Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti {Review}

Publisher: Viking JuvenilePublish Date: May 31, 2012Source: Library
Goodreads

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the way her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush, Julian Porter, starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself -- and for the love that keeps her holding on.

When I read the description for Keep Holding On I couldn't help but think I'd be left annoyed by Noelle and her decisions. Sometimes I did just want to grab her by the shoulders and tell her like it is, but she had a friend that did a pretty good job of it, so I understood where she was coming from in those instances even more. Instead of being super annoyed with Noelle, my heart went out to her.

I went to a small school that didn't really have any bullying. When I say small, I'm talking pre-K through 12 in one building. There was a few groups of outcasts, of course, but for the most part, everyone was either friendly or indifferent to each other. So, I've never experienced anything like what Noelle went through. I can't even fathom the cruelty she dealt with. She skipped lunches at school for fear of the torture that'd be inflicted on her because of how poor she was. And her home life was no better. I honestly hated her mother. She was cruel to Noelle in every way possible: yelled at her for simple things, blamed her or their poor situation, rarely fed her or kept any food in the house, and even stole her money. I was itching to call child services despite the fact that it was, you know, fictional...

And then there's Matt. Stupid, idiot Matt. Anyone could see how crappy of a guy he was, but after so many years of torture and being ignored by nearly everyone around her, Noelle can't help but be pulled in by all the attention. Well, the secret attention. Every time she explained his secrecy away I just wanted to go

It hurt to see her go through all that when she really wanted Julian anyway I hated seeing her push him away just because she was disappointed in her life and thought she wasn't worth it.

Keep Holding On is my first Colasanti book, but it definitely won't be my last. She handles bullying in a way that made me want to get up and do something to change it. I felt for Noelle so much and the thought of real life kids dealing with that stuff makes my heart hurt.

The Nutshell: Keep Holding On was not the story about a stupid girl who can't see what's best for her that I expected. Colasanti pulls out the big guns with bullying and really makes you feel for Noelle. If you're in for a story about a girl with a tough life and her journey towards loving and respecting herself then you'll love Keep Holding On.

Pages: 224

Series: No

Rating: Hit

Ghost Flower by Michele Jaffe {Review}

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: April 12, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Eve, a runaway, finds a new job at a coffee shop on the outskirts of Tuscon. When she's approached by two wealthy teens who claim she bears an uncanny resemblance to their missing cousin Aurora, her life takes a turn for the dark and mysterious. Drawn into a scheme to win Aurora's inheritance, Eve finds herself impersonating the girl, who disappeared three years ago on the night her best friend Elizabeth died. But when Liza's ghost begins to haunt Eve, doing harm to the people close to her under the guise of "protecting" her, Eve finds herself in a nightmare maze of lies and deception that leads her to question even her own identity. She realizes her only chance is to uncover the truth about what happened the night Liza died, and to find Liza's killer - before she's next.

After reading Ghost Flower I can definitely say Michele Jaffe is a master at mysteries. I was constantly guessing at who the bad guy was and then telling myself that was crazy and then guessing again and the cycle just continued over and over until I was driving myself crazy. I ended up guessing part of it (though that was bound to happen since I’d made about every guess under the sun) but definitely not all of it.

Something about Ghost Flower did feel a little off, though. Maybe it was the characters, maybe it was the romance(s), or maybe it was something else entirely, but it just felt a little weird. Let’s start by talking about the characters. I think the biggest problem was that since it was a mystery I was suspecting everyone which made it a little hard to like and connect with them. Plus, most of them were just terrible people anyway :P

Then there was the romances. Yep, plural. And no, not with multiple characters. Just the one main character and tons of dudes. It got really confusing and none of them were really all that believable. Especially the romance in the end of the book. Let’s not even talk about that. Unless you’ve read the book, then I’d love to get your opinion on it!

Despite those issues, the mystery really was fantastic. Jaffe has a way of writing a mystery so that it’s actually believable, but it’s almost impossible to figure out who did It. I can almost guarantee you won’t be able to unravel the mystery before it’s spelled out for you.

The Nutshell: Though I had some issues with the characters and the romances the mystery, which is the main point of the story, was outstanding. I was constantly second-guessing myself and making up crazy scenarios in my head trying to figure it out which is exactly how I like my mysteries.

Pages: 358

Series: No

Rating: Hit

Beauty by Lisa Daily {Review}

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: May 10, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

What's it like to be the most beautiful girl in the world?
Molly desperately wants to be beautiful. And that's what she tells Dharma, the mysterious portrait artist who sketches her face at the town fair just minutes after she's humiliated in front of Hudson, the guy of her dreams. When Molly wakes up the following morning, she's the most beautiful girl in Miracle, Ohio. Babies coo in her arms, her house fills with flowers from dozens of drooling boys, and she's chosen to be a model for the hottest store in town. Best of all, Hudson finally falls for her.
But Molly soon discovers that beauty -- and her wish -- come with a price. She's faced with an impossible choice: Will reclaiming her true identity mean letting go of Hudson for good.

