Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Source: Library

Pages: 294

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: May 7th 2013

Series: Nantucket; Book 1

Verdict: Buy

Summary: For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t. 

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

Review: Nantucket Blue is one of the most beautifully written books that I've ever read. It rounds all the corners, touching base with friendship, family, grief, love, self-discovery, and everything more. And it's done in a non-cliche way, perfecting the art of saying a lot without annoying or offending anyone. In this book, Nantucket is a place that stays in the characters' hearts and souls for their entire lives. And in reality, this book has a place in my heart and soul, forever and ever. Seriously, it's truly fab.

There's so much depth to the characters. Sometimes it seems like they only focus on the small things in life, but it's what they hide inside that makes this book explode with emotion. But really though, bring on the feels. 

I loved Cricket. She's so sincere and kind, although she can also be naive, too. The way she took everything in stride was admirable and I really enjoyed seeing her discover herself.

I was honestly a bit annoyed with Jules, though. I know she was going through a lot, but the way she shut Cricket out and the way she acted towards those she loved was just not okay. But still, their dynamic was something, alright. And Zack, well, that's another thing altogether.

There really isn't much I can say about this book (other than it's awesome and amazing and beautiful and... well, the list goes on), because Nantucket Blue is a book that is all about the feels. (I wasn't kidding earlier.) This would be the perfect summer read, although it would be perfect any time of the year. Read this, read it ASAP, and you'll truly understand what the perfect shade of Nantucket blue is. 

Pure perfection

★★★★★

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Source: Library

Pages: 327

Publisher: Delacorte

Release Date: January 7th 2014

Series: Standalone

Verdict: Buy

Summary: Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself. 

Review: I know that I say this a lot, but it's true. I don't know why I've only just picked up this book to read. I had heard so many good things that this title made its way onto my TBR list, but somehow I'm only just reading this now. Ugh. 

Being Sloane Jacobs is an unconventional book of sorts. But it's totally and completely awesome, and I hate that I waited so long to meet the Sloanes. They're talented, funny, beautiful, and disciplined. Their lives at home have been tough, but they find a way... albeit a bizarre one.

I've always loved The Parent Trap (what a classic) because of its lightheartedness, camaraderie, hilarity, and everything in between. Being Sloane Jacobs has this Parent Trap thing going on, only they aren't actually related, instead, having the same names, and they're older and getting away from problems as opposed to trying to get their parents back together. Basically, this book is the Parent Trap of the young adult literary world, and right now, I'm having trouble figuring out which I like better. They're just so good.

At the beginning, the Sloanes undermine each others' sports. Each thinking their own sport is harder, the Sloanes are surprised by the difficulties faced in the opposite sport. Sharing the common skill of being able to navigate the ice, the Sloanes figure out how to adapt and soon, they're right in the midst of all the action, action that they never thought they would experience.

The alternating POVs were awesome. I loved seeing how the story moved continuously, transitioning from one Sloane to the other. The one thing was that I sometimes got confused as to which Sloane was talking at the moment, but that issue was always resolved after another sentence. Seeing how each Sloane was handling the situation was great. It was amazing to see the Sloanes bond and understand each other and most importantly, themselves. 

And oh, the ending. It was so funny and unexpected and ugh. I won't spoil it, but wow, I've got to say that life as a Sloane Jacobs sure seems cool. 

I'll definitely be reading this again sometime. It's lighthearted and fun and just amazing. The Parent Trap just gained some competition, and I just gained a fabulous read.

Really enjoyed

★★★★☆

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green

Source: Library

Pages: 305

Publisher: Speak

Release Date: September 22nd 2009

Series: Standalone

Verdict: Borrow

Summary: Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...

Review: This is my second John Green novel, the first being The Fault in Our Stars of course. While this book was certainly interesting and entertaining, it wasn't a true winner for me. 

The concept of the paper town is very odd. Prior to reading this novel, I had no idea that things like paper towns existed. Now that I know what paper towns are, I'm experiencing some mixed feelings. The incorporation of paper towns into this book is so vital (hence the title) to the storyline, but like Margo, it's a mystery at the beginning all the way to the end. 

