Funeral Crashing Mysteries #1-3

(This is for a series; Brief thoughts follow the 3 book descriptions and star ratings.)

Adventures in Funeral Crashing by Milda Harris
Published June 16, 2011

About the Book

Sixteen year old Kait Lenox has a reputation as the weird girl in her high school, mostly because of her ex-best friend turned mean popular girl, Ariel, but maybe it has a little to do with the fact that Kait has a hobby crashing funerals. At one of these, Kait is outted by the most popular guy in school, Ethan Ripley. Yet, instead of humiliating her for all the world to see, he asks for her help, and Kait finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. Not only is the thrill of the mystery exciting, but more importantly Ethan knows her name! A little sleuthing is well worth that!

My Rating

4 out of 5 Stars on Goodreads

Adventures of a Graveyard Girl by Milda Harris
Published April 23, 2012

About the Book

Kait Lenox is back! It's Homecoming Dance time and Kait is excited. It's her first dance with a date and that date is none other than one of the hottest, most popular guys in her school, Ethan Ripley! For once Kait doesn't feel like a funeral crashing weird girl and it's the most perfect romantic evening ever...at least until a girl gets murdered in the high school bathroom. Rumors fly, panic ensues, and Kait can't help herself, she assigns herself to the case!

My Rating

4 out 5 Stars on Goodreads

Adventures in Murder Chasing by Milda Harris
Published September 14, 2013

About the Book

Kait Lenox is officially Ethan Ripley's girlfriend and she might even be kinda sorta becoming non enemies with her ex-bff Ariel Walker. Everything is going great! That is until Kait stumbles across another suspicious death at her favorite coffee shop, Wired. Not able to help herself, Kait sets out to investigate! 

Suddenly Kait's problems go from whether or not she should say the L-word to Ethan to fears that the murder she's investigating might not be murder at all. Should Kait follow her gut or is she just chasing murders?

My Rating

4 out of 5 Stars on Goodreads

Thoughts on the Series

I came across the first book in this series on a daily email I get that has free and inexpensive e-books that are available.  I pretty regularly download free or cheap e-books, but I often don't get around to reading them, as I really love and prefer real books.  I decided to read some of the e-books recently, though, and I started with this one.  I adored it, so I quickly bought the other two for really reasonable prices (like $2-3 each or so, the first was free).  The description I had read said the books were for fans of Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars, which intrigued me.  I feel like that was a great way to describe them, as Kait will certainly appeal to fans of those other teen sleuths.  These books a really cute, fun, easy reads, and they will keep you interested in finding out where the story will go.  I highly recommend them for anyone looking for cute, light reads.  They are great for tween readers of YA too, as there's nothing too inappropriate or anything in them.  

Blind

Blind by Rachel DeWoskin
Published August 7, 2014

About the Book

When Emma Sasha Silver loses her eyesight in a nightmare accident, she must relearn everything from walking across the street to recognizing her own sisters to imagining colors. One of seven children, Emma used to be the invisible kid, but now it seems everyone is watching her. And just as she's about to start high school and try to recover her friendships and former life, one of her classmates is found dead in an apparent suicide. Fifteen and blind, Emma has to untangle what happened and why - in order to see for herself what makes life worth living.

Unflinching in its portrayal of Emma's darkest days, yet full of hope and humor, Rachel DeWoskin's brilliant Blind is one of those rare books that utterly absorbs the listener into the life and experience of another.

My Rating

4 out of 5 Stars on Goodreads

From what I recall, I gave this 4 stars, but 3.5 would have been preferred if half-stars could be given.  I liked the book, but it seems like the book dragged on in many places; better editing was needed.  I appreciate books that have characters with some sort of diversity, though, as there aren't many.  I can't say I have come across many with a blind main character, and reading about the experiences of people with disabilities or different experiences than their own is important for teens, in my opinion, so this one gets kudos from me for that.

Trouble

Trouble by Non Pratt
Published June 10, 2014

About the Book

In this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship—from the boy who pretends to be her baby’s father.

When the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn’t seem to want to get into Hannah’s pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah’s unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying “yes.”

Told in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron, Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you’ll remember your first, real best friend—and how they were like a first love.

