Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

"Just … isn’t giving up allowed sometimes? Isn’t it okay to say, ‘This really hurts, so I’m going to stop trying’?”

“It sets a dangerous precedent.”

“For avoiding pain?”

“For avoiding life.”

Summary: Cath and Wren are twins who are starting their freshman year of college. Wren wants to leave everything behind - specifically Simon Snow and the fanfiction they write and start her college experience. Cath isn't ready to leave everything behind and this leaves her on her own to learn how to survive her first year of college.

I started out really liking this book which I was really surprised about. I was surprised because this book is really quirky and kind of weird and it reminded too much of Rebecca Harrington's book Penelope which I absolutely hated with a passion. But this book was actually okay! I'm a twin so in some ways I can relate to both Cath AND Wren which I liked. But I hated Wren! She basically wanted nothing to do with Cath or her dad which is understandable because of everything that has happened to all of them but still I would never leave anyone behind. She didn't even really talk to Cath and even though I've gone on to do my own things separate from my sister, I always always talk to her 24/7. The whole mother issue really made me angry as well. You'd have to read the book to know everything but their mom left them and then reached out to them. Of course Wren took that chance to try and get her mom back but Cath didn't. I hated that Wren was constantly trying to get Cath to see their mom and I'm glad Cath stuck up for herself! Eventually Cath really turned the year around and she made some changes in her life! I really liked Levi and Reagan. I was glad Cath found them! Some issues with this book were: 1) I started not enjoying this book so much once I got about half way through because it started seeming repetitive and I wanted to smack some of the characters over and over; 2) the fanfiction - now I love fanfiction but I couldn't get into this magic stuff and I eventually just started skipping the pages the had fanfiction on it; and 3) the ending - it just left me feeling blah and I think I expected something more strong. Overall though, I'm glad I read the book but I guess I just don't get the hype over the book or Rainbow Rowell in general.

Rating: 7.5/10

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Getting Over Garrett Delaney - Abby McDonald

"I need to find out who I am without him."

Summary: Sadie has been in love with her best friend Garrett for two years but he doesn't love her back. Once Garrett leaves for summer camp, Sadie makes some new friends and with the help of those friends, she sets out to find who she is without Garrett.

This book was an easy read and it had it's fun moments but overall I just didn't really like it. I wanted to and I thought for sure I would! I hate Garrett! He is just such a snob and I hate that Sadie let her life revolve around a guy and became someone that wasn't even her in the first place. So once she started creating a plan to get over Garrett I was like "Yes! You go girl!" Garrett just wants attention from girls and wants to be with any girl that makes him the center of their world just like Sadie did. I also was not pleased with the ending! I feel like I can't figure out where they're headed in the future! What I did really love about the book though was Sadie's group of friends from the coffee shop she gets a job at! They were really fun and I like how they helped her with her plan and wouldn't let her get away with deviating from it too much. I especially loved when Kayla helped Sadie remember all of the movies they used to watch together - like Josie & the Pussycat Dolls. I feel like Sadie is more of a eclectic person and not the stuck up person who reads classics and whatnot. She's fun! I was really glad she stuck to her friends in the end!

Rating: 5/10

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The Distance Between Us - Kasie West

"Caymen?"

"Yes?"

"You look terrified. Does this scare you?"

"More than anything."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't bring my mints."

"And now the real answer..."

"Because I'm afraid that once you catch me, the game's over."

Summary: Rich people are everything that Caymen Meyers hates but what happens when one walks into her life and changes everything?

This book was adorable! It was so enjoyable that I would read like 90-100 pages in one sitting and not even realize that I just read that much until I finally took a break. It was a very light, easy read. At first I was a little put off by Caymen. I get told that I'm sarcastic but wow Caymen is sarcastic! I ended up loving her personality though and it made for some great moments. And then there's Alexander "Xander" Spence. *sigh* He is the sweetest and I love him SO much! Have you watched One Tree Hill? The whole time I was reading the book, I was picturing Xander as Nathan Scott (played by James Lafferty). One of the moments I really liked was when Zander found out that Caymen thought he had a girlfriend. I loved how he got mad because up until that point, I couldn't tell what was going to happen. And then the kitchen scene towards the end after Caymen and her friend Skye TP'd his house...so good ;) And I love how Xander would take a sip of any of her drink before he gave it to her! If anyone read my Pivot Point review then you know I love Kasie West! While this isn't my favorite (let's face it, Pivot Point is just one of the best books ever), it's still one of my favorites and I can't wait to read more from Kasie West in the future!

Rating: 8.5/10

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Nobody But Us - Kristin Halbrook

"I want to live."

Summary: Will and Zoe are on the run from the terrible lives they live in hopes of finding a life worth living.

This book made me feel lots of different emotions. On one hand I felt hopeful for Will and Zoe and anger for what they have had to go through. I really was rooting for them, especially Zoe. Then I felt angry with Zoe for doing stupid things like shoplifting. I felt shock and even more anger as I read the tragic ending. I was mad at what Will and Zoe chose to do along the way because it ultimately lead to a heartbreaking conclusion. I really didn't agree with how they went about going on the run and stealing and doing everything else they could to survive. I think there could've been a better way for them to handle the whole situation. What I really liked was the love they had for each other! It was beautiful to see these two people willing to do ANYTHING for the other one. I thought about this book off and on for a week straight after I read it! I've never read anything like it because I usually try to stick with happier story lines but I am very glad I finally read this book!

Rating: 8/10

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Audition - Stasia Ward Kehoe

 

"Wish my life were inside a book so I could turn to the ending, see if it is a love story or a gothic disaster."

Summary: Sara leaves home to study ballet in a city she's never been before after she receives a scholarship. While there, Sara falls for Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. Becoming his muse, Sara starts to question her love for Rem, her love of ballet and discovers a new passion of hers - writing.

I checked this book out at the library before I bothered looking at the style of writing so I was surprised to find that it was written in verse. I usually avoid these books at all cost, but since I love the world of ballet I decided to give it a shot and I'm glad I did! The style of writing really fit with the subject matter and made the story a lot more intense and romantic and upsetting. I think many people can relate to Sara. Everyone is trying to figure out what path to take and they find that sometimes they make the wrong choices on that journey.

Rating: 7/10

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