Published: January 13, 2015 

Publisher:  Riverhead Books

Author: Paula Hawkins

Pages: 336
Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspence

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

 And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Rachel had her life perfect and planned out five years ago. She had a nice house, a husband, but now lives in the duplex of an old friend from university and has a serious drinking problem.

The story is told form 3 different POVs - of Rachel, Megan and Anna. It is also divided in little sections by the time of day - for example - Morning, Early afternoon, Evening.

If you have every known someone who has/had a drinking problem or was a drug addict you would know it's really not easy for them to stop. They cannot just decide that today is the last drink they'll have. It doesn't work that way. That being said, I've read a handful of books where the character goes through a stressful couple of days and suddenly stops their bad habit.

Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Published: February 10, 2015 

Publisher: HarperTeen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Pages: 400
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia

This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers.

And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace.
 Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. 

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group to bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart . . . Power is a dangerous game...

FANTASTIC!

If you are looking for something unique, look elsewhere. The story has very similar elements to The Selection and other series. Nevertheless the story took a very different turn and transformed into something I have never read before.

I really enjoyed the plot. Never in a million years did I expect the ending, even though I had my suspicions. And normally in these types of stories, the endings are not all that hard to see in the middle of the book. So, bonus points to Victoria Aveyard (who is a total sweetheart, btw!).

The characters were well developed but at first I had some trouble connecting to them. The world building was very very good. It was not at all hard to imagine the situation, the people and what was happening to them. It was before my eyes for most of the time.

The romance (if I can call it that) needs, in my opinion, a bit of development because right now it appears to be more drama than anything else.

The final is what made it tons and tons better and I will definitely read the sequel, which is coming out in February 2016!

Overall feelings:

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Book Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Published: November 13, 2012 

Publisher: Atria Boos

Author: Katja Millay

Pages: 426
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

 

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay. 

 All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space. 

 Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to. 

 The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

In this book we have Nastya Kashnikov, who used to be a piano playing protégée, who died but was brought back to life two years. She died literally and figuratively so her life obviously changes and one day she hopes to get revenge from the boy who took her life from her. She moves to a new place, a new school in hopes that no one will ever have to learn about her past.

Then there is Josh Bennett. Everybody knows Josh’s story. He has lost everybody he loves and he's left alone at the age of 17. Everyone leaves him alone until one day Nastya somehow makes her way into his life. 

As their unusual relationship deepens, they become each other’s salvation, means of escape but as unanswered questions start to pile up and it gets in between them and kind of jeopardizes Josh and Nastya. 

 I found this book to be quite different especially because I have never read anything where the characters are put in the situation Nastya is put in. It is a romance but I feel like it's not your typical romance. It's a little cheesy but in a unique kind of way. It’s different. It wasn't the kind that made me roll my eyes. It just made me smile because it was so darn adorable.

 I love the writing, it was very quotable. The story is told in dual perspective so you have Nastya and Josh’s POV and I loved getting both their sides of the story. I loved knowing what they both felt. 

 I feel like it's a very character driven book, the characters are very fun and I really empathized with them. Nastya is a very strong female protagonist, one the strongest that I've ever read about because if I were put in her situation I know that I would have probably been depressed and suicidal but Nastya was just so strong and I really truly admire her strength and that she is able to get up every day and go through life.

 This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I felt every motion there is to feel. At first it was kinds awkward and weird, then it got kinda happy and sweet and super cute, then I briefly got pissed, then I was shocked and horrified and then I somehow felt alleviated. After reading it I felt good, I was happy with the ending, I was happy for these characters. 

 The story was well structured it was also pretty funny I found Nastya and Josh to be quite hilarious (and Drew, of course). It had a nice flow, great pacing, it was such a page-turner I just wanted to know what happened next. The ending was perfect. It made so much sense and it summed up the whole book.

Overall feelings:

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Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #1)

Published: February 28, 2012 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: 487
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). 

