Wednesday, October 30, 2013

OCD Love Story by: Corey Ann Haydu

Title: OCD Love Story
Author: Corey Ann Haydu
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Recommended for Fans Of: Jessica Verdi, Mindy Raf

Synopsis: Sixteen year old Bea is not your average high school girl. Bea has been diagnosed with OCD, and is forced to attend therapy group meetings with an bunch of equally "messed up" teens. Bea's mind is not a pretty place to be, and she just can't help the obsessions that grow there and stay. In group therapy, Bea meets a boy who has bigger problems than she does, and she is instantly drawn to him. Sweet and self conscious, Beck seems like the perfect guy to complement Bea's obsessive nature. But when even Beck's problems can't overtake the demons in Bea's mind, she will have to learn to either sink or swim, and figure out on her own, how far too far truly is. 

Review: OCD Love Story is (very obviously) not your typical love story. Bea and Beck both have their own issues, and outside of their compulsions disorder, they were still a bit whiny and annoying. I found Bea to be very dramatic, and she went overboard on everything way too much. There were a couple of times in the novel that I just wanted to scream at her that she needed help! It bothered me a little bit that Bea just did not seem to have common sense sometimes. However, Mrs. Haydu writes a really deep story about two teenagers who find love even in the face of their internal adversities. It was a sweet story, and Beck and Bea truly did make a good couple. I also had a few quirks with Bea's "so-called best friend." Lisha was probably, and this is so subtly written that it is hard to tell, the most vapid and insipid character in the novel. While she was criticizing and condemning Bea, Lisha had problems of her own, and in my interpretation of this novel, Lisha was the character with the real issues. She really bothered me with her presence throughout the novel, as annoying as a pesky bug flying around you. Lish was unnecessary and made a lot of bad decisions that really made me question her morals and character. I was satisfied, however, that Bea seemed to realize that and grew up over the course of the novel.

Conclusion: OCD Love Story is a sweet and bittersweet new contemporary from author Corey Ann Haydu that tells the story of two teens, that despite their flaws, find love and comfort in their imperfections and each other. This book was original, and I would recommend it for anyone willing to overlook a few internal characteristic flaws.


"...The human mind is a complicated place... We hold on to things, images, words, ideas, histories that we don't even know we're holding on to."
-Corey Ann Haydu OCD Love Story
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Somebody Up There Hates You By: Hollis Seamon

Title: Somebody Up There Hates You
Author: Hollis Seamon
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult (mature), Humor, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Recommended for Fans Of: John Green, David Levithan

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Richard Carey has SUTHY Disease (Somebody Up There Hates You Disease), better known as cancer. Living in a hospice in what everyone around Richard believes to be his final days, Rich is determined to make the most of what he has left. To do so, he must break the rules, makes some new friends (particularly the pretty girl living in the room next to him) and learn to let go and fly. Told in a sarcastic and humorous way, Hollis Seamon writes a new novel that brings to light the silver linings in a rainy storm cloud, and a generation of teens that won't let anything get them down.

Review: Let's start off by clarifying that, yes, this book is similar to The Fault in Our Stars, but it is, at the same time very different.
Similarities: Main character(s) with cancer, same sarcastic and witty tone, romance between two cancerous kids.
Differences: The author never says what type of cancer Richard has, and while the characters in The Fault In Our Stars are extremely lovable and easy to relate to, Richard is a very flat, one dimensional character who I find very annoying sometimes. And the "romance" in Somebody Up There Hates You is not really love, but more like lust.
So now that we are clear on the dividing lines between these two books, on to my thoughts. The reason this book only has a 3.5 rating is because I was kind of disgusted while I was reading it. This is mainly due to the fact that Richard gets a blow job by a "preschool" hooker Marie (who was an absolutely horrid character) and then enjoys "sexual interactions" with his friend Sylvie, right after! And they were doing this in a hospice.; which I think is not only disrespectful, but also very nauseating. I found that extremely disgusting, because Richard proclaims several times in the course of this book that he "loves" Sylvie, and last I checked, Love is not hooking up with a street urchin behind her back. In fact, none of the main characters were very likable at all. Richard is a strange character with extremely lustful and a perverse obsession with sex, while Sylvie is vapid and self indulgent. The only saving grace for this book was the wonderful background characters (also known as the hospice staff and the patient's families). These nurses were so kind, and one of my favorite quotes from this book that Richie used to describe his favorite nurse was: "Sometimes, you know, human kindness just knocks you off your feet." These people stood for the intended theme of this book, which was that there is always a hidden light during dark times, and this, I absolutely adored.

