Three Little Words

Three Little Words by Susan Mallery
Published July 30, 2013

About the Book:

Can first love turn into the real deal in a sizzling new Fool's Gold story from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery? Isabel Carlisle thinks she's cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another...man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she'll pursue her real dreams. At least, that's the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again.... 

Seeing Isabel all grown up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can't take his eyes—or his lips—off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool's Gold forever—if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same....

My Thoughts:

A friend suggested this author (any of her books), and I happened to see that my library had this one of hers.  I am so glad they happened to have it!  Super cute story, love the town of Fool's Gold from the book, and love all of the great characters.  My only complaint is that the book ends rather abruptly, but that seems to be the standard with romance novels.  I got the ending I was hoping for, but I hoped for a little more to the story after it.  I know that this is a pretty big series of books featuring the people of Fool's Gold, though, so I assume a little more of Ford and Isabel's story will be in other books in the series maybe.  I plan to read more of them and look forward to it.  

Also, want to note than I am not normally a big fan of romance novels.  It's just not the genre I usually choose from.  The really smutty ones tend to embarrass me a bit honestly, and often there's not much to the story beyond what takes place in the bedroom.  This book had an actual story with developed characters.  I really appreciated that, and I plan to read more of Mallery's books because of that.  So, if you are hesitant to read romance novels, try out some books from this series.  I bet you will enjoy them!

Summerland

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
Published June 26, 2012

About the Book:

It's June 15th, the night of Nantucket High School graduation. Four juniors are driving home from a party when something goes horribly wrong and there is a crash. The driver of the car, Penny Alistair, is killed, and her twin brother, Hobby Alistair, is left in a coma. Penny's boyfriend, Jake Randolph, and Penny's friend Demeter Castle are unhurt--but suffer tremendous emotional damage. Jake and his family move to the other side of the globe--to the west coast of Australia--in order to escape the horrors of the accident. Demeter falls prey to alcohol abuse and other self-destructive behaviors that nearly lead to her destroying her own life.

SUMMERLAND delves into the circumstances surrounding this accident, the roots of which lie deep in the past, with the first interactions between these four friends and their parents. It's a novel about how tragedy affects individuals, families, and the island community as a whole, and how healing can happen, in even the most devastating circumstances.

My Thoughts:

This was my first of Hilderbrand's books to read, and I look forward to reading more of them.  The book is told from alternating points of view, which I really like when done well.  Hilderbrand does it really well.  I like the internal thoughts of characters that you get from first person narrative, but when told from only one point of view, it can sometimes be limiting.  When told from multiple points of view, you get that from all of the central characters.  I also really love how Nantucket's community itself is one of those points of view, and found that to be a great and unique touch.  Small towns, such as Nantucket, do seem to have a life all their own really.  I also liked how there is a nice mix of adult and teen characters, so this is a great book for adults and teens both.  The characters were complex and interesting, though, some are certainly more likable than others.  All are flawed, as all people truly are as well.  Hilderbrand also writes in a way that allows you to actually picture Nantucket and other locales in the story.  As her home, it's a place she obviously knows well and loves dearly.  Her descriptions allow you to understand that love for it well.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read more by this author.  

Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Published June 1, 2009

About the Book:

"Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

My Thoughts:

This book is so much better than the title would lead you to believe.  I was expecting total fluff with lots of giggly passages about cute boys or something.  The blurb on the back of the book let on that there just might be more to it than that, though.  It is truly a beautifully written book about love, loss, friendship, and growing up.  The emotional aspects of the book felt very authentic, and the characters display the different ways people do deal with loss and grief.  I really liked Anna, the main character, and Frankie, her best friend, eventually grew on me.  Much about her is unlikable at times, but you can understand what has caused her to be the way she is.  Great book, highly recommend!  Also, I LOVE the patchwork of sea glass making up the heart on the lovely cover.  Sea glass plays an important part in the story, and the cover design is perfect for the book!

Return to Paradise

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Published September 1, 2010

About the Book:

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this sequel to Leaving Paradise and reading the rest of Caleb and Maggie's story.  Some great new characters are introduced, and I also really liked the storyline for this one with the Re-START program.  Some of the characters had made some huge mistakes in their lives, but they were complex characters that were so much more than the mistakes they had made.  None were one-dimensional.  This is a great two book series that is a quick and enjoyable read. 

Leaving Paradise

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Published April 8, 2007

About the Book:

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

My Thoughts:

Really interesting and unique premise for this one.  It's well-written, has well-developed and interesting characters, and the alternating POV style is done well.  Both Caleb and Maggie's voices are very distinctive and the back and forth never gets confusing.  When the alternating POV thing works, it's great, but when it doesn't it's terrible.  Here it's great.  Caleb and Maggie are complex and interesting, and they read like real teens, very believable.  There are also some great supporting characters, such as Mrs. Reynolds.  I have the sequel to read next, and I'm looking forward to where Caleb and Maggie's story will go from here.  