Beauty was a fun read, but our main character, Molly, was constantly driving me nuts. She becomes beautiful and magically transforms from quiet, kind invisible girl to world-class B in a matter of days. I was in a constant state of wanting to throw the book across the room for almost its entirety.

Of course, you can tell simply by reading the description that this is going to be a very moral-driven story, but in the end that’s all I got out of it. Here we have a girl with a good friend and a pretty decent life who thinks being pretty will make everything better. So, she gets her wish and becomes the person everyone is falling all over themselves to please – girls and guys alike. Except, all the people who cared about her in the first place. Those people? Molly just pushes them to the side like yesterday’s trash and I’m sitting here going “excuse me? How can one person be so terrible when they’ve been on the other side of it?” Needless to say, though Molly learned her lesson in the end, I wasn’t a fan at all of how she managed to get there. I couldn’t connect with her at all since I couldn’t justify any of her crappy actions.

Despite all my complaints about the main character and the storyline it’s still a pretty cute read. Predictable and infuriating at times, but still a cute, fun read.

The Nutshell: Beauty is exactly what you think it is: a story about a girl who had a decent life but thought good looks would solve all her problems, but they didn’t. You can easily guess how the story will go, but it’s still a cute, quick read if you want some moralistic fluff (is that a contradiction?).

Pages: 272

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss/Miss

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby {Review}

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Publish Date: February 28, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she's called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she's sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett -- teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been kind to her -- at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo's dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned's in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

I don’t actually have a lot to say about Shooting Stars, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. On the contrary, it was a fun read, it just simply wasn’t one of those Stand Out Reads, you know?

Let’s start off with the story. At first I was just kind of moseying along with the flow, not really invested, but still interested enough that I wanted to keep reading. Then there was this twist that kind of came out of nowhere, but raised the stakes enough that I was plenty more interested and really wanted to know how it turned out.

Then there were the characters. Jo wasn’t exactly likeable, but I didn’t really dislike her either. I understood both her quandaries about being a paparazzo (did you know there was a singular?) and her rationalization for it, but man, the girl could get some serious inner debates going. Sometimes I just wanted to be like “I think now would be a good chance to tell the truth, he seems like a pretty understanding guy,” but no, she had to waffle on about it for longer. Her indecision seemed a bit drawn out to me, but hey, I’m a terrible decision-maker, so who am I to judge?

Ned was pretty likeable, but nobody I was all swoony for since he didn’t have much of a personality for a majority of the book.

The Nutshell: Shooting Stars is a cute, quick read. If you want a warm-fuzzy romance then this is definitely something worth checking out. If you’re more into the deep contemporaries, then you probably want to go elsewhere.

 Pages: 272

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss

Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin {Review}

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Publish Date: March 27, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Lucas and Tessa's friendship is stuff of legends in their small Midwestern town. So it's no surprise when Lucas finally realizes his feelings for Tessa are more than friendship and he asks her to prom. What no one expected, especially Lucas, was for Tessa to come out as a lesbian instead of accepting his heartfelt invitation. Humiliated and confused, Lucas feels betrayed that his best friend kept such an important secret from him.
What's worse is Tessa decides to wear a tastefully tailored tuxedo to escort her female crush, sparking a firestorm of controversy. Lucas must decide if he should stand on the sidelines or if he should stand by his friend to make sure that Tessa Masterson will go to prom.

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom was a fun, cute read. There were some dark parts, as was expected, but it all still felt a little surfacey. I mean, it was overall a good read, but nothing that really stood out.

Lucas’s feelings for Tessa were just so sudden. I mean, someone actually tells him that he likes her and them, BAM, he decides that he does. I think it’s natural to wonder if a guy/girl friendship could possibly be more, but I feel like Lucas’s feelings should have been eased into a little more. I know it wasn’t the point of the story, but it just ended up feeling like a catalyst, not something realistic.

All the awesome support Tessa got made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of the entire book.

Lucas and Tessa both ended up driving me nuts for a while. I think it was pretty crappy of Tessa to never tell Lucas. If she just “assumed he knew” like she repeatedly said then she would have no need to be worried about what he would think. Best friends are the people you share everything with and I can certainly understand why Lucas was hurt and pissed. What I can’t understand is why in the world it took him so long to talk to her again. I know he was scared and whatnot, but I think he really could have just been like “Tess, I’m sorry for how I acted and I want you to know that I’m here for you now.”

The Nutshell: Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom is a cute, though still a little dark, fun read. It’s a little about love, but a lot about friendship and figuring out who you are. It’s a little surfacey, but still a good read overall.

Pages: 257

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker {Review}

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Publish Date: May 22, 2012

Source: ARC from contest

Goodreads

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams' heart. She fell for her best friend's boyfriend and long story short: he's excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.
Enter her parents' plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and her little sister would make Clem would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.
Then she meets James at one of their first spots along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he's just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem's walls and heal her broken heart?