Conclusion: Although it does not match up to The Fault In Our Stars, Somebody Up There Hates You is okay in its own unique way, and it might be worth a read for someone looking for a light, amusing novel.

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Friday, October 25, 2013

My Goals For The Upcoming Month

Okay, so just a quick post about my goals for the month of November!
1) More followers, please!- If my current followers could be so kind as to spread the word about my blog, I would love you all to pieces!
2) Read 31 books (and blog about them all)- October's almost over and I maybe read about 24 books this month? And my overall yearly goal is 365 so I really have to catch up!
3) Really interact with my followers more on my blog.- I still have some signed goodies and arcs left over from all the book events I went to this summer, so once I get my blog some more followers and more advanced designs, I hope to host a giveaway!
That's basically all! I really hope that you guys will continue to read my blog, comment, interact, spread the word! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, friend me on Facebook, and follow with Bloglovin'!
 
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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Confessions of a Shopaholic #3) By: Sophie Kinsella

Title: Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Confessions of a Shopaholic #3)
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Adult fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Humor
Recommended for Fans Of: Meg Cabot, Jessica Wild

Synopsis: Our favorite fashionista Becky Bloomwood is back with the third installment in the Shopaholic series. This time, it's Becky's turn to walk down the aisle, and into the loving arms of her soon-to be husband Luke. Life seems to be going great until Luke's cold and arrogant mother takes over and plans an elaborate wedding for them in New York City, at the same time that Becky's own mother is planning a small and simple affair back at home in England. Each day, the tensions grow and Becky's stress rises as she struggles to keep up with work, her crazy family and friends, while trying to figure out a solution before her entire wedding is ruined.

Review: I absolutely love Becky and the Shopaholic series. Becky reminds me a little bit of myself, not only because we both love shopping, but because of the way she lets the stress and anxiety get to her. Nevertheless, her habit of pushing things too far away does tend to get annoying, but she is an absolutely adorable character, and is always humorous and true to herself even in the worst of times. This book didn't really lack any elements; the romance between Luke and Becky was perfect and completely swoon-worthy, Becky's friends and family were loving and sweet, and even her little adventures were endearing. I cried when Luke proposed, and when Becky stayed with Suze and her baby in the hospital. I dare you not to cry when reading this book. I just don't believe it's possible.

Conclusion: A humorous and romantic read, Shopaholic Ties the Knot will keep you completely captivated until the very last page of the book. Another well written novel by Sophie Kinsella.

Xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) By: Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2)
Author: Simone Elkeles
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Recommended for Fans Of: Katie McGarry, Kody Keplinger, Nyrae Dawn

Synopsis: The Fuentes brothers are back, and this time the spotlight is on seventeen-year old Carlos Fuentes. Labeled as "the new bad boy from Mexico", Carlos returns to the suburbs of Chicago to stay with his brother. Still harboring bitterness towards his brother Alex and Alex's girlfriend Brittany, Carlos acts out at school and gets in deep trouble. What Carlos doesn't plan for is to meet the daughter of his host family, Kiara, who is the complete opposite of himself. Intelligent and kind, Kiara knows that boys like Carlos always end up breaking hearts, but she just can't stop herself from falling head over heels at the same time.

