The Rules For Disappearing - Ashley Elston

"Never tell anyone your secrets. They're called secrets for a reason."

Summary: Meg and her family are a part of the Witness Protection program and are sent to live in Louisiana. Meg has rules for herself like "be forgettable," "don't join any clubs," and "don't fall into a routine." So what happens when Meg meets Ethan, the cute southern boy? She ignores her plan and he starts questioning who she really is. But together they may just figure out why her family was put in the program after all.

I really really liked this book! I haven't read a book that features someone in the Witness Protection Program so it was really interesting to read and makes me want to learn more! The idea also reminded me of the Olsen twins movie Our Lips Are Sealed except this book had more drama and was a thriller! The book was really well written and I love how every character was developed! Ethan is one of the best guys ever! He is so swoon worthy! I don't think a guy in real life would be as willing as Ethan was to help Meg though. I do wish Meg's mom was featured a little more because I felt like that story line got wrapped up a little too easily in a way. I loved seeing the struggles Meg and her little sister Teeny had to face and how Meg was always so protective though and how she was always there whenever she could be. And when Teeny and Ethan bonded - so cute! I was so happy that Meg and Teeny both had someone there for them and I loved seeing Meg eventually learn to accept help and let people in. It's a really hard lesson for anyone to learn no matter what the circumstances are! I was definitely surprised when I found out why they were even in the Program! But I was happy that I guessed who one of the bad people were :) This book was just so fun and is perfect to read anytime! So go read it right now! I can't wait for the second one to come out!

Rating: 9/10

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Salt - Danielle Ellison

"I think I found the demon."

"The demon that-"

"Ours. Mine. The one that took my power."

Summary: Penelope is a witch whose parents were murdered by demons. But the demons also stole her magic and she will do anything to get it back.

When I saw this book up for grabs on NetGalley, I was like "hm, I'll request it just for the heck of it because that cover is really pretty." (Purple is my favorite color!) I first thought that Salt was just going to be really cheesy and lame and just another book trying to do witches and demons but I was pleasantly surprised! The demons were a little hokey sometimes but overall I thought the action was great and Penelope was so fun! And how Carter was brought into the story was perfect! I loved Carter and Penelope's bantering so much! If a book has a boy and a girl who just keep bantering and are sarcastic with each other all of the time then I love it! I felt like the amount of background information we received was just the right amount and the story wasn't dragged out or anything! There was also a little twist with Carter that I was really surprised I didn't figure out sooner! Overall Salt was a fun read and I am so excited that Ellison is writing more! I really can't wait for the next one!

Rating: 8/10

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Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society Book 2) - Ally Carter

“Oh you’re heist-drunk Kitty Kat. And you have been since the Henley.”

Summary: After the big heist at the Henley, Katarina Bishop gets roped up in one of the biggest heists' of her life - stealing Cleopatra's Emerald. But this isn't just any emerald...it's cursed!

I got this book on audiobook like I did with the first Heist Society book and it was sooo good! I couldn't believe how much better it was then the first one! This one immediately started off with lots of heists and action which really helped and I didn't have to listen to tons of introduction information. I didn't read the synopsis before hand so once I heard that they were stealing Cleopatra's Emerald, I was immediately hooked! Since the emerald is cursed, it creates a lot of problems and a funny moment for Gabrielle when she got cursed! She actually slipped and fell and everyone was in shock haha! There was a particularly huge moment in the book and I was standing at one of my bus stops listening when it took place and I almost screamed and yelled out "SHUT UP I KNEW IT!!!" I was just in heaven with this book! The locations were so fun (Monaco!) and I looooooved Kat and Hale in this one! We got so much of them this time! Hale definitely became swoon worthy in this one! In regards to audiobooks, it's really hard for me to picture what the characters look like sometimes and I easily get distracted since I only listen to audiobooks when I'm taking the bus to work. It's hard not being able to flip to different pages in the book but what I love is that this book series feels really comforting and relaxes me! I'm so bummed that the third book isn't in audiobook format so I'm not sure when I'll read it. I almost don't even want to read it because the ending to this one was perfect!

