Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

When I got my hands on an ARC of in fall of 2010, I immediately sped through it. Even though I didn’t think it was perfect, The Duff was an emotional read that stuck with me long after I had finished it. Needless to say, when I heard Kody Keplinger would be publishing a sophomore novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it ASAP. Once I dove into Shut Out, I sped through it. Even though I thought this book had a great message and I loved Lissa as a main character, there were a few things that stopped me from loving it.

Lissa is a character who is after my own heart. Even though I’m not as uptight as she is, I could totally relate to her love of libraries of literature. I also felt like I could really relate to the way Lissa thought, and I remember feeling the same way about Bianca of The Duff. It’s safe to say that Keplinger has a knack for creating relatable characters.

Despite the fact that I liked the message in Shut Out, I didn’t always like how it was conveyed. Keplinger’s prose bordered on preachy, which I don’t care for. There were also times when everything felt a bit too cheesy.

Shut Out is not a perfect sophomore novel, but it made for a fun, fast paced read, which was exactly what I needed when I read it. My complaints were not enough to seriously damage my impression of the book. Keplinger is becoming one of my go to authors for great YA chick lit, and I’m hoping that we get to see more by her soon.


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi of .

For review:
by Hannah Harrington
by A.S. King
Gifted:
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Borrowed:
by Sheila O'Connor
by Dawn Metcalf
Purchased:

by Anne Ursu
by Maureen Johnson
by Patrick Ness
by Mariko Takami and Jillian Takami
by Jessica Martinez ()
by Patrick Rothfuss
by Shel Silverstein

Read:
by Hannah Harrington ()
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
by Patrick Ness
by Mariko Takami and Jillian Takami
by Kody Keplinger
by Thanhha Lai
by Courtney Summers
by Patrick Rothfuss
Currently reading:
by Gary D. Schmidt
by Albert Marrin

by J.K. Rowling
What I plan to read:
by Gayle Forman
by Franny Billingsley
by Debby Dahl Edwardson
by Allan Richard Shickman

Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I got a little bit of a break from school and am at my parents’ house relaxing with my dog. Even though this post is going up on Thursday, it’s Wednesday night as I write it, so soon it’s off to the airport to fetch my brother, with more family and friends arriving in the morning.

So what am I thankful for? Even though there haven’t been tons of reviews or IMMs up on the blog lately, I’m still thankful for books. I like to read on my bus ride when I can, and usually have a fiction book for leisure going. I’m currently reading by Patrick Rothfuss right now and I’ve only got about 100 pages left. It’s great! I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel, , once the semester is over. In case you guys are wondering, some other great books I’ve read and hope to review are by Kody Keplinger, by Catherynne M. Valente, and by Patrick Ness (the latter two being for my book club).

I’m thankful for bloggers. No, I don’t have as much time to read or blog now that I’m in graduate school. I also haven’t been commenting as much, and I feel really bad about that. Even still, you guys keep me updated on bookish news and laughing via Twitter on your blogs. Thanks to those of you who’ve stuck around even though I haven’t been posting or Tweeting as much!

I’m thankful for family and friends. Even though we’re normally quite far away from each other, my family supports me and gives me great advice. My friends at school give me advice on everything from work to my social life. Plus they make sure I take breaks every once in a while.

Lastly, I’m thankful for good food. As you read this post I’m mere hours away from delicious turkey, stuffing, and pie, just to name some foods I love.

What are you guys thankful for? How are you celebrating Thanksgiving?

‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

As soon as I saw the cover and synopsis for Saving June, I knew right away that I wanted to pick up this book. I found myself just as enamored once I started reading an ARC, courtesy of Teen Book Scene. I couldn’t sleep until I knew what happened. Although Saving June isn’t one of my top ranked contemporaries, it certainly did not disappoint.

At the very beginning of the book, Harrington throws several questions straight at Harper and at the reader, which hooked me right away. Even though I was initially unsure about Harper’s idea to go on road trip, I think Harrington executed her ideas nicely, making sure that the parents weren’t invisible and that her characters had to think through practicalities. Plus, she also went on to address all of the questions which she presented later in the novel, and I liked the way the plot tied up.

What I wasn’t so fond of in this book were the characters. I actually really liked Harper. I thought that her character was nicely developed and well fleshed. I didn’t find Jake to be the most original character. I thought that he and Laney were both impulsive, and at times they got on my nerves.

Even if I didn’t find Saving June flawless, it was a readable, emotional, and enjoyable story. Harrington has a knack for character development. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from her in the future.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through .

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

I decided to finally pluck The Summer I Turned Pretty from my TBR pile once Misty of told me what a fast paced read it was. While this book looked like a forgettable beach read, lots of bloggers had mentioned how good The Summer I Turned Pretty is, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Although I enjoyed being transplanted to the beach for a few short hours, The Summer I Turned Pretty fell short for me.

Jenny Han knows how to write friendships between two girls. As I watched Belly interact with her best friend, I understood a lot of the interactions between them. The dynamic between Belly, Jeremy, and Conrad also felt realistic.