The characters were... something. They're quirky, intriguing, and crazy. Quentin and his two best friends, Ben and Radar, have a bond that's so, so weird. Yet it's endearing because their loyalty to each other is evident. And then there's Quentin himself. It's hard to not fall in love with his character as he develops and grows as a person. He's just so nice and sweet and honest. As he searches for Margo, he finds more than was ever expected. He discovers the truth, the lies, and most importantly, he discovers himself. And it's amazing.

Now, Margo's role in the book was enormous. As the book is split into three parts, we get glimpses of the person Margo is in three very different ways. From firsthand experience to gathered information to mysterious clues, Margo is as puzzling as the next unsolved thing. It's hard to see who she is exactly because we know her as Quentin knows her and we see her as Quentin sees her. But we only think we know her and we only think we can see who she is, but after reading this, all I can say is, Does anybody really know who Margo Roth Spiegelman is?

Paper Towns is all kinds of funny. The conversations were hilarious, as were the dynamics. And the content was just tear-inducing. When a certain Santa-related section was first introduced, wow, I don't think I've ever been as shocked in my life. It was just so unexpected and odd that I might have (probably, definitely) become hysterical with laughter when I read that portion of the book. 

This book was an oddity, that's for sure. I still have conflicted feelings about the ending and the whole journey, really, but what I do know is that I enjoyed every single word. It may not be on the same level as The Fault in Our Stars, but I've got to say, John Green's sure got a way with words.

Really enjoyed

★★★★☆

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
Source: Library
Pages: 294
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 18th 2011
Series: Standalone
Verdict: Buy

Summary: Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot... what if Jeremy is better? 

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her—and riles her up—like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win, she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she's told, doing what's expected. 

Sometimes being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

Review: Virtuosity will take you on a journey that is both compelling and honest. I love books that revolve around music of any sort, possibly (probably, definitely) because I love music in general. This book, however, really hits the spot for me. 

Competition is tough. It's brutal. It's ugly. It's necessary. Through Carmen's raw voice, we not only discover how cruel competition can be, we discover that people will do anything it takes to win... And we discover the sacrifices made, the feelings lost, and the memories gained. 

Carmen's emotions really reached out to me in a way that I felt I could relate to. Now, I've never played an instrument at the level she plays the violin, but I can understand how the practice of violin becomes her. I can see how it's possible for her to see absolutely nothing when she imagines a life without violin. Most importantly, I can feel how her love for the instrument is replaced by an obsession to win a competition that can prove everything, while proving nothing at all. Her passion and voice are thrown onto the pages, so unrestrained and powerful that it cannot be missed. 

It's odd how things unravel in this book, yet it's a beautiful weirdness. The instant connection between Carmen and Jeremy is brilliant, bright, and hard to ignore. Their witty banter, spunky conversations, constant wariness, and shared passions create a dynamic that is ready to explode at a moment's notice. It can be a wonderful outburst or a terrifying boom. But it can never be both at once. 

The thing about Jeremy is that he comes off as kind of a sketchy character. His actions and motives keep you on your toes, but his vulnerability and charm draw you in. The tension between him and Carmen is intense and it can (and does) only grow stronger as the competition looms closer and their attraction becomes more obvious and confusing. 

Nothing short of brilliant, Virtuosity is a book filled with twists and turns. This is a must read that appeals to all emotions and tastes. The relationship between Carmen and Jeremy is unexpected, but once it's there, it feels completely natural and essential. A mesmerizing combination of music, talent, discovery, and harsh reality, Virtuosity doesn't disappoint in any way. 

And it truly makes you wonder: How far will you go in order to win? And when will you stop?

