FREE BOOKS.

Why am I making this face, you ask?

Free books, y'all. Well, free books for me anyway. My NYU program has finally shifted its attention to book publishing, and the best part? FREE BOOKS. I'm getting lots.

And I'll review them all here. GET EXCITED.

(This picture was actually taken at a David Cook concert two years ago. Books are the only other thing besides that gorgeous man that make my face contort in such a manner. His new CD comes out tomorrow--get at it.)

Love Walked In

Written by Marisa de los Santos


Goodreads Synopsis: When Martin Grace walks into the hip Philadelphia coffee shop Cornelia Brown manages, her life changes forever. Charming and debonair, the spitting image of Cary Grant, Martin sweeps Cornelia off her feet, but, as it turns out, Martin Grace is more the harbinger of change than the change itself. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, eleven-year-old Clare Hobbes must learn to fend for herself after her increasingly unstable mother has a breakdown and disappears. Taking inspiration from famous orphans (Anne Shirley, Sara Crewe, Mary Lennox, and even Harry Potter) Clare musters the courage to seek out her estranged father. When the two of them show up at Cornelia's cafe, Cornelia and Clare form a bond as unlikely as it is deep. Together, they face difficult choices and discover that knowing what you love and why is as real as life gets.


My Confession: I almost didn't finish this book. And I say that about close to no books. Ever. That's how slow this story started off. At one point, probably around page 100, I closed the cover, flopped back on my bed, and exasperatingly exclaimed to my roommate, "I just can't get into this book. It's disappointing." She, also a reader, had the good sense to make sympathetic clucking noises. However, being the bookaholic I am, I refused to totally give up on this book. I stuck it back on my shelf and resolved to come back to it. Which I did, of course. And the middle-to-end of the book was significantly better than the beginning. I could appreciate all the references to Philadelphia, seeing as how that's where I'm from, and not nearly enough books take place in the City of Brotherly Love. I also really like the name Cornelia. The character, on the whole, had a strong voice throughout, breaking out of her narration often to address her readers directly. However, this didn't totally work for me. Even though her voice is there, I was left feeling rather muddled about her character. Maybe she was too strong. But I had a hard time identifying and understanding this tiny person, who I couldn't picture to save my life and whose personality seemed so contrasting at times. 


And don't even get me started on Martin. Or their relationship. Not real. Not even close. I never believed it, never liked it, never felt it. As the book and plot progressed, you'd believe that perhaps their wooden interactions were purposeful, but my gut tells me they weren't. I had a hard time picturing him too, even though Cornelia kept likening him to Cary Grant. Considering their relationship pretty much opened the book, perhaps that's why I couldn't get into the story. Something about it seemed off. Not genuine. 


Skirting Issues: While I finally felt invested close to the end of the book, I noticed that a few major issues were being brought up: alcoholism, abuse, child abandonment, bipolar disorder, and death. I appreciated the different dimension these problems brought to what would have been a saccharine love story otherwise. But I was disappointed that these issues were never investigated or explored more. They were introduced and then swept away just as quickly. It was almost like they were added to give the story depth, but the author didn't really want to get into the stickiness of what they entailed. I was left with the feeling that those harder-hitting plotlines were a supporting cast instead of a lead. In the end, the story felt disjointed between hopeless romanticism and sad uncertainty. Blend them, and you've got a fantastic and moving book. Run them parallel to each other, never intersecting, and you've got a recipe for confusion and disjointedness. 


My Recommendation: I don't know. A part of me liked the book. I felt pleasant after reading it. I believed the second love story more than the first (you'll know what I mean when/if you read this). The character of Clare may be the best reason I have for recommending this book. She was the most consistent voice throughout, and I enjoyed her perspective on the more adult things going on around her; half the book is told from her perspective, a smart move, especially since I found Cornelia a tad annoying, even shrill, at times. Is it a cute story? Sure. Will it take you a while to get invested? Yup. But I'm not sorry I stuck it out. There are a few sweet moments in here that just might make the whole read worth it.


Rating: 3/5


307 pages, published by Plume (Dec. 29, 2005)

This is Where I Leave You

Written by Jonathan Tropper


Goodreads Synopsis: The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family--including Judd's mother, brothers, and sister--have been together in years. Conspicuously absent: Judd's wife, Jen, whose fourteen-month affair with Judd's radio-shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public.
Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family.
As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. All of which would be hard enough without the bomb Jen dropped the day Judd's father died:  she's pregnant. 


My Confession: I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. It's not just colorful--it's textured. I'm all for tactile stimulation (which is perhaps why I'll never warm up completely to ebooks), so the sensation of this book in my hands felt about as authentically literary as you can get. Before I even read the summary on the back, I was sold. And once I cracked the pages, I was hooked. Tropper has one of the most fantastic literary voices I've ever read. He's witty, sardonic, self-deprecating, wry, and intuitive, and because of this, he draws us in to his multi-faceted character and the complicated, tangled mess that is his life. After the first page, I was invested. That kind of writing takes incredible skill.


