Epic Fail- Claire LaZebnik

Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?
At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:
As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.
As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.
When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songs

Amazed- Lonestar

Get to Me- Lady Antebellum

Long Teenage Goodbye- Lady Antebellum

 

Epic Fail the Review

4 Stars

          In this new take on Pride and Prejudice we meet Elise and Derek. AKA our new Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I have read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and I will say there are quite a few similarities in this book. In the fact that the main character Heroine comes from a relatively poor family and the main character’s hero comes from a wealthy family. Also there’s a male antagonist who takes advantage of the male protagonist’s sister.  I really loved this book and this is the second time that I’ve read it. It probably won’t be my last. Now why is that?

          Well for one I loved the take on Pride and Prejudice. I felt it was executed really well. There were a few similarities but not enough that you would call it a copy cat in a new era. Epic Fail was different and fresh.

I felt that the characters in Epic Fail had the same personalities as Jane Austen’s novel. Elise was a sweet and caring sister just like Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice. Elise was a very caring older and younger sister. She loved her older sister Julie and she got along with her younger sisters too. Sure they got on their nerves, they drove her crazy, but she loved them anyway. In my opinion Elise is better than her sister Julie. I don’t know why I feel that way, I just do. It is just a feeling I’ve had since I first read the book. Elise’s family was embarrassing. Especially her mother. Her mother, in my opinion, is a hot mess. I’m sure other people feel the same way. Elise is just like every girl in the world, in the fact that we are all looking for someone to love.

Elise found someone to love in Derek. Derek is the Mr. Darcy of Epic Fail. They have the same type of personality. Derek is possessive, protective, misunderstood, and guarded. He doesn’t trust people because when your parents are famous actors, you don’t know who wants to be with you for you. You don’t know if they love you or who you belong to. Derek is very protective of his friends and family. Mostly his sister Georgia. He would do anything for his sister. He is also protective of his friend Chase. I saw that when Julie and Chase broke up. Derek felt that it couldn’t have been Chase’s fault because he was blind when it comes to his friends. He wants to believe the best of them and he doesn’t want to see them hurt. People misunderstand him because they see him as arrogant and untouchable because of who is parents are. When in fact Derek is down to earth and nobody deserves to touch him because they don’t see him for him. Everyone else just sees the looks and the money that he comes from. Throughout the book Derek learns to trust others and he learns to fall in love with someone. That someone being Elise.

I kinda liked Julie too. I felt that she was a strong secondary character but the love she shared with Chase just seemed too good to be true. That’s the reason I don’t like Chase as much too. Their love just seemed false. Julie was sweet, caring, and confused about her love for Chase. She felt like it was too strong but she didn’t really try to understand it. She was just go with the flow.

Lastly I did not like Webster Grant. He befriended Elise but only so he could use her. He was a jerk and a pervert. He took pictures of girls who were given too much to drink and he used the pictures as blackmail to get money out of wealthy parents. Elise didn’t know any of this until she learned from Derek about the truth about his sister. Webster blackmailed Derek’s sister and that’s why they have this outstanding hatred for each other. Webster deserves to be hated. He was also a liar. I hate liars. I mean seriously is it so hard to tell the truth these days?

Anyway for the most part I loved the book with an exception of a few minor points, cough cough, Webster Grant, cough cough. I will most definitely read this book again. Probably in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a Bow- Elizabeth Eulberg

Chasing fame. Chasing love. Chasing a future.

Emme has long lived in her best friend Sophie's shadow. She writes songs, and Sophie sings them. It's always been like this, and feels like it always will be.

Sophie will stop at nothing to be a star. Even if it means using her best friend and picking up a trophy boyfriend, Carter.

Carter is a victim of a particular Hollywood curse: He's a former child star. Now all he wants is a normal life. But being normal is about as hard for him as being famous.

Ethan has his own issues -- a darkness in his head that he just can't shake. He's managed to sabotage every relationship he's ever been in. Emme's the only girl he's ever really respected . . . but he's not sure what to do about that.

Take a Bow the Review

5 Stars (Only because I can’t give any more)

          This book is my favorite book in the entire world. I have read this book three different times and it is still my favorite book. Each time I read it I feel like it only gets better. This book is one of those books where they just make you feel good after you finish. It makes you want to read it again right after you finish it, just so you can relive the moments one last time. This book made me very sad/ happy at the end. I was sad because the characters went their separate ways, but of course they had to stay in touch, but it made me happy because the words the author used were so inspirational and it was written so well.