Review: I was very happy to see the return of Alex Fuentes and Brittany as side characters in Rules of Attraction! However, I was a bit disappointed by this storyline. While it had its similarities and differences, the basic idea of the the plot was very similar to Perfect Chemistry. However, I felt like Rules of Attraction was missing a little something, and maybe it was just that the romance was not as intense and sweet as Alex and Brittany's. While I commend Simone Elkeles for doing a fantastic job with Perfect Chemistry, she did set the bar high for the second book in the trilogy, and it just fell short a little. But nevertheless, it was a great read, easy to get through, and the romance, while a little lacking, made me smile. The characters were great too, and it was a little shocking to see little Carlos grow up to become this big rebel! Just as a little side note, to everyone who has read this series, I think we would all agree that Ms. Elkeles is a master at writing sweet little epilogues. Both Alex and Carlos's futures are adorable! I definitely believe Simone Elkeles should try her hand at writing in the YA fairytale/dystopian romance genre.

Conclusion: While not as gripping as Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction is a nice and light read told from a thrilling new point of view. Can't wait to read the third one!

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The House of the Scorpion (Matteo Alacran #1) By: Nancy Farmer

Title: The House of the Scorpion (Matteo Alacran #1)
Author: Nancy Farmer
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adventure
Recommended for Fans Of: Carol Plum Ucci, Margaret Petterson Haddix,

Synopsis: From award winning novelist Nancy Farmer comes a new tale about a young clone named Matteo Alacran. From the moment he is born, Matteo is not a free boy. He is under the rule of the House of Alacran, specifically the man he was cloned to be like, El Patron, the most powerful man in the land. El Patron is like a grandfather to Matt; taking care of him when no one else will, and giving him an education and life to be like normal children. However, what Matt doesn't know is that every man with power must have a seed of corruptness, and El Patron's seed has already grown into a tall, dark tree. As Matt grows up, he discovers secrets that are better off kept hidden, people he never thought he would encounter, and worlds beyond the cage he grew up in. Magnificently simple and beautifully written, The House of the Scorpion is sure to be a classic that will outlast our time.

Review: For a girl who has been reading way too much dystopia and paranormal books, The House of the Scorpion is a wonderful change. In a way, this book will remind you of a fairytale, because of the superb way it is written, with a beginning, a middle, and an ending. The entire plot felt like one great big story, especially because the character of Matt ages almost ten years in the span of 400 pages. Although sometimes a little slow and monotonous, The House of the Scorpion is generally fast-paced and just has a sense of adventure that comes with reading this book. The characters were flawlessly developed, and Nancy Farmer does a wonderful job bringing an emphasis on the contrast of good and evil characters. While El Patron and most of the Alacran family made Matt's life miserable, the opposite shows Celia and Tam Lin showering Matt with kindness and love even in the worst of times.

Conclusion: This book made me smile (with the wonderfully kind characters), angry (with the way Matt was treated), indignation (with most of the Alacran family) and it even made me laugh, because Nancy Farmer really brings a gem that you won't be able to get out of your mind, with The House of the Scorpion.


*The House of the Scorpion might be made into a movie!! Ahhhh!*

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Pearl by: John Steinbeck

Title: The Pearl
Author: John Steinbeck
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Historical/Realistic Fiction, Classics, Academic Literature
Recommended for Fans Of: Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather

Synopsis: In a little town off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, lives a fisherman and his family. Kino, his wife Juana and their baby Coyotito live simple, content lives, undisturbed save for the intrusion of the rich white inhabitants of the town. One day, Kino's world comes crashing down when his baby is poisoned by a scorpion. This leads Kino the find a pearl, the greatest pearl, a pearl that has the power to either destroy or save his family.

Review: After reading this book for school, I cannot say I loved The Pearl. Usually I don't like books I am required to read for school, but The Pearl was okay. The events that take place and the things that happen in this novel bring out the true human nature, and outlines themes of greed, envy, and want. John Steinbeck brings out the song motif to emphasize just how greatly the pearl affected Kino. In the very beginning, Kino's family was most important to him, but after the pearl had planted its evil seeds and corrupted him, Kino had lost not only the melody of the family, but also everything he had valued  in his old life. Steinbeck writes a book that teaches a true life lesson concerning our values and morals. The Pearl teaches you that wanting too much of something is never good, and ultimately, money has the power to corrupt and save. It was a simple little story that became a little repetitious and monotonous at times, but had a very valuable life lesson.

Conclusion: If you are forced to read this book, like I was, let it change the way you view the world. Let Kino's life apply to yours and treasure the morals you receive from The Pearl. Classic literature can always be counted on to help you change your perspective on many things.