Pure perfection

★★★★★

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Source: Library

Pages: 352

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Release Date: April 15th 2014

Series: Standalone

Verdict: Buy

Summary: After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Review: Open Road Summer is everything a contemporary young adult book should be. It's got lightheartedness, depth, conflict, romance, and beautiful characters galore. There were no dull moments, and every word had me itching for the page turns that'd give me more. Needless to say, I read this quickly over the course of two sittings, but only because I had to get some work done. Otherwise it'd have been sit, read, finish, and sit in complete awe. Which I definitely did, just with a small break in between, where I kept getting distracted because I couldn't stop thinking about Reagan, Dee (a.k.a. Lilah), and Matt. 

I'm a huge fan of books revolving around music. There's something so exciting and beautiful when you combine music and the literary word. I absolutely love it. This book, however, takes the cake. Wowzers, it's a good read. A great read. A fabtastic read that makes me wish I was a character in the book because that's how good this book is. I literally could not stop smiling and laughing and making all kinds of faces. It's a good thing I read this at home. That way, I only looked like a fool in private. Seriously, this book had me feeling everything they were feeling, and it was amazing and beautiful and all kinds of wonderful.

What truly made the difference were the relationships. The friendship between Reagan and Dee is one that lasts through all of infinity (book reference; so sweet). The fact that they are complete opposites creates another interesting, entertaining, and lovable component to the friendship. They're so honest with each other, loyal to the end, and they truly care for one another. They're not just friends; they're family. Then, there's the relationship of Reagan and Matt. Holy smokes, talk about swoon-worthy. Their lively banter and obvious attraction is one that will make you giggle, laugh, sigh, and all things in between. And of course, it'll make you swoon. What makes Matt so amazing is that he's not a jerk. He's sweet and honest and real. And he sees Reagan for who she really is, and that's the best thing ever.

Reagan has had her ups and downs, and she's on the road to a new her. Her inner conflict, past choices, current situation, and honesty twist together to form a totally relatable character. I loved her character so much. She showed everything, yet she showed nothing. Her bluntness and actions could be shocking, albeit hilarious, but her love, loyalty, and passion were forces to be reckoned with. Those are her defining qualities, qualities that shouldn't be met with surprise, but with expectance. 

The only words that can truly give you the experience to remember are the words that lie in the pages of Open Road Summer. Fall in love, find yourself, reach your goals, and live your life; that's what this book is all about... but even so, it's still more than that. Emery Lord has crafted a novel that's breathtaking and beautiful, and it is undeniably a showstopper. Read, read some more, read even more, read again, and repeat.

Pure perfection

★★★★★

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin

Source: Library

Pages: 256

Publisher: Random House Books

Release Date: May 26th 2009

Series: Standalone

Verdict: Pass

Summary: Finn has always felt out of place, but suddenly her world is unraveling. It started with The Party. And Adam Porter. And the night in September that changed everything. The only person who knows about that night is Audrey—Finn’s best friend, her witness to everything, and the one person Finn trusts implicitly. So when Finn’s childhood friend Jersy moves back to town—reckless, beautiful Jersy, all lips and eyes and hair so soft you’d want to dip your fingers into it if you weren’t careful—Finn gives her blessing for Audrey to date him. How could she possibly say no to Audrey? With Audrey gone for the summer, though, Finn finds herself spending more and more time with Jersy, and for the first time in her life, something feels right. But Finn can’t be the girl who does this to her best friend...can she? 

Review: This book was hot and cold. There were moments where it was just so spot on. But then there were the other times where everything drew a blank. I truly think that this is a hit or miss kind of book. For me, this was a miss unfortunately.

First of all, the characters. I couldn't relate or connect in any way whatsoever. I felt for them, that's for sure, but I don't think they were developed thoroughly enough. I got glimpses of each of them, but I never really saw the whole of them, not even Finn, who I actually got to learn about more, since this book is about her life and told from her point of view. There were some random people thrown in, similar to what I'd compare to extras in a movie. They didn't have a specific role or purpose, yet they rolled on by and subsequently left unnoticed. Character development is always important, and I just don't think there was enough going on with them to be able to connect with them and thus the story.