Sitting Shiva: This book, structurally, takes place over seven days, but we're treated to Judd's romantic, scholastic, and familial history throughout the novel. We're thrown so deeply into his head that we feel his fears, his desires. His betrayals are our betrayals, his depression our own. I don't think this story could have been as moving without the first-person narration. Seeing the other characters through the filter of Judd's memories and experiences paints a fulfilling picture. In other words, I didn't need to know their side of the story; I knew and trusted my narrator enough to take his descriptions at face value. Again, a very difficult feat that Tropper does easily. Judd is such an incredibly flawed character, and his family is positively certifiable. What goes down during those seven days (and the past thirty-something years that lead up to the family sitting Shiva) proves the point that relationships, love, and--most importantly, memories--are imperfect. As Judd tries to work through the quicksand of despair that seems to come at him from all angles, he's forced to confront decades-long resentment and guilt. Most importantly, the reader is left with the notion that silence, and a lack of trust in those closest to you, never bodes well. Silence is not golden.


My Recommendation: Every single character in this novel is flawed. Every single one seems to have a secret, a battle, a cross to bear in some way. The way they're tied together makes for one insanely intricate novel. However, the pieces click together impossibly well, and the reader feels just as connected to those characters as Judd does. In fact, in the middle of this read, I felt like I had to physically pull myself out of Judd's skin when I'd put the book down--and I'm a girl. For the first time, I felt like I could relate to and understand a male narrator who, while a bit more dramatic, had worries, fears and doubts not unlike my own. My family is a lot less dysfunctional, but every family has problems somewhere. This is Where I Leave You doesn't bother to romanticize the kinds of relationships most people simultaneously treasure and long for. And that's precisely what makes it so special.


Rating: 4.8/5


339 pages, published by Dutton Adult (Aug. 6, 2009)

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Written by Jenny Han


Goodreads Synopsis: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.


My Confession: This was a really sweet read. From the carefree prose to the breezy descriptions of the delectable shore line, this story felt light. As someone who has treasured summers down the shore, I felt like this book really captured the atmosphere of the otherworldly sensation of sand between your toes and young love in your heart. I don't know about you, but I'm always more optimistic when I'm at the beach. It's always been my safe place, my home-away-from-home. When it's time to leave, you usually have to drag me away (kicking and screaming is not just for toddlers, you know). Having tried to write about my love for and connection with the shore, I know how hard it is to create that special emotion and convey it to a reader. Han, however, does a pretty good job with it.


I enjoyed how the book was formatted. By starting in the present and then jumping back and forth in time (you're given fair warning, so the transitions are smooth instead of jerky), you get a real feeling for why Belly is so in love with the shore--and Conrad. Belly, who's only 16--even though there are moments when she seems much older--has been in love with the older Conrad her entire life. Even though he's brooding, moody, and never seems to acknowledge her as anything more than a pest, she turns to mush inside whenever he's around. Knowing this right up front, I was a little leery that this book would turn into Belly-pining-for-Conrad-and-Conrad-never-noticing-Belly. 


I was pleasantly surprised.


Early on, it becomes clear that Conrad does notice Belly as something more than a younger sister, but something keeps him from acting on it. And Belly, not one to turn down a good opportunity, meets a boy that summer and pursues a relationship. While Conrad remains in the back of her mind, it was refreshing to see that she didn't spend her entire summer doing her hair all pretty so Conrad might notice. Even though I never doubted (and I think this is the point) just how deep her feelings for Conrad run. She really does love him, but something holds her back, too. 


A Fresh Breeze: This YA novel has many layers. On the surface, it seems like a superficial love-triangle story of a pretty girl torn between two boys (brothers, no less). But that's not exactly how this plays out. Friendships are explored--between the kids as well as the adults--and serious issues, such as cancer, are dealt with out in the open. Belly proves herself to be a rather un-shallow character, and her summers revolve around more than boys. She has a close relationship with her family and feels extremely linked to Susannah, Jeremiah and Conrad's mom. And while her love life took up a significant amount of the book, there was enough substance that keep this story from getting annoyingly pubescent. 


My Recommendation: It's pretty much the perfect summer read. It's light, airy, and fun. It delves slightly deeper than you might expect, and every time you think you've just about had enough, something new happens that takes the plot down a different road. The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book of a trilogy, so the ending has almost no resolve. Personally, I'd be interested to see where Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah go from this point in their story. Han does a great job of creating multi-faceted characters that are easy to invest in and root for. Yes, it's classified as YA lit, but I think anyone who knows what it feels like to spend a summer down the shore will enjoy this. 


Rating: 4.5/5


276 pages, published by Simon & Schuster (May 5, 2009)

Something Borrowed Movie Review

I promised earlier when I reviewed Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin that I'd follow it up with a review of the film. I practically ran to the theater to see this with my friends. I was so excited after watching both trailers. I knew I wasn't going to be entirely objective, and I don't fool myself into believing I'm a credible film critic. That aside, a promise is a promise. So, to begin, here's what I loved about this adaptation.