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Friday, October 18, 2013

All Our Pretty Songs (All Our Pretty Songs #1) by: Sarah McCarry

Title: All Our Pretty Songs (All Our Pretty Songs #1)
Author: Sarah McCarry
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Mythology, Paranormal
Recommended for Fans Of: Neil Gaiman, Tahereh Mafi, Kate Karyus Quinn

Synopsis: Seventeen year old Aurora and her best friend, the narrator, will be together forever. They are not just best friends, but they are like sisters, devoted to each other with a sick attachment. The narrator loves Aurora more than anything, until a tortured musician comes along to steal her away. With his brooding soul and haunting music that sucks the light out of the living, the narrator is taken by him and whirled into a world where the dead come out to play. Aurora and the narrator have always been wild girls, but when the ancient music of love awakens an evil darkness, their friendship may be torn apart and severed forever. Set in a world of sex, drugs and alcohol, these teenagers take the underworld to a whole different level in All Our Pretty Songs.

Review: All Our Pretty Songs sounds like a light, contemporary romance novel, but it is actually quite dark. It is a twisted, deviant story of two girls whose love for each other can only be described as perverse. Aurora and the narrator's friendship go beyond normal and while in real life, this might be described as homosexuality, the author gives no implication of this even resembling their relationship. This leads me to think that the harsh lines that define our society today do not exist in All Our Pretty Songs. The entire story seems to be told in a sleepy, hollow tone that makes it hard for the reader to even picture themselves in Aurora or the narrator's life. In a way, though, this style of writing really worked with the whole plot of the story. I don't think this book really had any definite endings, and the entire plot was kind of blurred and left to a reader's own interpretation. The plot did give me a little trouble sometimes, and none of the characters were very likable at all. Aurora and the narrator both seemed incredibly vapid and vain, and just the setting in All Our Pretty Songs seemed like a completely different world, one where girls fell in love with older boys who appeared out of nowhere; a world where mothers let their children run wild, a world where the unbelievable was excepted without argument or even questioning. This sometimes made me really uncomfortable, but the beautiful writing really made up for it. Sarah McCarry really has a way with words, and the haunting, lyrical way this book was written shows it.

Conclusion: Although this book might make you a little skeptical, it will captivate you with its subjective writing and haunting undertone. All Our Pretty Songs is perfect for a stormy October night, with the wind whistling through the trees outside, while you are sucked into the paralyzing world of The Narrator.


Sometimes, music isn't all that pretty.
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Another Little Piece By: Kate Karyus Quinn

Title: Another Little Piece
Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Supernatural, Thriller, Paranormal
Recommended for Fans Of: Amy Tintera, Demetria Lunetta

Synopsis: Annaliese Rose Gordon is not who everyone thinks she is. She is not the teenage amnesiac, lost and found having gone missing for almost a year. She is not the daughter of two concerned parents who watch her warily and question what their daughter has become. The only thing Annaliese does know is that she is not like other girls. There are things in her mind, memories, and people, and monsters that tell her that she is not a good person. But she can't drown the demons in her head; they always know how to swim. Stuck in an unfamiliar body, in a stranger's life, Annaliese must work to solve the puzzles and protect the ones she learns to love before time runs out and more lives are taken. Captivating and chill inducing, Kate Karyus Quinn's debut novel will leave you guessing until the very end.

Review: I absolutely loved this book, mainly because it stood out among all the other books in the YA paranormal/supernatural genre. The idea was not only original, but also very well developed. There were bits and pieces of different elements of the paranormal and they meshed very well together. Although the plot is slightly confusing at first, all the little bits and pieces lead to a fantastic conclusion and finale. This is one of those books where you being oblivious is better. In the end, I could not really decide how I felt about most of the characters. It was like Ms. Quinn wrote the stories of five different girls in Another Little Piece, and I still do not know what to think about Anna/Annaliese. She is a very confusing character and I honestly could not distinguish if she was truly a good or evil person at the end.

