happened, but I wanted to know more! Overall, this was a really good story.

Waiting on Wednesday 4

Same Difference
by Siobhan Vivian

Pub. Date: March 1, 2009

From amazon.com:

Emily is ready for a change. She's been in the same town with the same friends for a long time...and none of them really understand her art. But when she goes to Philadelphia for a summer art institute, she suddenly finds like-minded people. One in particular, Fiona, intrigues and challenges her. But there are some things Emily is going to have to find out for herself -- like what the balance is between life and art, and which is more important when push comes to shove.

I think...
I really enjoyed A Little Friendly Advice, and I think this book will be a good one. It sounds really interesting, though the description wasn't a long one. The girl on the cover looks exactly like Ellen Page from Juno also! :)

Harmless

Harmless
by Dana Reinhardt

For years it has only been Anna and Emma. And then Emma has a school project to do with Mariah. Since then, it has been AnnaEmmaMariah. Three best friends.

The girls go to a party with senior boys one friday night. They tell their parents they're going to a movie at the college. At the party, one of their cell phones ring. A mom. Wondering why they're not at the movie.

They know they are in big trouble. So they come up with a story. A lie, so they won't get into trouble by their parents. Before they know it, everything is falling apart because of this one lie.

Grade: B

This story was very good. It was really interesting. The story flowed well. But the girls were kind of annoying. I liked how it was told from each view every chapter. It was a quick read. The ending was really surprising to me. I didn't see it coming at all. Part of it confused me though, and part of it I didn't like. But overall, it was a good story. It's a good story about friends, though by the end, the girls really don't have anything to do with each other.

Secrets of My Suburban Life

Secrets of My Suburban Life
by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Lauren, "Ren", is stuck in the suburbs after her mother dies from a freak accident. (J.K. Rowling killed her...kind of...) Her father is grieving, and moves them to a small town in Connecticut.

Ren is having trouble fitting in at her new school. She is, after all, from New York City! Farrin, the popular girl, seems to enjoy making fun of Ren. When Farrin accidentally takes Ren's notebook, instead of her own, Ren discovers a secret Farrin is keeping: she is chatting with an older man on a website named "Sex World" and is planning on meeting him.

Ren devises a plan to catch the perv but pretending to be Farrin on the website, her user name "SexGurl1." She starts to put the pieces together, and thinks she knows who he is...

Grade: B

This was a very interesting book. I thought it was hilarious how Ren blamed J.K. Rowling for the death of her mother. Ren's character got kind of annoying in some spots; she seemed to babble! I thought it was strange how she was trying to help Farrin, after she was always rude to her, but she was doing it to help other girls also, since the man could move on if he wasn't caught...So that is a good message to readers. I read the story pretty fast, and it was an easy read. I don't really recommend it, but go for it if it sounds interesting to you.

Waiting on Wednesday 3

Being Nikki: An Airhead Novel
by Meg Cabot

Pub. Date: May 1, 2009

From amazon.com:

Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts.

Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.

But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.

How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheer leading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...

Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.

But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

I think...
I read Airhead and loved it. I can't wait for this sequel. It is Meg Cabot after all, thus I will not be disappointed. She is my favorite. This book sounds great. Can't wait! :)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (ARC)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (ARC)
by Carrie Ryan

Mary lives in a village surrounded by the Forest of Hands and Teeth. The Unconsecrated fill the forest, moaning, trying to get into her village, to devour and make more of their own by a single bite that will spread the infection. They don’t give up. They want to feed.

The Sisterhood holds the secrets of the village, from before the Return. No one knows the truth, except them. The Guardians protect the village, and make sure the fence holds back the Unconsecrated. The fence is the only barrier between the village and the Forest.

But then, once Mary is forced into the Sisterhood, she learns things that she wishes didn’t. There is the one section of the fence, which is forbidden, but, it leads somewhere…Mary knows it. But where does it lead? Mary must chose between her village and what may or may not exist beyond that one gate.

Grade: A

I was lucky enough to receive The Forest of Hands and Teeth as an ARC. And I was not disappointed at all. I was hooked once I started. It kind of reminded me of the movie The Village, though not really at the same time. The Sisterhood and Guardians were secretive, just like the leaders in the movie. And they didn't want the village to know what was outside the fence. But Mary, like the blind girl, had to leave, and had to know. Mary was a great character. She was strong, and always wanted more than what she had. She kind of reminded me of myself, only a little though. The only thing I didn't like in the story was the ending, only because I want to know more! It left me hanging only a little, so I don't really know what will happen to Mary. When this book comes out, I recommend it to anyone. You'll enjoy it. :)

*Also reviewed for teensreadtoo.com
Comes out March 10, 2009

In My Mail Box

I've seen this around the blogs, so I'm giving it a try...though all my books are from the library this week! :)

Deep Down Popular - Phoebe Stone
Secrets of My Suburban Life - Lauren Baratz-Logsted
The Nature of Jade - Deb Caletti

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart - Deb Caletti
Sloppy Firsts - Megan McCafferty

I Love Your Blog Award!

Wow! I was sooo excited to be nominated TWICE for this award. It makes me so glad too, since I've only been blogging for just over half a year, and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanks to Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
and Just Listen

I'm really happy about this...I'm glad to know that people actually enjoy my reviews enough to nominate me. :)

My turn!

After receiving the award you are supposed to pay it forward:

1) Add the logo of your award to your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

And my nominees are:

Em of Em's Bookshelf
Liv of Liv's Book Reviews
Renee of The Book Girl
Hillary of The Book Reader
Dominique of The Book Vault
Kelsey of Reading Keeps You Sane
Chelsie of Read, Read, Read

Waiting on Wednesday 2

Evermore
by Alyson Noël

Pub. Date: February 3, 2009

From amazon.com:

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

I think...
I love Alyson Noël's novels. And I cannot wait for this one. These kind of books fascinate me. Paranormal and stuff like that. And it looks like this is going to be a series as well, which makes it even better! The cover is amazing, and I really like the title. I'm really looking forward to it! :)