I feel like maybe there’s something wrong with me. When I turned the last page of Unbreak My Heart I wanted to cry despite the fact that it ended on a pretty hopeful note. See what I mean? I should be happy, right? Maybe part of it is that I’m a tad jealous of Clem’s fantastic summer. Being on a boat all summer sounds like pure torture to me (at least, the sixteen-year-old me) but after reading Clem’s story I almost feel as if I was robbed of something since I didn’t get a boating trip of my own. Unless you count the two-week-long road trip in the van with my 4 other family members, but I don’t :P

Let me just say that Walker certainly knows how to write a good teen character. Though I’ve never been through anything like Clem went through I could completely relate to a lot of her thoughts. In the first 1/3 of the book when all she wants to do is sulk and feels as if she deserves the self-punishment? So been there. When she snaps at her parents and sister because they won’t just give her some room? Been there too. When she has those happy moments with her family that make it seem like they aren’t so bad? Definitely been there. Clem is a character that I could completely relate to despite the fact that we had very little in common which I loved.

Of course, there’s a romance aspect. It’s nowhere near the focal point of the story, though. It’s more like the nice the sprinkles on top of your cupcake, though. It’s pretty and fun, but it isn’t what’s at the heart of the story. When you get right down to it, this is a story of a girl whose completely broken inside and spends the summer picking up all the pieces and putting herself together again. It’s a story about loss and friendship and family. And it’s a story about the magic of summer.

The Nutshell: Unbreak My Heart is more than just a story about summer love. If you’re looking for a good summer read, you’ll definitely find it here. You’ll also find a story about a girl learning to forgive and love herself again, a story about families, and a story about what happens when black and white seem to blur.

 Pages: 240

Series: No

Rating: Hit

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga {Review}

Publisher: Little, Brown Book for Young Readers

Publish Date: April 3, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.
But he's also thew son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could -- from the criminal's point of view.
And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.
In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret -- could he be more like his farther than anyone knows?

I Hunt Killers is sick, twisted, and oh so very good.

If we’re going to be honest, I feel kind of weird saying it’s good. It was so creepy being inside Jazz’s head since he wasn’t just some innocent little bystander who never knew the horrors of his serial killer father. In fact, he knew almost every detail of his father’s kills and was being groomed to take his father’s place someday. I Hunt Killers is the kind of “good” that’ll have you questioning everything you know and occasionally make you want to lose your lunch. Not things I usually associate with good books, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be its own brand of good.

Being in Jazz’s head felt like an intrusion. Seeing the way he struggled with his own thoughts and feelings was almost too much sometimes. I felt simultaneously creeped out and sorry for him. It was weird reading about a character I had basically nothing in common with, but at the same time it was good. I wasn’t really trying to connect with him but I could still see things (to a degree) from his point of view.

I love me a good mystery and it doesn’t really get much mystery-er (sure, that can be a word) than I Hunt Killers­. Not only were we trying to figure out who the killer could be along with Jazz, but the reader is also left wondering what’s locked away up in Jazz’s head the entire time.

The Nutshell: If you’re jonesing for a good mystery that’s anything but ordinary then I Hunt Killers is your book. If you’re squeamish and hate gore, though, you’re probably going to want to stay away. Lyga isn’t afraid to delve into the deep, heavy stuff about who we are on the inside and whether or not it can be changed and that just makes this read all the more unique.

Pages: 359

Series: Jasper Dent #1

Rating: Hit

Chained by Lynne Kelly {Review}

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

Publisher Date: May 8, 2012

Source: DAC ARC tours

Goodreads

After ten-year-old Hastin's family borrows money to pay for his sister's hospital uill, he leaves his village in northern India to take a job as an elephant keeper and work off the debt. He thinks it will be an adventure, but he isn't prepared for the cruel circus owner. The crowds that come to the circus see a lively animal who plays soccer and balances on milk bottles, but Hastin sees Nandita, a sweet elephant and his best friend, who is chained when she's not performing and hurt with a hook until she learns tricks perfectly. Hastin protects Nandita a s best as he can., knowing that the only way they will both survive is if he can find a way for them to escape.

Once again another book has defied all my expectations and proven I don’t always know what I like best. I only read Chained because Tara from Fiction Folio was trying to get some people to fill up slots on an ARC tour for it. I wasn’t really jazzed about reading it since it didn’t seem like my type of book at all, but I’m so glad it landed in my lap.

A lot of times we look at a book like Chained and think it’ll be silly because an animal book can’t have the same depth. Or we already know the characters will have a hard journey and will likely be triumphant in the end so we figure why bother. I’m here to tell you to stamp down those silly feelings and read it anyway because Chained is a book that deserves to be read. Sure, some of the things were a little hard to read about, but I’m still incredibly happy I got the chance to read this book.

