As I Wake

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Series: Stand Alone

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Released: 15 September 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.
Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

For Fans Of: The Predicteds, Frost and Between

My Review: As I Wake is one of those novels that you either love or you hate.  Unfortunately although I am a huge Elizabeth Scott fan I had an incredibly hard time with this one.

Scott relies so much on the idea of parallel universes without really explaining hers.  In every novel I feel that if the author is going to introduce a new, or at least new to the novel concept they should at lease try to explain it.  However, reading As I Wake is like walking into the mid season finale of a show that you’ve never seen and trying to catch yourself up on the past three seasons.  I kept waiting for a big reveal scene that never came. 

As I Wake is definitely more of a science fiction novel than anything else.  And it left me wondering why Scott had left behind her Sarah Dessen-like characters for something like this.  It was hard to understand and when a book comes in a not even three hundred pages it makes you wonder, if Scott had time to explain things why didn’t she?  Why didn’t an editor tell her to? 

Honestly, I picked this book up because I liked Scott’s past work, and because the cover was really gorgeous, but after reading it I felt confused.  I would definitely pass.

Where She Went

Author: Gayle Forman

Series: If I Stay # 2

Genres: Realistic, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Released: 5 April 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

For Fans Of: If I Stay, The Piper’s Son, and The Sky is Everywhere

My Review:  Okay, I’ll admit, when I saw Where She Went at the bookstore, I kind of freaked out.  I had no idea that Gayle Forman was planning a sequel, and because of that I was really hesitant to pick this one up.  If I Stay was such a good read for me, and I felt like it ended in a really good place without having to continue onwards.  So, it was with this attitude that I picked up Where She Went.  Purely to see what Forman had done.

And I’ll admit, I was a little bit surprised.   And, I’ll admit, kind of bummed that Adam and Mia weren’t together.  That Adam had, in fact, turned into kind of a dick.  Maybe I needed a refresher of If I Stay before I headed into this one, but really?  I don’t remember Adam acting this despondent.  Of course, If I Stay was told from the perspective of a loving girlfriend, and not from Adam’s point of view, but still.  A little confused at the character turn.

However, by the time Adam ends up in New York with Mia on their last night, I felt like he had begun to redeem himself a little bit.  Where If I Stay was all about Mia and her healing, or at least acceptance process, Where She Went is all about Adam’s acceptance and healing process.  I’ll admit, I spent a lot of time in this novel kind of wanting to rip my hair out, but in the end I was glad I read it.  If only to see what happened after If I Stay.  It was a quick read that definitely made you think, and if you’ve read If I Stay, I definitely recommend that you also read Where She Went.

If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Series: If I Stay # 1

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Released: 2 April 2009

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

For Fans Of: The Sky is Everywhere, Saving June, and Before I Fall

My Review:  If I Stay, to me, seems like the book that every other book wants to be.  And I get it, really I do.  But if every book is trying to be If I Stay than what happens to other books?  Like, really original books that are just as good, or better than If I Stay?  Just wondering…

Anyways, I really enjoyed it (like many) it was both heart wrenching and hopeful and seeing Mia’s memories from the perspective that they’re shown is something really different and incredibly enjoyable when it comes to ya lit.  I felt like everything flowed together really nicely, especially considering the fact that not all of her memories are going in chronological order.

I really enjoyed that Forman gave us all a playlist at the end, music plays as much of a role as most of the characters, so I was grateful for that added help (and some of the songs became my favorites!) and thought that was put into this novel.  I liked that at the end the choice is still Mia’s.

This book definitely makes you think about what happens after death, do the dead linger with us?  Forman explores a lot of these concepts and really makes you think about what it’s like to die, and yet she still has a way of making you not think about death.  This novel wasn’t morbid, nor was it incredible hopeful.  It was about a life, and a choice.  Sometimes I think that the simplest of plots turn out the best of novels, and that’s how If I Stay was for me.

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Series: Companion books with Anna and the French Kiss and Isla and the Happily Ever After

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Publisher: Dutton Books

Released: 29 September 2011

Summary courtesy of goodreads.com: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.  When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door

For Fans Of: Sarah Dessen, Flat Out Love, Anna and the French Kiss, and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

My Review: Lola, oh Lola.  How I have loved you.  Lola and the Boy Next Door is the companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss.  Although many have mentioned that they like Anna better, I have to disagree.  Lola was amazing!  Although maybe I wasn’t the biggest fan of Lola herself (although I did envy her wardrobe, and her awesome dads! < < not a typo) I was a MASSIVE fan of one Mr. Cricket Bell.