I loved:
1. The above video. I don't know what it is, but something about this dance sequence is really human. Anyone who knows how the story ends up feels a little pang for Rachel and Darcy, who, despite both betrayals, did have moments of true friendship.
2. This. Lots and lots of this. 
3. John Krasinski was so incredibly endearing as Ethan. Even though he doesn't have a large role in the book, I'm so glad they decided to forgo the novel on this one. He was just brilliant. So funny and adorable. His witty banter during the trips to the Hamptons was classic.
4. Rachel and Dex. Besides the fact that I just loved ogling Colin Egglesfield during the movie ad nauseum, these two were super-cute together. Their flashback scenes to how they became friends in law school were well-done. 

Could have been better:
1. While I'm glad they ignored the book's lack of Ethan-ness, there were some plot points I wished they'd included in the film. For instance, the 4th of July weekend--not really a big deal in the movie. All of a sudden, Dex's parents were there, throwing an awkward monkey-wrench into the situation. The reasoning behind Dex's parents' shameless promotion of his marriage to Darcy (and his father's unnecessarily nasty comment that Dex better end his relationship with Rachel) was never resolved. It was an odd addition that never really made sense. And was I the only one missing the magic dice? Double sixes! Can't believe they didn't make a cameo.
2. The jig-is-up scene. [SPOILER ALERT!] When Darcy visits Rachel after Dex calls off their wedding, she figures out that Dex is in Rachel's apartment. In the book, she figures it out when she finds Dex's watch on Rachel's nightstand. In the film, she discovers his suit jacket in Rachel's foyer. And instead of finding Dex crouched low in Rachel's closet, wearing nothing but boxers and clutching his clothes, Darcy finds Dex just chillin' in the kitchen. Darcy's raw rage, Rachel's blind panic, and Dex's calm anger never translates. I know this is a danger when books get turned into movies, but this was not how I pictured that scene going down at all. 
3. The end. I'm sorry, but while the ending in the book is far from cinematic (Rachel and Darcy do not speak), I felt like having them "bump into" each other on the streets of NY was just dumb. It didn't feel genuine at all, and that literary part of me rebelled against this addition. I guess they were setting up for a sequel where Rachel and Darcy can be civil (even though, in Something Blue, they never regain a normal friendship), but I was just disappointed. It felt like the filmmakers were trying to resolve all the conflict, and it ended up too nice-and-neat.
4. It was waaaaay too obvious that Ginny Goodwin was wearing a wig.

All in all, I love the book. I knew a part of me would love the movie purely for that reason. And when it comes out on DVD, you can be sure it'll become a part of my collection. Parts of this movie were well-done, and I laughed pretty consistently throughout. I loved the romance, even wished at times it had been pushed a little further. I hate the times when Dex comes off like he has no backbone, and the moments when you want to slap Rachel for not telling Darcy the truth. Perhaps it's because I read the book that I don't have a problem with the "moral ambiguity" of sleeping with your best friend's fiance. Rachel is sympathetic; Darcy comes off like a giant beeyotch who doesn't deserve Dex the Dreamboat. But there are times when I wish their personalities weren't so contrasting. It leaves people unfamiliar with the story wondering why those two stayed friends for so long.

And, just because....

Shameless, I know. But isn't he gorgeous? Ugh.


Grade: B- (but Colin gets an A)


Photos courtesy of Google Images, and video courtesy of Youtube

Shiver

Written by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads Synopsis: 

the cold.

Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat. 

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.

For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

My Confession: I commend Stiefvater for creating a paranormal romance that somehow manages to keep both feet in the realm of normal. While the subject of werewolves has been broached and, at times, seriously overdone, there's something different and fresh about the love story between Sam and Grace. For one, their relationship seems extremely real. Perhaps it's the easy and fluent dialogue between the two, but I never second-guessed their sincere feelings for each other. And, given the history the two share before they even meet as humans, there is something special about how quickly they fall into a routine with each other. Take away the supernatural element, and the story loses its urgency. But, at the same time, Shiver does not feel reliant on the notion of creatures-you-never-believed-existed to carry the storyline.

Sam's Shiver: Sam's only a human during the warmest seasons--namely, the months between June and August. For some reason, as soon as it starts getting cold, he--wait for it--shivers, and turns back into a wolf until the warm weather returns. Naturally, that's going to put a kink in his relationship with Grace, especially since he senses that the summer he spends with her will be his last a human. 

The rules Stiefvater puts in place for Sam's transformation creates a sad and omnious tone for the novel's duration. There's a feeling of inevitability that these two lovers will be separated forever. And even though I love a good happy ending, I just didn't see how it could be pulled off without cheapening what came before. Seeing as this is the first book in a trilogy, there is obviously some resolve, but Stiefvater has stated a few times that she wrote these books to make people cry. 

In other words, brace yourselves. 