Rating: 8.5/10

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Being Sloane Jacobs - Lauren Morrill

"I wish to be somebody - anybody - else."

Summary: A hockey player and a figure skater both running from their lives decide to switch places.

First, I want to say how frickin' excited I was that I got approved to read this from Netgalley! Morrill's first book Meant To Be took the number one spot as my favorite book read in 2013 (you can read my fangirl review HERE) so I had really high expectations for this book as it was my most anticipated for 2014. Unfortunately this book wasn't a hit for me! I'm so bummed that I want to cry because I really wanted to love it! I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads and it will get a 7 out of 10 on here even though it was just meh for me. Here are the things I did like: the cover (it's so pretty!), Matt, figure skating, and the writing. One thing I think Lauren proves is that she is a really good writer! I just didn't think this book was cute or funny like MTB. My favorite part was when Sloane Emily pulled the fire alarm to prove to Matt that she can be adventurous. That made me laugh! And I do like both of the girls and liked seeing them grow throughout the book! This book reminded me a lot of the ABC Family show Make It Or Break It even though that show was gymnastics. I guess I was just hoping that this book was just going to be as cute and aw-inducing as MTB. Even though this one wasn't a hit for me, I do still think everyone should try it and try Meant To Be as well! And I will definitely continue to read anything Lauren puts out because she is awesome!

7/10

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Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

"Now, Sophia, would you care to tell me why you're here by the pond instead of reporting to your next class?"

"I'm experiencing some teenage angst, Mrs. Casnoff," I answered. "I need to, like, write in my journal or something.”

Summary: After a spell goes wrong, witch Sophie Mercer is sent to Hex Hall - a place full of witches, fairies, shapeshifters and a vampire roommate who is being accused of attacking the other students.

I was worried I wouldn't like Hex Hall but I actually liked it quite a bit! I don't think I would've really cared for the book if it wasn't for the MC Sophie! She is so awesome and I want to be best friends with her! She is so funny and I was laughing so much! I love her attitude. I've seen some people are in love with Archer but I personally don't think he's all that great. He seemed kind of blah but at the same time I do like him and Sophie. There were a couple of semi surprising moments that I kind of called. I was disappointed with the multiple spelling errors I found. It didn't help that the book I got from the library was used by someone who literally circled every mistake so they were really easy to spot! I got book two from the library so I'm really excited to see what's going to happen based off one of the decisions Sophie made and I really hope she is even funnier!

Rating: 7.5/10

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Heist Society - Ally Carter

“It is an occupational hazard that anyone who has spent her life learning how to lie eventually becomes bad at telling the truth.”

Summary: Katarina Bishop comes from a family of thieves and was trying to leave the family business until she got pulled back in by Hale. Arturo Taccone has had his art collection stolen and it's up to Kat to get it all back and remove her fathers name from the suspect list!

Heist Society is my first ever audiobook listen and I have to say I really liked it!! I really feel like I'm even going through withdrawals without it haha! I take the bus to work each day and it gives me about an hour and a half to listen so it's perfect! It took me about seven chapters to get into the book and to get used to the narration. I think audiobooks are good for me only when it comes to books that I don't care enough about. The thing it seems about Ally Carter's books, is that it takes me that full seven chapters to finally start liking her stories. This series is a million times better then her Gallagher Girls books though! I thought Kat was a really cool MC and I love this whole world of stealing art. The big scenes where they were trying to get the painting back were so awesome! It felt like I was holding my breath the entire time! I think I guessed the thieve correctly at the end of the book but I'm not sure haha! So if you've read this book, let me know so I can discuss and see if I'm right! :) And I am so happy that my library has the second book on audiobook as well! I can't wait to pick it up this week!

