Title: Linked
Author: Imogen Howsen
Series: Linked #1
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schsuter
Source: eARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.

Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.


I have never really been a fan of science fiction novels because they seem to removed from the world I know, and I feel like I can never relate to the things that happen to the characters. But with Linked I was pleasantly surprised. I fell in love with the writing style right away and then I fell in love with the story and the characters not very far after that.

I love Elissa, she was strong even when her parents where hiding/"protecting" her from the devastating truth that would change her life and theirs. I am so glad I did not read the pull synopsis before I read the book because the reveal as to why she is having the visions was a surprise to me. But since most people will know after reading the synopsis I will not hold back. The long lost twin sister aspect was amazing. It made so much sense and that was welcoming, especially when you are reading a world where nothing was familiar.

I loved Elissa's relationship with her twin, Lin, because it was real. Elissa had an inherent need to always protect Lin at all costs, but they were such different people that they clashed. A lot. And that made for a very interesting relationship. Lin had never really been around people, so this became a problem when Lin didn't know the line between protecting Elissa and harming others.

The love story. I will not mention who it is with but once you read some of the book you will figure it out. I loved that their relationship felt normal and real. It wasn't instant attraction, not even on one side. It was gradual, the way it should be, and it was incredibly sweet.

Linked is a science fiction story that doesn't read like one. it is incredible well written, with characters that are full of flaws and full of depth. I seriously cannot wait for the authors next book because her talent for story telling is incredible. A fantastic read.

Title: The School for Good and Evil
Author: Soman Chainani
Series: Yes
Genre: Fairy Tales, YA/Middle Grade
Format: Hardcover, 488 pages
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: ARC received from publisher for honest review

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 At the School for Good and Evil, failing your fairy tale is not an option.

Welcome to the School for Good and Evil, where best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

With her glass slippers and devotion to good deeds, Sophie knows she'll earn top marks at the School for Good and join the ranks of past students like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Meanwhile, Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks and wicked black cat, seems a natural fit for the villains in the School for Evil.

The two girls soon find their fortunes reversed—Sophie's dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School for Good, thrust among handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.

But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are . . . ?

The School for Good and Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.
I am a sucker for fairy tales, and anything to do with them. That is the first reason why I wanted to read The School for Good and Evil. Not only does it reference some of my favorite takes, but put an amazingly unique spin on them. I will tell you right now that this book is a must read for all fairy tale lovers.

The plot of this novel is brilliant. Every year two children are taken from their homes and brought to the School for Good and Evil to train to either become a princess or villain. Sophia wants to be next great Princess and Agatha just wants to stay home and be herself. What I loved about this book was its imagination and its ability to turn what we know about fairy tales and turn it in its head. it gives a whole new meaning to the word "retelling"

The characters were extraordinary, especially the main characters. Sophia was extremely self-obsessed and only cared about herself and how others perceive her. I will admit, she was not my favorite character, at all. But I do think that was down on purpose. Agatha on the other hand was the exact opposite, she was kind, shy and never thought of she was good enough for anything. Even their names represent what society thinks of them, and what I loved was when the author turned all of that upside down.

The only issue I have with this book is its category. I have seen it categorized as middle grade and as YA. I do belive that the fairy tale aspect and the artwork within the book are Middle Grade, but the characters and their actions were very YA based. So I found it very hard to categorize.

The School for Good and Evil was one of the most imaginative and unique stories I have ever read. It is addictive from the very first page and I couldn't put it down. Amazing read.

Title: Parallel
Author: Lauren Miller
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: eARC received from Publisher for honest review

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Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.

With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.

As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.
This book took me entirely by surprise. When you read a synopsis about Parallel Universes that last thing you would expect would be a contemporary style book. But that is exactly what this was. As I read it I found myself engrossed and invested in the story before I realized what was happening. I loved that I found myself in a completely different story thank what I expected, and it was fantastic.

When dealing with parallel universes you have the potential to get too complicated and too scientific, and I am happy to say that in this instance, that was not the case. Like I said earlier, this felt more like a contemporary read than anything else. I loved Abby from the very beginning because she was a lot like me when I was in high school. She had a plan, she knew what was going to happen and she liked it that way. But all of that changed when an earthquake shakes the earth and her two parallel universes collide.