It’s amazing the kind of depth and emotion that can be conveyed through an animal that doesn’t even talk. I loved the fact that Nandita was a real character. She had her own personality even if she lacked the words to express herself.

Hastin was such a strong boy. He was only ten when the story began and he was already stronger than I am or ever have been. He never compromised his integrity or his beliefs. He never gave up on his sister or his mother or Nandita. He didn’t even give up on Nandita’s torturer when given the chance. Everything about Hastin felt real, raw, and authentic. He’s definitely one of my favorite characters of all time.

The Nutshell: You may be tempted to cast this book aside thinking it’s not your type, but I encourage you to give it a chance. The bond between boy and elephant isn’t one you’d likely to expect to be interesting but Hastin and Nandita are proof to the contrary. Chained is a quick read that’s likely to push you outside of your comfort zone but that’s just all the more reason to read it.

Pages: 242
Series: No
Rating: Direct Hit

7 Clues To Winning You by Kristin Walker {Review}

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: April 26, 2012
Source: Library
Goodreads

When a humiliating picture of Blythe goes viral, she's instantly the target of ridicule at her new school. To salvage her reputation, Blythe teams up with Luke to win the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt. But Luke is an unlikely ally and potentially can't be trusted.
Perhaps it's his Shakespearean witticisms that reel Blythe in despite her better judgement...or maybe she just craves the thrill of the game. But as the hunt progresses, their relationship heats up. Soon their madcap mischief spirals out of control. Blythe is faced with arrest and expulsion, among other catastrophes -- until Luke shows her what the Scramble (and love) is really about.

7 Clues To Winning You was a really cute book but I found myself volleying back and forth between “awww” and “ugh” for almost the entirety of the story.

The main problem for me was probably Blythe. In the beginning (and then sporadically throughout) she was selfish and snobby and thought she was above everyone else. It drove me absolutely insane how she pretty much thought the whole world revolved around her. She does end up growing beyond that, but something about her self-hating, self(and everyone else around)-destructive mindset in the process of the growth really rubbed me the wrong way. Plus, the way she needed to be smacked over the head with a sign for everything drove me batty. I figured out half the stuff, especially scavenger hunt clues, before she’d manage to come around to the conclusion herself.

Oh, and that “humiliating” picture is of her picking her nose and she acts like it’s the end of the entire world. I mean, really?

Whew. Until I wrote it all down I didn’t realize I disliked her character that much :P But, I’ve said many times before that characters don’t really make or break a story for me.

The plot, however, does, and 7 Clues To Winning You sadly wasn’t my favorite :[ I’d really been hoping to like this one so it truly does make me all sadface. It just seemed a little like there was too much going on. Let’s go through the main and side stories:

1) The family is selling the house. This side story goes really in-depth into the process of selling a house. I found it kind of interesting since I love to just sit and watch House Hunters on HGTV for hours, but it didn’t seem to contribute a lot to the story, especially since it’s told from Blythe’s point of view (as opposed to third person or whatnot) and the house selling process doesn’t really concern her.

2) The mother dealing with some feelings. I can kind of see where this could mean something to why Blythe is the way she is, but it still doesn’t seem incredibly pertinent. This is Blythe’s story, not her mother’s.

3) The scavenger hunt. Nothing to complain about here except for the fact that I wish there’d been a little more focus on it.

4) Luke & Blythe. Nothing to complain about here either.

5) Blythe drifting from old friends. This would certainly be an important and defining moment in Blythe’s life, but the way it was added into the story felt more like an easy way to move the plot along to me.

6) Blythe’s relationship with a pair of old ladies at the nursing home. This side story I completely and utterly approve of but I’ll get to that later.

7) Blythe’s relationship with her dad. I actually found this plot point pretty interesting even if it did get a tad tedious at times (partly because it’s easier to see the adult point of view when you’re older :P)

There’s probably more that I’m forgetting but basically what I’m saying here is that the storyline felt really cluttered sometimes.

Okay, those old ladies I mentioned? They are a RIOT! I freaking loved them to pieces. For once, a side story relationship trumps all the main plot points for me. I mean, these ladies scheme pop can heists and buy porno mags with Blythe. Seriously, that scene with the nudie magazine at the gas station is one of the best things ever. I was reading in bed at about 3 in the morning laughing so much I woke Husband up :P

The Nuthsell: Whewie did that review get long! Chances are you looked at how long it was and just skipped right down here to get to the main point and I don’t blame you! To sum it up, if you just want a contemp read that’ll provide you with a few laughs then 7 Clues To Winning You is definitely for you, but be prepared for large amounts of side plots.

Pages: 317
Series: No

Rating: Near Miss

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell {Review}

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publish Date: May 1, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review
Goodreads

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school's struggling radio station, where the other students don't find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Gram's mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and and helps others to find the fun and joy in every day life. 

Looking at Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe, one would probably think it’s all fluff, but that’s definitely not the case. Throughout the course of the story Chloe has to deal with some pretty hard stuff from cruel ex-best friends to feuding relatives.