On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both.

So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. 

But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

This story is just full of action and has so much going on I absolutely loved it!

The plot is really good. I am a big fan of distopian novels and this was no different. I love this book so much! The world is so interesting, society is completely split up and in each of these factions you have to embody a certain element.

The characters are amazing!

I LOVE Tris. She is probably one of my favourite female characters! She is incredibly strong, she is selfless and very brave. I felt really connected to her as a character, I felt what she felt all throughout the story. I could really establish a connection with her emotions and I would feel them too.

And then there is Four. Oh, Four. He is delish. He is just this really mysterious guy and has this really hot exterior.. Eventually you learn who he really is, what he's really about, what his story is and I loved learning about Four as a character. His really in-depth character. He's had a pretty though history. He was an amazing, amazinnnngg character.

The romance in here was really good. It wasn't an instant thing, it was more gradual, but it did not take away from the story at all. It was a nice little side plug.

And then there's all the other people. Damn, these characters are freakin' awesome. Christina and Will especially, I loved them. 

"I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that

 different."

The dialogue in the story is just really good. There's a lot of light and humorous conversation. And just overall it was really well written, I was really impressed.
It's a fairly long book but I whizzed through this book, I seriously went through it so fast! It has a really nice pace, it keeps you turning the page, I just could not put this down! I would bring it to the restaurant and put it on my lap, reading. AND THAT'S SO RUDE, but I just couldn't.

Recommend this to:

Everyone.

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Book Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Published: January 13, 2015

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Author: Holly Black

Pages: 336
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking. 

Until one day, he does… As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

THIS IS WHAT I CALL AN AMAZING STAND ALONE NOVEL! 

Honestly, this book surprised me! It's an  overused story but combines elements from the world now. It now simply ancient, it merges it with the mysterious and the modern, it's set in a normal little town.

It's an adventure packed book, it has drama elements and... well things you never imagined to happen.

It was a bit slow paced at the beginning, it took me quite some time to get to the middle of the book - BUT FROM THERE I read it in hours! It was so good! So don't get discouraged! Keep on reading. The plot was a little chaotic and left some things lacking their full potential.

There's a monster in our wood.

She'll get you if you're not good.

Drag you under leaves and sticks.

Punish you for all your tricks.

A nest of hair and gnawed bone.

You are never ever coming .... home

Holly Black's writing style was pretty good. The were a couple of moments when I was thinking: "OH, MAN! THAT SENTENCE IS PURE PERFECTION I WANT MORE!" I have never before read anything from Holly Black and/or anything fairy related (of you don't count the faeries in City of Bones, Ashes, Glass, can't remember anyway). So I'm impressed!

The characters had a really confident voice but sometimes whining and emotional which seemed real to me. The book didn't blow me away, but books don't have to blow you away to be entertaining. Especially when it moved from the fantasy feel to more of a darker tone. I love reading about fairy tales. 

This I believe is the first fantasy/paranormal standalone novel I have read. I love that Holly Black managed to tell "The Darkest Part of the Forest" in one book. And it didn't feel unfinished like most of the 3,4,5 books in a series out there.

Definitely recommend this to people who love dark YA fantasy.

Don't forget to watch the BEAUTIFUL trailer: 

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Book Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Published: May 13, 2014 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Author: E. Lockhart

Pages: 227
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

Buy this book at: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Book Depository

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A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

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  There are books that are simple to read. Books that are interpreted well, their characters are transparent and the plot is understood in the first few pages. But the truth is that if all books were like that, the reading prosess would not be so fun.

This is not an easy book. Not that it's not terribly well written. Difficult in perhaps the characters. Those who are real, and those who are not. Or maybe the plot, whose tangle of wires blends and blurs, giving us a "good" understanding of how the mind of Cadence works.

If we assume that something happened in summer 15 (when Caddie was 15) it becomes easier to understand. The puzzle pieces are being put in place, and when we reach the end we get to see the whole picture. And I'm not sure if I'm digging it. 

