REVIEW Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

Aubrey knows better than to believe high school love lasts. She knows better than to be one of those girls who believe that their boyfriend is going to be hers longer than just a minute. No-- Aubrey and her friend (Shelby, Danica, and Melissa) are evolved. They know that they can't expect a boy to settle, so they settle for having as much fun as they can for the time they do get. No hurt feelings when someone changes their mind, no regrets. But then Nathan Diggs moves to town and shakes up Aubrey's life and makes her question the theories that she used to swear by after Shelby came up them.


I was really excited to read this book. It's so rare to read a book from the perspective of the popular kids, the cool kids, the kids who suck face instead of reading about blood suckers. And I really hoped this wasn't going to be one of those books, those books the author writes that indulges them instead of really saying something. But it really was.

Don't get me wrong, this book was definitely enjoyable, but Aubrey's character is forgettable and instead what I remember are the raunchy details and how I complained to my friend about how mean these girls were. The way they treated their ex-friend whose past transgressions led to the theories is an abomination. It's so much girl-on-girl-hating that I can't believe no one said anything. I can't believe anyone stood by and watched them destroyed this girl when her only mistake was giving a guy she liked her phone number.

Sure, Nathan Diggs was a good character, but in the end he was the only one who I liked. I know characters, just like real people, can't be perfect, but all the other characters, while flawed, were so unrealistically ignorant of their shortcomings and of their mistakes. Shelby, a character I wasn't sure if I was supposed to love or hate, was the only real character in the book, and even then her "indescribable beauty" and other flawless aspects, while possibly intended to draw a comparison between what's outside and what's within or between being flawless or being flawed, with Bass's unskilled writing were just combating each other and made Shelby unrelatable, making her as untouchable as the idea of a manic pixie dream girl.

I enjoyed the book all the same, but as a light read, something fun. I considered not finishing it, but I was interested to see how the only good part of this book-- the evolution of Nathan and Aubrey's relationship-- ended.

If there's one reason I would have put the book down, and I really did consider it, was that Aubrey kept referring to her and her friends as "evolved" and shaming other girls who she didn't think were. Other girls who were losing points for team girl, while she and her friends made out with whoever wanted them, scared of their feelings and instead just letting themselves be used and left and recycled. I wanted her to see sooner, I wanted her to realize her false sense of superiority that came from ideas stemming from insecurity and fear made her more vulnerable, more naive, and made her sound shallow and, to be quite honest, incredibly immature.

This would, however, be a really good guilty-pleasure read. If you just need something easy and raunchy, I'd say go for it-- through your local library.

Rating: 2/5
Would I Recommend: Yes, for a light read if you need a scandalous book to read, but no if you want something that's actually well written.
To... High schoolers exclusively. Maybe.
If You Liked...
"Pretty Little Liars" by Sara Shepard

My Playlist for this Book:
"Break Up With Him" by Old Dominion
"Sex" by The 1975
"Bang Bang" by Jessie J

Links:
Buy this book on Amazon here, Barnes and Noble here, Powell's here, or be a boss and Buy Independent!!!
Find it on Goodreads here and Shelfari here.
Read a negative review from Nosegraze here, or a more positive one from Midnight Book Girl here.

Peace out girl scouts :)

R

REVIEW: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Sydney grew up in the shadow of her charismatic and fearless brother Peyton, but when the prodigal older son's streak of reckless and illegal behavior escalates and changes not only the whole Stanford family but throws an innocent for a loop as well. Sydney's mom treats it like the PTO, like it can all be fixed by cookie sales and dinners with the parents of other inmates-- yes, inmates. And Sydney's father is also  busy with his own life and his own messy relationship with his son. If Sydney felt invisible before, that was nothing compared to now. But after she switched schools, she met the open and warm Cathams- a new best friend Layla and her gorgeous and funny older brother Mac. Yes, Peyton changed everything, but Sydney is determined to change it for the better.