          Take a Bow is a coming of age story because the main characters all grow up. They really figure out who they are in the world. The characters depth is amazing. My favorite character was Emme. She was fun and creative but she was hidden in the background. Throughout the book she really grows as a person and she starts to come out her shell. Emme realized how talented she really was and she used it. Emme reminds me of any other teenage girl. She has problems that she has to overcome like a backstabbing best friend and a few romances. Through the book Emme’s strength grows until it can’t grow anymore.

          Ethan is Emme’s best guy friend. He is messed up. He has broken many hearts and he has cheated on his only long time girlfriend. He has a drinking problem and his friends can’t take it anymore. Emme blows up at him and he eventually starts sobering up and growing up. He cares so much for Emme and he hates to see her mad at him. Ethan has a secret. He is secretly in love with Emme. Has been for a while but he can’t tell her because he doesn’t want to lose her as a firend. He would rather hide his love than not be in her life at all. Ethan is passionate about his music and he has such faith in his friends and his friends only want what’s best for Ethan.

          Carter is a child star who wants out of the spotlight. He feels like the only people who wants to be his friend, are people who want something from him. Of course when you have a girlfriend like Sophie it makes sense to feel like that. He feels like his mother doesn’t understand him but he’s wrong and eventually he comes to understand that. Carter is an actor who doesn’t want to act. He wants to paint. He wants be an artist but he feels like on one will understand him. He turns to Emme who is understanding of everything and she talks him into trying out for a position in the art program at their special arts school. Along the way Carter learns to speak for himself and he learns to stand up for what he believes in.

          And then there’s Sophie. Sophie definitely gets what she deserves in the end. She was a good evil character. She was the type of character that you love to hate. She’s the character that you realize that even though she’s an “evil” character that she was very good, in the fact that she was well written. Elizabeth Eulberg created Sophie’s character perfectly. Sophie wasn’t that talented. She was only talented when Emme writes her songs because Emme knows that Sophie only has a certain range that she can use. In the end Sophie uses Emme and Emme finds out. Emme bails on her and gets Sophie’s spot in the senior showcase. Everybody knew that Sophie was using Carter and Emme. She was using Carter’s famous name to plant herself in the people’s eye and she was using Emme for her song writing skills. Everybody knew it too, especially Ethan who has hated Sophie from the very beginning. She was the perfect character to play the bad guy.

          The plot of the book builds up to the senior showcase and Ethan and Emme’s auditions for Julliard.  I loved how the senior showcase was played out and I am very happy about the outcome of the Julliard audition. The book was gorgeously executed and the author has true talent when it comes to writing inspirational and inspiring books. The things the character said made me laugh out loud. Some even made me cry. I’m not kidding I cried.

 

 

 

 

Quote

          “I don’t want to ruin our friendship and what we have, but I cannot for another minute stand in front of you without you knowing exactly how I feel. Because I can’t see past you. you are everything to me.”        

                                                                                                -Ethan

The Selection- Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Selection the Review

2 Stars

          The book was interesting. The concept at least. The execution was not very good though. If the book was carried out better I think I would’ve liked the book better. But alas it was not. There were a lot of things that I actually didn’t like about this book. There was a handful of things I actually liked.

          I liked Prince Maxon for some reason. I read some other reviews and everybody didn’t seem to like him. I did though. He was sweet and his character seemed real to me. He was so much better for America. Maxon didn’t really want to do the competition after he met America Singer. Understandable, I mean, if you fall in love before the competition is over what should you do? Well Macon continued with the competition.

          I also liked Celeste. She was the “Villian” of all the girls. She played that role very well. She was a mean, sadistic, and spiteful person. But she played that role so well, that I didn’t even care that she was like that because she just made the storyline more interesting. You can only go so long with hearing, “Oh, why did Aspen leave me?” Celeste was a nice change of pace after living in America’s mind.

          Now onto the hard but biggest portion of the review. The part where I explain why I didn’t like the book. Well for one I didn’t like Aspen, America’s boyfriend at the beginning of the novel. Aspen was a jerk who thought he was doing the right thing for America by leaving. Obviously, Aspen didn’t love America as much as he claimed because if he did, he would’ve noticed that America would hurt a lot more without him, than with him. I found him clueless. Then there’s the fact that he tried to get back with America after he broke up with her, after America has already fell in love with Prince Maxon.

          I am so over the whole, girl in a competition to find love, deal. Especially, when the girl who ends up getting the guy doesn’t want to be in the competition anyway. I also didn’t like the names. The names all sounded the same to me. America’s name got on my nerves as well. Her name is America Singer who’s a singer. Seriously? That is so stupid. Who does that?

