Weekly Book Haul (24)

I didn't get TOO much this week, but they are ALL. SO. AWESOME!

Library:

• Everneath by Brodi Ashton

*cringes* I don't even know if I'll get to this one but it was all pretty on the new shelf and I couldn't help myself.

Bought (Amazon Kindle):

• Variant by Robison Wells-$2.99

*HarpterTeen is having Epic Deals! 

From Netgalley:

• Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
• The Kill Order by James Dashner
• Midnight City by J. Barton Mitchell

*Thanks to Random House and St.Martin's Press! (major squealing and bouncing off the walls were involved upon approval of these titles.)

My Reading Pile (July 14-July 20) hosted by Rachel @Fiktshun

I hope to finish listening to Glass Houses by Rachel Caine sometime this week, it's quite a long audiobook! I want to start the next one in the series. I also want to read The Catastrophic History of You and Me (back on the pile) and The Princesses of Iowa. Possibly start Unwind.

What did YOU get this week? What's on your reading pile? 

Feel free to leave links and I will stop by your blog and comment! :)

Happy reading, everyone!

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

""I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.
So wrong for each other...and yet so right.
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again."

Title: Pushing the Limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Pages: 384, Hardcover

"'Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn't necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.'"-Pushing the Limits (quoted from eARC, not final)

All 384 pages of this lovely book was worth it.

Not only did PUSHING THE LIMITS contain a steamy romance, it was able to capture the depth of two problematic teens who are just trying to find normal. I felt everything in this book: anger, love, loss, hope, and so much more. The plot, humorous writing, and the characters DEFINITELY will grab hold of the reader's attention until all 384 pages are consumed.

The plot was strong and intricate. I don't think there is a thing that I didn't enjoy about the plot. The way Noah & Echo met, worked together, and later, their relationship. Although the pacing wasn't incredibly fast, it still kept me flipping pages (er, tapping on my Kindle). The conflicts that interfered were perfect and purposeful; it was easy to follow along.

THE WRITING! I LOVED Katie McGarry's writing style! It was really comical and amusing, and I definitely highlighted a lot of lines in the story, because they are just KEEPERS.

" 'Are you ready to take the ACT on Saturday?' my father asked. Did chickens enjoy being put on trucks labeled KFC? 'Sure'." -Pushing the Limits (quoted from eARC, not final).

And, best for last, the characters. Oh lord, the characters. Can I just say that I adored just about every single character? They were all extremely different but I loved them all the same! Echo and Noah were so emotionally damaged, but their process of healing was so beautiful to watch. And their freaking relationship. TORE ME TO PIECES I LOVED IT SO MUCH. One of *the* steamiest relationships I have ever read (McGarry is the queen of steamy)! Beth and Isaiah were hilarious. Well, Isaiah was. Jacob & Tyler, I JUST WANT TO KIDNAP YOU GUYS they are so adorable. The characters really kept me going in this book.

Ultimately, PUSHING THE LIMITS is one flawless contemporary novel that has deserved a spot on my favorite books of 2012. This is one EVERYONE should pick up, for the intriguing characters,  endearing romance, witty writing, and fantastic plot.

Grade: A+

Source: Publisher via Netgalley--Thanks so much Harlequin TEEN! 

Waiting on: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

"For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided. A political rebellion ignited. A love that was meant to last forever.
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. "

GOODREADS -- AUTHOR WEBSITE


Title: Mystic City
Author: Theo Lawrence
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Random House Children's Books


This whole book looks awesome. A mix of some sick dystopians, and that COVER. Wow, talk about intriguing. 


What are you waiting on? :D 
Leave links below! 
*Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at BtS

Review: The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

"Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother. 
After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists. 
With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?
Annaliese? Or herself?"

Title: The Unquiet

Author: Jeannine Garsee

Release Date: July 17, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 388, Hardcover

The Unquiet reminded me a lot of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

Kind of.

Besides the ghosts and all that in this novel, there was definitely that psychological thriller aspect in there. Yes, the ghost-part was a little scary, but no, the psyc.-thriller part wasn't as awesome as Mara Dyer. In fact, The Unquiet left me really, really disappointed. Furthermore, the novel was way too stretched out for me, and I think it could've been shorter. Or maybe that's just me, wanting the story to be over.

The characters completely fell flat for me. None of them stood out. I didn't like Rinn, the main character, because I just couldn't connect. Sure, she was different than most characters because she is bipolar and almost committed suicide, but okay. Alrighty. Now what? And at first, I liked Nate (the love interest) a lot but then I just grew really bored of him. And all of Rinn's "friends"? Shaaalllooww. Why would you ever be friends with them?

Also, the concept didn't even make much sense. There was a LOT of things going on. I understand that it had the psychological thriller-type thing going, and the point is to blow your mind, but some areas just could have been elaborated more. For example, the Voice(s). It was pretty much described in one sentence. And the shadows. I would have loved to hear more of the history behind that.

Lastly, the ending was just disappointing. UM, HELLO. Isn't the conclusion of a novel supposed to be AWESOME since it's kind of what the reader remembers? Well, in this case, it just kind of ended for me. They were supposed to figure out the whole ghost business. They did, but in a way that I wasn't expecting (in a bad way). I was expecting so much more EPIC from it. The build up and tension right before the conclusion was so great, and then it sky-dived suddenly into a shallow pit that left me extremely disappointed.

