Don't Follow in My Footsteps I Run into Walls

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Book Review

	5 STARS This book just makes you feel lovely and sweet inside. Anna and the French Kiss is about a girl named Anna obviously. For her senior year she is studying at an American school in Paris which she is not happy about, that is until she meets St. Clair: a gorgeous guy with a british accent. This book was just so perfect and actually had me smiling throughout the book, it was romantic but not over the top that I felt I needed to go to the dentist for a tootchache and I loved nearly all the characters and I felt they were my friends as well. It also made me want to go to Paris myself. So if you are looking for a nice teenage romance in the city of lurrve..... itself you should definitely check this out I am now reading Stephanie Perkins's other book because of how great this book is. (Lola and the Boy Next Door).

5 STARS

This book just makes you feel lovely and sweet inside.

Anna and the French Kiss is about a girl named Anna obviously. For her senior year she is studying at an American school in Paris which she is not happy about, that is until she meets St. Clair: a gorgeous guy with a british accent.

This book was just so perfect and actually had me smiling throughout the book, it was romantic but not over the top that I felt I needed to go to the dentist for a tootchache and I loved nearly all the characters and I felt they were my friends as well. It also made me want to go to Paris myself.

So if you are looking for a nice teenage romance in the city of lurrve..... itself you should definitely check this out I am now reading Stephanie Perkins's other book because of how great this book is. (Lola and the Boy Next Door).

This was originally posted on Goodreads.

Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows Book Review

	2.5 STARS Incarnate is about Ana who is discovered from an infant to be a newsoul or a nosoul as her mother likes to call her. This means she is a soul that has never been reincarnated and in a society where reincarnation is a normal thing in society Ana is seen as dangerous and therefore is shunned by most people in Range including her mother. Mostly because a soul called Ciana has not reincarnated and everyone believes that Ana replaced her. Now eighten years old Ana sets out to find out how she was born and why while trying to be accepted by society also has love in the mix. I really loved Ana and really felt her suffering at the hands of Li. I liked that because of the way she was treated has affected how she interacts with people and is drawn upon throughout the book. There is nothing more frustrating than having a character who was abused nearly all her life but she is a social butterfly and fits into society perfectly with no scars to show. So I was happy to see that this wasn't suddenly ignored. I actually enjoyed the romance between Ana and Sam and thought it was well built and I actually could see why they liked each other and felt that way. And thank you for no love triangles! Touch wood. This book I felt however lacked plotwise. It was explored mostly in the beginning and the end. In the middle we had Ana just educating herself, playing music, making a dress for a party and of course crushing on Sam. I was just sitting here reading this thinking where this was going as it seemed to veer off into a contemporary novel for awhile there. Also the deaths in these books I felt no emotion or heartbreak for I literally just felt nothing for the characters that were lost I was just meh. I will probably read the next book but I wouldn't say I am going to be counting the days to release. This was originally published on Goodreads.

2.5 STARS

Incarnate is about Ana who is discovered from an infant to be a newsoul or a nosoul as her mother likes to call her. This means she is a soul that has never been reincarnated and in a society where reincarnation is a normal thing in society Ana is seen as dangerous and therefore is shunned by most people in Range including her mother. Mostly because a soul called Ciana has not reincarnated and everyone believes that Ana replaced her. Now eighten years old Ana sets out to find out how she was born and why while trying to be accepted by society also has love in the mix.

I really loved Ana and really felt her suffering at the hands of Li. I liked that because of the way she was treated has affected how she interacts with people and is drawn upon throughout the book. There is nothing more frustrating than having a character who was abused nearly all her life but she is a social butterfly and fits into society perfectly with no scars to show. So I was happy to see that this wasn't suddenly ignored.

I actually enjoyed the romance between Ana and Sam and thought it was well built and I actually could see why they liked each other and felt that way. And thank you for no love triangles! Touch wood.

