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Thursday, March 31, 2016

Review: The Memory Jar by Elissa Janine Hoole



The Memory Jar by Elissa Janine Hoole
Since the accident, Taylor's memory has been fuzzy. But at least she's awake. Who knows what her boyfriend, Scott, will remember when he comes out of the coma. Will he remember that Taylor was driving the snowmobile when it crashed? Will he remember the engagement ring? Her pregnancy?
Will he remember that she tried to break up with him?
Taylor doesn't know. And she doesn't know if she wants him to remember. Plenty of things happened that night and before—secrets wrapped in secrets—that she'd prefer be forgotten.
Facing choices she'd rather ignore, Taylor searches for something more solid than whispers and something bigger than blame to face the future and forgive herself.

”add

Publishes in US: April 8th 2016 by Flux
Genre: ya contemp
Source: earc from Flux via Netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? no

Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook ~blog


   I wanted to read The Memory Jar because it has several of my reading wishlist criteria: pregnancy, memory loss, accidents, and emotions. 

   The narration goes back and forth between before the accident and after the accident. I'm not really sure how I felt about that time line because it was a little confusing. But I guess that makes sense because both Taylor and her boyfriend have been in that accident and Taylor lost some of her memory while boyfriend still in a coma. as of right now it just seems like Taylor can't remember exactly what happened in the crash. but she's very conflicted about the pregnancy and about the possible engagement and the fact that she had planned to break up with him right before they have their accident.

    I like there was family dynamics in this one. Taylor and her mom got along okay but she didn't really trust her mom and talk to her about sex because her mom was always talking about the " sLutty girls" planned pregnancy he close to where she works and that kind of put an end to Taylor wanted to open up to her.
    So is his family there very present his brother is very mad at Taylor not really sure why at first but of the story kept playing out in kind of figured that out. Her relationship with him developed too as they waited for him to wake up.

    I ended up skimming towards the end because I was confused with the timeline, the thens didn't seem like in the past, and her fragmented memories added to my confusion. There was a character I was blindsided by and didn't think that she added to the plot.

    I wanted to finish though and I was mostly okay with it, though I wanted something slightly different.


Bottom Line: Good premise, the timeline bugged me.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Ever been on a snowmobile? Or have a desire to try?

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday, WoW


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. I also feature books that may have already released, but I am anxiously waiting to read.

This week, I'm featuring:
Ask Me How I Got Here 
by 
From the author of the acclaimed Poisoned Apples comes a novel in verse about a young woman and the aftermath of a life-altering decision. This thought-provoking and sophisticated read further confirms Christine Heppermann as an important voice in the tradition of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson, and A. S. King.

Addie has always known what she was running toward. In cross-country, in life, in love. Until she and her boyfriend—her sensitive, good-guy boyfriend—are careless one night and she ends up pregnant. Addie makes the difficult choice to have an abortion. And after that—even though she knows it was the right decision for her—nothing is the same anymore. She doesn’t want anyone besides her parents and her boyfriend to know what happened; she doesn’t want to run cross-country; she can’t bring herself to be excited about anything. Until she reconnects with Juliana, a former teammate who’s going through her own dark places. Once again, Christine Heppermann writes with an unflinching honesty and a deep sensitivity about the complexities of being a teenager, being a woman. Her free-verse poems are moving, provocative, and often full of wry humor and a sharp wit. Like Laurie Halse Anderson and Ellen Hopkins, Christine Heppermann is a voice to turn to for the truth of difficult subjects. Ask Me How I Got Here is a literary exploration of sexuality, religion, and self-discovery.

Releases: May 3rd 2016 by Greenwillow

What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes



Me Before You (Me Before You #1) by Jojo Moyes
Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.


”add

Publishes in US: December 31st 2012 by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Genre: adult contemp
Source: library
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? Yes
already released

Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook ~blog

 
    I wanted to read Me Before You because it was recommended to me when I asked for recommendations about other main characters being in a wheelchair after reading The Season of Me and You. And I am so glad that I took it to heart and gave it a try. 

   Most of the book is from the main character Lou, but there are a few sprinkled throughout from other characters. So technically it is multiple POV, but it didn't overwhelm me or switch back and forth. We get into the head of another character at a critical moment to understand their perspective. 

   Lou is the main character and she is quirky and talkative. She takes the job of caring for Will, who is a quadriplegic, and the main secondary character, after the cafe that she happily worked for closed. She was reluctant to take the job, and she thought she made a big mistake when the first weeks of working with Will are difficult. He is sullen, rude to her, and generally miserable. But as they get to know each other, they begin to share stories, and Will comes out of his shell a bit. Lou begins to think of adventures to get him out of the house and breathe life back into him, show him that he can still enjoy life and get pleasure from things he used to enjoy as well as discovering new things. He also introduces Lou to new things like foreign films and classical music performances that she'd never experienced. 