Aside from that praise, I had several issues with this book. I disliked Belly as a character, and I have a few reasons. Her character only seemed to have three elements: her love of summer, her drama with the boys next door, and her desire to fit in with the guys. I felt as though this left me without any real reason to care about Belly.

I’ll be honest and say that as I write this review, I don’t remember every detail of the ending. I will say, however, that I didn’t like it. I remember feeling that it was too abrupt and that it came across as an ending which was meant to make me want to buy the next book in the series. I think books in series should leave you with enough closure to make you satisfied while still leaving you wanting more.

I feel conflicted about The Summer I Turned Pretty. Jenny Han is neither an abysmal writer nor the greatest writer ever, and I’m not sure if this was the story for me. Rumor has it that the series dramatically improves as it goes on, so I’ll give the others a try and see if those sit better with me.


Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

Hey everyone! Today I have Hannah Harrington, author of Saving June, here to talk about some of her personal preferences. Take it away, Hannah!

‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

Bicycles or roller skates – My mom knew someone who’d died in a rollerblading accident, so
growing up she never let me learn. I did sneak around and borrow a friend’s pair one summer,
but I have awful balance anyway, so I never really mastered doing more than standing upright.
Bikes are a lot easier for me to handle.

Cake or pie – I’m one of those bizarre people who doesn’t like pie at all, go figure. Team Cake
for the win.

Pen or pencil – Yes, it’s annoying when you make mistakes, but I hate eraser marks!

Cats or dogs – I have three cats and one black lab. I love my cats, but I’ve always been more of
a dog person. I enjoy spending time with my dog more than I do most people.

Winter or summer – I hate cold weather! Summer is much more preferable, as long as I have
air conditioning.

Pants or skirts – I think I own maybe two skirts total. If I’m going out, I’m either in jeans or
leggings.

Black or white – To match my soul. Just kidding. White is not my color. Probably half of my
wardrobe is black, and I almost always wear black nail polish.

Sweet or savory – I have the worst sweet tooth.

Autumn or spring – Spring brings the promise of summer, and autumn in Michigan always feels
like a short prelude to a lengthy, freezing winter.

Zombies or unicorns – I’m a horse girl, and unicorns are almost the same thing.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Hannah! Be sure to keep an eye out for my review of Saving June!

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green's arrival as an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

Until this past August, I always felt left out when people started talking about what a talented writer John Green is. Most bloggers seem to love his books and while I knew he makes great videos, I’d never read any of his books, even though I wanted to do so and own all of his books. I recently felt an incredibly strong pull towards John Green’s Looking for Alaska and followed it. Filled with brilliant prose, quirky characters and a heartbreaking storyline, Looking for Alaska is one of the best and most unforgettable books I’ve read in 2011.

I’ve been a little afraid to post this review, to be honest. I’m worried that some people will read it and think that I’m praising this book because I want to fit in with a certain crowd, or because I think it’s what the blogosphere expects of me. What has me singing John Green’s praises after just one book is the fact that I could not stop thinking about Looking for Alaska for days afterwards.

Looking for Alaska is about a teenager names Miles who goes off to boarding school and quickly becomes infatuated with a girl named Alaska. I liked Miles because even though he could be a jerk sometimes, his character read like many teenage guys that I know. I also have to say that I really enjoyed the sense of humor that Miles and his friends had.

Green’s prose is stunning. He sometimes incorporates quotations, and I thought this was done perfectly. They were there just enough to enhance the story but not so enough that the reader became bogged down.

Although this sounds lame, I’m not sure what else I can say to express how amazing this book is. Despite all of the rave reviews I’ve heard, I had never fathomed what a moving and thought-provoking book this is until I was sucked into Alaska’s world. Looking for Alaska has made my list of all time favorites, and I can’t wait to read everything else John Green has written and will write.

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

The intriguing title. The gorgeous cover. The blurb by Andrea Cremer. Each of these factors screams “must read!” I will admit, while I sped through Shattered Souls in less than seventy-two hours, I wasn’t sold on the romance. Love story aside, I found Shattered Souls to be a unique, engrossing and intriguing read.

The first thing we learn about Lenzi is that she is anything but normal. I liked Lenzi, and Zak immediately give me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I got into the story much more quickly once Alden was introduced. Lenzi’s abilities as the Speaker made it so that there several ministories within the novel, each one very nicely detailed. Her interactions with the lost souls were really fascinating, and made her compassion clear.

For the record, I was also a big fan of Alden. He never seemed to submissive or chivalrous. Yet as the romance developed, there was a lot of “We can never be together!” and “Let’s make out right now!” type of dialogue. I grew tired of all of the back and forth after a while. Seriously, kids--make up your minds. I also periodically lot track of a few of the minor characters. I would have liked to see a tiny bit more development there.

Aside from my few complaints, I really enjoyed Shattered Souls and found it to be a memorable novel. It is the perfect mixture of page turning and emotional. I’d definitely recommend Shattered Souls one for anyone looking for a somewhat deeper paranormal novel, and should Lindsey publish any other novels, I’ll be very excited to pick them up.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book through . Thank you!