Conclusion: I said it many times already, and I will say it again: I loved Another Little Piece! Sometimes, the broadest are best, and the unknown is what entices us to read books in this genre. Definitely a book worth reading. It will give you the chills and you will not be able to put this book down.

Happy Reading!

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Monday, October 14, 2013

Plague in the Mirror By: Deborah Noyes

Title: Plague in the Mirror
Author: Deborah Noyes
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Recommended for Fans Of: Siri Mitchell, Ruta Sepetys

Synopsis: Desperate to escape her parent's recent divorce, 17 year old May goes to Florence, Italy with her best friend Liam and his mother. There, she is haunted by the ghost of a girl identical to herself- except Cristofana comes from fourteenth-century Florence. Lured by the promise of adventure and love in the arms of a handsome painter named Marco, May travels back in time to experience the horrors of Italy past, where the Black Death made the city a very dark place. Meanwhile, May's ghost twin has the power to destroy everything she holds dear- and the very chance she has at finding love. Caught between two different time periods, May must decide between a new life in the past or finding the silver linings in her present life. For fans of historical fiction, comes a sensual and romantic story about a girl who must cheat time when it can only really be tricked.

Review: I admit that I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I do make an exception in some cases, but unfortunately, this book was not one of them. It started off slow, so I had high expectations for a strong ending, but that did not really happen. The characters well quite one dimensional and vapid. Not only did May seem like a very impractical and ditzy girl, but Cristofana seemed to be bipolar. She was clearly not right in the head, which is seen when she mercilessly drowns a kitten, but then she took care of the orphan baby like it was her own. This type of behavior did not make for a great character, in my opinion. The romance in this novel was also lacking. Liam came off as an emotionless jerk, and I honestly do not think this romance was at all intriguing. The only saving grace for this book was the historical content, which is set during the Black Death in Italy. The descriptions of the city, both present and past, were actually enticing and appealed to me.

Conclusion: This is not a book I would recommend buying. Borrow it from a library, but Plague in the Mirror was kind of flat. Overall, an okay book, but it does not really make me want to read other books by the author, but who knows. Maybe this was just written on a bad day.

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Asylum by: Madeleine Roux

Title: Asylum
Author: Madeleine Roux
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Mystery
Recommended for Fans Of: Katie Alender, Ransom Riggs

Synopsis: Dan Crawford cannot wait to attend an educational summer camp at one of New Hampshire's best universities where everyone in attendance will love learning, just like him. But when he gets there, he, along with all the other students are forced to dorm in the old Brookline house. It used to be an asylum, a place to house the criminally insane. Strange events start to occur among the students, and soon Dan is starting to wonder just what secrets this building hides. As Dan and his friends dive into the mysteries of the old asylum, they discover some things so horrifying, the dead must rise to keep them hidden. Told through the point of view of a seemingly naive high school student and accompanied by eerie photographs taken from real sanatoriums of the past, Asylum is a thriller sure to leave you chilled to the bones.

Review: 2.5 stars is a generous rating. And I'll be kind and list some of the good points first. The photographs were a nice touch, though not as scary as I would have liked, but most matched what was described in the story. The overall aura of horror and psychological thriller was given off well with this book. However, I had a lot of issues with this book. First off, I did not like the characters. The three friends, Dan, Abigail and Jordan were all quite frankly, very strange. I do not think it was intended to be this way, but Abby seemed like an emotional wreck of a girl, while Jordan was distant and emotionless half the time, and Dan was quite smug and hypocritical-especially at the end. One of my biggest annoyances with this book is how half the "issues" were not explained/resolved. The author hinted that Jordan was being possessed, or was not right in the mind in some way, but at the end, he is portrayed as the calm hero! There must be an explanation for his erratic behavior, and since it was not provided, I was very annoyed. The subject of Abby's aunt was also extremely underdeveloped. The reason behind her father's irrational anger at the subject of his sister was never explained either. Things such as the full background of the asylum, including what happened to all the patients inside, was not included. This bothers me because I enjoy books where there are no plot holes, and I believe a book should not leave readers asking questions about things that should have been explained or crystal clear. If you do read this book, keep an eye out for the part where they mention a picture of the staff, and one nurse has her head turned at an unnatural angle. This part bothers me because if the author mentioned it, there should be more of a conflict or problem involving this. But there wasn't. The ending just did not satisfy me either. It was an uncomfortable way to end the book, and although there were hints of a sequel to come, I am not sure what the storyline would be like.

