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.