Review: Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire

"When plain and unpopular Annie Nutter gets zapped by one of her dad's whacked-out inventions, she lands in a parallel universe where her life becomes picture-perfect. Now she's Ayla Monroe, daughter of the same mother but a different father—and she's the gorgeous, rich queen bee of her high school.  
In this universe, Ayla lives in glitzy Miami instead of dreary Pittsburgh and has beaucoup bucks, courtesy of her billionaire—if usually absent—father. Her friends hit the clubs, party backstage at concerts, and take risks that are exhilirating . . . and illegal. Here she's got a date to lose her V-card with the hottest guy she's ever seen.
But on the inside, Ayla is still Annie.
So when she's offered the chance to leave the dream life and head home to Pittsburgh, will she take it?
The choice isn't as simple as you think."

Title: Don't You Wish

Author: Roxanne St. Claire

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 368, Hardcover

DON'T YOU WISH was certainly the perfect summer read. It doesn't exactly take place in the summer, but it has that fun, cute, easy-going vibe that represents summer. Not only did DON’T YOU WISH have the fabulous characters, adorable dialogue, and your not-so-average contemporary story, but the reader is able to walk away with an extremely important lesson.

Annie Nutter isn't exactly your average girl. In fact, she's below your average girl. She's a nobody at her school, along with her best friend Lizzie. Everyday, it seems, they dream to be part of the perfect,  popular crowd. Drowning in her misery with Annie is her mother, who is having second thoughts on her marriage. Annie's mom could've married a past boyfriend, a man who is very, very wealthy now, and lives the perfect life. Before Annie knows it, her wish just happens to come true, in a parallel universe…

The characters were so utterly fun to read about. For me, Annie Nutter in the beginning of the story seemed very immature, like a middle schooler (they are actually juniors in high school). But once she is transported to the other universe, her personality changes a little, and she definitely matures. I could definitely understand her need to be popular and perfect. I loved watching her development as she learns that being perfect isn't always the best. And Charlie, goodness, I need a Charlie in my life. He was so pure, those perfect boys who see girls as they are on the inside, not the outside.

The dialogue was one of my favorite things about the story. Roxanne St. Claire was able to capture my full attention to the story. And, while the book is a little lengthy, I found myself wanting to keep reading and reading and reading. Annie/Ayla's voice was very addicting and witty. I loved it!

Now, the creativity of the story. While DON'T YOU WISH is considered a contemporary novel, it definitely had a little twist added in--the notion of the parallel universe. I have never read anything like it before! I enjoyed the concept very much, and I thought that Roxanne did a fantastic job creating it. It was very believable.

The lesson I personally walked away with after completing the novel was: Accept your life as is. What you think you want may not be what is truly right for you. The so-called "perfect" life you see is most likely not perfect. Underneath the flawless structure, is actually a hurt, wounded tissue. Be thankful with what you have, because it could be worse.

Needless to say, DON'T YOU WISH is a captivating, charming, and delightful read that has earned it's spot in my favorite contemporaries of the year. The creativity of the story is one you won't want to miss!

Grade: A+

 Source: Publisher via Netgalley--thank you Random House! 

Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

"It's 1941 and fifteen-year-old artist Lina Vilkas is on Stalin's extermination list. Deported to a prison camp in Siberia, Lina fights for her life, fearless, risking everything to save her family. It's a long and harrowing journey and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?"

Title: Between Shades of Gray

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Release Date: March 22, 2011

Publisher: Philomel Books

Pages: 344, Hardcover

"Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness."-Between Shades of Gray, pg. 161 (paperback)

Um. Yeah.

I can't really talk right now. This book was absolutely amazing. Let's just list out some verbs that describe this book:

• Captivating
• Fascinating
• Phenomenal

• Outstanding

• Inspirational

This book leaves you:

• Breathless
• Satisfied
• Wanting more from Ruta!
• FEELING ALL OF THE FEELINGS.

This is a pretty crappy review, but what I'm saying is: GO READ THE BOOK. Right now. If you loved Night by Elie Wiesel, you'll love this one as well. Guys, I teared up. **Almost cried. My tears were about to legitimately roll down my face but then the moment was over because I was reading so fast and I couldn't stop since it was just so intense and now I can't stop rambling about how amazing this book is-----

Go read it.

P.S. I love Andrius. Like so much.

Grade: A+++

Source: Library (paperback)

Waiting on: MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza

"Pitched as a "Bourne Identity"-type sci-fi thriller about a teenage girl who discovers that she is a Mobile Intel Life-like Android, an experiment in artificial intelligence created by the U.S. government, and her scientist mother, who kidnapped her when she was found to have human emotions."