My Recommendation: As I anxiously await the arrival of Forever (click here to pre-order the final book in this trilogy, out July 12), I enjoy reading this story over. Linger, the second book, will be reviewed here as well in the future, and also packs a somber punch. The series could go either way--happy or sad. And even though there's a part of me that wishes I knew, the lack of predictability is what makes these books so special. Without a strong foundation in Shiver, this series would have nothing to build on. You'll get attached to the characters, but not because they're written in an overly-sympathetic or mushy way. 

It feels like Shiver accomplishes what Stephenie Meyer tried to do in the creation of Twilight's "heroine" Bella. Grace is her own person, but she feels like you, or your best friend. Sam is the boyfriend you always wanted, but when you get him, he both gets on your nerves and inspires spontaneous bursts of love. Wolves aside, this could be your life. Well, not really. But you get my drift.

Rating: 4.2/5

392 pages, published by Scholastic Press (Jan. 1, 2009)

One Day

Written by David Nicholls


Synopsis: It's 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day--July 15--of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.


My Confession: I'd been wanting to read this book for quite some time, and I'm almost embarrassed to admit that it was the film version (which looks rather good, by the way) which lit a fire under me to finally pick it up. And I loved it. Every single, love-struck, frustrating, devastating page. This is a love story. This is the way love should be written about. This book has so much heart. The best part about it is that the relationship between Dexter and Em is far from perfect; in fact, they don't see each other every year on July 15. Their lives take them different places and in different directions. They both screw up, they both love other people. But in the end, the undeniable tug toward each other just steals the show.


Dexter Drama: One of the main criticisms I've seen for this book is the supposed "unlikable and shallow" character of Dex Mayhew. I'll be the first person to say that Dex does come off as selfish, daft, lazy, narcissistic, and blind to all the good in his life. He takes Emma for granted for most of the book and makes more mistakes than most people get away with in life. However, despite his hopeless flaws, I find Dex a wonderfully refreshing and realistic character. Yes, he's an ass. Yes, he uses people and struggles with personal relationships. But at his core, we're supposed to believe that Dex is a good person with a good heart. And no matter where his drama takes him throughout the book, no matter how many women he sleeps with or how his alcoholism ravages a promising career, I never doubted that he loved Emma with every fiber of his being. 


His love for her makes him a redeemable character. I've known guys like Dex: guys who act like big shots; guys who think they are going to become famous and "make something" of themselves; guys who come across as having gigantic egos; guys who love pretty women and have trouble settling down. But at the end of the day, I've learned that those guys can also be charming, endearing, and just plain good. Maybe it's that connection that left me enjoying the refreshing way Dex was written. He's not Prince Charming; that's not the point. He's real. And it works.


The ending: Hated it. Loathed it. Couldn't sleep after I read it. But that's what makes it a great ending. Emotionally, I wanted to rip Nicholls a new one, but I truly appreciate how deeply this book hit me. There hasn't been a story that kicked me in the gut as hard as this one. I got so attached to the characters, so attached to the story, and when it was over, I wanted more. I'm very curious to see how the movie handles this, as the ending is far from prettily Hollywood. I won't go into specifics, but somehow, after spending a few days thinking about it, the ending makes sense for the story. It resonates. As it should. 


Recommendation: Read it. It's magical. It provides that sweetness of romance with the bluntness of reality, a feat that's difficult to accomplish. Love can become cliche, but One Day cleanly rides the line between saccharine and harsh. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll probably go see the film and bemoan Anne Hathaway's fake British accent (I love her, but...no). You won't be able to put this one down, or stop thinking about it for days to come.


Rating: 5/5


437 pages, published by Hodder & Stoughton (April 13, 2004)

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of...

This is the fountain in the heart of City Hall Park, NY.

Hey everyone! Sorry for the (long) hiatus. I just graduated from college (what?!) and moved to New York City (hence the Alicia Keys reference) to attend NYU's Summer Publishing Institute. The city is absolutely amazing. I've never been in New York longer than 12 hours, and I certainly haven't explored anywhere outside Times Square. I'm still a Philly girl at heart, but I always wondered what living in New York would be like. Now I'm here, and I'm meeting some extremely fun and interesting people. I've mastered the subway (for the most part) and love how just about everything is within walking distance.


Needless to say, I'm having the time of my life. That being said, I have no time for anything. The Institute is super-intense, but I'm determined to get back in the swing of things and bring back the book reviews!


I appreciate your patience, and there's a nice, long list of book reviews just waiting to hit cyber space.

Evernight

Written by Claudia Gray


Goodreads Synopsis: She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerily Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.
Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight" type either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful--even when it comes to caring about him.
But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart...and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.


[WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW. It's almost impossible to review this book without revealing some of the major plot points. If you don't want to know, please don't read any further.]


My Confession: Sigh. I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. Despite the clear indications of THIS IS A VAMPIRE BOOK, I wanted to give it a fair shot. Maybe I was bored. Maybe I just wanted to read something that made this supernatural craze seem remotely okay. And to give this book credit, there were quite a few unexpected twists and unforseen turns. The problem with these little tidbits? They came out of left field, in the middle of the book, and made me feel like I'd been lied to for a hundred plus pages.