Rating: 7.5/10

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Catching Jordan - Miranda Kenneally

“Congratulations, Mommy," I say, dropping the doll into his hands. "You could've told me I knocked you up."

"My bad. I thought you'd force me to get an abortion," Henry replies, taking the baby and cradling it as if it's real. "He has your eyes, Woods."

"And your hair." The doll is bald. "Can we name him Joe Montana?"

"Hells no, his name is Jerry Rice."

"No, his name is Joe Montana."

"I was in labor with him for fourteen hours!" Henry exclaims as he rocks the baby back and forth. “His name is Jerry Rice."

I grin. "Fine.”

Summary: Jordan is the star quarterback on her football team. Surrounded by guys all of the time, what happens when new guy Ty comes in and turns her world upside down?

*Contains some mini-ish spoilers*

This book was so bad you guys. I gave it 2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads because I love Henry, otherwise I would've just given it 1 star. I have been dying to read this book since the spring/summer and I love the cover so much! But unfortunately it was a letdown. It took me like two weeks to read it and it was painful. I hated Ty with a passion, like for real he is just awful! And then when Jordan and Ty got together and all of a sudden she realized she's been in love with Henry, her best friend, this entire time...WTF. She is so wishy washy and Ty was controlling. I didn't trust Ty from the moment he came in the book! Oh and her "journal entries" or "poems" were just so bad! They were so pointless and some of the writing was just really bad in this book! I did like all of the family stuff though and her relationships with her fellow teammates! Lots of funny moments with Henry like the quote I posted above! The scenes where they had to take care of a fake baby were the best! I do like that the football stuff and the hardships of trying to play the sport as a girl were believable though! Believe it or not, I will be trying out Miranda's other books. I just love the covers too much not to try! And I am particularly excited for Racing Savannah because I love anything and everything to do with horse racing!

Rating: 3/10 

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One Night That Changes Everything - Lauren Barnholdt

"I mean, the things I lose eventually show up. And if they don't, I can always replace them. Except for my purple notebook."

Summary: Eliza's notebook goes missing. But it's not just any notebook. This notebook contains lists of everything that Eliza is afraid to do. And the notebook has landed in the hands of Eliza's ex boyfriend Cooper and his friend Tyler. If she completes everything then maybe, just maybe, she'll get her notebook back.

I really really liked this book! I was a little hesitant to read it and I've actually picked it up multiple times from multiple libraries over the years and was never able to get into it. I'm so glad that now was finally the right time! I love Eliza and her friends and Cooper and Tyler! I love everyone! They were all just hilarious and I felt like they all had really fun attitudes and sass. At first it was kind of annoying that Eliza was overreacting so much but I get it and I think it added to how funny this book was! When she had to do karaoke I was so embarrassed for her haha. I've never done karaoke but I hope to brave and do it one day! I love that she was forced to do some of the stuff from her notebook because we should all do the things that scare us!

Rating: 8/10

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Prep School Confidential - Kara Taylor

“Being brave isn’t the same as not being scared, though, it means going through with something even if it totally terrifies you.”

Summary: When Anne accidentally burns down part of the auditorium at her school, she is sent to a boarding school near Boston. But in her first week there, her roommate is found dead. What happened to Isabella? Anne is on the search to find out.

So I had a lot of fun reading this book but I didn't love it as much as some people seemed to. I liked it though. Boarding schools are my favorite setting in a book so that made the book really fun. Plus I am obsessed with the cover! I love the whole prep school thing! The book is definitely a mix between Kate Brian's Private series and the movie Cry Wolf with a touch of Gossip Girl. The good thing is, I love all three of those things! I really really liked Anne from the start but then she got too focused on boys and she would constantly be thinking about them at times when she really shouldn't have been. And she really annoyed me when she basically started accusing everyone of murder! This was the first time in a book like this where I didn't try to play along and guess who the killer was and that was mostly because Anne's accusations were so ridiculous that I just felt like I couldn't throw in any guesses. I was surprised at who the killer was though! My main issue with the book was the ending. I personally think the book would've been a lot stronger and have more of that wow factor, if the final chapter (chapter 52) just didn't exist at all. What did I love most about the book? Brent. I picture him in my head and he's just so cute with his prep school uniform :) Normally, I would probably go with someone like Anthony but nope, Team Brent all the way!