This book I felt however lacked plotwise. It was explored mostly in the beginning and the end. In the middle we had Ana just educating herself, playing music, making a dress for a party and of course crushing on Sam. I was just sitting here reading this thinking where this was going as it seemed to veer off into a contemporary novel for awhile there. Also the deaths in these books I felt no emotion or heartbreak for I literally just felt nothing for the characters that were lost I was just meh.

I will probably read the next book but I wouldn't say I am going to be counting the days to release.

This was originally published on Goodreads.

Extras (Uglies #4) by Scott Westerfeld Book Review

3 STARS

	Extras I have to say isn't as strong as it's predecessors. Instead of being from the point of view of Tally Youngblood it is set 3 years after the 3rd book 'Specials' and is read from the point of view of Aya Fuse. We get a look at how the actions of Specials has affected other cities. In Aya's city which you find out through the book is located somewhere in Japan, have changed the economy by how popular and talked about you are and you have a number to your name saying how popular. Aya is obessed with being famous and in order to reach her goal Aya is a "kicker" which is basically an independant journalist who tries to get the biggest story since if her story is really good her rank goes up. But when trying to "kick" the Sly Girls Aya stumbles on more than she bargained for. I really liked the premise and the idea of how their economy works and actually wouldn't suprise me if this turned out as a possible future for us. But I felt the story was way too slow and then the action bits were rushed and confusing. Some of the pages I had to back and read since I was so lost. But I loved the characters and Aya was definitely great to read from. It was great seeing Tally again and seeing her through someone else's eyes. Although I did enjoy this book I felt it wasn't as strong as Uglies, Pretties and Specials. But it is definitely worth checking out if you loved those three and want to see how Tally is. This was orginally published on my Goodreads

Extras I have to say isn't as strong as it's predecessors.

Instead of being from the point of view of Tally Youngblood it is set 3 years after the 3rd book 'Specials' and is read from the point of view of Aya Fuse. We get a look at how the actions of Specials has affected other cities. In Aya's city which you find out through the book is located somewhere in Japan, have changed the economy by how popular and talked about you are and you have a number to your name saying how popular. Aya is obessed with being famous and in order to reach her goal Aya is a "kicker" which is basically an independant journalist who tries to get the biggest story since if her story is really good her rank goes up. But when trying to "kick" the Sly Girls Aya stumbles on more than she bargained for.

I really liked the premise and the idea of how their economy works and actually wouldn't suprise me if this turned out as a possible future for us. But I felt the story was way too slow and then the action bits were rushed and confusing. Some of the pages I had to back and read since I was so lost.

But I loved the characters and Aya was definitely great to read from. It was great seeing Tally again and seeing her through someone else's eyes.

Although I did enjoy this book I felt it wasn't as strong as Uglies, Pretties and Specials. But it is definitely worth checking out if you loved those three and want to see how Tally is.