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Published March 1, 2012

About the Book:

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

My Thoughts:

I liked this book a lot.  I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, but I hovered between giving it 4 or 5 stars.  Andrews does a really good job of not making the book just a sob story all about Rachel, the girl with cancer.  It's not one of those cancer/sickness type of books that emotionally devastates you.  The book makes you laugh a great deal.  It's also very honest and real.  The characters grapple with real issues and the real feelings people might have when faced with the issues presented in the book.  Not everyone responds to things in the expected way, and the book acknowledges that.  The characters are awkward and weird and obnoxious and just real.  It has a healthy dose of profane, obscene teenage boy humor, which I happen to find hilarious.  If you are offended by stupid (in a fun way), obscene, profane humor, then it's probably not the book for you.  Also, it's totally a character-driven book, as not a lot happens as far as the plot goes.  Some like that and some don't.  I'm good with it.  Don't expect anything profound, to gain any life lessons, to be particularly inspired, or to cry, even though it is kinda a book about cancer.  It's just not that kind of book about cancer.  Well, maybe you will be inspired...inspired to laugh at what life throws you and not take it all so serious.  Sometimes life sucks, and laughing in the face of it might just be what gets you through it. 

Oh, and look at the cover art!  Love it!  

Also, a film adaption is set to start filming soon!

First Love

First Love by James Patterson
Published December 30, 2013

About the Book:

An extraordinary portrait of true love that will move anyone who has a first love story of their own. Axi Moore is a "good girl": She studies hard, stays out of the spotlight, and doesn't tell anyone how all she really wants is to run away from it all. The only person she can tell is her best friend, Robinson--who she also happens to be madly in love with. 

When Axi spontaneously invites Robinson to come with her on an impulsive cross-country road trip, she breaks the rules for the first time in her life. But the adventure quickly turns from carefree to out of control after the teens find themselves on the run from the police. And when Robinson suddenly collapses, Axi has to face the truth that this trip might be his last.

A remarkably moving tale very personal to James Patterson's own past, FIRST LOVE is testament to the power of first love--and how it can change the rest of your life.

My Thoughts:

Didn't love it.  I liked it okay, though.  James Patterson's non-typical books (i.e. his books for women that are kind of Nicholas Sparks-ish), at least the ones I have read, started off great with Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.  I think I sobbed more over that book than any other I have ever read.  Yes, even more than The Fault in Our Stars and Me Before You.  They have progressively gone downhill since, though.  This one really has issues.  It is very obviously going for the fans of The Fault in Our Stars, but it is seriously lacking in comparison.  There are so many insanely implausible things that happen in this book that it really detracts from the story.  It just doesn't all add up or seem believable at all.  Also, I feel offended for Janie mentioned in the dedication.  I don't see how this book serves her memory well.  I gave it three stars on Goodreads, and that was probably overly generous.  It was okay enough to keep reading, but I found myself rolling my eyes a lot.  I say to other readers, skip this one!

Love Life

Love Life by Rob Lowe
Published April 28, 2014

About the Book:

When Rob Lowe's first book was published in 2011, he received the kind of rapturous reviews that writers dream of and rocketed to the top of the bestseller list. Now, in Love Life, he expands his scope, using stories and observations from his life in a poignant and humorous series of true tales about men and women, art and commerce, fathers and sons, addiction and recovery, and sex and love.

In Love Life, you will find stories about:

• Kissing Unexpectedly
• The secrets they don't teach you in acting school
• His great, great, great, great, great-grandfather's role in the American revolution
• Parks and Recreation, Behind the Candelabra, and Californication
• Trying to coach a kids' basketball team dominated by helicopter parents
• The hot tub at the Playboy mansion
• Starring in and producing a flop tv series
• Camping at Sea World
• Playing saxophone for president Bill Clinton
• The first journey to college with his son
• Warren Beatty
• The benefits of marriage

Throughout this entertaining book, you will find yourself in the presence of a master raconteur, a multi-talented performer whose love for life is as intriguing as his love life.

My Thoughts:

I have a total love-hate relationship with this book.  It's well-written, and Lowe is a great storyteller for the most part.  He also does seem like a great husband and father.  That being said, he also seems like a total douchebag.  He's just way too pompous for me, and much of the book rubbed me the wrong way.  I was especially bothered by a remark about libraries being irrelevant (page 205).  Not cool!  I did read the entire book, though I was really tempted to stop several times.  I found that I would read for a bit and start to like him better, and then boom, he would piss me off.  Oh well, despite the issues with him, it still wasn't that bad of a read.  He has some interesting stories to tell and can actually write. 