Holy crap can anyone say SWOOOOONNNN??  Because that’s what I did people! I freaking SWOONED.  As she did with Anna and Paris, with Lola Perkins set the stage of San Francisco (another one of my favorite cities) perfectly.  Right down to the houses that line the streets and the parks that seem to pop up out of no where.  She also wove her characters together perfectly.  The relationships in Lola felt somehow, more real, than they did in Anna.  Maybe it’s because it is Perkins' second novel and she is dealing with more adult aged characters instead of high school kids?  Who knows, but I know that the way Perkins voices her adults it perfect.  Especially the adults in Lola’s life. For me, Perkins has always been a master of dialogue, seriously guys.  It’s not heady like Veronica Mars or Brick, it’s just real.  The conversations that run through this book are conversations that I have had with my parents, or with people that I know.  She is such an incredible talent of an author.

There were a lot of points where I felt like, “this is Anna, from St. Clair’s point of view” St. Clair and Lola are so similar personality and life-situation wise.  It was so nice to see the story from Lola’s point of view, to see her struggle.  Lola is the kind of heroine that I can really get behind because she cares a lot about Cricket.  She cares more about him than she cares about herself.  I feel like, not only is Lola an incredibly enjoyable and practically perfect read, it is also sending out the right message (finally!) to girls every where: That relationships are about being there for each other and building things up together.  They’re about caring more about the other person than yourself.  That’s the message that I took away from Lola, and that is the reason that I truly love it so much. (though her outfits and family helped a lot too) However, I DO recommend that you read Anna and the French Kiss first (if not just so you can squeal when characters re-appear).

Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Series: Companion Books with Lola and the Boy Next Door and Isla and the Happily Ever After

Genres: Young Adult, Travel, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Dutton Books

Released: 2 December 2010

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

For Fans Of: Flat Out Love, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour

My Review: This book was one of those books that, afterwards, my heart was a little overflowing.  It is completely one hundred percent romantic comedy fairytale.  Set in Paris.  So seriously, fairytale.  After reading this book I thought, “that was incredible, but not how love is at all.”  However, like Jane Eyre, and basically ever other YA book out there, I loved it.  Anna was sweet, Anna was the every girl.  Anna did some stupid things, but she made up for it by being awesome.  If I could have a fictional character come to life and be my friend, I’m pretty sure I would want that friend to be Anna.  She’s really patient, especially when it comes to St. Clair and she tries hard.

However, St. Clair I had a hard time with.  St. Clair does a lot of really stupid things, St. Clair makes a lot of ridiculous mistakes.  St. Clair is why this story can be so deliciously aggravating.   Just know, there are going to be moments when you want to punch St. Clair in the face.

My favorite thing about this book, besides Anna, is: Paris.  Ahhhhh, Paris.  Perkins does such an incredible job of creating the city of lights that I felt like I was back there again.  It made me want to go back there again! You could tell that Perkins definitely had an incredible knowledge of the city and Paris and Anna are what really made this story so great for me.

This book was a really wonderful feel-good, wish you could fall in love amongst the streets of Paris.  I recommend it for this summer, but I recommend Lola and the Boy Next Door (the companion novel) even more!

The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Series: stand alone

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Dutton Books

Released: 10 January 2012

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

For Fans Of: A Walk to Remember, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

My Review: The Fault in Our Stars was my first experience with John Green, I know I know I’m coming to him late, where have I been? Why was I not required to read Looking for Alaska?  I’m old okay, and because they drop the f-bomb so much in Looking for Alaska they have it shelved in the adult section at the library, a section that I seldomly stray into.  Anyways, I digress.  The Fault in Our Stars, was one of those books that kind of blindsides you without really meaning to (or maybe it did mean to?) Gus is so straightforward and Hazel is so – great.  She is just incredible really.  She is how I wished girls with cancer in other books acted.  She doesn’t put on airs, and she is so honest when it comes to Gus.  I loved the way that Green writes, his sentences are packed with perfect descriptions of things, and so quick and to the point.  John Green is obviously one smart dude.

As for the actual plot of this book, I don’t want to give anything away so I’m just going to say this: I read a lot of books, and I mean a lot, and rarely do they stay with me the way that this one did.  This book ripped my heart out, and not in a gasping way, but in a quiet, slow, cut one artery and vein out at a time way.  I read it in an afternoon (I hate when I do that, I feel like its kind of a disservice to the author’s hard work) and then proceeded to think about it for the next two weeks almost constantly. Yes, it was slightly angsty at times, but guess what?  High school is angsty.  Being a teenager is angsty.  And having cancer gives characters every single right to be a little angsty.  Maybe the vocabulary was more intellectual then most teens, but again.  It is consistent.  These characters are well developed from the beginning, I know it may be hard to believe but there are smart kids in high school out there, and they do talk the way that Gus and Hazel talk.  The point is, this book didn’t get bogged down by angsty-ness.  It had its moments, but it was really about love, and about learning to deal with things that are hard, like grief.  John Green captures teens and their lives in his books the same way that John Hughes does in his films.  This is legendary.  This book has potential to change the way you think. Let it.