Newsflash: Bianca's the vampire. WOAH, WOAH, WOAH. Have to tell you, I did not see that coming. Probably because for the first half of the book, you get the feeling everyone around Bianca (including Lucas) is a vampire, not her. When she unexpectedly bites Lucas, causing him to black out, I initially thought that she herself didn't know that she was a vampire.


Wrong again.


She knew all along. Her parents were vampires who miraculously conceived Bianca after a couple hundred years together. Apparently, this is an extremely rare occurrence, and because Bianca was born a vampire, instead of being made into one like everyone else, she's not fully a vampire until she kills someone. How lovely.


On top of this, everyone, seemingly, was a vampire. Except Lucas, who is human. And, wait for it--a vampire hunter. Yeah, didn't see that one coming. Oy.


Here's my problem. Why wasn't it obvious that Bianca was a vampire all along? I felt tricked and mislead by her whining of not belonging at Evernight, when she so clearly does. Once the audience is made privy to this information, all of a sudden everyone's drinking blood and revealing their true ages, which of course, number in the hundreds. This could have been subtly hinted at throughout the book, but instead, it hits you like a punch in the gut, and then the rest of the book just never sat quite right with me.


The Romance: Hate to say it, but I was not feeling it. In the beginning, when Bianca and Lucas first met, there was something sweet and genuine about their relationship. It didn't seem forced or weird, and I didn't feel like the author was hastening emotions that would take time to progress. However, right around the time when we find out that Bianca is a vampire, we also see an odd shift in Bianca and Lucas' relationship. Mainly, I stopped beliving it. Completely. It's stated that since Bianca bit Lucas, a part of her remains inside him, and he will be forever drawn to her as a result. Because of this, I couldn't get behind his ridiculous and downright stupid proclamations of love that happened after the incident. He comes across like he's under a spell, and that weakens any genuine romance you hope to pull off. It just stopped feeling real. And that was disappointing.


Besides that, when we're introduced to Bianca, we're told that she's horribly shy and never opens up to anyone; that's one of the reasons her initial comfort around Lucas seems so special. But not once do we see her acting shy. Not in class, not around her roommate, not around anyone. She seemed perfectly normal, maybe even outgoing. It made her character feel inconsistent and added to my distrust of the story and the feeling that I'd been strung along and ultimately played.


Recommendation: Eh. It's the first book in a four-book series, so it may lack cohesiveness for that reason. The fact that, for once, the vampire is female and doesn't totally pull the "I'm dangerous, stay away from me" routine is different and worth checking out if you're a fan of these supernatural romances. Personally, since I don't buy the relationship or chemistry between Lucas and Bianca, I'd have a hard time picking up the second book and investing in a series that has a rocky foundation. I just wish I hadn't been so blindsided by the plot. The idea had potential.


Rating: 2/5


327 pages, published by HarperTeen (May 1, 2008)

Firefly Lane

Written by Kristin Hannah


From Goodreads: In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all--beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface, they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable. 
For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship--jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart...and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.


My Confession: I've never read a book that spans so many years--30, to be exact. And honestly, I didn't think it could be done. At least, not well. Trying to shove so many years into nearly 500 pages may not seem like a daunting task, but every writer out there knows just how hard it can be to have a reader invest in characters for that amount of time. Yet, amazingly, Kristin Hannah does just that: she created two characters, Kate and Tully, who meet as preteens, and then guided us through the thirty-odd years of their friendship. And I cared. I cared a lot. Maybe it's because I can't imagine knowing someone for thirty years, considering I haven't even lived that long. Or maybe it's because there's a cynical side of me that doesn't believe a friendship can physically last that long. Especially between two people who are such night-and-day opposites like Kate and Tully.


Kate is the quiet, soft-spoken one, while Tully is loud, in-your-face, and wildly popular. Kate often plays second fiddle to her best friend, and almost loses the love of her life because of it. There are times where I felt the differences in their friendship bordered on cliche--not every friendship requires such drama. Kate stays in her box of calmness and practicality--she's the one who goes on to have a family, while Tully blows around, becoming famous but never settling down. Jealousies blossom on both sides, mainly because of Kate's husband, who Tully had a brief fling with before he began dating Kate. Kate's feelings of always being second-best rear their ugly head more than once throughout the novel, and it gets a little old. A forty-something woman who still feels insecure in her own marriage (despite how loving her husband is) because once upon a time, he slept with Tully once while drunk gets rather annoying and doesn't elicit any sympathy. There were a few times I wanted to slap some confidence into her. She came off as whiny and consumed by petty jealousies, which I hated because there were many parts about her as a character that I could personally relate to.


The Big Act of Betrayal: Not as big as I expected. It comes near the end of the book and feels rather anti-climactic. Probably because Tully and Kate have committed many little acts of betrayal throughout the novel. Probably because Tully was written as an obnoxious, self-serving character, and I wasn't surprised by the final antic that pushed Kate over the edge. It's what happens after the 'act" that really surprised me. The last part of the book is riddled with emotion, and I really didn't see the latter events coming. It's interesting to read about how far the bounds of friendship can be pushed, and whether pride is a nasty beast that causes you to lose precious time. 