My Rating

4 out of 5 Stars on Goodreads

I remember really liking this one overall but having issues with the ending.  If I remember correctly, it seemed to end abruptly, and that's a peeve of mine.  Other than that, it was really good, and I liked the characters a lot.

So so very behind!

I am so behind on posting what I have been reading!  I have had a busy semester with my first in grad school.  I've been reading here and there when I can, but I haven't had the time to get reviews up.  Some of the books I can't remember details well enough to post a decent review of them now, so I am going to work on just getting very basic reviews up that will provide the cover art, the about the book, and the rating I gave the books on GoodReads.  If I remember anything specific to share that I liked or didn't like, I will be sure to include it.  My semester will be done this coming weekend, and I hope to read LOTS over my month or so break for the winter holidays.  I hope to post some real reviews for those, as I have lots of great books saved up to read then.

Guy In Real Life

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff
Published May 27, 2014

About the Book:

From the acclaimed author of Brooklyn, Burning comes Guy in Real Life, an achingly real and profoundly moving love story about two Minnesota teens whose lives become intertwined through school, role-playing games, and a chance two-a.m. bike accident.

It is Labor Day weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and boy and girl collide on a dark street at two thirty in the morning: Lesh, who wears black, listens to metal, and plays MMOs; Svetlana, who embroiders her skirts, listens to Björk and Berlioz, and dungeon masters her own RPG. They should pick themselves up, continue on their way, and never talk to each other again.

But they don't.

This is a story of two people who do not belong in each other's lives, who find each other at a time when they desperately need someone who doesn't belong in their lives. A story of those moments when we act like people we aren't in order to figure out who we are. A story of the roles we all play-at school, at home, with our friends, and without our friends-and the one person who might show us what lies underneath it all.

My Thoughts:

I gave this 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.  I didn't dislike the book, but I didn't love it either.  I had a hard time getting into for one.  I found it easy to put down and not pick back up for a while.  I think a big factor in that was just not really liking the main characters much.  Something about them each bugged me, and I just didn't care enough about them.  The story was interesting enough to keep me reading through to the end, though.

Reality Boy

Reality Boy by A.S. King
Published October 22, 2013

About the Book:

Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.

In this fearless portrayal of a boy on the edge, highly acclaimed Printz Honor author A.S. King explores the desperate reality of a former child “star” who finally breaks free of his anger by creating possibilities he never knew he deserved.

My Thoughts:

A.S. King is such an amazing writer.  I've had the pleasure of being part of a Skype session with her and my book club, and I got to see her speak at the Texas Teen Book Festival a couple weeks ago too.  She's really totally amazing period!  I've yet to read anything by her that I haven't loved.

I'm not a big reality TV person at all.  I do love The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, but beyond that, I don't watch reality TV.  I always worry about the ones where families and kids are involved and how it's affecting the children psychologically.  I just see lots of therapy in the future for those kids.  This books delves right into that type of issue.  Poor Gerald; gosh, he's suffered.  I wish I could smack his mother around, and I'm not a violent person.  If you read the book you will get this...I feel like the lady at the hockey game and just want to give him a big hug.  This is a great, well-written, moving book about a timely topic.  I highly recommend this and any of A.S. King's books.

Broken Harbor

Broken Harbor by Tana French
Published 2012

About the Book:

The mesmerizing fourth novel of the Dublin murder squad by New York Times bestselling author Tana French

Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French’s bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That’s what’s made him the Murder squad’s top detective—and that’s what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands.

On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care.

At first, Scorcher and his rookie partner, Richie, think it’s going to be an easy solve. But too many small things can’t be explained. The half dozen baby monitors, their cameras pointing at holes smashed in the Spains’ walls. The files erased from the Spains’ computer. The story Jenny told her sister about a shadowy intruder who was slipping past all the locks.

And Broken Harbor holds memories for Scorcher. Seeing the case on the news sends his sister Dina off the rails again, and she’s resurrecting something that Scorcher thought he had tightly under control: what happened to their family one summer at Broken Harbor, back when they were children.

With her signature blend of police procedural and psychological thriller, French’s new novel goes full throttle with a heinous crime, creating her most complicated detective character and her best book yet. 