Rating: 7.5/10

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Just One Year - Gayle Forman

“Love is not something you protect. It’s something you risk.” 

Summary: This is the companion novel to Just One Day. Told from Willem's POV, we find out what happened the year following his and Allyson's one day together.

I'm just going to start by saying that I really really did not like this book! When I finished the book, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars only because the ending saved it but now that I'm writing this review, I've knocked it down to 2 out of 5 stars. I skimmed a huge chunk of the book (the stuff that took place in India was just so boring in my opinion) and it's just really hard for me to read books that have a guy POV. I love Willem's thoughts because some of them are just so WOW but I couldn't really relate! I love love love Allyson and I could really relate to her and her story. Unlike other people, I was actually happy with the ending! I cried in the last few chapters and even though I knew how the book was going to end, I still found myself freaking out and worried that the ending was going to change! I'm really glad to be finished with this book and am excited to try Gayle's other books soon!

Rating: 5/10

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Snow Queen - Emma Harrison

"This is war."

Summary: Aubrey finally gets to go to Vermont with her best friend Christie! Thinking she just gets to have fun and actually see some snow, she jumps at the chance to go. But little does she know that Christie has signed her up for the Snow Queen pageant. How will Aubrey and Christie fair?

I read this book as part of the Ho-Ho-Ho Read-a-Thon and I was really excited to read it! It had everything I normally love - winter, vacation, a winter place like Vermont, and of course the hot rich guy :) While this book is a typical cliche book which I love(!), this one just didn't do it for me this time. The reason for that...THE CHARACTERS. Oh my gosh I can't even. These were some of the worst characters that I have ever come across. I feel like there are no redeeming qualities to them because I am just so annoyed. There's Aubrey - she's super competitive and stands up for herself and for Christie which is great but when it comes to the cute guy...she is very wishy-washy. She likes Grayson a lot but he is always standing up for his evil sister and takes her side because they're family and Aubrey gets mad every time he does that, leaves him, then he says something sweet or does something sweet, and automatically they're back to trying things again. And Grayson makes a huge decision regarding his life just to be with Aubrey that had me going "WTF?!" This is one couple that I was actually not rooting for. I like Grayson a lot though because he's a really good guy and just wanted to believe that his sister wasn't a B like everyone said she was. Then there's Christie, Aubrey's BFF. Christie and Aubrey are both participating in the pageant and Aubrey is only doing it because Christie needs support. Christie just screams 'Look at how insecure I am!' And she can't stand up for herself AT ALL. She's such a wimp. Then she has the nerve to say that Aubrey isn't paying attention to her which I don't think is true at all. Yes, Aubrey gets wrapped up in trying to win but that wasn't until the end of the book. I feel like Christie is just so insecure that she needed to be the main focus. So annoying. And by the end of the book, I really don't think anyone learned how to change! Like I said, the concept of the book is fun but it needed better characters!!

Rating: 5/10

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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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Just One Day - Gayle Forman

"Anything can happen in just one day."

Summary: Allyson is on a school trip to Europe when she meets Willem who invites her to spend one day with him in Paris...a day she will never forget.