    I knew that I wanted them to get together from the beginning, so Lou's boyfriend, Patrick was automatically on my bad list. He was very fit, and he and Lou are just a strange match because she isn't physical. 

    The family dynamics takes star in the book at times. Lou lives with her parents, her grandpa and sister and her child. The sibling rivalry between Lou and sister Treena is still active but they also share the bonding moments. Lou's parents just want her to be happy, but also depend on her income as Treena doesn't work. As far as Will, his parents hired Lou even though she didn't have any care experience but that she is friendly and chatty, and was hoping she could help him. There is also Will's main intimate care giver, and I really liked him. He is upbeat, and is able to banter with Will and help Lou on her quest to bring Will back to life. 

    Me Before You was a contrast, Lou and her cheerfulness, Will and his sullenness. And then there was the way that they pushed one another to discover new things. Me Before You is character driven, and its slow blooming, but still captivated my attention. It made me think about things like what kind of life could I imagine me living. Could I live without sight? hearing? being able to walk? only being able to move my head and a bit of one arm and dependent on others for every little thing like Will? Is love for another person enough to bring on that will to live? 

   The emotions and all the feels really started to kick in BIG time in the last bit of the book. I am NOT a crier, but it made me want to. 

   The ending. It has me so torn, because I understand and was so torn about how I wanted it to end. But then again, it broke me and I wish that it could have been another way,. 



Bottom Line: powerful, emotional, tear jerker, romantic, realistic, gritty, and a must read.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you had any experience being in a wheelchair or disabled in any way?

Monday, March 28, 2016

It's Not You, It's Me: Away We Go by Emil Ostrovski

Away We Go by Emil Ostrovski

Westing is not your typical school. For starters, you have to have one very important quality in order to be admitted—you have to be dying. Every student at Westing has been diagnosed with PPV, or the Peter Pan Virus. No one is expected to live to graduation.
What do you do when you go to a school where no one has a future? Noah Falls, his girlfriend Alice, and his best friend Marty spend their time drinking, making out, and playing video games on awaywego.com. But when an older boy named Zach (who Noah may or may not be in love with) invites Noah and Marty to join his secret Polo Club, the lives of both boys change as they struggle to find meaning in their shortened existence.
With an innovative format that includes interstitial documents, such as flyers, postcards, and handwritten notes, Away We Go is a funny, honest look at first love and tragic heartbreak.

”add

Publishes in US: April 5th 2016 by Greenwillow Books
Genre: ya
Source: Harper Teen via Harper Teen
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? no

Buy it: Amazon Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site  ~blog


     I have done this several times on my blog. Books that just don't work for me. I know my reading style pretty well, and I can tell whether I will like the book or not accurately about 80-90% of the time. If I finish a book, then there are aspects of that book that I enjoyed. I never talk about the author in a negative way, I only say what doesn't work for me. Normally if I finish a book, I give it at least 3 stars, meaning that I liked it.

   Stopped at 11%

    I wanted to read away we go because I like the sound of PPV the Peter Pan virus and the idea of the kids in the camp basically waiting to die it had a lot of promise for me and I thought it was going to go out a completely different directions.


   Well both of the boys definitely had unique voices they were too strong for me. there was a lot of cursing and I guess I should have read description work that does describe it is funny but I guess I was excited more of the emotional.

   This is definitely a case of me expecting something different and not thoroughly researching before I chose to request
  That isn't to say that the writing is poor or the characters are poorly constructed, it's personal on my end.

Positive Reviews:
Online Eccentric Librarian 
Diary of a Book Addict 

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you form romantic relationship with less than year to live?

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, Bought Borrowed and Bagged


Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews,  check it out and sign up  here
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged is a weekly meme, hosted by TalkSupe, where I share with you the books I have bought, borrowed, or bagged. Link up with me here.


Currently reading
Ignite (Defy, #2)
source:library

What I read:
Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)
source:library

Last Week on the blog:

Flawed (Flawed, #1)
Source: Macmillan via Netgalley
When We Collided
Source: Bloomsbury via Netgalley

My week: Have some friends coming in to  play games and hand out, and excited for Easter Sunday.