My Thoughts:

Another 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads for me!  Love love love Tana French!  This one really kept me guessing for a long time on who the killer was.  As the About the Book states near the end, Scorcher was definitely one of her most complicated characters for the detectives so far.  I went in really unsure what I thought about him, but was really intrigued by him as the book went on.  This one might be one the darkest and most disturbing yet as well of her books, but I like that sort of thing.  I think I was more spooked when reading it late at night than her others too.  What I really love about her books is how they are a psychological/murder mystery genre but also they are really deep, complex character studies.  I highly recommend all of them!

Faithful Place

Faithful Place by Tana French
Published July 13, 2010

About the Book:

The hotly anticipated third novel of the Dublin murder squad from the New York Times bestselling author 

Back in 1985, Frank Mackey was nineteen, growing up poor in Dublin's inner city, and living crammed into a small flat with his family on Faithful Place. But he had his sights set on a lot more. He and Rosie Daly were all ready to run away to London together, get married, get good jobs, break away from factory work and poverty and their old lives.

But on the winter night when they were supposed to leave, Rosie didn't show. Frank took it for granted that she'd dumped him-probably because of his alcoholic father, nutcase mother, and generally dysfunctional family. He never went home again.

Neither did Rosie. Everyone thought she had gone to England on her own and was over there living a shiny new life. Then, twenty-two years later, Rosie's suitcase shows up behind a fireplace in a derelict house on Faithful Place, and Frank is going home whether he likes it or not.

Getting sucked in is a lot easier than getting out again. Frank finds himself straight back in the dark tangle of relationships he left behind. The cops working the case want him out of the way, in case loyalty to his family and community makes him a liability. Faithful Place wants him out because he's a detective now, and the Place has never liked cops. Frank just wants to find out what happened to Rosie Daly-and he's willing to do whatever it takes, to himself or anyone else, to get the job done.

My Thoughts:

5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads!  This was an another amazing book from French, who is shaping up to be a favorite for me.  I wasn't as excited going into this one as the others because I wasn't sure I liked Frank from the previous book, and I wasn't sure I cared to hear his story.  I was wrong!  I ended up liking him much more when delving more into his character and what shaped him into the person he is.

**My next several reviews are going to be short and sweet, so I can get caught up.  I am really behind on getting reviews up because of school and behind on my reading too honestly.  I have read several books, but it's taking a good week at times to get through them...so not the norm for me when not in school.

Behind!

I'm behind on posting reviews, but I'm working on getting caught up.  Two new ones are up, and I have a couple more that I'll get up soon hopefully.  I've just been really busy with school.  I am still reading, though, and my reviews will be a little late, but they will get posted eventually.

The Likeness

The Likeness by Tana French
Published May 26, 2009

About the Book:

The haunting follow up to the Edgar Award-winning debut In the Woods

Tana French astonished critics and readers alike with her mesmerizing debut novel, In the Woods. Now both French and Detective Cassie Maddox return to unravel a case even more sinister and enigmatic than the first. Six months after the events of In the Woods, an urgent telephone call beckons Cassie to a grisly crime scene. The victim looks exactly like Cassie and carries ID identifying herself as Alexandra Madison, an alias Cassie once used. Suddenly, Cassie must discover not only who killed this girl, but, more importantly, who is this girl? A disturbing tale of shifting identities, The Likeness firmly establishes Tana French as an important voice in suspense fiction. And look for French's other mysteries In the Woods, Faithful Place, Broken Harbor, and The Secret Place for more of the Dublin Murder Squad.

Tana French's newest novel, The Secret Place, will be published by Viking on September 2nd, 2014.

My Thoughts:

I am so glad that someone suggested Tana French to me.  In the Woods was amazing, and then The Likeness was even better.  The premise of the book is pretty unbelievable, but French works some magic here to make it seem totally plausible.  I think what I love most about her books are her damaged, complicated characters.  Man, she writes them well, and her characters are developed so well that you feel as if you know them.  Her stories are unnerving and disturbing but so good.  The way she pens a psychological thriller could have me reading nothing other than books in this genre if all were like hers.  They are so incredibly well-written.  I don't want to give anything away about this one, so I will leave it at that.  I HIGHLY recommend French's books, and I suggest starting with In the Woods and working your way through them in order as I am doing.  Though they can be read as standalone books, they are a series and each main character has a role in the book prior to theirs.  You get pieces of them that are important to their story from the previous book.