In classic Sarah Dessen fashion, this book weaves together themes with unmatched skill. Family, a classic Dessen theme, plays an integral part in this novel. She also explores self-discovery, as Sydney speaks for herself and grows up before the reader's eyes. The family dynamics set the storyline perfectly, and are realistic and believable. The dynamic between the Mrs. Standford and Sydney is tense, and develops appropriately through out the book.

The relationship I found most interesting was the relationship between the Standfords (and, more specifically, Sydney) and Ames, Peyton's old best friend, who became Mrs. Standford's replacement for Peyton. The relationship represents Mrs. Standford's immaturity when dealing with this situation, and the strained relationship- if you can call it that- set me on edge the way it was supposed to. The craftsmanship Dessen showed while executing this particular part of the story is impressive, and shows maturation in her work.

The voice and writing style is unique to this book, in the same way that the voice of The Moon and More marked a departure from the general tone of her books- which is not to say that they were all the same or bad. This just marks a new era of her work. Sydney writes with a voice mature and eloquent, and simple, but it is entirely appropriate for her age. In fact, Dessen is one of few YA authors who can capture the voice and mannerisms of young adults without making them sound immature. The biggest reason I put down YA books is that the voice of the narrator is too immature; for example, Geek Girl by Holly Smale. That book didn't require the same thought and careful consideration as this Saint Anything. Not to say it wasn't a good book; just obviously more suitable for a younger demographic.

The reason this book is likely to be a favorite of mine (it's too soon to say) is because it is so well written. I'm hard pressed to find a fault in this book; someone on Shelfari or Goodreads said this wasn't a stand-out in Dessen's catalogue, but I disagree. Sure, this isn't the most exciting book; it's not crazy eventful, and there is far more narrative than dialogue. That being said, as someone frequently guilty of skipping text that seems arbitrary or superfluous, I read every word of this book.

In short: buy this book literally now. Or hit up your local library.

Rating 5/5

Would I Recommend: YES YES YES

To: Sarah Dessen fans, high schoolers, well literally anyone

If You Liked...
Any Sarah Dessen book
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Playlist for this Book:

Running Out Of Time by Motion City Soundtrack

Practice Makes Perfect by Cute is What We Aim For

Brave by Sara Barielles

I'm Only Me When I'm With You by Taylor Swift

Links:
Buy it on Amazon here, Barnes and Noble here, Powell's here, or be a boss and Buy Independent!!!
See it on Goodreads here or on Shelfari here.
Read an article on the book from Entertainment Weekly here, and see the author's blog here.
She's going on tour for this book! See the tour information here.

Peace out girl scouts

R

xoxo

REVIEW: Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Meet Harriet Manners. Girl. Geek. International supermodel? -from cover of book

"Harriet Manners is a geek. She always has been, and she thought she always would be—but when she's discovered by a modeling agent, she leaps at the chance to reinvent herself. There's only one problem: Harriet is the definition of awkward. Can she transform from geek to chic?"
-Summary of book from shelfari.com.


Written by former model Holly Smale who, much like Harriet Manners in her book Geek Girl, was discovered as a model at fifteen, this book targets the audience of Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries series (well, not the latest, very adult installment, but the earlier ones), which is to say, middle school girls who have not yet experienced being fifteen. Because, from what I can tell, I was fifteen more recently than Smale and, because of that, I can see that the voice of the narrator is immature for a fifteen year old. At times the dialogue is far fetched and unrealistic, and I had issues with some of the characters. But first, let's get a more concrete description nailed down.

The book starts off with Harriet being Harriet, which is to say endearingly childish and funny in a smart but kind of immature way. Her humor relies on interesting facts that really made the book for me. That's one thing that I loved about the book- even when Harriet was confused about who she was, her voice showed that she was still the same Harriet, just confused about who she was supposed to be. One focus in the book is on Nat and Harriet's friendship, and I have to say that even if this isn't my most favorite book, the fact that Smale focused more of the book on this relationship than the budding romance between Harriet and Nick (a super cute male model with awesome lion-like hair). Nat- for the record- is awesome, and, yes, crazy different from Harriet, and that difference is what causes the storyline: Harriet is a geek, and Nat has wanted to be a model since she was a kid. And now Harriet's living Nat's dream and worries that, considering they were already growing apart as their interests diverged, this could force a bigger wedge between the two of them, one that might mean the end of the only friendship she has.