I love the way Coriell wrote a story that defied expectations. Chloe defied my expectations as well. I didn’t really think she’d change in the end, but she did and it was awesome. In the beginning I could kind of see where her friends were coming from. Chloe did seem a little self-centered, but at the same time she has a huge heart that wants to take care of everyone she loves. Despite the fact that Chloe’s personality is basically the polar opposite of mine, I ended up really loving her and being able to connect with her.

I loved the radio station and all its inhabitants. Even though there were quite a few different characters at the radio Coriell managed to make them all completely unique. I loved reading about them and seeing Chloe find a family with them. Chloe’s talk-shows were super duper fun too :]

Though she doesn’t delve into the complete complexities of it, I really appreciated that Coriell touched on the idea that just because your problems are different than someone else’s doesn’t make them any less painful or difficult. This is something I often think about and I love that Chloe dealt with it a little too. Sure, a broken family and divorce really sucks, but that doesn’t mean that a whole, “picture-perfect” family doesn’t have problems that are just as bad for the person dealing with them.

Duncan was kind of infuriating at times, but I did like him overall, though I didn’t fall head over heels for him. But not every (fictional) guy is for every girl ;]

The Nutshell: If you’re expecting a cute read from Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe, you’ll certainly get that, but you’ll come away with something else as well. This read isn’t all fluff, there’s family problems, friend issues, and even some fiery troubles. If you want a cute read that’s also rounded out with some problems (in the story not because of it) then you should definitely give Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe a chance.

Pages: 299
Series: No

Rating: Hit

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler {Review}

Publisher: Dial 

Publish Date: January 5, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Just because Piper's birthday is on Valentine's Day does not mean she's a romantic. In fact, after watching her father and then her stepfather leave, she's pretty sure she doesn't believe in love at all. The her friends concoct a plan to find them all Valentine's dates, and somehow Piper find herself with the most popular guy in school. But true love never follows a plan, and a string of heartfelt gifts from a secret admirer has Piper wondering if she might be with the wrong guy.

I’m sad to say I didn’t enjoy Love? Maybe as much as I’d hoped. It’s still a cute read, but I never really connected with any of the characters. I’m not usually a character person as long as the plot sucks me in, but I found this plot to be a bit predictable. In fact, I’m not even sure what’s a spoiler since the storyline seemed a bit obvious to me. I’ll do my best to keep it spoiler-free, though.

Claire’s cynicism didn’t actually bother me, because if I’m honest, I was pretty cynical of Valentine’s during my middle and high school years as well. My cynical nature was due to not having my own Valentine rather than being hurt too many times like it was for Claire. From an older, outside point of view sometimes I felt like saying “Come on, Claire, it’s not ALL that bad” but I know a younger me would have been right there with her.

I basically called all the relationships from a mile away with one exception and that’s because he wasn’t really in the story. It was difficult watching all the characters be so oblivious to what was happening around them.

My favorite character of all was definitely Jan. He was just really cool in the way that he was somewhat of a father-figure for Claire but he wasn’t pushy or anything. He was just there to tell Claire the truth when she was willing to listen.

I also quite liked Lucy and Dom. They were a fun little addition to the story.

The Nutshell: Overall Love? Maybe was a cute read, but rather predictable. I wasn’t romanced off my feet by any of the characters but none of them bothered me either. I’d say it was a pretty middle-of-the-road read, but if you’re looking for a cute quick pick-me-up, this could definitely do the trick.

Pages: 272

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss

Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin {Review}

Publisher: Walker & Company

Publish Date: February 1, 2011

Source: Library

Goodreads

Fans of romance don't need to look any further than the fauxmance brewing between teen idols Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers -- known on their hit TV show as Jenna and Jonah, next-door neighbors flush with the excitement of first love. But it's their off-screen relationship that has helped cement their fame, as passionate fans follow their every PDA. They grace the covers of magazines week after week. Their fan club has chapters all over the country. The only problem is their off-screen romance is one big publicity stunt, and Charlie and Fielding can't stand to be in the same room. Still it's a great gig, so even when the cameras stop rolling, the show must go on, and on, and on... Until the pesky paparazzi blow their cover, and Charlie and Fielding must disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realize that there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.

On the one hand Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance was cute and fun, but on the other hand, it kind of infuriated me at times much like our two protagonists did to each other.

The cute and fun:

It was fun watching Charlie and Fielding/Aaron have epic word sparring matches as well as kind-of-sort-of flirt with each other.

I ended up really liking Fielding/Aaron. He became this really well-rounded, multi-dimensional character even if he was weirdly hung up on Charlie. I liked that for a while, like a normal teenage guy, he was showing interest in other girls too. I think I probably would have liked the book a lot more if it had been wholly from his point of view.