Rebel (Rebot #2)

Rebel (Reboot #2) by Amy Tintera
Published May 13, 2014

About the Book:

Wren Connolly thought she'd left her human side behind when she dies five years ago and came back 178 minutes later as a Reboot. With her new abilities of strength, speed, and healing—along with a lack of emotions—Wren 178 became the perfect soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation). Then Callum 22 came along and changed everything.

Now that they've both escaped, they're ready to start a new life in peace on the Reboot reservation. But Micah 163, the Reboot running the reservation, has darker plans in mind: to wipe out the humans. All of them. Micah has been building a Reboot army for years and is now ready to launch his attack on the cities. Callum wants to stick around and protect the humans. Wren wants nothing more than to leave all the fighting behind them.

With Micah on one side, HARC on the other, and Wren and Callum at odds in the middle, there's only one option left...

It's time for Reboots to become rebels.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the follow-up to Reboot.  The book is told from both Wren and Callum's point of view, and Tintera does a nice job of giving each of them a unique voice.  I liked Wren to begin with, but I really liked Callum's chapters.  He's more someone that most can identify with, where Wren is fascinating because she's so different, at least so different from me personally.  She evolves and grows a great deal in this book, though, and Tintera did a great job of developing her character and Callum's as well.  The book brings up some significant moral questions from the perspective of the society and world Wren and Callum are living in, and seeing how both respond and handle those issues is very interesting.  Like with all dystopian books, politics and world-building are significant to the story, and Tintera does a great job with making things interesting, well thought out, and unique.  Sometimes dystopian novels can start to all seem too much like each other, but she really came up with something very unique here.  She has really developed, complex characters as well.  I'm impressed with her writing and look forward to more books by her in the future.

I'll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Published September 16, 2014

About the Book:

A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell 

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

My Thoughts:

Normally I kinda cringe when I see "for fans of" type recommendations that mention phenomenal authors such as John Green (and David Levithan and Rainbow Rowell are certainly amazing too).  That's a lot of pressure for a book to live up to, and often I am let down at least little.  That is so not the case with this one.  What an incredible book!  It's beautifully written, and Jude and Noah are written with such rich voices.  They both come across so clearly on the page that you feel as if you know them and you care about them so much when reading their story.  So many times I felt my heart breaking right along with them.  The writing here is a work of art really and so fitting seeing as both of the main characters are artists.  Also, being the mother of twins who don't get along so well made so much of the book hit close to home for me as well (and my girls are both artists too).  Though a YA novel, this easily stands up alongside many of the best works of literary fiction.  This is definitely one of those books I want to wave in the face of anyone who knocks YA to show them the high quality of what the YA genre has been producing in recent years.  I HIGHLY recommend this one!

Also, I will get to meet the author in a few weeks!!  Jandy Nelson is one of the authors who will be at the Texas Teen Book Festival, and I can't wait!  Yay for author events!!!

In the Woods

In the Woods by Tana French
Published May 17, 2007

About the Book:

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox—his partner and closest friend—find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

Richly atmospheric, stunning in its complexity, and utterly convincing and surprising to the end, In the Woods is sure to enthrall fans of Mystic River and The Lovely Bones. And look for French's new mystery, Broken Harbor, for more of the Dublin Murder Squad.

My Thoughts:

What an incredible ride this book was!  It's psychological thriller/murder mystery written more like a work of literary fiction.  It has incredibly complex and fascinating characters; I would happily read a dozen more books about Rob and Cassie, back to back.  Rob may be one of the most interesting characters I've read ever read about really.  The book is incredibly well-written, almost poetic at times, which I know you either love or hate usually; I personally like it.  It is dark, disturbing at times, complex, heartbreaking (not something expected really from the genre), and just so utterly fascinating and readable.  You find yourself caring far more about the characters than usual for this genre too.  This book will be enjoyed by those who love Gillian Flynn's books, which I am huge fan of.  If you don't like dark and disturbing and complex, this isn't a book for you.  If you, rush to find it and read it!  I just checked two other Tana French books out from my library and can't wait to read them too.