GOODREADS -- AUTHOR WEBSITE 




Title: MILA 2.0
Author: Debra Driza
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


This book looks so epic! I feel like it may be the next big thing in a couple of months... I mean look at the cover! It instantly drew me in. I always love me some sci-fi and thriller!

What are you waiting on?


*Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at BtS

AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! :) 

July TBR

Hey everyone! I've decided to start showing you guys what I'll be reading this month because I've found that I've gotten pretty good at following my TBR piles. I've been secretly making the list for these past couple of months now, but I was scared to post it because I was sure I wasn't going to follow it. :) But now that I'm pretty good at it, I've come to the conclusion to show you guys!

So July is pretty much Netgalley-catch-up month.


I've been getting so caught up with reading the Harry Potter series and library books that I kind of just.. abandoned the Netgalley pile. Well, more than 75% of my unread titles are released in July. So, I figured it was time to get to them.
*crossed off = done!

(Most likely in this order)

-Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair
-Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
-On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves
-The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee
-Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
-Unwind by Neal Shusterman
-Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

It's 7 books, but I really hope it's doable. My dance classes start this month, and I'll be taking 15 classes a week. I KNOW. It's crazy. I'm SO going to get tired of my Kindle this month...


Anyway. That's my pile this month! Link me to your TBR! =)

Cover Reveal: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Hi everyone! As most of you know, J.K. Rowling has a NEW book out in the fall this year! And the cover was recently released for it, so I thought I would share with you guys!

"When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity, and unexpected revelations?
A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J. K. Rowling’s first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other."

Title: The Casual Vacancy
Author: J.K. Rowling
Release Date: September 27, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 512

It sounds pretty interesting, I am definitely planning on reading it!

My Thoughts on the Cover:

Awkward. I love the colors and all, but the overall appearance just doesn't appeal to me...

What do you think of this cover?

June Favorites 2012

June was a crazy month.

But my first couple weeks of summer have been AWESOME. So much reading, so little stress. :))

In the month of June, I read:

-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (audiobook)

-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (audiobook)

-The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder 

-Saving June by Hannah Harrington

-Hourglass by Myra McEntire

-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

-Timepiece by Myra McEntire

-A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young (audiobook)

-Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

-Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Favorite read of the month:

Between Shades of Gray & Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
(Something Like Normal came really close!)

Most Disappointing Read: 

The Probability of Miracles & Timepiece

LOOK AT DAT LIST. Ten books. TEN. I am on fire!! I really hope I can read that many next month. What did YOU guys read in June? What were your favorites? Leave links of your wrap-up posts in the comments below! =)

Happy reading!

Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

"When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero."

Title: Something Like Normal

Author: Trish Doller

Release Date: June 19, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's

Pages: 214, Hardcover

I was beyond excited to find out that I had the opportunity to read Something Like Normal before the release date. But for some reason, I didn't read it until a week after it's publication date. And I totally regret doing that. This is a book you should pick up right now, simply for it's relatable characters, creative plot, and ingenious writing.

Something Like Normal isn't your average contemporary. We follow a 19 year-old man named Travis. He's broken-in and rough after his time served in Afghanistan. He doesn't exactly miss home when he returns, especially when nearly every night, he is haunted by Charlie's (his best friend during his time in Afghanistan) death. He isn't exactly excited about seeing his family, or Paige, his ex, either. But when he reunites with a girl from his pre-teen years, he find his life to be something like normal.

One of the (many) things I adored in this novel was the characters. Not only did I love reading the story from a male's perspective, but he was incredibly real and alive. I understood his actions and emotions very clearly, and I am inclined to say that I'm impressed to see that the author is a woman, because Trish Doller did such an amazing job thinking through a 19-year old man's mind. And I couldn't have asked for a better love interest. Harper was perfect; yes, as a couple, but also in the sense that she helped him live a somewhat more normal life than he had before. She mended him, and that's honestly all I needed to ask for.

Another factor I rooted for was the humor. I found myself cracking up because even though Travis was struggling through a lot of problems within his family and friends, he still had that charming & sarcastic sense of humor to keep everyone on their toes.

The plot was also very entertaining. It was drama-filled; and there was a variety of different pacing throughout the entire novel which I really appreciated. I most definitely had a smile of some sort at the end of each chapter. The only thing I wish could have changed in the novel was the length. I totally would have loved to get more Travis & Harper. =)

Trish Doller, you have crafted one of my favorite novels of the year, and I thank you for that. I loved hearing Travis's story and his growth. Everyone, this is a novel you will want to pick up and read for yourselves.

Grade: A+

Source: Publisher via Netgalley-- Thank you Bloomsbury for the review copy!