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Mon, April 29, 2013

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith Review

Wild Awake
By Hilary T. Smith
Publication date: May 28, 2013
Katherine Tegen Books, 400 pages
Source: Publisher

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.

— Goodreads.com description

If you haven’t heard all of the amazing things people are saying about Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith, well, no worries because you’re about to hear a TON of good things from me.

Wild Awake is a stunning, riveting debut that made me feel like I was experiencing everything right alongside of the main character — from soaking in the highs of new love to teetering on the edge of despair.

If you’re not open to it, the writing style might take you a bit off guard — it comes so close to stream-of-consciousness that is really thrusts you in to Kiri’s brain. But I actually really loved that. When Kiri feels manic, you feel manic. When she’s lusty, you’re…well, lusty too. I felt like Smith’s writing style so perfectly captured the way someone in Kiri’s unique position would think, and as hard as it was at times, I enjoyed taking what felt like a really realistic a peek into her inner workings.

For fans of serious contemporaries (I can see why Gayle Forman gave the quote on the front of the book!), I can’t recommend this highly enough. There’s a love story, there’s a lot of psychological issues, they’s a mystery…it’s just all-encompassingly good. Can’t wait to read more from this lovely new author!

Mon, April 22, 2013

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler Review

The Book of Broken Hearts
By Sarah Ockler
Publication date: May 21, 2013
Simon Pulse, 352 pages
Source: Publisher

When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

— Goodreads.com description

Hello, The Book of Broken Hearts. Welcome to your new home on my favorites shelf. I think you will be very happy there…

One word: LOVED!

Okay, so, to start: Sarah Ockler should be on your auto-read list. Twenty Boy Summer was “gut-wrenching to read, but beautifully done.”. Bittersweet was “delightful.” So clearly I was already a fan going into this one. But, guys, I have to say: The Book of Broken Hearts is Sarah Ockler’s best book yet.

Jude, an extremely likable and lovely main character, is struggling with her role as her father’s caretaker over the summer. Her mom is busy working and her three older sisters are off living their own lives. Jude is tasked with the very demanding and heart-wrenching job of caring for her dad as he begins to fall deeper into the grasp of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Stumped as to how to help him, she turns to Emilio to help her restore her father’s beloved motorcycle and give him some focus and hope. Only, Emilio is part of the forbidden Vargas family, filled with boys who have broken her sisters’ hearts.

The family dynamics are beautiful, Jude’s strength and growth is powerful and her relationship with Emilio — gah! If you like “bad boys” with softer sides, you are going to fall straight in love.

Also worth noting about them: Slightly older than your typical YA main characters and struggling with issues well beyond their years, Jude and Emilio made me think of all the new adult novels I’ve been reading lately. Only, where those novels failed for me by overly dramatizing their characters, Sarah Ockler has succeeded in telling this story softly yet strongly. Reading it, I kept feeling like Goldilocks: “Ahhh, now this is JUST RIGHT.”

Mon, April 15, 2013

Golden by Jessi Kirby Review

Golden
By Jessi Kirby
Publication date: May 14, 2013
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 288 pages
Source: Borrowed from my friend Jillian

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost may be a distant relative of Robert Frost, but she has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a mystery in her lap—one that might be the key to uncovering the truth behind a town tragedy, she decides to take a chance.

— Goodreads.com description

I finished Golden by Jessi Kirby on the day I posted my Top 10 Books of 2012. My first thought at the end of the book was “Aww, geez! I SOOOO would have included it!” This is the sort of book you finish and IMMEDIATELY know it’s going to be among your all-time favorites. Well, it worked out that way for me, anyway.

My heart ached from start to finish while reading this beautiful book. I was swept away in the story of Golden, the mystery, the romance, the writing…beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Golden was a moving and inspirational story that really touched me. That’s so rare for me that I have very little to say beyond gushing profusely. I guessed a few plot points involving the mystery a bit too far in advance, but that didn’t even matter. I’m not even going to tell you anything else because I don’t want to risk giving you any clues that will help you figure it out too.

Anyway, if you couldn’t tell, I think you should read this book. IT IS SO GOOD. The end.

PS: Bonus points go to Kirby for using one of favorite quotes ever from Mary Oliver as a running thread throughout the story. I look at this quote every morning as I get ready, so it really resonated.

Thu, April 11, 2013

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan Review

Invisibility
By Andrea Cremer & David Levithan
Publication date: May 7, 2013
Philomel, 358 pages
Source: Borrowed from Jillian <3

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

— Goodreads.com description

I think it’s so fun when two fabulous authors combine forces. It’s so fascinating to see how their writing styles mesh. In this case, Levithan goes a little more paranormal, a la Cremer, and Cremer brings a bit more of a literary sense to her writing, a la Levithan. Three cheers for collaboration!

Love the concept, love the mashup of their writing…but unfortunately, not quite in love with the storyline. I am a big fan of unresolved sexual tension. Um, who isn’t, right? So, for my tastes, Stephen and Elizabeth got together FAR too quickly. I was about one-fourth through the story, and couldn’t help thinking, “Well, now what?” Also, it was a bit witchier than I anticipated.

So, not quite my taste, but still a fun concept and successful collab of writing styles.

Do you guys have a favorite co-authored book? I have to say, Levithan has been the champ of this for me previously in his work with John Green and Rachel Cohn. Sigh. Literary idol! I love you!

Mon, April 8, 2013

The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise Review

The Boyfriend App
By Katie Sise
Publication date: April 30, 2013
Balzer + Bray, 320 pages
Source: Publisher

In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can’t wait to get out of high school. Her father’s death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worst nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.

But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed by a high schooler—and the $200,000 that comes with it. She develops something she calls the Boyfriend App, and suddenly she’s the talk of the school and getting kissed by the hottest boys around. But can the Boyfriend App bring Audrey true love?

— Goodreads.com description

As a girl who has spent the past five years working at dot-coms, I love that The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise shows girls a wicked smart, techie main character. I think so many young readers are going to read this book and relate.

The Boyfriend App is one of those contemporary reads that is definitely predictable and a bit “oh my gosh I see this bad thing coming from a mile away, OMG why don’t the main characters see it whyyyy”….but is cute and readable nonetheless.

So I appreciate the concept and the techie angle, I appreciate the fun, but I did find myself skipping over a few paragraphs here and there to move it along.