Independent Study and Graduation Day

*I'm combining two books in one post, as these are the second and third books from The Testing trilogy. 

 Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau
Published January 7, 2014

About the Book:

In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau
Published June 17, 2014

About the Book:

In a scarred and brutal future, The United Commonwealth teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. The rebel resistance plots against a government that rules with cruelty and cunning. Gifted student and Testing survivor Cia Vale vows to fight. But she can't do it alone. This is the chance to lead that Cia has trained for - but who will follow? Plunging through layers of danger and deception, Cia must risk the lives of those she loves - and gamble on the loyalty of her lethal classmates.






My Thoughts:

I really loved this series and highly recommend it.  I think Charbonneau writes exceptionally well, done fabulous world building, and has written such complex and interesting characters.  I especially love Cia and what an intelligent and compassionate girl she is.  There are a lot of decent to very good dystopian YA series out there, and I honestly feel this is one of the best, if not the best.  The third book, Graduation Day, also had some great supporting characters that brought so much to the story, such as Raffe and Stacia, and also what happens with Will in this book.  For those who have been bitterly disappointed in the final books of some other YA series (like Divergent, for example, which I was actually fine with), I believe that this one will leave you much happier.

Also, only one month until I get to meet this author at the Texas Teen Book Festival along with many others!  Yay!!  I booked the hotel today, so I am getting even more excited.

I am so behind on posting!

I'm not really behind on reading so much, but I am behind on posting what I have been reading.  I've got two reviews coming to you right now, and hopefully I can get on track to posting them more timely.  I've just been really busy with grad school and helping my daughter who is in a virtual school program.  I'm still plugging along reading for pleasure when I can, though.

Reboot

Reboot by Amy Tintera
Published May 7, 2013

About the Book:

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.

My Thoughts:

This is one that my friend Sarah wrote about on her blog a while back, and I came across it at my library and recognized it.  Sarah and I have similar taste in books, so I knew I should check it out.  I really liked this one and now need to get the sequel to it.  Tintera has created a really interesting and unique dystopian world that I loved losing myself in while reading the book.  Her characters are well-developed, complex, and likable.  The book is very action-packed and keeps you engrossed and entertained page after page.  I'm really impressed that it's the author's debut novel, as it reads like a seasoned writer penned it.  If you like dystopian literature, be sure and check this one out. 

The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Published July 30, 2013

About the Book:

At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant to be read

My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died...

Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .

Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.
My Thoughts:

Another great one by Australian author Liane Moriarty.  I enjoyed this one just as much as Big Little Lies, which I read recently as well.  I really love her writing style, complex characters, realistic dialogue, and the way that her books just suck you in.  While everything about the book wasn't perfect, it kept me interested and wanting to read to see how everything unfolded in the end.  The biggest issue was probably the Epilogue at the end.  While I do love when there is a real ending and a story being wrapped up (weak endings that leave too much hanging drive me batty), I think this one was too fluffy/lighthearted for this book.  Some of it just rubbed me the wrong way.  Also, I don't know that the book jives with my view on justice.  I won't say more than that as I don't want to give too much away.  Despite the few issues with it, it's a worthwhile read for sure.  Between Moriarty's books and the wonderful Graeme Simsion, I am wanting to find more Australian authors to check out.  Know of any? 

The Testing

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Published June 4, 2013

About the Book:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. 

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

My Thoughts:

Wow!  I really loved this book and can't wait to read the other two in the trilogy.  I ordered them as soon as I finished this one and have them waiting.  Dystopian literature is definitely one of my favorite genres of literature, and this will take its place at the top of my list of favorite series I feel quite sure.  At least one book in, I actually like it as well if not better than The Hunger Games.  As with all dystopian series, there are elements of others that can be found in this one.  They have tendencies to mirror each other in ways, while still taking fresh approaches in their world building and plot points.  One of the major strengths of this series is Cia.  She is a wonderfully written main character.  She's a strong and intelligent female lead who has so many admirable qualities.  She's interested in engineering, science, and math, and she is brilliant in those areas as well.  I think she's a great literary role model for tween and teen girls.  I also really like that the book presents so many questions about humanity and morality in a way that makes you really think about them.  I'll have lots more to say about the series as I finished the 2nd and 3rd books I'm sure.  For now, I'll just say that I HIGHLY recommend this one!