I read this book as part of a read along for the last month and I am so glad I did! I loved reading it as part of an event and then getting to answer questions each week. It allowed me to not have to rush through the book and I really got to look at the book on a deeper level. I started off thinking that 'Yes, this book is really good and I can really relate to Allyson.' But at the same time, my relating to Allyson wasn't enough to make me fall in love with the book. Then I got to the last 5 chapters or so and WOW. BEST. BOOK. EVER. I was literally bawling my eyes out and freaking out because I couldn't tell what was going to happen! I couldn't even see my Nook screen because I was crying so hard. I was so scared reading the ending and wanted to throw my Nook at the wall. I've LOVED other books and I have ones that I also claim as best book ever but this one is different. Different because, in the end, books (or movies/tv shows) that make me react this much and leave me heartbroken but hopeful at the same time and have that bittersweet ending are what I live for. When I mentioned this to my mom, she says it's because I'm a hopeless romantic (which I am). I'm still emotional thinking about this book and I'm at a loss at what else to say right now but to read more, check out the links below to see all of my thoughts throughout the last month.

Rating: 10/10

Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3 // Week 4

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The Moon and More - Sarah Dessen

"The thing is, you can't always have the best of everything. Because for life to be real, you need it all: good and bad, beach and concrete, the familiar and the unknown, big talkers and small towns."

Summary: Emaline has one last summer before she goes off to college. But the summer isn't what she thought it would be though when she is faced with tons of challenges - from a break-up, to the return of her absentee father, a summer fling, and more! During this one summer, Emaline will learn more about herself and the world around her, then she has her whole life.

Along For The Ride was my favorite Dessen book but it has officially moved to the number two spot after reading this one! I absolutely loved The Moon and More! Emaline was the perfect main character! I haven't read any fan reviews yet so I might be alone in this but I feel like everything she did was exactly how she should've done it. Usually when I read a book, I disagree with the route a character takes or something but I think in the end, the path she took was correct. I'm not even upset that she moved onto a summer fling literally after her three year relationship ended. I think she is a strong young woman and she learned SO MUCH. She's a changed person now and now she can go on this big journey and explore in college and learn even more about life and herself! One of my favorite things about the book was her relationships with Luke, Benji and her best friend Morris. I can't recall another book at the moment where I felt like the friendships were featured so prominently. Her friendships are what make her the person she is and I think she is a great friend as well! I just loved how thought provoking this book was (at least for me)! AND I am not sure if this has happened in other Dessen books....but the "Auden" featured in the book and Clyde himself, are the ones from Along For The Ride...right?! That's probably a stupid question but oh well!

Rating: 9/10

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My Life Undecided - Jessica Brody

"...It's like I'm caught between two versions of myself. The person I used to be and the person I'm too scared to become. I feel like I'm looking into a mirror and my reflection doesn't match. I just want to be myself again. Only, I'm not sure who that is anymore. Is it the girl in the mirror, the one I've struggled to be my entire life? Or is it this stranger living inside me who wants nothing to do with her? How do you decide between them? How do you know which one is really you?"

Summary: Brooklyn is a 15-year-old girl who has been making bad choices. One of them caused her to get arrested and 200 hours of community service. After this, she has decided that she doesn't want to make decisions anymore. So what does she do? Start a blog, of course. Her fate is now in her readers' hands.

I loved this book! The idea is so unique and fun! The whole time I kept thinking "I want to try out Brooklyn's idea!" But I already know that would be a bad decision. It was really fun living in Brooks world and I loved watching her go through all of her ups and downs. Even though I don't think some of the situations she went through were totally realistic (mostly the hostage situation), I think it was still a great book. I love that Brooklyn learned that each decision is HER choice. Even if it's a bad decision (like when she got arrested), each one teaches you a lesson! Then you take that lesson and learn from it and apply it to your life. I feel very inspired by this book! Now lets discuss the boys...Hunter and Brian. When Hunter first appeared I was like "OMG I LOVE YOU." but then that faded as soon as Brian appeared. I usually don't go for the dorky guys but he was SO CUTE. And he flirted which I really don't picture dorky guys to do! And that KISS during Truth or Dare...WOW. He's got moves! And I am also really glad that Brian learned to make his own decisions, too! Everyone should read this book like...now. Brooklyn is one of my favorite characters ever and I was so sad when the book was all over because I literally feel like I lost a best friend. I think everyone can relate to her!