What I think I loved most about this book was the switch between the two universes-the past and the present-and how it ultimately effects Abby's life. I loved that we, as readers, were in the same boat as Abby where we really have no idea how her actions in one universe will effect the other. We never knew what was going to happen from one chapter to the next.

Overall this book surpassed any expectations I had going in, and put a twist on a genre that I thought couldn't evolve. The end of this book was spectacular because it was filled with disappointment and eventually, hope. And it wasn't tied in a neat little bow. Please pick up this book you will not be disappointed.

Title: Wild Awake
Author: Hilary T. Smith
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen

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 Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

I have recently found myself reading a lot of contemporary fiction and I am surprised because I have always been a paranormal/fantasy type of reader. Wild Awake was on my must read contemporaries list from the moment I saw the cover and read the synopsis. This book was everything I expected and more.

Kiri is a very interesting character. She is far from the "good girl" image that most main characters in his genre have. She smokes pot plays in a band, has a horrible attitude problem and is obsessed with hoking up with her band mate. But what I really loved was that she had aspects, like being classically trained in piano, that you wouldn't expect when you are first introduced to her. And everything you think you know about Kiri changes the moment she gets a phone call from a man claiming that he knew her sister and that he has her things. Her sister died five years earlier.

With that phone call, this book morphs into a story I did not expect and it sucked me into Kiri's world that began to dissolve after every page. I loved reading his book for many reasons, and one of those reasons being Kiri's character development throughout the novel. With every passing chapter she evolved, or devolves depending on the situation and I found it engaging. Kiri spiraling out of control made for a very interesting story and it made her a very unreliable character to read. Yet I found myself wanting to believe every word she said, and every thought she had.

The love interest seemed a little sudden for me, but when you think of Kiri's character and her need to connect with people in order to feel alive, it makes sense. And I believe that the cast of secondary characters made this story even more amazing because they added depth and character to every scene. Overall Wild awake makes you question what mental illness looks like and makes you question what is real and what is not. This was an amazing story of tragedy, love and self discovery that will leave you breathless.

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 462 pages
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: ARC supplied for honest review

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 If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...
When I read Pushing the Limits last year I was so surprised at the level of the writing and how addictive the story was. So when I picked up Dare You To I was expecting the exact same thing, and that is exactly what I got.

This is the story of Beth and Ryan, two characters that should have nothing in common, but ultimately connect on a level that neither expected. Beth is such a hard character to like because she is loyal to a fault, even if it means she is jeopardizing her own life. We see this with her mother, a woman we first heard in Pushing the Limits and she doesn't improve in this novel, for sure.

I hated Beth's relationship with her mother, I wanted to shake her and tell her that her mother will never change and trying to save her is only going to make things worse. But alas, it all continues. Beth herself is hard edged and hard to connect with, but that is where Ryan comes in.

Ryan is the All America Boy, who is being pressured by his family to be this poster boy everyone expects him to be. But Ryan has some secrets to, ones that have torn his family apart in ways that no one knows. I loved Ryan's character because he was real, yes he was obsessed with baseball and winning but that wasn't who is really was. And I love that it was Beth's interactions with him that brought that side of him out. Beth and Ryan's connection was intense and slow building, and I loved how their ultimate friendship helped both of them discover things about themselves they never knew were there.

Did I love Dare You To more than I loved Pushing the Limits? No. But it was very close, Katie McGarry has a way of creating characters that stay with you even after you have turned that last page, and Dare You To will not disappoint. I promise.

Title: Transparent
Author: Natalie Whipple
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC supplied by the Publisher for honest review

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Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.


I had read some very mixed reviews about this book before reading it myself, and I will admit I was a little hesitant. Because of two things, one being the superhero powers that are given to the characters, and because of the Mob family dynamic that really isn't discussed in YA. But I will say that I was really happy and surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

To start, I thought the main character was written brilliantly, she was spunky and full of attitude--which would happen if you were the only invisible person in the whole world. I also loved that the main character had a very hard time trusting anyone that wasn't her brother Will. It gave us a chance to see the family dynamic without having to be told about it by the character herself.