Except for Toby, her stalker- literally. Another geek, just as strange as Harriet, who literally follows her around and worships at her feet. Don't get me wrong, this isn't entirely unrealistic, but it's too extreme and he's too open about it for it to read realistic. I've had my fair share of boys (and girls) with unhealthy obsessions, but this one is overwrought. The resolve gives it some credibility, and in the end is worth the trouble, but when factored into how unrealistic a lot of aspects of the book are.

Ironically, the unrealistic part of this book isn't the storyline, even though it sounds really outlandish. It's the stuff of daydreams, but it's also the stuff of Holly Smale's teenage years, so it's hard to find a fault in this. And if anyone had the knowledge to write this book, it's Holly Smale; she literally lived that storyline. But the writing is inconsistent; sometimes extremely well thought out and at other times immature or seemingly self-satisfying, which is to say that some moments are the kind of things that one would write in a book on Wattpad, or that would be edited out. Cutesy and insignificant as they may be, these moments detract from the book as a whole.

The character other than Toby that I took issue with was Willbur, who was all stereotypes, misconceptions, and cliches. Entirely unrealistic, his vernacular was ridiculous and not in a charming way. Sure, it was funny, but it, to put it in theater terms, broke the fourth wall and pulled the reader (i.e. me) out of suspended disbelief. I also found the pacing of the book terrible; it took too long for her to be discovered, and then after that there were only two or three big events left in the book. I kept waiting for more to happen.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but I went into it with high hopes and I was a little let down by the immaturity of the writing. That being said, I would definitely recommend this to middle schoolers because the themes addressed in the book are extremely relevant to them, and Harriet's voice will connect to middle schoolers without a doubt. I enjoyed the book just fine as a quick read, and will probably pick up the sequels from the library like I did this one, and will probably read it like I read this one: quickly in one sitting, in only a few hours. I look forward to it, but I'm not bumping them up my to-be-reads nor am I thinking about purchasing them.

Rating: 2/5
Would I Recommend: Yes, but keep the above in mind. It's still a worthwhile read is read purely for entertainment.
To: Middle schoolers, and anyone with patience. It's laugh out loud funny at parts and lighthearted- definitely a good read for when in need of a pick me up if you can handle a few issues.
If You Liked...
The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot (or really any other Meg Cabot book meant for YA or youth readers-- especially Airhead)
Awkward by Marni Bates


My Playlist for This Book:
Unsweet Sixteen by Wakefield
La La Land by Demi Lovato (don't judge me)
Princes and Frogs (Underdog Remix) by Superchick

Peace out bro scouts
R

REVIEW: The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy By Kate Hattemer Review

Following in the large and un-fillable footsteps of John Green, Kate Hattemer strove in this debut novel to accurately capture what it's like to be in high school. And that she did, as we follow the dynamic foursome of close, nerdtastic friends on their vigilante rampage against the reality TV show that has taken over their arts school. As it all progresses, our lead finds himself lost, trying to figure out why everything suddenly seems different. So will their long poem take down the TV show?

I had high hopes for this book, and I wasn't completely disappointed. The plot was original, and the way that Hattemer fit the TV show in doesn't feel like a new writer approaching her first novel hoping to present some bright and shiny new idea that relies on the novelty of TV. While some books that rely on technology instead of skill, Hattemer's plot utilizes it without letting it be the defining part of the book. When all is said and done, I won't look back on this book as a book about a reality TV show. The uniqueness of this book are the characters, who are unparalleled in YA. I will remember the unique struggle of the main character Ethan, as he struggles, overlaying an imagined person or personality over a real person or personality, psyching himself out so much he can no longer see clearly or really understand relationships.

