Inside Out

Review: Inside Out - Maria V Snyder

Release Date: April 1st, 2010
Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 315
Rating: ★★★★★

Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.     

     Let me start off by saying that this is probably my favourite book, of all the books I've read this year. Given that I've only read six books so far, it wasn't too difficult for Inside Out to steal the top spot.

     I absolutely adored this book...so, so, much. I'm not even joking when I tell you that the night I finished this book, I was literally lying in bed wondering what it would be like to sneak through the pipes of Inside, just like Trella did. Trella, along with hundreds of other scrubs, live in the Inside. The Inside is a place...I'm not sure I can call it a building...divided into four levels. Those four levels are then split in half, dividing the people into the Uppers and the Lowers. The lower levels are overcrowded with, of course, scrubs. The scrubs are basically there to keep the Upper levels maintained, working long shifts and their jobs, which vary from kitchen work to handling the waste. Trella works cleaning the pipes.

     Trella is a lonesome character and basically starts off hating 99.9 percent of the population she finds herself surrounded in. That's why she gained the nickname Queen of The Pipes-it refers to the fact that she's always hiding away in the pipes, keeping to herself, not conversing with anyone except for her bestfriend Cog.

     I'm going to stop summarizing before I give anything away, but I really loved everything about this book. The characters: from Trella, to Riley *swoons*, to LC Karla, every character was wonderfully written. Trella even reminded me of Katniss, their strength and neverending desire to do the impossible. I loved it. It was crafted with well thought out problems, like finding Gateway, and trying to find a way to outsmart the Uppers.
     I didn't think that Snyder would be able to write such a great relationship between Trella and Riley, not because she's not good at writing (she's obviously amazing) but because in the recent YA novels with hints of romance, there was a lack of progression-which didn't seem to be a problem at all in this novel.

    All in all, it was a wonderful novel. It was the first book I read by Maria V Snyder and it won't be the last especially since...OUTSIDE IN (THE SEQUEL) COMES OUT FEBUARY 15TH! I'm definitely getting that the minute it's released. Five stars for this one, I definitely suggest it.

Book Haul #3

So, everything was bought this month because I'm not famous enough to get free books.
;)
Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler
Tweak - Nic Sheff
Fallen - Lauren Kate
Vixen - Jillian Larkin
Inside Out - Maria V Snyder
Fablehaven - Brandon Mull
Across The Universe - Beth Revis
Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld
The Hate List - Jennifer Brown
The Girl With The Dragon Tatto- Steig Larsson
The Girl Who Played With Fire - Steig Larsson
Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen
Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick

Twenty Boy Summer

Review: Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles

Release Date: June 1st, 2009

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 320

Rating: ★★★★

While on vacation in California, sixteen-year-old best girlfriends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna's first summer romance, but Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

I expected this one to be a five star for sure, but maybe that's why it's not. All in all, it was a fantastic book. Ockler constructed characters that were hard to understand, yet easy to relate to.
     The imagery in the novel was amazing, and it actually made me cry while reading it, and laugh, and smile, and as I said...cry. When a novel does that to you, than it's definitely a good book. Ockler's ability to make you feel what Anna felt was beyond incredible...but the problem was that the one thing I was supposed to feel right away, I didn't feel at all. And that was her connection to both Matt and Sam.

     I'm not really sure how to explain it in a way that you'd understand...but it felt like she liked Matt only because he was forbidden, and she liked Sam to get rid of the Matt-infested-memories. You know? I wasn't really given any insight on why she loved these boys, she'd just kiss them but I couldn't feel what she felt. It was like being left in the dark.

      Frankie was an amazing character; typical, yet amazing. I've read the whole "party-girl-best-friend" character in so many novels, it's crazy. But this is probably one of the first one's in which she has a reasoning for her behaviour...it's her way of dealing with the pain.

     With that said, the book also seemed to stretch on in some parts, and detail things that I had no interest in.

     So overall, it's a solid four star book. I definitely recommend it.

Perfect Chemistry

Review: Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles

Release Date: December 23, 2009
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 368

Rating: ★★★★★

A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.

    Let me start by apoligizing for the fact that I've literally fallen off the face of the Earth! You're going to laugh when I tell you this, but I couldn't get on because I forgot my password :$. Or maybe you didn't even crack a smile and you think I'm stupid...Anyways, I requested that they send it to my e-mail, but for some reason that didn't work. Whatever, I'm back and ready for action!