The annoying:

I get the whole haters-turned-lovers plotline, but these two were just so cruel to each other sometimes it was hard to read. And then, just when you think there’s hope, that they’ll finally just jump each other and get over the angst, they just rip each other a new one instead. Most of it seemed pretty uncalled for too. Like they’re having this nice moment and then one of them just says something cruel out of the blue. I wanted to reach in the pages and shake some sense into them.

It also felt to me like Charlie didn’t really grow and change at all. She just kept on being a jerk to Aaron and then got what she wanted in the end anyway.

The Nutshell: Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance had its cute moments, but I don’t think I’d recommend it overall. I found it infuriating at times and others I was just left scratching my head going “what just happened?” If you like the people-who-hate-each-other-become-lovers thing then you’ll probably actually like this one, but it didn’t really work for me.

Pages: 240

Series: No

Rating: Miss

The Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith {Review}

Publisher: Poppy

Publish Date: January 2, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Can I pretty please just hug this book right now?

For reals, I adored The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I love everything from the fact that Oliver is adorably British to the title being an inside joke from the story.

For some reason, I was under the impression that this whole story took place in an airport and on a plane. Don’t ask me where the idea came from since now that I think about it it makes no sense that 24 whole hours would be spent between those two places. I think it was probably for that reason that the airport and plane were my favorite parts of the story, but I still really enjoyed the other parts as well.

I also love that fact that everything that happens is a little unlikely, but the title of the story already tells you that. Yes, it’s unlikely that you’ll meet a super cute British guy at the airport and end up next to him on the same flight, but it’s still possible and that’s the important part.

Speaking of cute British guys…yeah, Oliver is basically awesome. He’s funny and cute and…British! Yay for accents ;] Plus, he has green eyes and I’ve always been a sucker for those.

If you’ve read a review about this book you’ve probably heard about how it’s not just a love story. How it’s also about Hadley’s relationship with her dad. And I’m sure, like me, you kept thinking “yeah, but what about the kissing?!?” But really, the kissing is awesome and important, but so is the father-daughter relationship. Though I’d never gone through a parents’ divorce I still felt I could relate to Hadley and her thoughts.

The Nutshell: There is kissing and it’s awesome. There is a confused teen girl and she’s easy to relate with. There’s a father-daughter that needs some working through and it’s interesting to see. There’s unbelievable chance meetings and it’s swoon-making and fantastic. If those things don’t convince you then don’t forget there’s a cute British guy ;]

Pages: 236
Series: No

Rating: Direct Hit

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom {Review}

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publish Date: January 10, 2012
Source: Library
Goodreads

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heel? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. Ian, who promised her the most amazing night and prom. And then ditched her.

Let’s start with characters. Justina was your typical, high school girl overthinking everything and jumping to conclusions, but she was also one determined girl. I mean, if I had a night like her, I would have been on the ground somewhere just bawling my eyes out, defeated. Justina wasn’t like that, though. Yeah, she cried a few times, but then she got back up and continued on her way.

The Mikes deserve a little highlight because I think them along with Serenity and Bliss were my favorite characters. Sure, they’re stoners, but they’re sweet, thoughtful stoners :]

Now let’s go over the story. Yeah, it was crazy and zany, but it still managed to be believable. I loved that it was kind of a mystery that we got to discover and puzzle through along the way. I also really liked that because of the mystery I could go from liking a character to hating them to love them throughout the course of the story.

I loved how the stains on the dress incorporated into the story and I especially loved that there was a picture of something before each chapter that went along with that part of the night. Like a picture of the dress where curry was splattered on it. And the chapters without a dress picture had junk food titles which I found funny. I was desperately wanting nachos by the time I finished :P

The Nutshell: Ditched: A Love Story was a super cute, fun read. It was crazy, but in the best way possible. Justina is a character that really earned my respect with her determination, even if she made some bad decisions and assumptions. Chances are your prom was nothing like this, but you’ll definitely want to read about it!

Pages: 273

Series: No

Rating Hit

New Girl by Paige Harbison {Review}

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publish Date: January 31, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

A contemporary young-adult retelling inspired by the classic 1938 romantic suspense bestseller Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
They call me "New Girl"...
Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that's who I am. New Girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed -- because of her.
Becca Normandy -- that's the name on everyone's lips. Thee girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can't compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it's my fault.
Except for Max Holloway -- the boy whose name shouldn't be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca's boyfriend...but she's gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca's life was so much better than mine could ever be.
And maybe she's still out there, waiting to take it back.

New Girl was good, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. For one, I thought it had a little something more going on behind the scenes than a regular contemporary, like a dash of paranormal or something. I’m not quite sure where I got that idea, but I had it and the book, in fact, did not. That’s not what really made it fall flat for me, though, just wanted to clear up anyone else’s expectations in case they had them.

For some reason I didn’t really connect with anyone in the story. I could feel for the main character, but still didn’t really connect with her. I realize Becca was literally sick, but I still hated her. She was just so horrible that it was impossible to like or connect with her. Honestly, I hated Max. He didn’t grow on me at all and I really disliked that the main character wanted to be with him so badly. He wasn’t horrid or anything, but I couldn’t get past the fact that he basically thought it was okay to mess around with Becca and not actually commit to anything. Even if she was a tad crazy.