My issue with this book isn't the main character being whiney, as a lot of people complain of him being, because his sarcasm is entertaining and his whiny-ness is really characteristic of teenagers-- I would know, I am one. My issue is that learns his lesson really late, and I would have liked to see character development further through the novel. The issue is addressed (in my opinion) too late in the book. I think Ethan's relationship with Bacconaise the gerbil was hilarious and quirky, and I found it funny when Ethan would talk to Herbert, his drawing mannequin, but I think that this all needed to have resolved sooner.

I like the way that Ethan's love life was handled, especially the lack of a definite ending (no spoilers, I promise). I love the way it developed, and I love the way that it all progressed. I adored Maura, the ballerina, and her storyline. And she was just one of the spectacular support characters in the book. The main teacher, dubbed BradLee, had such a distinct character-- I mean, he has a favorite punctuation mark for goodness sakes (the interrobang, if you were wondering which, looks like ‽. My favorite is the ampersand (&)). And then there's Miki Figgin Riegler. This is the most John Green about the whole book, along with the spectacular themes.
In fact, it's had not to think of John Green while reading this book, due to the extensive references of the long poem "Cantos" by Ezra Pound. These references are essential to what makes this book so incredible. I can't imagine myself enjoying this book without them. One central idea of the book is a Pound quote, "I should have been able to do better." With John Green, incorporating other works is something he does in a lot of his works (especially his claim to "popular" fame, "The Fault in Our Stars"). Hattemer's use of Pound's work is perfect in the book, and makes the plot work.
I'm definitely interested to see more work from this author, and would one hundred percent pick this book up again!

Rating: 4.5/5
Would I Recommend: Yes! It's laugh out loud funny.
To: Readers of John Green or anyone looking for an easy read that has actual substance and humor.
If you liked...
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Any John Green book, esp. Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

My Playlist for this Book:
Out of my League by Stephen Speaks
All the Small Things by Blink 182
Give a Damn by A Rocket to the Moon

Links:
Buy this book on Amazon here, from Barnes and Noble here, from Powell's here, or be a boss and Buy Independent!!!
See this book on Goodreads here and Shelfari here.
Read a review from Kirkus here and see this book on the author's site here.


Peace out book scouts :)

R

REVIEW The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Cassie was raised to be perceptive by her mother, who made her living as a con artist until her murder acting as psychic. Which meant Cassie had nowhere to go, as her father was overseas. She's shipped off to live with her grandmother however pretty soon her talent to read people was flagged in the FBI's system and she found her way out of her situation: she was invited to join an elite training program run by the FBI. She saw this as her opportunity to help others from experiencing the heartbreak she'd been dealing with due to her mom's murder, so she moves to DC. Soon, the new case her teachers are working on turns personal, sending her and her four classmates into a tailspin chasing a serial killer on the coattails of the FBI.

I found this book while checking in books at the library I volunteer at and switching them to storage, and checked it out as soon as my shift was done. I read in that night. It was a relatively easy read, as it reads more like a crime show episode than anything else. I think this book would be a great read for anyone who's not the biggest reader as the entertainment value of this book rivals crime shows. I have no big complaints about this book, really, which is awesome.

As far as romance goes, I just wanted to address this because it's such a big part of young adult fiction, but with this story the focus of the book is Cassie and her relationship with her past instead of her romantic relationships. Yes, there is romance, and yes, it is my least favorite kind: a love triangle. But the dynamics of the love triangle are so integral to the story without the focus being on the romance but rather the interplay between the involved characters and how those interactions affect the plot. For once, the heroine isn't stupidly more worried about her love life than the issue at hand, so that really impressed me.

The police terminology defined was all information I'd already gathered through my years of watching crime shows with my parents every school night, but they were presented in a new way and were demonstrated without collapsing into any sort of cheesiness so I take no issue with that. For those not as well versed in criminal terms, the crash courses on the theories are perfect and concise.

I'm excited to see how the love triangle carries into the next installment of the series, which I will be reviewing soon, and I'm anxious to see if the terminology is as well defined and established. I'm excited to see how they handle the continuation (no spoilers) and am worried that it was also follow the way a TV series can, dragging one storyline through episodes or seasons even.