I was left contemplating my own friendships after this book. For 30 years, Tully and Kate really do "weather the storm" of their relationship together, and the entire time, I was wondering, at what price? In the end, I got it. The ending is poetic. It makes sense. You'll hate it, then love it, then hate it again. But most importantly, it'll make you think. I commend Hannah for being able to write a massive book like this, a book that allowed us as readers to grow with the characters, watch how they change and root for their success along the way. I like the way that no character is perfect. Even though Tully seems painted as the instigator most of the time, Kate has her flaws too. And they balance each other out. Maybe that truly is what friendship's all about. 


Recommendation: I do recommend this book, especially to anyone who has a few failed friendships under their belt. This fresh perspective on a friendship will make you realize what's really important: having that person in your life, or being right. If anything, Firefly Lane shows just how important it is to say you're sorry.


Rating: 3.8/5


496 pages, published by St. Martin's Press (Feb. 5, 2008)

Delirium

Written by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads Synopsis: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love--the deliria--blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cute upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable. She falls in love.

My Confession: I'm still reeling from this book. Like, seriously reeling. I haven't read too many dystopian books, save for Orwell's superb 1984 and Lois Lowry's The Giver (which I read in seventh grade and was terrified by).  Reading the back cover of this book, I was instantly drawn to the idea of a futuristic world where love, identified as a dangerous disease, has been eradicated by the government. The world painted in this novel is nothing short of terrifying. It's like Big Brother, only worse. Emotions are closely monitored; boys and girls are kept separate and "matched" once they reach eighteen--a horror arranged-marriage of sorts. There is no sensitivity, no compassion, no attachment. 

The reasoning behind the eradication of love is because it causes too much pain. It causes humans to act like animals and behave irrationally. Without love, the world is a much more ordered place; hardly anyone divorces, and everyone is a functional member of society. "Invalids," people who escaped the cure and are diseased by love, live on the outskirts of the boundaries set by the United States. 

Lena, whose mother committed suicide because she could not be cured of love, is a fully functioning and happy member of society. That is, until she meets Alex, an Invalid who captures her attention and eventually, her heart. 

Moving Moments: There are some brilliantly moving quotes throughout this novel. Some of my favorites are:

You can't be really happy unless you're unhappy sometimes. You know that, right?

Sometimes I feel like if you just watch things, just sit still and let the world exist in front of you--sometimes I swear that just for a second time freezes and the world pauses in its tilt. Just for a second. And if you somehow found a way to live in that second, then you would live forever.

Love, the deadliest of all deadly things: it kills you both when you have it and when you don't. But that isn't it, exactly. The condemner and the condemned. The executioner; the blade; the last-minute reprieve; the gasping breath and the rolling sky above you and the thank you, thank you, thank you, God. Love: it will kill you and save you, both.

"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it:" This quote appears a few times throughout the book. Looking past the romance and the post-apocalyptic society, this is a novel that asks a pretty large question: What is love? And more importantly, what does it mean? The answer, discovered in the last few breath-defying pages, will truly astound you. The conclusion, the moment of clarity when Lena discovers exactly what love is, and why it's been hidden, will entrance you. It floored me. It makes you reflect on the loves in your life, and if you could possibly imagine living without them. And, in the moments closer to the end of the book, you wonder if there's anything you wouldn't do to keep the love of your life safe.

What would our world be like if there was no love? If love was something to be feared, something to be hunted down and erased forever? There were moments in this book where I had to mark my page and close the covers, even if just for a brief moment to digest what exactly I was reading. It sucked me in from cover to cover. The love between Alex and Lena was anything but sappy; in the end, it seems the two of them have truly grasped what love means. 

Recommendation: Alex continually refers to Lena as "beautiful," even though she only sees herself as ordinary. After reading the last page, with my heart pounding, the only word that came to mind was just that: beautiful. This novel is absolutely gorgeous. The action left me gasping for air and the turmoil that love causes between these two young people left me aching. You'll feel this book in your limbs: read it.

Rating: 4.5/5

441 pages, published by HarperTeen (Feb. 1, 2011)

Fallen

Written by Lauren Kate

Goodreads Synopsis: There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. 

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. 
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

My Confession: I, for one, am royally sick and tired of supernatural romances that involve werewolves, vampires, and immortals of any kind. Twilight seemed to spawn some literary phenomenon where, all of a sudden, romances weren't good enough unless one of the amours was undead, and the other was constantly at risk of being killed by said-undead lover. Which is why I initially hesitated when presented with this book. The cover, which is startlingly beautiful despite the darkness, immediately signaled to me that once again, the concept of two normal humans falling in love was not going to be found in these pages. 

And I was correct. Daniel, the gorgeous, unattainable male, is an angel. Yes, an angel. Okay, this was mildly new. And the fact that he spends the first couple hundred pages blowing Luce off and acting like he doesn't give a damn gained him a few points as well. She, on the other hand, basically falls dead at the sight of him (even after he flips her off--a gesture I found wildly hysterical and extremely refreshing) and spends most of the book looking like a psychotic stalker. She just won't leave him alone, despite the fact that he clearly wants nothing to do with her.

