Book Review: Always You

by Kirsty Moseley

Review: 4/5

I need you to promise me, promise me you’ll survive this. I need to hear you say it and then I can stop worrying because you’ve never broken a promise to me before, so I have a lot of faith in your word

Who doesn't love this kind of relationship?

From...



to...



For starters - if it weren't THAT long, I would have given it a five. But their story had drag on forever, and I was wondering how it was going to end. BUT of course, when it ended, I had some unshed tears in my eyes, and a little relief that FINALLY - these two love birds have their happy ending.

Clay, if someone would love me as much as he loved Riley then I'd be the luckiest girl in the world. Now, if only he can tell her that... He's a total player, and he doesn't do girlfriends because Riley is the only girl for him. An old nemesis comes into the picture and threatens their relationship. Would he come clean and tell Riley how he feels? Or would he let this man come between them and let him have Riley?

Riley, why do you cry so much? I have encountered a lot of crying ladies from several YA novels, and Riley is on that list as well. She cries for simple stuffs, she's afraid to take risk and lose her best friend - but not afraid to flirt and go out with someone she doesn't really know. Sometimes I wish to shake her and say: Wake Up, Riley! BUT - among all the characters in this novel, Riley's character growth was pretty amazing. From a cry-baby - she grew up and fought a hard battle for Clay in the end. She showed how much she knew the person she was fighting for and was ready to do anything for him.

Some steamy scenes, coupled with some sweet scenes isn't a bad combination after all. The novel was nice and was centered on the development of the relationship between Clay and Riley who started as friends. Readers join the ride in the journey of their friendship - and see how it all ends up. It was one hell of a ride, with all the possible bumps and surprises you somehow didn't see coming. (I mean- they were intelligent people, but I guess alcohol, hormones and emotions doesn't mix well together.)

Would Recommend it to:
1) Older teens
2) loves the best-friend love story plot
3) tear-jearker novels
4) have the patience for long (a little bit draggy) novels - it was worth in the end though :)

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Book Reads: A Midsummer's Nightmare

Book Details
Author: Kody Keplinger
Format: Kindle


Summary
Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorced dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancée and her kids. The fiancée's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great. Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together. Filled with authenticity and raw emotion, Whitley is Kody Keplinger's most compelling character to date: a cynical Holden Caulfield-esque girl you will wholly care about.


Review:
Review Grade: 4/5


What do I expect from another Kody Keplinger novel?

• Girl Power. I fell in love with Bianca [The DUFF] and with Lissa [Shut Out]. Kody seemed to have a penchant for girl power and I love it. 
• Relevant Social Issues Affecting Not Only Teens but Almost Everyone. 

She once again delivered a splendid novel to her readers. Introducing us to a problematic Whitley, I must admit that among all her characters, I didn’t like her much at first. Although, I think that her character is the most complex of the three. Her issues are more serious and I found her emotions compelling.

The opening of the novel had my jaws on the floor when she woke up – groggy and in a stranger’s bed after indulging in booze the night before. Okay, it was after graduation and she is 18 – although the waking up happened only this time, the booze is another story. 

She has problems with her mother, who was bitter with her father since the divorce and with her father whom she only sees during summer. Only that this summer – she was in for a big surprise finding her father is engaged! 

The woman’s son is her one-night stand from graduation night, the one she was hoping would never going to see again. She felt cheated and alone –so she did what she does best: act out, party and drink hard. Only that this time there were consequences she wasn’t ready or hoping for. 

I also enjoy the minor characters which held Whitney’s sanity in her summer ordeal: Her newfound friend Harrison ( she doesn’t do friends, but Harrison was persistent. I so love the first time that the two of them met. I think he’s one of the best things that happened to her during this summer. He became not just her friend but one of her heroes.); sweet and adorable future-step-sister Bailey and of course Nathan swoon. They’re not perfect which makes them real. I have seen each character grow throughout the story and fell in love with them one page at a time. 

Kody Keplinger wrote another eye opener not only to teens, but to adults as well: 1) Alcohol never solves anything 2) Every actions has consequences 3) Sometimes, bad things clouds the good things that are right in front of us.Packed with significant themes like family issues, alcoholism, parenthood, cyber bullying and sense of belongingness – A Midsummer’s Nightmare outshone her two former novels .

Favorite Quotes

• “Screw nightmares. I was waking up.” 
• “Anger was less painful than abandonment.” 

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Book Review: Boys Don't Cry

Book Details

Author: Malorie Blackman

Paperback: 301 pages

Publisher: Corgi Children's (April 2011)

Summary:

In "Boys Don't Cry", bestselling author Malorie Blackman explores the unchartered territory of teenage fatherhood. You're waiting for the postman - he's bringing your A level results. University, a career as a journalist - a glittering future lies ahead. But when the doorbell rings it's your old girlfriend; and she's carrying a baby. Your baby. You're happy to look after it, just for an hour or two. But then she doesn't come back - and your future suddenly looks very different. Malorie's dramatic new novel will take you on a journey from tears to laughter and back again.