One more thing I almost forgot to mention!  I am going to have the opportunity to meet this author (and many others) next month at the Texas Teen Book Festival.  I can't wait!

A Little Something Different

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
Published August 26, 2014

About the Book:

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.  But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship. 

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together....

My Thoughts:

This was such a cute book!  It's a love story, but it's told in a unique way.  It's the story of the couple told from fourteen different viewpoints, my favorite being the adorable little squirrel.  I really loved reading the story of Gabe and Lea told by everyone around them.  Even though they are not part of the fourteen viewpoints, there is a lot of dialogue between them and those people, so you still get a great feel for them as characters and for what they are thinking and feeling.  The book is super lighthearted and a quick, easy read.  You will adore Lea and Gabe and be rooting for them.  You will laugh at the squirrel and the bench.  Yes, one of the viewpoints is that of a bench!  Crazy as it sounds, it works really well with the story.

Oh, and check out that super adorable cover art!  Love it!

Also, read up on the publisher Swoon Reads.  This is their first book.

http://www.swoonreads.com/about

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/277021693/swoon-reads-the-next-romance-bestseller-selected-by-you

(Note:  I am tagging this as YA and New Adult because it could go either way.  It's not steamy like most New Adult tends to be, but the book is about college students.  The characters are more like YA characters in their amount of life experience and in how their relationship progresses.)

The Fever

The Fever by Megan Abbott
Published June 17, 2014

About the Book:

The panic unleashed by a mysterious contagion threatens the bonds of family and community in a seemingly idyllic suburban community.

The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community.

As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security.

A chilling story about guilt, family secrets and the lethal power of desire,The Fever affirms Megan Abbot's reputation as "one of the most exciting and original voices of her generation" (Laura Lippman).

My Thoughts:

Meh.  This is the second of Abbott's books I have read, and again, I am left feeling this way.  Her writing is a bit strange I guess, and both I've read have not delivered in the end or something.  Well, let me take some of that back...her writing is strange for the audience she is writing for.  I think her books are YA, but they read like literary fiction written for adults, but not in a good way for this genre at least.  Her characters are not likable, and they aren't interesting enough to get past that either.  With this book, what was causing the strange things happening with the girls was all over the place.  It was like she couldn't decide where she wanted the story to go.  In the end, the cause was boring.  It wasn't the worst book ever, but it just wasn't great for me personally. 

Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Published July 29, 2014

About the Book:

Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .
  A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?  
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.   But who did what?
  Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?). 
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
  Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.  

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, loved it really!  The structure of the story is different but done really well.  99% of the book is spent leading up to the big event (the death) without giving away who dies until the event unfolds almost at the end of the book.  It keeps you guessing and wondering and anxious to find out, page after page.  There is so much more to the story too, though.  Some of it is hilarious, but it's also very serious at times.  The characters are so well written and realistic.  You can find something of people you know in each of them, as well as a bit of yourself.  The dialogue between characters is authentic as well, and the commentary of some at the end of some chapters brings humor to all the serious subjects the books tackles.  This is the first of Moriarty's books I have read, and I was sure to pick up another of hers (The Husband's Secret) when at the library today.  I have definitely found myself a new author to add to my list of favorites. 

Getting back on track...

I had to take several days off of reading for all I have had going on in the last week.  We had Meet the Teachers Night for one daughter's new virtual school, which went really well.  We are super excited about her new program and how great it is going to be for her.  She started this week, and so far, it's amazing!  Then I was out of state for 4 days to attend my graduate school orientation up in Milwaukee, WI.  I had never been there, so it was fun to check out somewhere new and all.  The hubby and I did a cheese factory tour, brewery tour, went to a Milwaukee Brewers game, and did all sorts of touristy stuff.  My orientation went really well, and I got to meet some other new and current students in my program and the professors, Deans of the program, etc.  That was really wonderful, since I will be doing the program completely online.  I now can put some names and faces together. The day we flew home, I got to take the other daughter to see One Direction.  That was a LONG day between an early flight home and then running around to get to the concert and being out late.  Then Monday, both girls started high school, one in a traditional school and the other at home with a virtual school.  So far so good for both of them thankfully!