The secondary characters were also well done because of their ability to advance the plot but also serve a purpose--They each added something to every scene. I also thought the love story that appeared at the beginning was very refreshing because it is not what you think it is, and I loved that. It was very sweet and their connection was felt from the very beginning. But I did think that it was a little predictable at times.

Fiona's father was a very interesting character because he was so terrfying from the word of mouth that happened throughout the book. But to be honest when we meet him in person I didn't find him all that scary. And I think that was something that took me away from the story, especially ay the end. Speaking of the end, although semi realistic, I felt like it could have been better. I felt like the resolution was swift and a little too perfect for me. I wish I could go into more detail but I can't because of spoilers :(

Overall I thought Transparent was extremely entertaining and fast paced read that kept me reading from page one. Its a perfect read for those days on the beach or just sitting on your porch!

Title: September Girls
Author: Bennett Madison
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC supplied by Publisher for honest review

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 When Sam's dad whisks him and his brother off to a remote beach town for the summer, he's all for it-- at first. Sam soon realizes, though, that this place is anything but ordinary. Time seems to slow down around here, and everywhere he looks, there are beautiful blond girls. Girls who seem inexplicably drawn to him.

Then Sam meets DeeDee, one of the Girls, and she's different from the others. Just as he starts to fall for her, she pulls away, leaving him more confused than ever. He knows that if he's going to get her back, he'll have to uncover the secret of this beach and the girls who live here.

I went into this book being super excited about it. One, because it was a new author for me and because the concept sounded extremely interesting. But what I was left with was a sour taste in my mouth.

I will say that the cover of this novel is absolutely gorgeous and its suits the content to a certain degree. The narrator is a seventeen year old boy named Sam who is whisked away by his father to a beach house for the summer. Sam also has an affinity to swear for no reason and reference sex non stop. His brother is even worse if that is possible. I felt like I was reading a very long conversation between two very young teenage boys, and honestly after a while I got a little tired of it.

Don't get me wrong, I have, at times, had a mouth like a trucker and have been known to talk about sex but I don't make it the topic of EVERY conversations or thought. I do understand that being a virgin in high school, especially for boys is a big deal, but these characters' obsession with getting laid was too much for me. I wanted to connect and relate to these characters but I really had no opportunity to do that.

I also have to talk about The Girls. These mysterious creatures that live on this beach and can never leave were interesting. The concept for these characters was really alluring and I really wish the author had focused more on them then then Sam and his brother. The Girls were different and that what I think I liked most about the book, because it definitely wasn't the reveal at the end. For one, I saw it coming from a mile away and the explanation was vague enough for me not to really understand completely.

Overall, I thought September Girls was an interesting concept, but the execution was lacking. I wanted more from the characters and the plot overall. I will be honest and say I was deeply disappointed with this book.

Title: Absent
Author: Kate Williams
Format: Hardcover, 184 pages
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Ghosts
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Raincoast Books, Chronicle Books
Source: ARC received from Publisher for honest review

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 Forever is a long time to be stuck in high school.

Seventeen-year-old Paige is dead, the victim of a freak fall from the roof during Physics class. Now she’s a ghost, permanently bound to the grounds of her high school. It isn’t all bad, she can find out everyone’s secrets, which can be amusing—for a while. But then Paige hears something that isn’t amusing at all: the rumor spread by the most popular girl at school that her death wasn’t an accident—that she supposedly jumped on purpose. Paige is desperate to stop the gossip, but what can a ghost do? Then Paige discovers something amazing. She can possess living people when they think of her, and she can make them do
almost anything. Maybe, just maybe, she can get inside the girl who’s responsible for the stories. . . and have a little fun turning the tables while she’s at it.

First of all I would like to thank Raincoast Books for sending me a copy of this book. I have always been drawn to stories that have ghost elements and I think  that is what initially drew me to Absent.

This is the story of Paige, who is a ghost trapped in her high school after falling of the roof of said high school. She is joined by two other ghosts, Brooke and Evan who also died inside the walls of their school and have no idea why they can't leave. Although this plot line has been done before, on many occasions I felt like this was very well done and had aspects that were very different.

A thought that the topic of suicide and its effects on those around the victim was quite refreshing and felt very real. I also thought the perspective of high school relationships through the main character was very well done. It was her separation from the secondary characters that made the story so new and refreshing.