Say What You Will

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
Published June 3, 2014

About the Book:

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

My Thoughts:

The description says: "John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park," so I expected a lot from this book.  Page 16, I was already crying, so I expected a lot from this book.  Unfortunately, the book kinda let me down.  It's no John Green or Rainbow Rowell novel.  It had the potential to be great, but the ending was rushed and didn't really even materialize.  I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, so it's not bad by any means.  It just didn't deliver what I was expecting it to deliver.  It's like 2/3rds or so of the book is amazing, and the other 1/3rd is a disappointment.  The ending is what disappointed me most of all, though.  It rushes towards it, and then it just ends without really delivering the hoped for ending.  Sure, it hints at it, but that's not enough.  There is also a major plot twist that was unexpected that let me frustrated in ways.  Despite these issues, it really is a beautifully written book.  It's a solid 4 star book that I would highly recommend.  I just do so with a warning that the ending will leave you a bit unsatisfied. 

When I Fall in Love

When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson
Published November 8, 2012

About the Book:

Elsie Maynard never expected to be starting again... 

...but eighteen months on from the biggest challenge of her life, she is doing just that –because she made a promise to the person who believed in her the most. 

Determined to step into her uncertain future, Elsie meets handsome Oliver Hogarth, who seems intent on winning her heart; she inadvertently founds a choir, and overcomes obstacles – most of which involve arrogant Torin Stewart. 

Then a heartfelt request brings her to Paris – and the final item on ‘The List’ that she never dared complete. 

Can Elsie follow her heart and put her past to rest?

My Thoughts:

I loved this book, but the ending made me a little crazy.  It ends far too soon and was completely rushed!  While I got the ending I was hoping for, I wish there had been more to it, which will make sense if you read it.  I gave the book 4 stars on Goodreads (thinking 4 to 4.5 stars in my mind), and it's because of the ending.  Otherwise, a solid 5 stars from me.  This was my first book of Miranda Dickinson's to read, and I really look forward to reading more of hers.  I always love finding new to me authors, and I almost always find that if they are British, I will adore their books.  She is no exception to that rule.  The book reminded me a lot of P.S. I Love You as I was reading it, which is a book and movie I love.  This was a great story with great characters.    And look at the lovely cover art...love it!  In person, it has some sparkle to it as well.  Warning...the book will give you a major hankering for some ice cream! 

Stolen

Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Published May 4, 2009

About the Book:

It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

My Thoughts:

This is a book I kept seeing at Half Price Books and have been curious about for a couple of years.  When stocking up on books for my reading challenge, I finally picked up a copy.  I'm so glad that I did because it is a beautiful book.  It's written in a way that makes the reader understand Stockholm Syndrome.  As the reader, I felt just as conflicted as Gemma about Ty and what to think of him.  He did something wrong, but it's hard not to feel for him.  Lucy Christopher has written such interesting and complex characters in this book.  The Australian desert is almost like a character itself as well.  Great book, highly recommend! 

20 Books Down, 80 More to Go!

So, 20 books down for my 100 Book Challenge...  I have 80 books to go and 85 days (roughly) do it it in.  Yikes!  I am not sure if I can make it happen.  May was too crazy of a month, and I didn't think through how much I was going to have going on.  Now that summer really is here (my girls finished school this week), I am hoping I'll have more time for reading.  They will leave in a week to go to NYC for a week with their art teacher, and I plan to spend lots of time on reading that week especially.  Have any quick reads that are still good ones to suggest?  Please comment here if you do!  All suggestions are welcome, so don't limit it to quick reads; I am always looking for something good to read!

The Cellar

The Cellar by Natasha Preston
Published March 1, 2014

About the Book:

When sixteen-year-old Summer Robinson goes missing one night, her family, friends and boyfriend are devastated. Nothing ever happens in Long Thorpe, so the disappearance of a school girl shocks the whole community. The police waste no time in launching a search and investigation, but with nothing to go on and no trace of Summer, hopes of finding her quickly fade.

Colin Brown, is a thirty-year-old solicitor living alone after the death of his mother. He suffered a traumatic and abusive childhood, and is left with no sense of right or wrong. Desperate for the perfect family, Colin, referring to himself as Clover, turns to drastic measures to get what he wants.

My Thoughts:

Wow, what a crazy, twisted book!  I borrowed this from a friend (Thank you, Kat!) who really liked the book, as did her daughter.  The actual writing wasn't the best ever (but not terrible), but the story itself really drew you in.  The author has a really twisted imagination!  I was anxious to find out what was going to happen, but I was also scared to keep reading and see what would happen.  I don't want to give anything away, but wow, Colin/Clover is a total psycho!   If you can handle pretty disturbing stuff, I recommend this one! 