Conclusion: Asylum has an original idea, but it was poorly executed. I am willing to give the sequel a chance, but if you are a reader that does not want to waste your time on sub-par novels, then do not read Asylum. But if you are looking for a good Halloween scare, then give Asylum a try. Who knows, you might like it.

Getting ready for Halloween with more horror novels to come!
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Friday, October 11, 2013

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) By: Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)
Author: Simone Elkeles
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Recommended for Fans Of: Katie McGarry, Kody Keplinger, Nyrae Dawn

Synopsis: (Goodreads synopsis) When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Review: This book. was perfect. Usually I don't go for the more "mature" romance books, but I honestly loved Perfect Chemistry. The romance was steamy and sweet at the same time. Brittany and Alex were perfect for each other. The idea behind the romance (taking a cue from Grease) seems so cliched, but a tremendous job well done by Simone Elkeles by giving this cliche a new spin. This book just stands out among other YA romance novels. I honestly cried at the sweet ending. There could not have been a more perfect way to end this book.

Conclusion: READ THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T YET! You will not regret it, but I warn you, this book is for a more mature audience. But it is still perfect.


The greatest chemical reaction is always love.
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Following Christopher Creed (Steepleton Chronicles #2) By: Carol Plum Ucci

Title: Following Christopher Creed (Steepleton Chronicles #2)
Author: Carol Plum Ucci
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Recommended for Fans Of: Jay Asher, Dandi Daley Mackall

Synopsis: Years later . . . what really happened to Christopher Creed? When Torey Adams posts on his blog that a body has been found in Steepleton—four years after Christopher Creed disappeared—college reporter Mike Mavic sells his laptop and hops a plane to capture the story that will undoubtedly launch his journalistic career. But what Mike finds is a town suffering under a cloud of bad frequency and people with an underlying streak of meanness. To the teens of Steepleton, Chris is nothing more than history—but to Justin Creed, a teen obsessed with his older brother’s memory and balancing on the edge of sanity, discovering what really happened to Chris Creed is a matter of life and death.

Review: This was the perfect sequel to The Body of Christopher Creed. Just like the first book, there were twists and turns and an ending that the reader will not see coming. What made me smile was the reunion between Bo, Ali, and Torey and as I was reading it, I just loved feeling that melancholy feeling that only happens when characters grow over a period of time. Now everyone is grown up, and they are no longer immature teenagers. Not only does the author bring back old characters, but she introduces new characters, including different sides of familiar faces that the reader could never have guessed at. I think this was the perfect way to write a sequel, through the eyes of a stranger. The town of Steepleton hasn't changed much, and Mrs. Plum Ucci even ties is similar ideas from The Body of Christopher Creed. This book really was amazing. I could not put it down. 

Conclusion: When I first picked up The Body of Christopher Creed as a required reading project for school, I did not know what to expect. I felt the same way for the sequel. I ended up loving both books, especially Following Christopher Creed. These books were filled with suspense, charisma, and heartwarming honesty. I loved it.


Happy Reading!
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Fire With Fire (Burn for Burn #2) By: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Title: Fire With Fire (Burn for Burn #2)
Author: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Supernatural
Recommended for Fans Of: Kiersten White, Sara Shepard

Synopsis: Lilia, Kat and Mary are back in the heart-racing sequel to the highly praised novel Burn for Burn. Homecoming has ended, and the girls seem to have gotten away with their unforgivable deed. The three of them are ready to put this all in the past, but some people just aren't ready to let go... Now Mary is determined to strike her last revenge on Reeve, as they come up with the ultimate plan. Make Reeve fall in love with Lilia... and then break his heart, just like he broke Mary's heart all those years ago. In Fire With Fire, secrets come out that should not be told, friendships are tested, dangerous lines are crossed, and everyone gets burned. Welcome to Jar Island, where love and betrayal are one and the same. 