As far as the characters go, there are quite a few. I found some the agents to be a bit cliche, but not necessarily in a bad way. However, Cassie is the only one who really had character development, but considering the fact that she's the only one who was under duress, and some of the characters seemed a bit flat at times, but I had to strain to even think of that. I love the characters, don't be wrong, I just think that the background characters were unevenly represented and yeah, they all had purpose in the the plot but I think that at some times there were too many characters.

Overall, this book is a fast read that is entertaining through the end, and it is so well written and well organized and well developed. I would definitely read it again, and look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Rating: 5/5

Would I recommend: Yes

To: Anyone who loves crime shows, especially shows like Criminal Minds. Anyone who isn't huge into reading, as this is as entertaining as a TV show.

If you liked...
Virals by Katie Reichs
Heist Society by Ally Carter

My Playlist for this Book:

Conspiracy by Paramore

Sometimes (Alternate Version) by A Rocket to The Moon

Think About It by American Authors

:)

R

REVIEW Stolen by Lucy Christopher

A Printz Honor book, "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher is the haunting account of a 16 year old girl, Gemma, who was kidnapped by Ty, a rugged and handsome older man with an undeniable fire behind his eyes. As the book unfolds in an Australian desert so far removed from everything that all Gemma can ever find is sand, sand, and more sand. She hates the land because she didn't chose it, she hates Ty for taking her there. But as Ty himself unfolds, and Gemma starts listening, things don't seem quite as black and white.

 *Trigger Warning: This book is about kidnapping. Do not read if this or the topic of Stockholm Syndrome is a trigger for you!*

When I started reading this book, I was hesitant because the girl who recommended it to me responded to me saying that I already hated Ty from reading the synopsis by saying she did too but reading the book changed that. My fear was that the book would glorify it, and defend his actions, and romanticize the idea of being kidnapped by a man who was "different." But this book isn't like that.

Written as a letter to Ty, this book goes through the story with such a raw honesty and intense intimacy the pulls at the heart strings. If you find yourself prone to skipping to dialogue, this book might be bit hard to get through because of the way it's written. However, as it is written as a dialogue, written as a letter, I'd say it is still worth a shot. I have little to complain about with this book.

The way that it was written was innovative and fresh, and proved most effective to tell the story. No spoilers, but the whole way this was written is tied up nice and neat and beautiful at the end. The story as a whole is so incredibly well put together-- my only complaint would have to be that one transformation comes slightly too late in the book. That being said, I think the way that Christopher developed the character relationship was flawlessly executed. Her attention to detail and the care she took with not rushing the progression and with not rushing Gemma's opening up to the idea of getting to know her captor are the only way that this book work. Without her careful, close-eye, this book would have fallen flat. All she had to work with was the relationship between Gemma and Ty, the relationship between Gemma and the land, Gemma and London, and Gemma with her situation. This and her contrast of nature and city as well as her exploring beauty and art might sound like a lot but compared to most YA books, she has a very limited field to work with. And that she does, without overworking any section. In short, this book was so elegantly and honestly written and arranged that I am surprised it's not being taught at my school currently.

In the way that "Speak" brought rape into conversations in classrooms, I believe "Stolen" follows suit, helping to bring up this conversation in this generation. In the age when Amber Alerts are sent directly to our phones and the stories of the victims of abduction are so sensationalized that we are so desensitized to it that I assumed this book would make light of Stockholm Syndrome. I'm impressed with this book and know that I will be going out and buying my own copy because I got mine from my school's library.

My Rating: 5/5

Would I recommend: Yes Yes Yes

To: Anyone who enjoys innovative YA fiction, anyone who enjoyed "Speak" or novels that deal with similarly serious subjects.
If you liked...
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

My Playlist for this Book:

Basket Case by Sara Bareilles

Hero by Family of the Year

When You Can't Sleep at Night by Of Mice & Men

Links:
Buy this book on Amazon here, on Barnes and Noble here, Powell's here, or be a boss and Buy Independent!!!
See this book on Goodreads here and Shelfari here.
Read a review of this book on the Guardian here, and see the book on the author's website here.

:)
R