Rating: 9/10

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Origin - Jennifer L. Armentrout

"I'll burn the world down to save her."

Summary: Daemon is on a search to find Katy after she got trapped at Mount Weather and he will do anything to get her back and keep her safe. Along the way, secrets and lies will be revealed and a war is coming.

This review will contain spoilers!

OMG. This series just continues to kill me. I will be forever obsessed with these books! This one was just as amazing as the other ones and super action packed! The whole time I was reading it, it was like a movie was being played in my head. That scene where Vegas was getting blown up was EPIC. Like oh my gosh it would be so perfect in a movie! I would be upset if something I did caused innocent people to get killed and I feel bad for Daemon but how can you not love that he was doing it save Katy?! Reading wise, I honestly had a hard time getting into the groove of this book with the alternating POVs. I was so used to reading Katy's POV and I often times had to re-read paragraphs or whole pages when I couldn't remember whose POV we were in. But I absolutely loved Daemon's parts. I love being able to get inside of a guys head and see what it's like when they're in love even if this is just fiction. It's gives me hope for guys in real life haha. And can we talk about the wedding?! OMG I can't believe it. I was so shocked but I am so happy! Now for Archer...I'm not really a fan of his. I saw some people talking on a twitter about a new "ship" and I was so worried that Archer was going to come between Katy and Daemon - thank goodness he didn't!!! I would've been devastated. There was definitely a major shocker in this book - MATTHEW. Like what in the world?! I was so glad he got killed off! It just goes to show that you can't trust anyone! And then the Luxen showing up at the end! Ah I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next! I can't believe we have to wait til next summer!

Rating: 9/10

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Forbidden Boy - Hailey Abbott

 

"If he's your Prince Charming, he'll find his way back. He has to, actually. I think it's in the job description."

Summary: Julianne and Remi meet at a bonfire and instantly feel a connection. He gets her and her art like no one else. But Julianne soon finds out that he is the son of her new neighbors the Moore's who are set on taking over the whole beach just to build their dream mansion. So a relationship between them can't possibly work, right?

Compared to Abbott's other books, I felt like this one was a step back. For being published more recently, the writing wasn't up to par with some of her other books. Julianne really kind of annoyed me. I understood where she was coming from about not dating Remi when his parents are trying to force her family to give up their house but I felt like she could've handled everything differently. She would tell Remi "No we can't be together," and then turn around and still be with him! I did like Remi (aka Remington which FYI is the second Remi I've come across in books and I'm really starting to dig guys who have this name!), and I liked the relationship J has with her sister Chloe. I wish we got to see J actually hang out with her friends though and have time with other people in her life. Then of course there was Abbott's pretty descriptions again: "The reflection of the moon was tossed off the waves, like someone had drizzled the water with liquid gold."

Rating: 6/10

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The Other Boy - Hailey Abbott

 

"And she felt the best summer ever slip right through her fingers."

Summary: Maddy gets caught throwing a party and is forced by her parents to go to Napa Valley with them for the summer. While there, Maddy has to work on the new family vineyard - with David, but Maddy has a boyfriend back in the city. She may think the best summer ever has slipped right through her fingers, but she has no idea what's in store for her in the Valley.

I enjoy Hailey Abbott's books for their fluff factor, they are always just light, fun reads! In this one, Maddy is the typical city girl and is tested when she has to get down and dirty in wine country. The guy she has to work with, David, thinks she's a snob but Maddy proves to him - and herself - that that isn't really her. Turns out she likes eating ribs and getting messy! Of course like all good books, there's romance between Maddy and David which causes drama between Maddy and her boyfriend Brian. I really like David! He likes to cook and is a really down to earth guy. The thing I liked most about this book was the use of descriptions from Abbott. Here's a taste: "...gazing at the stars flung like powder across the black velvet sky."

Rating: 7/10

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