Plot Twist: When, of course, he actually is madly in love with her. Well, her soul. See, Luce and Daniel are caught up in a reincarnation problem of sorts. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago, Daniel and Luce fell in love. Only, that love is what killed Luce. But, every seventeen years, she reappears as someone else, and Daniel, happily immortal and unchanging, finds her. But, just like every other lifetime, Luce dies just as she and Daniel are about to get together. And she doesn't just die, she's murdered as some form of karmic payback to Daniel for something he did in the past. Of course, we don't know what that thing is. Got that? Yeah, took me a while too. 

The whole "I need to stay away from you because I'm dangerous" thing has gotten a bit old, hasn't it? The only thing that saves this book from being totally predictable are the supporting cast of characters, and the "bad guys" that aren't so different from the good guys. There's also some really well-placed biblical references throughout the book; they're used as a way of explaining the whole "fallen angel" story. Having gone to Catholic school my entire life, I know the story of Lucifer (aka Satan) pretty well. Putting a literary spin on the battle for heaven was a pretty cool concept. There are some interesting, different moments here, and the fact that Luce and Daniel don't spend the entire novel in a grossly unrealistic love-fest makes this a fairly pleasant read.

Recommendation: I'm not sorry I read it. I was happy to see a female character with a hint of a spine and a boyfriend who actually fights with her and doesn't apologize five seconds later. There are some cool battle scenes and some supporting characters with real depth. The fact that it takes place at a reform school is an added, unexpected bonus. 

Rating: 3.3/5

452 pages, published by Delacorte Press (Dec. 8, 2009)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Written by Stephen Chbosky


Goodreads Synopsis: Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is navigating through the strange worlds of love, drugs, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", and dealing with the loss of a good friend and his favorite aunt.


My Confession: If you put a gun to my head and asked me what my favorite book was, this would be it. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a cross between two other fantastic books: The Catcher in the Rye and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. This is an epistolary novel--told entirely though letters. Fifteen-year-old Charlie writes letters describing his everyday adventures to an unknown recipient. We're never told who this person is, but in the first line of the book, Charlie tells us why he is writing to this person.


"I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have...I just need to know that someone out there listens and understands and doesn't try to sleep with people even if they could have. I need to know that these people exist."


It's clear right from the beginning that Charlie is not your average teenager. The book takes place over the course of a year, Charlie's freshman year of high school, to be exact. More happens to this boy in one year than most people experience throughout all four years of high school. But this book has the curious way of staying firmly rooted in the real world; not once did I stop reading, put the little lime green book down, and think, "Gee, this is just too out-there for me."


Charlie's voice is bright and honest, naive and unassuming at best. He's sheltered, slow, different, weird. He sees the world from a true outsider's perspective, because he's never been invited in. This makes him a true "wallflower." His fresh and startlingly honest perceptions are what makes this book so brilliant. It's an anthem for anyone who has ever felt out of place or out of touch. It's a generational tale, but told in such an unusual, captivating way, that it's carved out its own niche as a classic.


Being Infinite: "And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." Even if you've never read this book before, chances are you've heard this line, quoted among many a yearbook and Facebook page. It's the kind of euphemism that you feel like you've heard forever but wish you'd come up with first. There's something about the scene that precedes this moment for Charlie. The carefree, wind-in-your-hair feeling of being infinite. Like nothing can touch you because you're encased in a protective bubble of pure bliss. That one moment that we can look back on and point to as a defining moment in our lives. That's the way that Charlie looks at the world in this novel. It'll leave you feeling infinite too.


Recommendation: It's a short book, and it can be a quick read. Take it slowly. Each letter, each page holds a revelation, an account so honest, so true, that you'll want to take your time. It's the kind of book that can be read over and over again, and you'll still find something new to marvel over. But that first time's the charm. Don't rush it.


Rating: 5/5


213 pages, published by MTV Books and Pocket Books (Feb. 1, 1999)

Something Borrowed

Written by Emily Giffin


Goodreads Synopsis: Rachel has always been the good girl- until her thirtieth birthday, when her longtime friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancée. Rachel is completely horrified. She pretends it didn't happen, maybe it will all go away-and so will her feelings for this guy. 
She prays for fate to intervene, but when she makes a choice she discovers that the lines between right and wrong are blurry, endings aren't always neat, and you have to risk all to win true happiness.

My Confession: I'm sure there have been plenty of books written about lifelong friendships, cheating, and romance. I've read quite a few of them. And let me tell you, none of them captivate me the way Something Borrowed does. Maybe it's because I've been the Rachel to far too many Darcys in my life. Maybe it's because I believe in that special connection, the one that causes you to throw all caution and convention to the wind and lead with your heart. But it's most likely because these characters feel like your best friends, and you're left wishing that more men were like Dex, who despite most rom-com conventions, is not--and does not turn out to be (thank God)--an asshole. The relationship between Rachel and Darcy is nicely depicted and picked away at as the story goes on. As the girls' history was unraveled, I became more and more sympathetic toward Rachel, despite the fact that she is her best friend's fiancée's "other woman." You become invested in this story, so much so that you'll find yourself picking sides. I'm on Team Rachel, but reading Giffin's sequel, Something Blue, may change your mind.