Review:

Rating: 5/5

Boys Don’t Cry is my first Malorie Blackman novel and I am in awe. This coming-of-age story is about a 17-year old boy, Dante who had his life planned out. He just received his A Level results from the University and set to study Journalism when his ex-Girlfriend shows up with a baby. She told him it was his and left it in his care.

His bright future suddenly becomes bleak and he didn’t know what to do with the baby who was dumped on him. I must admit, I hated him at first. He was quite an ass in treating Emma and questioning his paternity – but as a teenager who has his full life ahead of him, it was quite understandable. Blackman’s portrayal of a teen-father was very realistic. You can actually feel the denial, guilt, anger and confusion of his current predicament. You will witness how his anger dissipates, and he no longer thinks of himself and instead he thinks what is best for Emma and how he can become a good father.

Not only this, but there are family problems surrounding him as well. When his mother passed away because of cancer, his father was never the same again. He had a strained relationship with both his sons and he's not really good in expressing his emotion. Then there's Adam who lives with a family who is in denial of what he really is. I like his sunny disposition and his honest acceptance of himself. 


The fact that it is Dante (the father) who is left with the child made this book interesting. With hundreds of other YA novels having single (teenage) moms - this book stands out. We see how boys turned into men and how they can excellently cope with whatever life throws at them.

This does not only discusses teen-parenthood but it touches sensitive topics such as violence, homosexuality, post-partum depression, alcohol drinking, importance of safe sex and contraceptives and last but not the least, the value and significance of family. 

Told in alternating narrative between siblings Dante and Adam, Boys Don't Cry is touching tale of coming of age is a captivating and inspiring read for all ages.

Favorite Quotes

“Boys don't cry, but men do.” 

“The point is, you have family and friends who love you. You have a world out there just waiting for you to conquer it. You have a life that will be anything you make it. That's the point.” 

“A backup plan means somewhere in my head, I think I might fail and that word is not in my vocabulary. Plus I'm too talented to fail.” 

“The truth isn't going to bend itself to suit you.” 

“Sometimes the things you're convinced you don't want turn out to be the thing you need the most in this world.” 

“Five years off my life... 
I wondered with a wry smile, would people be immortal if they didn't have kids?” 

“Did you love Melanie?" asked Adam unexpectedly. 
There was no pause before I shook my head. 
"That's a shame," said Adam. 
"Why?" 
"Well, someone as special as your daughter should've been... made with love.” 

Book Review: The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

get your copy from Amazon

Book Details

Author: Kody Keplinger

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Poppy (June 7, 2011)

Language: English

Book Summary

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Book Review

Rating: 5/5

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) is hidden beneath my copies of regency romance novels. What made me read this YA book is the title. Okay, DUFF? Never heard of it before, it caught my interest and started reading the pages and finished it in one day.

The first question that instantly popped into my mind was that, was I the DUFF in my clique? Did I just sit in one corner and watched my friends enjoy themselves? Well, I really don’t think so. I really didn’t think we had a DUFF, I think we all were at some point of our lives.

The story revolves around a cynical teen named Bianca. Bianca Piper, a seventeen year-old girl in her senior year, is a fantastic character that can make you laugh. She has two great friends who really love her and a dysfunctional family who loves her as well. Wesley described her perfectly: What you are is an intelligent, sassy, sarcastic, cynical, neurotic, loyal and compassionate girl. She tends to bottle up her problems and finds a way to escape them.

Rather than dealing with her issues, Bianca or B to her friends, mastered the art of escapism. Understandable for teens, most of us had been there. But unlike the usual teens who lose themselves in a good book or movie, she loses herself in the bed of her arch-enemy, the man-whore himself, Wesley Rush. The guy she hates so much. So I guess there is REALLY a thin line between love and hate.

Bianca may sound real to you, but Wesley Rush seemed to come out of a fairytale. Although I like his character development, he started out as a jerk in the beginning and turned into a prince-charming who learned the consequences of his actions and showed a possibility of becoming a future decent and normal teen. I love the way he harassed B in the latter part, sending her nice flowers and a note in class stating:“Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, but I’m chasing you”.

What is more surprising in this book is that the author discussed teen sex. Her dealing of the controversial topic is very honest. I have never expected it in a YA novel, having read some way back (and even now). It didn’t seem to appear that Keplinger excuse or forbid sex, rather she just presented reality. She included sex scenes in her book with tact that many other YA authors failed to do.

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) is a smart, honest, funny and heart-warming novel. It revolves around the vital issues that teens deal – family, friendship, love and insecurities. The issues may look heavy to you, but this is really a light and effortless read. The book is really nice and you will want to pick it up again just in case you are in a bad mood and need to lighten up.

Favorite Quotes

No matter where you go or what you do to distract yourself, reality catches up with you eventually.

Escape is impossible, so why not embrace it

Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, but I’m chasing you

ChuCha^©