          Now onto America as a character. I didn’t like her. She was whiny. I swear she whined over almost everything. She was a performer who didn’t like the spotlight. If she doesn’t like the spotlight why doesn’t she just get out of it? She was just annoying.

 

          Quote- “Oh, yes. She’s still here,” Maxon said, not letting his eyes wander from Gavril’s face. “And I plan on keeping her here for quite a while.”

 

 

Wings- Aprilynne Pike

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
Laurel's life is the very definition of normal . . . until the morning when she wakes up to discover a flower blooming from her back. As it turns out, nothing in Laurel's life is what it seems. Now, with the help of an alluring faerie sentry who holds the key to her true past, Laurel must race to save her human family from the centuries-old faerie enemies who walk among them

Wings the Review

4 Stars

          This was an exceptional book and it was a brilliant new take on the abused category of faeries. The characters were amazing and I loved the plot. The book was a little slow and a little short but it was still pretty good.

          Of course there’s a new love triangle in the world of YA Literature. This time it is between David and Tamiami. I personally think Laurel will choose Tamiami. Only because they share a secret past, I think if there’s a love triangle and someone shares a past, then the people who share the past are going to end up together. Only because they usually left something in the past unsaid, or they never got the chance to make their mood. Either way, in my opinion, the past always conquers the present when it comes to love triangles. Not just because of the past, do I think Tamiami and Laurel will end up together. It’s also because when Laurel was with David she couldn’t stop thinking of Tamiami and when she was with Tamiami she only thought of him. The only time she really thought of her and David together was before she met Tamiami.

          Now let’s talk about the characters of this new love triangle. First I would like to talk about David. David is the boy who rescued Laurel on the first day of school from social suicide. He didn’t even know her and yet he wanted to help her become a part of the school. He wanted Laurel to integrate with his friends. Of course they all end up loving her because what book wouldn’t be complete without a very likable Heroine? Anyway, David was very sweet and geeky. And I do mean geeky. Like Grade A geeky. But he was perfect for Laurel in the beginning. He accepted her, Faerie and all. He may have looked at her a little differently but not in any way that really mattered.

          Then there’s the second male in the love triangle. (Why is it that only guys fight over girls in books…?) Let’s talk about Tamiami. He is a Faerie that Laurel knew before she decided to become a part of the human world. He has held a flame for her for a long time. Maybe his efforts are starting to finally pay off because she is finally noticing him as a possible candidate for a boyfriend/partner. Laurel finally notices him and she can’t get him out of her head. I loved how protective Tamiami was of Laurel he truly cared for her and not just because his job was to protect her. He did it because he honestly cares for her safety. I think Tamiami might just be the male to come out on top in this battle for Laurel’s heart.

          Now I’m going to talk about the woman all the fuss is about. Laurel is a very strange girl. She is a Faerie that has been in hiding for many years. I loved her characterization. She was strange but in a good way. She was very kind and independent. She is the type of person you want as a best friend. She did some serious butt kicking in this book as well. I can understand why these two boys fell in love with her. David can help her understand scientifically what is happening to her but Tamiami can help her mentally and emotionally.

          I very much love the plot of the book. Although the whole Faerie angle is in serious use right now (The Iron King, Bitter Frost, Bridger..) I find these books very refreshing. I guess I haven’t grown out of the little girl phase where all girls care about are Faeries. Instead of cutouts of Faeries to hang on your window, I find myself delving deeper and deeper into the world of Faeries through books. Wings is another great Faerie book that I have really enjoyed. The only thing I didn’t really like was how short it felt and some of the storyline was slow and a little boring. But, again, it was a very good read.

 

 

 

 

Quote

          “And if you need someone to hold and protect you from anyone in the world who might want to hurt you, then I am definitely your guy.”

Mystic City- Theo Lawrence

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself. 

                           Mystic City the Review   

4 Stars

            It was painfully obvious that Aria was not sneaking out to see Thomas. It was even more obvious that Aria was sneaking out to see Hunter. Why else would Hunter show up at her engagement party? For the refreshments?  I don’t think so. You don’t show up at a party full of people who hate you for anything but love.

       This book reminded me of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. But without all the death. Thomas was Paris, Aria was Juliet, and Hunter was Romeo. Aria was normal and Hunter was a mystic. These two people were never supposed to meet. Yet, somehow they did. And somehow they fell in love. Aria’s parents were never supposed to find out. But they did and Aria paid the price with her memory. That’s right her parents took her memory and made Aria think that she had her secret affair with Thomas rather than Hunter. It was all very interesting how the author created this storyline.

       Now if you have read any of my other posts, you know I talk a lot about the characters. This book is no different. First on the chopping block, Thomas.