I felt myself become invested in Paige and her quest to make her best friend accept the fact that she did not jumo off the roof, but fell. I found myself wanting to know the truth and waiting very impatiently for that truth to come out, what ever that truth may be.

I did find that the "reveal" of what really happened on the roof to be rushed and did not really stisfy my needs. I understood the reason the author used that as the reason for Paige's death, but I felt a little underwhelmed at the time. I wanted more, I wanted something that felt more realistic, but again, it did work on some levels.

Overall I really enjoyed Absent and thought the level of writing was beyond any of my expectations. I thought Paige was a very likable character that grabbed you from the very beginning. A short, emotional read that will leave you questioning the people you know and the people you thought you did.

Title: The End Games
Author: T. Michael Martin
Format: Hardcover, 369 pages
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: HarpeCollins
Source: eARC received via Edelweiss for honest review


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 It happened on Halloween.

The world ended.

And a dangerous Game brought it back to life.

Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.

In the rural mountains of West Virginia, armed with only their rifle and their love for each other, the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of “Bellows”—creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But The Game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors—survivors who don’t play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

T. Michael Martin’s debut novel is a transcendent thriller filled with electrifying action, searing emotional insight, and unexpected romance.


I had really High hopes when I picked this book up. Zombies combined with video game lingo? Who wouldnt love that? But sadly this book did not live up to all of my expectations.

What struck me most about this book were the characters. Because the world is surrounded by "bellows" or Zombies, there aren't many characters to chose from. But what I did notice was that the characters that we did eventually meet were overdone. Through their dialogue I found them to be caricatures of themselves. It was almost as if the author was trying to make them more interesting than they needed to be.

Oe of the characters that I hated the most was the Army Sargent/Captain. He was so overdone to the point where every time he said something I found myself rolling my eyes. And the narrator, Micheal would always react in a way that did not make sense to me. I wanted him to be the bad ass character he was at the very beginning of the novel. It was almost as if his character disintegrated the moment he was near other characters. It was just inconsistent.

What I did love about this book was the relationship between Mike and his brother Patrick. I found it very refreshing to see a male character care more about protecting his little brother than getting the girl. I also loved how "The Game" came about and why it existed in the reality of our main character, because to me it made complete sense. I just wish the reveal was later on. I also loved the innocence of "The Game" and how it got turned on its head at the end. It made for a good twist.

Overall I thought the world building was very well done, and I loved the uniqueness of these kind of zombies. I also loved that the twists were a great surprise, but my reading experience was dampened by overdone character and unbelievable situations.

Title: The Lucy Variations
Author: Sara Zarr
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Little Brown, BFYR
Source: ARC received for honest review

Purchase:
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 Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it's over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano -- on her own terms. But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside the exclusive world of privileged San Francisco families, top junior music competitions, and intense mentorships. The Lucy Variations is a story of one girl's struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself. It's about finding joy again, even when things don't go according to plan. Because life isn't a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way.



What I love so much about Sara Zarr's writing is her ability to make you feel as if you are the characters in her novels. You are invested before you realize whats happening and then you have no choice but to go along for the ride and trust that she won't break your heart too much.

In The Lucy Variations we meet Lucy, a piano prodigy who quits, much to the dismay of her family especially her grandfather. It is this family dynamic and the extreme tension between them that drives this story forward. I found myself extremely angry at her family for the pressure and expectations they put on Lucy and ultimately her brother as well. It was those emotions alone that made me realize how much Sara had me invested in this story. And from them on I was hooked.

I think what I loved most about this novel was the absence of a traditional love interest or love story at all. It has become such a staple in YA contemporary fiction that it was very refreshing to read a book that deal primarily with family and leaning what it is to be an individual. But I will say that I did love that the little love that was there, it was a little taboo/forbidden, which was very interesting to say the least.

Lucy herself was such a great character. She is an independent girl who stuck to her instincts, even when no everyone agreed with them. I also love that she is extremely flawed(as all teenage girls are) and showed impulses that lead to situations that no teenage girl should be a part of. She felt real, and that is why I think she is such an interesting and captivating character.

Overall The Lucy Variations deals with situations and emotions that make you step back and evaluate what just happened. This is not an easy read-even though I read it in one afternoon. It hits you hard and you will remember it for a long time after the last page is turned.