Now, back to reading!  It took me the whole week to get through a few chapters here and there, and the last couple days, I have finally been able to finish my latest read.  The review of it will be up next!

Isla and the Happily Ever After

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Published August 14, 2014

About the Book:

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

My Thoughts:

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!  Perkins really knows how to give her readers what they want!  This book is super swoony and fabulous.  Loved Isla, loved Josh, loved Isla's BFF Kurt, etc.  I didn't think Perkins could top Lola and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door, but I think I love Isla and Josh even more.  This is a book with an adorable story that makes you giddy.  It reminds you of what being a teenager was all about and your first big requited crush.  Super cute; I HIGHLY recommend!  BUT--Be sure to read all 3 books in the series, starting with Anna and the French Kiss, then Lola and the Boy Next Door, and this is the third.  They are all adorable, swoony, teen romance at its best!  I can't wait to see what is up next from Perkins!

I'd Know You Anywhere

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Published January 1, 2010

About the Book:

Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life with her successful husband and children, thirteen-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. But her tranquility is shattered when she receives a letter from the last person she ever expects—or wants—to hear from: Walter Bowman. 
"There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere."

In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had killed at least one girl and Eliza always suspected he had other victims as well. Now on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim, Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. 

Though Eliza wants nothing to do with him, she's never forgotten that Walter was most unpredictable when ignored. Desperate to shelter her children from this undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's always wondered why Walter let her live, and perhaps now he'll tell her—and share the truth about his other victims.

Yet as Walter presses her for more and deeper contact, it becomes clear that he is after something greater than forgiveness. He wants Eliza to remember what really happened that long-ago summer. He wants her to save his life. And Eliza, who has worked hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do anything to protect it—-even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried inside.

My Thoughts:

For a book that was a pretty great read up until then, this had the most unsatisfying ending of about any book I've ever read.  The book really builds up that there is some huge secret to be revealed, but it never materializes.  The main character, Eliza, is also just really weak and apathetic.  She doesn't seem capable of having an opinion or taking action without someone else telling her what to think or do.  With a better main character and an actual shocker of an ending to fulfill the promise of the story up to that point, it could have been a really great book.  The majority of the book is interesting enough to hold interest, even without a main character that you want to root for, but the book just doesn't deliver on its promise at all.  The other characters are interesting and complex thankfully, so Eliza is the only dud.  I have read and really liked other Lippman books in the past, so don't let my review of this particular one sway you from reading her other books. 

Afterparty

Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler
Published December 31, 2013

About the Book:

Emma is tired of being good. Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother -- whose name her dad won't even say out loud. That's why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her...and the most dangerous. Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she's everything Emma is not.

And it may be more than Emma can handle. 

Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It's more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop... 

This explosive, sexy, and harrowing follow-up to Ann Redisch Stampler's spectacular teen debut, Where It Began, reveals how those who know us best can hurt us most.

My Thoughts:

This one was so good that I was barely able to put it down all day.  I read every chance I got while running errands, while eating dinner, while working out, while waiting in the car while my daughters ran into the grocery store, and while staying up past 2 am to finish it.  It's that good.  Emma is awesome and very real, Siobhan is toxic and evil, and Dylan is uber swoon-worthy.  As I read in another review, elements of the book are like Mean Girls on steroids...especially Siobhan.  This isn't fluffy YA; it's dark and gritty and messy.  The writing is excellent; I really love this author's style.  The dialogue between characters is great, as is Emma's internal dialogue with herself.  She's immensely likable and realistic.  Instead of Emma the Good or Emma the Bad, as she struggles with, she's really just Emma the normal, very real teenage girl.  It's easy to relate to her struggle of figuring out who she is, as we all go through in our young adult years.  And the whole frenemy dichotomy is something all too common (who hasn't had one!), though, Siobhan takes it to all new levels.  This is one you have to add to your must read list.