   I went into this book expecting a lot. When I say a lot, I really mean it. Everywhere I turned, there was raving reviews about this novel and guess what? Here's another one. I loved it. No, I adored it. I finished it the day I bought it because even though it isn't fantasy or supernatural, or something like that (because I've been reading quite a bit of those lately) it was immensely engrossing.

  I could feel everything between the characters, I could feel the passion and the pain and the wanting and the hatred. The feelings and emotions all blended together to create a medley of perfection. (Wow, nice words there, Dominique.) It was wonderful.

   It was a book told from two perspectives, so I got to see Brittany and Alex's relationship develop from both point of views. I couldn't ask for anything more that a book where everything comes to life. Elkeles writing was so raw and true, that you were sucked into this world that was so much like your own, yet it was still fun to be there.

   One of the best aspects of this books was that you could see that the "perfect characters" weren't so perfect after all. Brittany had a certain depth and personality that you can't find in too many books. She takes charge in situations, but sometimes she still feels helpless and ugly and flawed and insecure and I love that about her.

   Elkeles also demonstrated something else that you can't find too much in the love world: a relationship that grew over time. She didn't just thrust Alex and Britanny together and have them fall in love with eachother, because that doesn't happen in the real world. They have to over come the words of everyone around them, the hateful eyes, the discouraging glares. Whether they do overcome it or not will remain a secret, for those of you who haven't read it.

   It was entertaining to see both characters struggle in a life that seemed so easy on the outside. Alex was feared, Brittany was loved but they weren't being who they wanted to be.

   This story may be a love story, but it is still about so much more. It's about highschool, friends, love, violence...It's about life.

   Incase you didn't realize it, I definitely recommend this one.

Book Haul #2 :)

Okay I know it's only two books, but they are the two books I wanted foreeeever!
Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
Rules of Attraction - Simone Elkeles

I'm actually so excited right now I could cry...okay, not that excited, but I'm pretty darn close! I'm on page 134 of Perfect Chemistry and it has 357 pages (in the trade paperback). Luckily for me, I snatched it for eleven bucks at my local Chapters. (Well, I shouldn't say local...It's a 45 minute walk from my house, but it takes like ten minutes to drive there!)

   They, sadly, didn't have The Iron Daughter, which I was pretty bummed about but at least I got these two :)

   My sister Kianna is reading Rules of Attraction as I type, she was going to go on the computer but she said the book is getting too good!
   Incase you were wondering, I'm adoring this book so far! It's amazing<3. I love how...wait, nevermind. I'll explain everything I love about it once I post the review which should be here in a few days.

Anyways, Happy reading.
Until next time, xoxo.

Hush, Hush

Review: Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
Release Date: October 13, 2009

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 400

Rating: ★★★★

   

    For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

    But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
    For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.
 
    Despite what many people had to say about this, it wasn't really a wow book for me. I mean, it was really good but it wasn't something I'd sit up at night thinking about. Fitzpatrick has an amazing ability to paint pictures with her words and I felt as if I was alongside the characters. 

   It didn't seem to me, however, that it was really thought out. It was one of those everything-is-predictable books. I knew what would happen in the end as I was reading it, so there really wasn't much of the suspense factor.
 
   The romance between Nora and Patch was cute, but at times Patch was very...I don't know...creepy. It sometimes got to the point where it was like "why is this our love interest again?" Many people really loved this book, and I wanted to, but I ended up merely liking it.
   Then again, I'm really picky with the books I read and I felt like this wasn't as "punch-in-the-gut" as it could have been, or as it should have been. Though I definitely still recommend it, because it was a good book. It was. It just wasn't you know, the best book ever or something.

   Nora was a great character, but I found Vee to be the "typical best friend" in a lot of YA novels... but at sometimes she made me laugh because of her stupid decisions ;P

    Anyways, this book gets four stars and I think I'll pick up Crescendo as well :)

xoxo, until next time.

Rules of Attraction Book Trailer :)

I can't stop watching this...Carlos is beautiful. I haven't read this yet, or Perfect Chemistry, but trust me, when I read them I'll post the reviews for you guys to read.
Ah! Can't wait to read them!