At times I got kind of a sinister vibe, but overall New Girl didn’t deliver on the creep factor I was hoping for. Basically it was just a double mean girl story. One from the victim’s point of view and one side from the bully’s point of view.

The Nutshell: New Girl was really just an okay read. I think part of what left me so disappointed was my expectations and those are, of course, all my fault. New Girl is a good book if you like boarding schools and mean girl stories, but don’t go to it looking for paranormal or creepy mystery.

Pages: 320

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler {Review}

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: January 3, 2012

Source: Library
Goodreads

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she's a girl who doesn't believe in second chances, a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom's diner and obsessing over what might have been.
So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life -- and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She's got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who's been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.
It's time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she's willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last...

Bittersweet is the perfect book to curl up with on a dreary winter day.

I adored everything about Bittersweet from the characters to the cupcakes.

Let’s start with Hudson. I could completely relate to her need to escape the small town. I really appreciated her determination to do it too, even if it caused her some problems along the way. I think the thing I adored the most about her was how normal she was, though. When the mini-love triangle popped up she didn’t just sit there and wiffle-waffle about it, she did something. I also kind of wish I was as talented as her in the cupcake/business department :P

Will. I’m not sure if I was supposed to like him or not, but I just didn’t. He was way too cocky despite his attempts at sweetness sometimes.

Oh,  Josh. He was so sweet and adorable; I wish there had been more of him in the story! Don’t get me wrong, I really like how the romance played out, I just would have liked to see him a little more.

Bug was adorable. I loved the way Hudson cared for him. I liked his crazy little personality and his love for Mr. Napkins.

I really like Hudson’s friendship with Dani. It’s not often you see a friendship playing an integral part in the story these days. It was such a normal friendship, too! It had its ups and downs, of course, but Dani wasn’t a backstabbing jerk. She was just regular friend who acted like most would in that situation.

The setting was great too. I liked the wintery town, the crazy diner, and all the ice time. Winter is my favorite season so it was cool to see a town completely covered in snow for the entire story. The diner was kind of like how you’d expect an old-school diner to be, but this time you get to see behind-the-scenes to all the craziness that happens. Though I know absolutely nothing about hockey or ice skating, I still really liked reading about them. The way Ockler writes about made me feel like I did understand it.

The Nutshell: Bittersweet should go in the contemporary hall of fame. It has absolutely fantastic characters ranging from crazy younger brothers to best friends to boys to a surly hockey team. It also doesn’t follow the typical love interest formula of find the guy, get the guy, have problems, get the guy again. If you like contemporary or are simply looking for a good place to start, this is definitely your book. You need it in your life, like two days ago.

Pages: 378

Series: No

Rating: 5 stars

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin {Review}

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Publish Date: March 1, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

Goodreads

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled -- by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends -- sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo -- Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.
Things start out great -- her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior's thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness...it doesn't mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters turned out to be a complete win.

I wasn’t really sure how I’d feel about it since contemporaries featuring younger main characters can be a little too silly for me, but this one wasn't like that at all. In fact, it completely reminded me of what I was like at that age. I won’t go so far as to say it reminded me of my freshman year since nothing very exciting ever happened to me, but it was certainly fun to read about.

I loved that Kelsey was so real. She had the same kind of thoughts I did at that age. You know the ones “my parents hate me and they just want me to be a loser forever” and “can he possibly like me? OMG he’s so cute!” I don’t exactly want to revisit that age long-term, but it was fun to feel like I was back there just for a few days.

I like the heavier stuff such as what happened with JoJo along with the kind of silly stuff such as what happened with the “old-fashioned root beer bottle.” Don’t worry, I won’t spoil, so you should totally read it for yourself. I loved that the whole story totally did document like a freshman year, though. There were friend fights and multiple crushes and first kisses.

I only have one teeny tiny complaint and that’s the alcohol use. Maybe I was a sheltered 14-year-old,but I never saw that much alcohol in my freshman year. It just seemed unnecessary is all.

The Nutshell: This is an absolute fantastic contemporary. Don’t be afraid of a younger main character because Zeitlin really knows how to make it work. If you’re a freshman (or somewhere around the age) you’ll probably be able to relate to this book and if freshman year has long since passed then Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters will totally transport you back there. There’s cute boys, zany “disasters”, some girl fights, and even an arch-nemesis with caterpillars for eyebrows. If you’re looking for a fun, cute, and light read you should definitely pick this one up :]

Pages: 288

Series: No

Rating: 5 stars

Awkward by Marni Bates {Review}

Publisher: K-Teen

Publish Date: January 1, 2012 

Source: Library

Goodreads

Mackenzie Wellesly has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disasterous -- not to mention unwelcome -- attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting. 