                "There is not even a Scrabble word for how bad I feel."

For me, the real gem of this book is, however, the critical subliminal families who live off of appearances. Families who put pride above all, their name and the supposed power that comes from their antiquity. This group of people who survive at the expense of their feelings, the truth and other things.

And there are a lot of this kind of people around. Unscrupulous people who would rather pretend do not feel than give you a vent to their feelings and be happy. We find them everywhere.

Beachwood Island

Cadence was born and raised in a family of this kind. She spent every summer with her cousins ​​on the family island. Until the year she turned 15 when something happened. Something she does not remember it but caused tremendous trauma and made her embark on a journey of suffering and pain.

Now, some years later, she's back on the island in an attempt to solve their problems.Will it end up unlocking the trunk of her mind or will it continue to hide behind the lies that her family has created around it? 

I'm not sure how to rate this book, it was a good read, but I think it was very OVER-hyped and didn't live up to my expectations. However, I still really enjoyed the novel and I'd say it's worth reading.

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Book Review: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Published: Septemer 18, 2012 

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Author: A.S. King

Pages: 280
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Magical Realism

Buy this book at: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Book Depository

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Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their dysfunctional family is fine. And he didn't ask to be the target of Nader McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.

But Lucky has a secret--one that helps him wade through the daily mundane torture of his life. In his dreams, Lucky escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos--the prison his grandfather couldn't escape--where Lucky can be a real man, an adventurer, and a hero. It's dangerous and wild, and it's a place where his life just might be worth living. But how long can Lucky keep hiding in his dreams before reality forces its way inside?

Michael L. Printz Honor recipient A.S. King's smart, funny and boldly original writing shines in this powerful novel about learning to cope with the shrapnel life throws at you and taking a stand against it.

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 Lately the combination male lead + a dose of realism seems to be working very well for me, I've discovered that I love this kind of books and this novel was a great choice.

Everything begins with the death of Lucky’s grandmother, stupid questionnaires about death (aka “If you were going to commit suicide, what method would you choose?”) and pissing on shoes (yes, I promise, I know it sounds weird but ... that’s how it is)

Bullying, most of the time appears in schools, but it can happen to anyone at any stage of their life and can have extreme consequences such as suicide. This book is about that and still does not feel too heavy or depressing to read.

"Listen to me. They may control what you do, but no one 

can pee on your soul without your permission."

A.S. King's narrative has a very special sense of humour, often uses sarcasm and absurd moments to add levity to an intense theme. And it is the only thing driving Lucky forward with his life.. A book narrated in first person opens up many possibilities for the character to become tiresome, but Lucky Linderman has the best internal monologues.

Speaking of character, I loved him. Even if you have never been abused or know what it is to live in fear of your abuser, the thought that s/he can find you at every corner, you can not help but feel close to him. I speak not only of compassion, but of the thought: "I could really be friends with someone like him." 

This book tells the story of Lucky, how he deals with the fear of being terrorised by the same person since he was seven (another teenager like him, but the "classic" school athlete that nobody wants to draw the attention of).This story tells us how many times we do not want to admit how bad we are and how we create barriers that not only do not let in others, but they keep us inside ourselves.

The other characters in the book are far from having perfect lives as well, everyone has some kind of problem, evading reality in some way. The thing which makes them endearing to everyone, including Lucky, is the familiarity that they evoke. That is precisely what I liked, the author shows us that actually "we all see the ants."  They represent that voice in our subconscious telling us the things as they are, for better or worse and leaves us naked before our own fears and insecurities.

I liked how the story ends, but I am left with a huge question regarding Lucky's dreams (which were to erase the imaginary line) and I want to know what actually happened when he woke up.

Obviously I recommend this book, it's a pretty good and entertaining contemporary, despite the raw story that manages to get you crying out loud several times, it is really worth reading.

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