       Thomas was a spoiled, bratty, and cheating character. He thinks the world revolves around him and he is REALLY boring. Like seriously boring. He’s bratty because he doesn’t care about anybody. He’s a cheater because, well that word kind of explains it all. He cheated on Aria even though they were engaged. Thomas was a character who wanted to be hated. Next up, Aria.

       The future Juliet was an ok character who was being oppressed by her parents and by the society around her. She was clueless at times and at other times she was a genius. There’s not much to say about her because she wasn’t that interesting. Last but not least, Hunter.

       I loved him. He cared about Aria. He cared about her so much he was willing to let her go. He wanted to save her from himself. He thought she was better off without him, which she wasn’t.  he let her go and she came back so I guess the saying is true. All in all I loved the book.

First Date- Krista Mcgee

The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President’s son.

She’s focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn’t even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President’s son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy’s totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her all that she was meant to be.

First Date the Review

4 Stars

            I loved every aspect of this book, except one. I didn’t love how the main character was so preachy and constantly questioning everything. I swear almost every thought ran along these lines, “What would God do? What would my parents do?” Almost every thought. This girl could not think for herself. Aside from that annoying characteristic, I loved Addy. She wasn’t popular and she wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes and that is what made her real.

          Then there’s the other contestant Kara. Kara is Addy’s roommate for the duration of the show. Kara is a cute bubbly girl who wants to be an actress when she gets older. She is fiercely loyal and protective of Addy against Hank and the other contestants.

          Hank is a jerk and he does all he can do to get rid of Addy. Jonathon was a sweetheart who utterly adored Addy. Jonathon and Addy was a match made in Heaven.

 

Entaglement- Dan Rix

Hotheaded heartthrob Aaron Harper is scheduled to meet his half in twenty-nine days, and he doesn’t buy a word of that entanglement crap. So what if he and his half were born the same day and share a spooky psychic connection? Big deal. After breaking one too many teenage girls’ hearts, he’ll stick to brawling with the douchebag rugby players any day.

Until the day a new girl arrives at school and threatens everything he takes for granted.

Cold and unapproachable, Amber Lilian hates the growing list of similarities between her and the one boy she can’t read, Aaron: born the same day, both stubborn, both terrified of meeting their halves. . . . All the more reason not to trust him. That she would rather die than surrender herself as her half’s property is none of his damn business. But once lost in Aaron’s dangerous, jet black eyes, she’s already surrendered more than she cares to admit.

Tangled in each other’s self-destructive lives, Aaron and Amber learn the secret behind their linked births and why they feel like halves—but unless they can prove it before they turn eighteen, Aaron faces a lifetime alone in a world where everyone else has a soulmate . . . and he’ll have to watch Amber give herself to a boy who intends to possess not only her body but also a chunk of her soul.

Entanglement the Review

4 Stars

            This book was very good. The Dystopian aspect of this book was very good. The whole connection aspect how the kids are connected to one another. Whoever they’re connected to is their like match and they will live happily ever after together. I liked the aspect of this book.

          I loved the characters too. Aaron and Amber were my favorites. Aaron was sweet and attentive. He didn’t want anything to happen to Amber. Amber and Aaron were meant to be together. Their connection was severed as babies. They were meant to be together and Aaron was determined to have Amber. He has an attitude which I find very real and I really liked it. It made Aaron who he is. If he didn’t have the attitude he wouldn’t be one of my favorite characters.

          Amber was somewhat awesome. She had the worst temper ever. But it worked for her. If it didn’t I would worry a little. Someone who is supposed to have an attitude and it doesn’t work for her, doesn’t work for me. But Amber’s attitude was perfect for her. Sometimes, Amber doesn’t bow down to authority. Other times she does, but she bows down sometimes to save Aaron.

          I didn’t like Clive because he was crazy, controlling, insane, and seriously rude. He took after his father. Clive annoyed me and his attitude was a serious problem. I also didn’t like how Amber was a little whiny and how she didn’t stand up for herself very well.

          I really loved the plot because Amber and Aaron were supposed to be together but they weren’t because Clive’s father switched Aaron with Clive. All because Clive’s connected partner died before they met and it messed Clive up. So Clive’s crazy father switched Clive and Aaron. Amber comes from a good family so Clive’s father thought his son and Amber would be a perfect match. But they wouldn’t be because Amber would lose all the good parts of herself. In this book the women were treated like slaves to their husband’s. Amber would’ve been like that too if it wasn’t for Aaron.

 

Quote-

        “The task is not to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought about that which everybody sees.

Songs

        Cry With You- Hunter Hayes

        Get To Me- Lady Antebellum