What are you reading? Any of my books new to you or have you read any of my books? If so, what did you think?
Also, feel free to link up your blog and mailbox post.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Review: Flawed by Cecelia Ahern



Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
The Scarlet Letter meets Divergent in this thoughtful and thrilling novel by bestselling author Cecelia Ahern.
Celestine North lives a perfect life. She's a model daughter and sister, she's well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she's dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation where she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule. And now faces life-changing repercussions.
She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society where obedience is paramount and rebellion is punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her-everything.

”add

Publishes in US: April 5th 2016 by Feiwel and Friends
Genre: ya dystopia (with contemporary feel)
Source: Macmillan via Netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? Yes Flawed #1
book 2 expected publication: April 4th 2017 by Feiwel & Friends


Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook


    I wanted to read flawed because it sounded like an interesting mix of a dystopia with more of a contemporary feeling if that makes sense. It's like The Scarlet Letter whenever people make a mistake they get tattoos like if they steal they get one on their hand if it's through their mouth that they did the wrong they get a tattoo there and so on. These people are called the flawed and they are forever marked and there's also restrictions on how late they can be out in what they can eat theirs consider lesser and society.
I identified and related to the main character Celestine she is most certainly a people pleaser and she got perfect grades and she acted in the way that her parents and society expected her to. well until she didn't. she had a really big heart and seeing with new eyes what the flawed had to deal with really opened her eyes after her neighbor was charged and arrested. she was their teacher on the piano and she was overall good person but she did something that was wrong in the eyes of this society and she had to answer for the that.

    Celestine saw someone in need, in pain and sick and she saw the past the fact that he was flawed and tried to help him and that is where her life really changes. she had to wonder who is still going to be on her side. If it was going to be her parents or her sister that up until that day she didn't really realize how alike they thought in some ways. that was also her boyfriend whose dad was a judge in overseeing the charging and the marking of the flawed.

   Flawed ended up being a whole lot more political than I expected. I skimmed through that a bit, because it doesn't interest me in real life. I appreciated that she didn't want to play into the government who wanted her to admit she was wrong, or the rebels who wanted her for their new face and voice. 

   The ending worked for me, it did progress the plot, but I don't think that I will be continuing the series. She was a girl trying to do the right thing and ended up being used a lot of people and had to decide for herself how things would continue to do. 


Bottom Line: Good premise and I liked the main character... Too much politics for me though.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you think that you could avoid the flawed marks?

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday, WoW


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. I also feature books that may have already released, but I am anxiously waiting to read.

This week, I'm featuring:
When We Collided
Meet Vivi and Jonah: A girl and a boy whose love has the power save or destroy them.

Vivi and Jonah couldn't be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi's zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there's something important Vivi hasn't told him.

Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Jandy Nelson, When We Collided is a powerful story of two teens whose love is put to the test by forces beyond their control.


Releases: April 5th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

What are you waiting on?

Monday, March 21, 2016

Review: When We Collided by Emery Lord


When We Collided by Emery Lord
Meet Vivi and Jonah: A girl and a boy whose love has the power save or destroy them.
Vivi and Jonah couldn't be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi's zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there's something important Vivi hasn't told him.
Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Jandy Nelson, When We Collided is a powerful story of two teens whose love is put to the test by forces beyond their control.

”add

Publishes in US: April 5th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Genre: ya contemp
Source: Bloomsbury via Netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
This is a book with dark or difficult themes. Young adults that have made hard choices from hard backgrounds. It deals with depression, and alludes to sex. It is a young adult book, but if under 18, ask parent's guidance.
Series? no

My review of her other books:
Open Road Summer
The Start of Me and You 

Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site 
Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket


    I wanted to read When We Collided because I really like the sound of the two main characters. Plus, I really have thoroughly enjoyed her other two books, and hoped for more of the same. Vivi sounded like a girl with a lot of energy and someone so bubbly and such a charismatic personality Jonah is kind of the opposite he is very responsible taking care of his younger siblings along with his two older because his dad died and his mom has been pretty depressed. She stays in bed and Jonah describes her as breakable and he imagines that she has to remind herself to breathe after their loss.

   I like the sound of the small town they live in and it sounds so idealistic and homie and a place that I would love to visit and also love to live in. The theme of family and friendship both played pretty heavily into this one, all themes that I appreciate and like to read about. I am endeared to Jonah with how much responsibility he takes in and the extreme love he has for his family. I can also tell the stress it puts on him because caring for kids on the level he does just isn't supposed to be on his shoulders.

     It is told in dual perspective and that really add something to it because we get to see Vivi and Jonah's reactions to things and what they think about the other. we get two contrasting personalities and opinions about things and we get to see their romance building and also as we read the character development and everything from their past that eventually catches up to both of them.