Review: *Insert slow clap here* Brilliant. Just brilliant. Fire With Fire was amazing.  A messy, chaotic story that will spin you for a ride and then leave you wanting more. The plot line was flawless, save for the tiny little bit at the end- the cliffhanger. At this point, most of the story is in wonderful chaos. Each character is dealing with his/her own thing, and then BOOM! In comes sweet little Mary, with that crazy, confusing revelation. Whether or not this was done intentionally, I was still left confused and wanting more. For those who have read this book, you will understand how wonderfully dynamic each of these characters were. Even though I really hated Kat (she was the most ungrateful and snarky brat in the world) and I really did not like the idea of Lilia with anyone besides Alex, I was fond of each character because they all felt so real, even Rennie. I love books where you feel like you could meet the person in real life and because you read about them, you'd know so much right away.

Conclusion: A suspenseful, heart-stopping, emotion jumping, high octane sequel. A truly well written book that I believe everyone should read. I honestly could not put this book down.

" An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a burn for a burn. A life for a life."
Mary's not as sweet as we first though huh?

Happy Reading!
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Monday, October 7, 2013

Reboot (Reboot #1) By: Amy Tintera

Title: Reboot (Reboot #1)
Author: Amy Tintera
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Apocalypse
Recommended for Fans Of: Marie Lu, Debra Driza

Synopsis: Okay so usually I write my own synopsis, but this time, I just absolutely love the way this summary is worded so I'll use the regular synopsis. Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation). Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.  <- Doesn't this last sentence just give you the chills? Gah. 

Review: Okay, so this book is like a cake. Allow me to explain. First you have the main ingredients: the science fiction virus background, the post-apocalyptic zombie people, and the whole "rebel against the system" conflict. Then you have the candles on top: a mass of well developed characters, mainly centered around Wren and Callum. Addie is introduced later on, and I have a feeling she'll be a huge part of the sequel. Wren and Callum were just awesome. Like, kick butt, then fall in love and then still have time to save the world kind of awesome. Last, you have the icing on top, which is of course, the romance between Wren and Callum. It was very sweet, and Wren always seemed ready to beat Callum up if he ever defied her, which always makes for a good relationship -deadpans-. But seriously, if you read this book, you'll fall in love with their romance. It's just so sweet. So since this book was a cake, it wouldn't be my favorite, but it would definitely be on the top of my list.

Conclusion: Definitely worth the read. But let me just tell you, this is not a book that will leave you dying for the sequel, but that's okay. Reboot could be a stand-alone, and I'm glad that for once, a book does not leave a reader hanging. I'm still going to read the sequel though haha. 



Happy Reading!
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall #1) By: Shannon Messenger

Title: Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall #1)
Author: Shannon Messenger
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Mythology
Recommended For Fans of: Becca Fitzpatrick, Katie McGarry, Erin Bowman

Synopsis: For the past 10 years, seventeen year old Vane Weston has always felt a little lost since he survived the category 5 tornado, in which his parents perished. All he can remember from that night is seeing a beautiful young girl in the midst of the chaos, who continues to haunt his dreams. When he finally catches a glimpse of her in real life, Vane discovers that she is not like anything he could ever have imagined. Audra is a Windwalker, and Vane's guardian, sworn to use her powers of wind control to protect Vane from the evil forces who are determined to capture him and kill him- just like his parents were, 10 years ago. Now Vane must train his body and mind to allow the wind to help him become who he truly is, and Audra must also learn to let Vane in her heart- and let him protect her too. Told in alternating point of views, this mythical story of love among destruction and ruin will rapture and blow the minds of readers everywhere, as long as they listen to the call of the wind.

Review: I have to say, this book made me feel a lot of emotions. Anger at Audra's horrible mother, anger when either Vane or Audra was being selfish, mushy when Vane and Audra were being all cutesy and stuff (haha) and amazement at how vividly these scenes were written. When Vane or Audra conjured up a windstorm or a current, it felt like I was right there with them, and Shannon Messenger is fantastic for writing Let The Sky Fall this way. Sometimes it did get a little wordy, such as when Vane goes on to describe how quote, unquote, hot his best friend's girlfriend was. There were some unnecessary rambling done by either character, which is why I gave this book 4 stars. However, the premise of this novel did entice me. Audra is definitely the stronger character in this novel, making this a good read for any supporters of feminism and all that stuff. But beware! Audra does tend to get a little annoying (in my opinion). But of course, Vane never thinks so. Okay maybe he does once in a while. I'm not gonna say; just read the book.

Conclusion: It's hard not to imagine Avatar the Last Airbender when reading this book, but then Ms. Messenger describes Vane and a picture of Zac Efron comes to mind. Definitely worth giving this book a chance;) It's been a while since I've read a book where the characters are involved with natural elements, and I cannot think of any previous books that can top Let The Sky Fall. I really look forward to the sequel (out March 2014) and I think you will too, if you read this book.


Oh and by the way, did you know the name Audra is French for Nobility and Strength? Yeah I didn't either, I had to Google it :D
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) By: Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)
Author: Kasie West
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction
Recommended For Fans of: Elizabeth Norris, Tamara Ireland Stone

Synopsis: Addie Coleman lives among a secret society of people with mind powers. When faced with a tough decision, Addie can "search" into her future to help her choose. So when her parents announce that they are getting a divorce, Addie is forced to choose between her mother and father. When she looks into her future, Addie discovers loss, suffering and even love on both paths, making her decision critical. Told through  the compelling and original voice of a teenage girl faced with a huge decision, Pivot Point shows readers that sometimes, knowing our fates doesn't make the choice any easier. 

Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was stunning and original. Pivot Point does have a complex plot, but Kasie West wrote this book in a way that left really no questions that needed to be answered. In other words, there were no plot holes , which makes for a great book. All the characters in this book were so well developed, especially Addie and her love interest(s). This book was not predictable, nor was it flat and boring. It was full of suspense and scenes that the reader will never see coming.

Conclusion: If you have not already read this book, then please do. I think this book might be one of the best of 2013, and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel (Split Second- coming in 2014) You won't be able to put this book down!

Oh, and remember. One little choice can make a big difference. *winks*
xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality

Friday, October 4, 2013

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock By: Matthew Quick

Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Author: Matthew Quick
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Recommended For Fans of: John Green, Ellen Hopkins, Jay Asher

Synopsis: Leonard Peacock is a loner, who has spent the majority of his seventeen years tragically trapped in his dismal mind. So on the day of his eighteenth birthday, Leonard decides to murder his former best friend, and commit suicide soon after. Leonard's plan is to distribute "parting gifts" to what few friends he has left and leave his mark forever and always. As Leonard goes through his last day, the reader experiences the constant pain and ache that rules in Leonard's life, but catches the occasional glimpses of joy. From the author of the bestselling novel Silver Linings Playbook, comes a new book about life, death, and the legacy our lives make in this world.

Review: Leonard Peacock is a very disturbed character, that is for sure. But somehow, his character fits perfectly in this story. Leonard's point of view is sad, painful, but utterly brilliant. He is extremely intelligent, but his abstract way of thinking is what separates him from the rest of the high school students. Leonard's childhood is not revealed completely until the very end of the book, but it is horrifying to even try to fathom a way that Leonard might have grown up unscathed. In this way, I feel bad for Leonard. He did not want to be suicidal. It was not his intention to grow up with pent up anger and emotional scars. However, Leonard truly needed professional help, (spoiler: he never got it) and that is why I gave this book only 3 stars. The only character I felt was well developed was Leonard, and I would have liked to see more of Leonard's absentee mother or father, and maybe even a glimpse of Asher's childhood friendship with Leonard.

Conclusion: Although this book had its flaws, it will leave its mark on you, should you choose to read it. It is an emotional book that will leave you questioning everything around you. When I finished this book, I sat there for about 10 minutes, just contemplating something that seems so trivial, but obvious. What Leonard was going through was private, was hidden from his classmates. No one really suspected that Leonard had the intention of ending his life that day. You never know what is going on around you. Always try to look past the surface. Let this book change your life.

xoxo,
Fiction_TheNewReality