The ONLY reason why I could finish this book was the creepiness. Yes, I do love me some creep-factor! I was pretty scared. Yeah, I liked it. It kept me up on my toes, and the suspense was really heavy at some points!

In the long run, The Unquiet was a shudder-some novel that wasn't exactly for me, simply because the characters didn't stand out, the concept left me perplexed, and the result fell short of my expectations.

Nonetheless, if you like creepy ghost and thriller-type novels, I'd recommend giving this one a try.

Grade: C+

Source: Publisher via Netgalley--thank you Bloomsbury! 

Review: On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

"When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.
T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends. 
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man."

Title: On the Island

Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves

Release Date: (Re-Release:August 16, 2012 PB) September 3, 2011

Publisher: (Re-Release: Penguin/Plume)

Pages: 368, Paperback

Wow, you guys, seriously. One of the MOST. Phenomenal books I have read this year.

Read it.

But actually, the entire premise was breathtaking and engrossing. The whole time! I don't think I've ever read so long at a time. (3-4 hours straight? Yeah, I think so.) I was captivated because the dangers and adventures that T.J. and Anna went through was just extremely intense. I loved it. And it's inspiring. So, so inspiring.

I would like to let everyone know that this is not a YA novel. It's targeted toward Women's fiction (I'm pretty sure), but it does have YA crossover appeal. I had no problem reading it, since one of the main characters start out as a 16 year-old boy.

ON THE ISLAND is not your typical read. At first, reading the synopsis, I was a little… disappointed. Another story about a plane crash, and getting stranded on the island? First thoughts: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. But still, I went on with it and boy was I wrong. The growth of Anna and T.J.'s relationship was beautiful. I was reluctant about their romance as well, but then I thought about it and it kind of just seemed.. Natural after awhile. I would be pretty darn close to someone if I were stuck on the island with them for 4 years, too. In the end, it was all perfect and myheartjustdied. In a good way.

Pretty much what I'm saying is, go read this book. I clearly have a hard time writing a decent review for miraculous books. And this one was just beyond miraculous. Exceeded my expectations.

Grade: A+

Source: Publisher via Netgalley--Thank you Penguin Group! 

Review: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

"Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice,until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places."

Title: Liesl & Po

Author: Lauren Oliver

Release Date: October 4, 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 307, Hardcover

What an amazing middle grade! I don't usually read middle grades, but since this one was from Lauren Oliver, and I had heard so many wonderful things about it, I decided that I had to pick it up. And I'm so glad that I did! There were so many aspects that I loved about this story; the characters, the magical-ness, and the story-blending. The story simply leaves the reader yearning and wanting more.

The story starts off with many different characters. Liesl, a little girl in the attic. Will, a little boy who is an apprentice to the Alchemist. Po & Bundle, ghosts from the Otherside that only Liesl can see. The Alchemist, known to make magic. A box of magic and a box of ashes becomes an ongoing problematic chase. Each character's story somehow blends together and their issues seem to mix and the outcome of it is a very powerful and enchanting story.

The characters were so fabulous! Liesl, Will, Po, and Bundle work so well together as a team. I loved how Will and Liesl met--two orphans who crossed paths, in hiding. Of course, I loved the evil villains, they were very evil indeed, just how I like them. And Mo! We can't forget about him! Let's just say, even if he isn't the brightest, he has the biggest heart.

The plot was very well-paced. The introduction to each character was great, their own stories so unique. And Lauren Oliver did such an outstanding job of slowly intertwining their anecdotes together! I was astounded and very content with the story-blending.

Lo and behold, the magical-ness! This story certainly brought me back to the days of endless fairytales and magic. It was so wonderful to read a light story for children again. This story left me a bit nostalgic.

Assuredly, LIESL & PO is a middle grade you won't want to miss out on. It's adorable, with characters that will make you want to join the adventure. It will surely leave readers wanting more MG from Lauren Oliver!

Audiobook Performance: *applauds Jim Dale* Once again, this narrator is just professional and keeps the listener engrossed in the story with great narrating.

Grade: A

Source: Online Library (Audiobook)

Weekly Book Haul (23)

I got some freaking awesome books this week! =)

Bought (from Amazon Kindle)

• The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson-$2.99
• Eve by Anna Carey-$2.99
• Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi-$5.99
• Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols-$3.99

*I'm not sure if these deals are still available, but you should go check! :)

Library

• The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes
• Glass Houses by Rachel Caine (audiobook)

*I know, I KNOW. I'm terrible. 

Netgalley

• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
• Skinny by Donna Cooner

*Thank you so, SO much Scholastic!

My Reading Pile (July 8-July 14) hosted by Rachel @Fiktshun.

This week I plan to start Glass Houses by Rachel Caine! This is #1 in the Morganville Vampire Series. I cannot wait to dig in! I just finished Liesl and Po on audio, so I figured this one would be my next audio. I want to read The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee, as it is a Netgalley title and I need to get it done. I'd love to start Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry as well. I can't wait for that one!


What books did YOU get this week? What's in your reading pile?