This was orginally published on my Goodreads

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger Review

4.5 STARS

	Kody Keplinger just when I think your writing can't get better you prove me wrong. A Midsummer's Nightmare revolves around the life of 18-year-old Whitley Johnson. The first chapter starts off with her waking up with a hangover the morbing after her high school graduation party where she soon realises she slept with a guy she doesn't know and when he asks for her number she blows him off. She soon leaves for the summer to be with her dad but finds out he has gotten engaged. Not only will she be gaining a stepmum but two stepsiblings but that isn't it, her soon to be stepbrother is the guy she slept with on graduation night. I flew through this book I just loved Whitley. She definitely wasn't perfect and a big party girl and has done a lot of things she isn't proud of as well as can't remember. But Whitley was a very interesting character, I could definitely understand why she does these things and actually felt really sorry for her. She also was very hilarious and how can you not love someone that is funny? It was so sweet seeing her stepmum and stepsiblings trying to make her feel welcome and trying to get to know her despite her horrible behaviour to them. Sylvia was so sweet to Whitley but definitely knew when to put her foot down (she actually reminds me of my mum). Bailey was so cute and adorable, I could see why Whitley couldn't say 'no' to her. Nathan was still looking out for her despite her rejecting him. The chemistry was crazy between these two. Honestly when going into this book I was a bit irked by this relationship but I was definitely wrong. Their scenes were just amazing and hot. Harrison why do you have to be gay? Just an awesome guy and definitely a good friend for Whitley. Particularly in a certain scene he stole my heart, he honestly had to be one of my favourite characters and everyone should have someone like him in their lives. All I can say is her parents are absolute assholes espeacially her dad he needs to have a connection with my fist to his face. However I found the ending a bit rushed and the resolution to come too quickly for me to believe it. Their just seemed to be a character change in a certain character[her dad (hide spoiler)] that I just didn't believe they would change their mind that much. It also seemed Keplinger tried to make them in depth and have a soul but no I still believe they have no soul. But other than that I loved the shit out of this book so you all should check it out, it will be your loss if you don't

Kody Keplinger just when I think your writing can't get better you prove me wrong.

A Midsummer's Nightmare revolves around the life of 18-year-old Whitley Johnson. The first chapter starts off with her waking up with a hangover the morbing after her high school graduation party where she soon realises she slept with a guy she doesn't know and when he asks for her number she blows him off. She soon leaves for the summer to be with her dad but finds out he has gotten engaged. Not only will she be gaining a stepmum but two stepsiblings but that isn't it, her soon to be stepbrother is the guy she slept with on graduation night.

I flew through this book I just loved Whitley. She definitely wasn't perfect and a big party girl and has done a lot of things she isn't proud of as well as can't remember. But Whitley was a very interesting character, I could definitely understand why she does these things and actually felt really sorry for her. She also was very hilarious and how can you not love someone that is funny?

It was so sweet seeing her stepmum and stepsiblings trying to make her feel welcome and trying to get to know her despite her horrible behaviour to them. Sylvia was so sweet to Whitley but definitely knew when to put her foot down (she actually reminds me of my mum). Bailey was so cute and adorable, I could see why Whitley couldn't say 'no' to her. Nathan was still looking out for her despite her rejecting him. The chemistry was crazy between these two. Honestly when going into this book I was a bit irked by this relationship but I was definitely wrong. Their scenes were just amazing and hot.

Harrison why do you have to be gay? Just an awesome guy and definitely a good friend for Whitley. Particularly in a certain scene he stole my heart, he honestly had to be one of my favourite characters and everyone should have someone like him in their lives.

All I can say is her parents are absolute assholes espeacially her dad he needs to have a connection with my fist to his face.

However I found the ending a bit rushed and the resolution to come too quickly for me to believe it. Their just seemed to be a character change in a certain character that I just didn't believe they would change their mind that much. It also seemed Keplinger tried to make them in depth and have a soul but no I still believe they have no soul.

But other than that I loved the shit out of this book so you all should check it out, it will be your loss if you don't

Blazing the Trail (Dragon Diaries #3) by Deborah Cooke

5 STARS

	I absolutely loved this book to bits. Dragon Diaries has to be one of my favourite series of all time. Blazing the Trail is teh 3rd book in the Dragon Diaries where Zoe's battle with the Mages ain't quite over with them still got a few tricks up their sleeves. Zoe has to try and keep herself and everyone intact and work with the other three races of shifters if they want to survive and if she wants Derek or Jared. Zoe was great as usual and fun to read from. She is still struggling with her Wyvern powers without going insane. She also has some bad luck of trusting the wrong people. But she finds a way to figure all this out while trying to juggle high school and dodging the bloody school counselour: Muriel. God I hated that woman so much. Zoe does screw up a few times but like she has in other books learns from them and finds a way to solve it, not hesitating to confide in the Pyr and her friends. Her friends were actually very helpful and I swear she is one lucky dragon to have them. There was a lot of action and fighting making me jumping up and down in anticipation, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. She does choose one of the guys and doesn't try to drag it out, once she knew who she wanted she didn't dawdle and beat around the bush. She got straight to it. Only disappontment for me was that this was the last book and I wish there was more Zoe adventures to come.