    Not that far in the you begin to realize that Vivi has some issues of her owN. she described it as she got really low and then she got really high as far as her moods go awhile back. Then she had a conversation with her mom about the fact that she had lost some weight and that made her mom suspicious that she wasn't taking her medicine like she needs to be, since side effects for psych meds can cause weight gain. Mental illness is an issue that is very important to me because I deal with bipolar with hypomania and anxiety and I've been on all kinds of medication for it and I was able to relate with her on all new levels. I began to a suspect that's what she struggled with. she was bubbly and friendly and anything because she was experiencing her high/manic part of the disease she's very talkative and friendly and all those things could have just been her personalities but we also see her throwing out her medication and the synopsis also talks about her descent into risky behavior and that sounds like the beginnings of the swings from manic to depressive.

    I love the scenes where Jonah and Vivi were getting to know each other it's so sweet. Vivi brings a intensity to everything, for example of she believes in reincarnation and she told things about her past life and how it relates to who she is today. The things she said about Jonah totally makes sense to his personality she said that he was a tree in a previous life and that is why he's so steady and how he wants to shelter the little ones.

   The scenes with Jonah's sibling are so well written. It is so realistic how they still bicker and give each other a hard time but at the end of the day they're really there for each other. I love that he treats his younger siblings with respect and he plays with them and sacrifices things to help them with their homework and take care of them. They all look up to him and love him for it. I love seeing vivi with the youngest Leah, she was able to bring out this younger part of herself to really understand and she really give her time to her, she listens to her and really enjoys playing with her. this brought out a good side of Leah because she had been pretty withdrawn and not talking much and Jonah and the rest of the siblings love to see her just kind of blossom under the attention of Vivi. Leah began to talk and light up again.

     Even though with a synopsis and knowing her history with mental illness when Vivi started going downhill it was hard To read. I have grown to care about her a lot and seeing so much of myself and some of her manic behavior was difficult. Its been a battle for me to stay on my meds and I knew that she wasn't staying on her on her mood stabilizers so I knew it was going to go downhill. and even though I have hypo-mania which means that my highs aren't quite as high and my impulsiveness and rashness and talk a mile a minute isn't as bad as someone with full out bipolar disorder like Vivi, it was an emotional train wreck I couldn't stop watching. Even knowing how much it upset Jonah because he had no clue about the manic depression. He must have had a clue with the way she acted around Jonahs mom and the understanding of how she might be feeling that she's dealt with mental illness but Jonah didn't know about her other side. She was danger seeking, in full out creative mode.and it hurt Jonah's feelings when he tried to talk to her about what he was going through and she couldn't focus on him or what he was saying.

    I could tell as the book was coming to a close that the ending was going to be hard but I really respected it. I don't want to give any spoilers but I love that VIVI made decisions for herself and for her mental health and based on what she really needed even though it was a very hard choice to make. she knew that she was giving up a lot but looking forward to gaining a lot.

     I like the way that it shows that mental illness doesn't have to have some huge tragic and that there are good days and there are bad days there are good decisions and then there's a very bad decisions and sometimes you get hurt sometimes the people around you get hurt. I like seeing slow and gradual change and jones mom and her eventual of decisions. I like with Vivi how she had to come to accept what was going on with her and that she eventually decided that other people can come to her that they could see that she's dealing with a mental illness but still love her and still see the good parts in her and forgive her for when things go wrong.

    One of the messages that I took away from this book is that mental illness needs to be talked about more. That those who are suffering should look around them and see who is holding out of hand or who has offered to help and accept that help. for those who are suffering to also give that whenever they aren't the ones having a hard time that they can look for someone else who is struggling because they've been there they know the signs. and for those who are not struggling with the mental illness to realize that it is a disease that there's going to be relapses that there's going to be hard days but the treasure of the good days and to be there for other people.


Bottom Line: Beautiful characters with big problems. This is the YA contemporary that stands out and that the other kids are trying to be like.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
What size family are you from? Do you ever wish differently?

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, Bought Borrowed and Bagged


Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews,  check it out and sign up  here
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged is a weekly meme, hosted by TalkSupe, where I share with you the books I have bought, borrowed, or bagged. Link up with me here.

What I read:
I am in a reading slump
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)
DNF
source: library
Half Bad (The Half Bad Trilogy, #1)
dnf
source: library
Teardrop (Teardrop, #1)
dnf
source: library

BUT I hope these will change it:
Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)
source: library
Ignite (Defy, #2)
source: library

Last Week on the blog:
My week: Hurt my shoulder, this is getting ridiculous!


What are you reading? Any of my books new to you or have you read any of my books? If so, what did you think?
Also, feel free to link up your blog and mailbox post.