The One & Only

The One & Only by Emily Giffin
Published May 20, 2014

About the Book:

In her eagerly awaited new novel, beloved New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin returns with an extraordinary story of love and loyalty—and an unconventional heroine struggling to reconcile both.

Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.

But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.

Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.

My Thoughts:

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Emily Giffin last night at an event in Dallas.  She is lovely and charming, and she was one of the authors I've been dying to meet for years.  

Now on to the book, like all other books of Giffin's, I loved it.  She really knows how to write a story that hooks you and doesn't let go.  She also has a gift for writing characters that I always care about and want to read their stories.  She also got Texas and football right, which both feature heavily in this one.   I felt really unsure about the direction the story headed in (I won't give away any spoilers, though!), but the more I read, the more I became okay with it.  I'm still not sure I would say it's a love story that I would root for, but at the same time, I loved the book.  You don't always completely get the choices of those you care about, but you respect them because you care about them if that makes sense.  That's how I can best describe this book.  Giffin made me care about the characters she created and the story ending with them being happy works for me.  That's all I can say, as I don't want to give anything away.  I gave the book 5 stars on Goodreads because the book drew me and kept me interested and it was true to what I expect of Emily Giffin.  All I really ask of a book is to give me characters I want to read about (and I can even hate them actually, hello Gone Girl), and give me a story that sucks me in and makes me not want to put down the book.  Giffin always delivers on that, and I always really like her characters as a bonus! 

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published January 10, 2012

About the Book:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My Thoughts:

This was a re-reading, as I first read the book the week it came out.  I hadn't read it again since and wanted to read it again prior to the release of the film adaption.  Funny enough, I actually own 7 copies of this book despite only having read it the one time prior to now.  I can't help myself; when they come out with a new cover or special edition of it, I have to buy it!  I wanted to even collect the international editions of the book, but they aren't that easy to come by.

Anyway, I actually had the pleasure of seeing the film a couple weeks ago at an early screening thanks to an amazing friend of mine, Sarah.  At first, I was going to read it before that early screening, but I decided to wait and read it after the screening but before the actual release of the film.  We (my daughters, my friend Sarah, and myself) have tickets for the Thursday night early release, and then I'll be seeing the movie again on Friday for the actual opening night for my girls' early birthday celebration with friends of theirs and my mom and sister.  

The film is easily the best adaption of a book to film that I've ever seen.  It also easily eclipsed all other favorite films of mine.  It is beautiful and heartbreaking, but at the same time, it's hopeful.  I truly loved seeing one of my favorite books ever brought to life in a way that was so true to it.  So many film adaptions are such a disappointment.  And, I wanted to read the book again to be able to compare the two with both fresh in my mind.  I was completely blown away by discovering I might actually like the movie slightly better than the book.  

I crazy adore John Green and love each and every one of his books.  He's truly amazing.  After seeing the film, though, there are bits and pieces of the book that feel extraneous somehow.  That may not be the right choice of words, but I'm not sure how else to put it.  None of it is bad by any means.  The book just has more to the story, which is not a bad thing.  The movie is all of the perfect bits and pieces, and I love that in it you get more of Gus and Isaac and all of the secondary characters, such as Hazel's parents that the book can't give you because of being written in 1st person narrative.  I have a friend who is not a fan of 1st person narrative, and I, for the first time ever, can see what she means.  I am still fine with it, but having the film to compare shows me what is missed by it.  I feel guilty in a way admitting to all of this, but my love for John Green and this book is in no way lessened by any of this.  It's still beautiful and wonderful and one of my favorite books ever.  My love for the film perhaps is just greater than I ever loved a film or book before now.  

I don't think many who are avid readers have missed out on reading TFIOS yet.  If you somehow have missed out on it, please do remedy that.  Read the book and see the film.  You will thank me!

Bunheads

Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Published October 10, 2011

About the Book:

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

My Thoughts:

Cute book, but it has little substance to it.  The book is heavy on ballet jargon, which means little to me, but I don't think that took too much away from the book.  I got where I just skimmed over terminology I didn't know and the story was still easy to follow.  It just didn't have much depth to it (the book itself) nor did the characters.  All were pretty one-dimensional and the book was pretty predictable.  The book does give a great glimpse into the life of a professional bunhead, but it fails to give much of a connection to the characters in the book.  They just weren't all that well developed and seemed to fit stereotypes rather than being complex, interesting people.  Despite all of that, it is a cute book.  It's a quick and easy read, and it was interesting reading about a world I know little about.  It does real more like a middle grade book than YA, though.