I absolutely loved this book to bits. Dragon Diaries has to be one of my favourite series of all time.

Blazing the Trail is teh 3rd book in the Dragon Diaries where Zoe's battle with the Mages ain't quite over with them still got a few tricks up their sleeves. Zoe has to try and keep herself and everyone intact and work with the other three races of shifters if they want to survive and if she wants Derek or Jared.

Zoe was great as usual and fun to read from. She is still struggling with her Wyvern powers without going insane. She also has some bad luck of trusting the wrong people. But she finds a way to figure all this out while trying to juggle high school and dodging the bloody school counselour: Muriel. God I hated that woman so much. Zoe does screw up a few times but like she has in other books learns from them and finds a way to solve it, not hesitating to confide in the Pyr and her friends. Her friends were actually very helpful and I swear she is one lucky dragon to have them.

There was a lot of action and fighting making me jumping up and down in anticipation, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. She does choose one of the guys and doesn't try to drag it out, once she knew who she wanted she didn't dawdle and beat around the bush. She got straight to it.

Only disappontment for me was that this was the last book and I wish there was more Zoe adventures to come.

Specials (Uglies #3) by Scott Westerfeld Review

5 STARS

This was such a great ending to Tally's story it was just so awesome.

Specials is the 3rd book in the Uglies series where we see Tally Youngblood now turned into a Special. With Shay she is hellbent on catching the Smokies particularly David and bring them back to be changed whether they like it or not. But the old Tally is still lingering there not ready to quit yet.

This world just gets more and more amazing each book. Reading from Tally as a Special was just amazing. Specials remind me of human terminators. They are nearly indestructable and I admittedly wouldn't mind being one myself.

Instead of being "bubbly" we now have "icy" which is nice to see Westerfeld still keeping the slang. It was interesting seeing how cutting was introduced into this world and was used for mostly the same purpose as actual cutters.

Tally was awesome as usual and I am quite shocked that instead of hating the heroine by the end of the series I think I am more in love with her character than I was to begin with. The shit she went through was both heartwrenching and awestrucking. She was able to be a strong character and go through some very traumatic events in a very realistic way.

I actually loved the ending and think that is exactly how it should of ended. So Scott Westerfeld let me just say you are fucking amazing and people should read more of your books.

Pretties (Uglies #2) by Scott Westerfeld Review

5 STARS

Wow an actual well done love triangle.

Pretties is the second novel in the Uglies series and follows Tally who is now a pretty. Tally enjoys her life as a pretty, getting to join the Crims and even snagged a boyfriend. But Tally's ugly life catches up with her reminding her why she is here. Tally must now find a way to get back to the Smokies as well as save all the friends she has now made.

The Pretty world was actually quite interesting and wasn't annoyed too much by the slang they used like "bubbly" and "bogus". We see that Tally is still Tally even with her now super gorgeous looks. I still love her and she is definitely my favourite character in the series. The shit she has to deal with is crazy. Her friendship with Shay was so heartbreaking to watch it detereorite and the friends turn into enemies.

Her situation with Zane and David is what I call a good love triangle and I honestly don't know who she is going to end up with or if she will end up with neither. I actually love both guys and think they are both equally flawed but not heaps that I want to beat them to a bloody pulp.

Again I love the narration even when the scenes had no action or things actually happening. Scott Westerfeld knows how to write and I am so angry at myself for not reading his work earlier.

I did however see the ending happening since we were alluded to it early on in the book. But I don't know how Westerfeld managed it he was able to keep me gaping at the end he is just that amazing.

So if you haven't yet go read this series it is just "bubbly". :)