The Hollywood Factor: Yes, someone was smart enough (or stupid enough, depending on how you feel about books becoming movies) to scoop up the film rights to this novel. Something Borrowed, starring Kate Hudson as Darcy (evidently the filmmakers didn't get the memo that Darcy is a brunette) and Ginnifer Goodwin (I think I'm good with this...I think) as Rachel. The trailer, just released last week, looks hopeful. I'm guilty of watching it a few times, lingering on the casting choice for Dex (Colin Egglesfield) and wondering if he can live up to the stud of my imagination. The addition of John Krasinski as Ethan, Rachel's friend who plays a small but significant part in the book, but seems to play a much larger role in the movie, looks like a positive move. I'm usually cautious about scripts adapted from books. They're just never as good. But I'm holding out hope that when Something Borrowed hits theaters on May 6, it's going to do the phenomenal book justice.

Recommendation: Read it. Then see the movie with your girlfriends. Then read it again. And when you're ready (even though you'll probably balk, seeing as how most people hate Darcy by the end), pick up Something Blue. Trust me, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Stay tuned for that review.

Rating: 4.5/5

322 pages, published by St. Martin's Press (June 1, 2004)

Evenfall

Written by Liz Michalski

Goodreads Synopsis: In life, Frank could've had any woman he wanted.

In death, he'll try to win back the one that mattered...

Frank Wildermuth always regretted a mistake he made as a teenager: choosing Clara Murphy over her sister Gert. And like a true Murphy woman, Gert got on with her life, never admitting to heartbreak. Not even now, decades later, with Frank dead-dead, that is, but not quite gone. Now, Frank's niece, Andie Murphy, is back in town to settle his estate, and she sees that things have changed in Hartman, Connecticut. Aunt Gert still drives her crazy, but Cort, the wide-eyed farmboy she used to babysit, is all grown up-with a whole new definition for the word "sleepover." Even freakier are the whispers. Either Andie's losing her mind, or something she can't see is calling out to her-something that insists on putting right the past.

My Confession: I loved this book. Really, truly loved it. I hadn't heard about this book in advance, it wasn't recommended to me, and I didn't discover it on Goodreads first. This was a beautiful, spontaneous find during a trip to Borders. I walked up and down the isles, and this book caught my eye. The cover is reminiscent of a classic watercolor painting, and something about it was whimsical and inviting. The back cover, which promised a plotline filled with love lost and a ghost who would stop at nothing to keep the past from repeating itself instantly grabbed me. Bonus points for naming the main character Andrea--even if it was shorted to the offensive "Andie" for the majority of the book. The writing was gorgeous and breathtakingly visual. The attention to detail was painstaking and meticulous. As a writer myself, I know how important the little details are, and Evenfall just nails them. The setting, a rural farm town in Connecticut, was very realistic, the atmosphere of a slow (almost sleepy) lifestyle captured perfectly. The characters were extremely real, from the reluctant, unsure Andrea to the handsome, incredibly sexy Colt, and the time-hardened, regretful Gert. But, that brings me to...

The ghost element: Almost nonexistent. Frank, Andie's uncle and Gert's brother-in-law, appears and narrates parts of the story from beyond the grave. It becomes known that Frank, as a young boy, was madly in love with Gert but married her sister instead. After Gert returns home from serving in the war as a nurse to care for Andie, her reckless brother's newborn child, Frank and Gert are forced to live everyday with their mistake. Now, as a ghost, Frank sees Andie going down the same road, and he wants to keep the past from repeating itself. However, as neat and interesting as this sounds, it doesn't quite play out that way. Frank's narrations act more as a window to the past, instead of connecting that past to the present. His presence is felt during different parts in the book, but feels nowhere near as important as it could have been. The "whispers" that Andie's supposed to hear never really happen. She never recognizes the "humming" she hears as a supernatural presence, let alone her uncle Frank. This particular aspect of the plot had so much promise, and it fell a little short. 

A few other loose ends are left by the end of the book. Now, I'm usually all for an open-ended ending; I've grown to dislike novels that wrap everything up into neat, unrealistic little packages. However, I felt that I was left with a few questions at the end (which I won't reveal for spoiler purposes) that could have been cleared up in a subtle way. Everybody doesn't have to live happily ever after, but abrupt endings (endings at all, especially in a good book) are hard to accept. 

Recommendation: Read this book. Just read it. It's beautifully crafted, and the fact that this is the author's first book is truly impressive. It's a wonderful story about love, regardless of and apart from the supernatural element. 

Rating: 4/5

320 pages, published by Berkley Publishing Group (Feb. 1, 2011)