I think that the base of this plot was a good one. But it was all predictable. I always had a guess as to what happened, what was happening, and what was about to happen, and each time, I was correct. I had speculations as to what happened with Finn and Adam Porter and The Party, and my speculations were confirmed. I had a feeling about what would happen with Finn and Jersy and Audrey as well, and that happened.

Then there were some loose ends. I never really truly understood what happened between Finn's mom and dad. It was all unclear to me, and it was a messy conflict. I was going back and forth between the whole family as they went through it all, but I honestly couldn't follow. It just wasn't too organized and when the book reached its last page, the family issues hit a dead end, leading nowhere even though there were different possible outcomes. Plus, the whole thing with Finn and Audrey and Jersy was so complicated and odd. It's like they were the best of friends (and more) while also being the worst of friends (and more). It was all too dramatic and jumbled up and a bit abrupt. 

I really wanted to like One Lonely Degree, but nothing seemed to click. While it would definitely appeal to some (like I said, definitely hit or miss), I'd say that it'd be more worth it to read something else. Even though there were some defining moments, overall, this wasn't a cohesive book. There are better books out there that would be more enjoyable to read.

Could've been better

★★☆☆☆

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Source: Library

Pages: 384

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: April 21st 2015

Series: Standalone

Verdict: Buy

Summary: Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

Review: I've been looking forward to reading this since I first saw it during a Goodreads book browsing binge (where I click, add to list, click, add to list, click...), which seems like forever ago. This was when I didn't look at the release date, because I was so caught up in the excitement of finding a seemingly interesting book. This was when I then went online to see if my library had it, only to see that I had to put a hold on it because it was being ordered. Because it hadn't been released yet. Obviously I went into denial. It was obviously a mistake... right? Oh, but it wasn't. I checked over the release date on Goodreads, the one that I had skimmed past, and saw the date: April 21st 2015. I (basically) cried. You have to know that I saw this on a book browsing binge back in January. That's a really long time. 

But no worries, because on April 22nd, I got the holy grail of emails. It was from my library and it simply said, "Your book is ready to be picked up." Cue the (mental) screams and (internal) dance party. I raced (just kidding... I drove at the speed limit because, you know, I've got to follow the law) to the library and saw the angels.. err, book, and checked it out. Like, literally. I stared at it for awhile because it was just so pretty. It was brand new, like, brand new, brand new. I was the first person in my library's system to check this book out (SCORE!), and boy, was I checking it out. Then I realized I was standing there like an idiot, so I checked it out for real, went home, and plopped down and started reading. 

And I didn't stop until it was done, and wow, what a whirlwind of a story. The main conflict of this book is cheating, which is something that I'm not exactly a fan of, but I found that I really liked this story. It was funny, interesting, and cute. And I liked it... a lot.

Molly goes through a lot in 99 Days. I won't say that I agree with all that she does, because, quite frankly, I don't. However, I could see and understand her struggles. Having your personal problems get displayed to the world through a best-selling novel that's written by your mother is something else. And becoming a social outcast because of it? That's just the worst. Everybody makes mistakes, and Molly is no different, but still, not being able to work out everything in private is a terrifying prospect. But having it ready and available for the whole world? That's on a whole different scale, and it was something that Molly had to face. 

Honestly, I don't think there's much I can truly say about this book without spoiling anything. Besides, no words can give this book the justice it deserves, except for the book itself. Let me tell you though, the dynamics were great. All the characters had a place, and they were pretty awesome, even though they all made some pretty questionable decisions. There is a love triangle, so if you're a fan of that, I say go for this book. And, well, if you're not? I still say go for it.

99 Days is written beautifully, and everything I felt during my long period of anticipation (which funnily enough, I just realized was roughly 99 days...) was well worth it. I'm so glad that I finally got to read this. I got to dive into a world that touches base with some pretty sensitive topics and through it, I saw a girl grow and mature into someone whole and true. The ending was bittersweet, necessary, and full of possibilities. And that was truly the perfect way to end it. Molly Barlow, it sure was nice to meet you. Here's to another 99 days.

Really enjoyed

★★★★☆