I thought I was awkward in school, but Mackenzie Wellesley showed me a whole new level of awkward!

I had pretty high hopes for Awkward before I even opened to the first page since it looked really cute and I’d heard some good reviews. At first, I was disappointed. It seemed Mackenzie was being too stubborn in the way she held onto her geek pride. Don’t get me wrong, I completely get the geek pride thing, but the Mackenzie waved the Geek Flag around just kind of started to get on my nerves.

But then something happened. I’m really not sure what it was, maybe it was just Mackenzie starting to grow and change, but whatever it was I started to really get into the story. When I turned the last page, I had that content feeling you get after reading (or even watching) a really cute romance.

I really enjoyed most of the secondary characters too. Corey was pretty much a stereotypical gay best friend, but I totally loved him. He was sweet and always looking out for Mackenzie. I totally want him as MY best friend. Tim and the rest of ReadySet were cool too. I liked that they actually had a part in the story and weren’t just a stop along the journey. I wasn’t as big a fan of Jane, though. I think that’s basically due to the fact that she was barely in the story.

Oh, and there’s Logan. He was nice and sweet and funny. I really liked him, but I do wish he’d been a little more fleshed out.

This book also happens to have the best “insult” I’ve heard since the boy in my 7^th grade class called me “Reader Girl” like it was a bad thing: “You, Mackenzie, have a thesaurus where your heart should be.” I laughed so hard at that! It’s just so completely absurd. Have you ever had someone try to insult you, but instead the insult was laughable?

The Nutshell: Awkward is cute, funny, and fun. Mackenzie is a character most of us can relate to in some way or another. Problem not the instant stardom, but the awkwardness is easy to relate to. Even if you weren’t the geeky one in school, you probably felt out of place at some point in your teenage years. Marni Bates has created a story that gives us all an outlandish and humorous look at the awkward years. If you’re a fan of cute romance and hilarity, you should definitely get your hands on this one.

Pages: 259

Series: No, but it will have a companion out next year.

Rating: 4 stars

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald {Review}

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publish Date: January 24, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly one-sided. The object of her obsession -- ahem, affection -- is her best friend, Garrett Delaney. For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to '80s indie rock -- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder -- until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for a total Garrett detox!
Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including hunky chef, Josh), and a customized self-help guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, martifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

This book was absolutely adorable and I loved it!

First, Sadie was a fantastic main character. She drove me nuts with her attitude and pining at the beginning, but we really get to see her grow into herself throughout the story. You think it’ll be really hard to relate to her at first since she’s all “black is the only coffee (according to Garrett) and I only read big, stuffy books” but you slowly start to realize there’s a lot more than that under the surface. I don’t know about you, but I can completely relate to wasting years of my life pining after guys when the relationship simply wasn’t happening or was most certainly doomed which made Sadie even more real to me.

I loved the coffee shop setting because, well, who doesn’t? There’s just something awesome about coffee shops. It was my dream to work at one as a teen. I doubt all of them are as fun as Totally Wired was, but I definitely would’ve loved Sadie’s job. The staff (also making up most of the side characters) were all pretty awesome.

I really enjoyed reading about Sadie trying to get over the guy rather than trying to get him. It was such a refreshing change of pace. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some romance, but this time it was way more fun reading about a girl discovering who she really was, making new friends, and becoming independent.

My one complaint would be the descriptions. It touched very little on what many of the characters looked like past hair color or state of dress which saddened me since my imagination isn’t always the best. The other thing was the description of the summer. That sounds weird, and maybe it’s just me, but I actually kept forgetting it was summer since it was constantly talking about the chill in the air or something. It was just odd.

Final Thoughts: Tired of the same old girl-meets-boy-gush, gush gush-happily ever after? Then this is definitely the book for you. Getting Over Garrett Delaney is a fun, cute contemporary definitely worth the read.

Pages: 336

Series: No

Rating: 4 stars

2012 YA Contemporary Challenge

The 2012 Contemporary YA Challenge is hosted by (my awesome big sis) Katie of Katie's Book Blog and Angela at Reading Angel. The books for the challenge must be published in 2012. The three levels are 5, 10, or 15+. (That was a pretty bad summary of the challenge, so you should definitely check out the main post :P)

At first I didn't really think I'd be able to do a contemporary challenge since I very rarely read them. I figured I'd look at my list of to-read 2012 debuts to figure out what level I'd be able to commit to. I checked my list thinking there'd be maybe five contemporaries, but to my surprise, there was 11 just on my debut to-reads alone. Needless to say, I felt like superman after that and signed up for the full 15+ :P

My tentative list of to-reads:

1. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

2. Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams

3. Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

4. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

5. Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

6. Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

7. Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

8. 52 Reasons to Hate my Father by Jessica Brody

9. Seven Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker

10. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

11. The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

12. Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

13. The Darlings in Love by Melissa Kantor

14. Life is But a Dream by Brian James

15. The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone