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The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
The first time H2O was on NetGalley I was denied for it, and then my library never had it and I always had too many ARCs to read to actually go out and buy it. Recently Sourcebooks Fire sent an e-mail out with the sequel to this book, and this one for download. I jumped at the chance. I am a little torn about this one, I liked it enough to finish it but I didn't love it enough to care about what is going to happen next.
Ruby isn't someone I would get along with in real life. She is way to superficial to me. Girl, almost every you know - wait - EVERYONE but ONE person you know is dead, from some alien bacteria and you are worried about what you look like!? After Simon dies, Ruby gives herself a spray tan and dies her hair red, and from there it only goes down hill. I am thinking the makeup, hair and clothes was Ruby's version of having a mental breakdown. That or she was really at a loss on what to do. Also, I dislike books that the main character knows they are telling a story. Ruby made is clear on the first page she was telling this story, and though she may have had a whit to her and claims she told "Everything she knew." I wasn't a fan of the whole idea. Literally at the end of the book she was talking about if this would get turned into the movie. Ruby, 83% of the world is dead. I doubt anyone wants to produce, let alone make a movie right now.
I liked the idea behind H2O though. An asteroid fell to Earth years earlier, making a big mess of everything. The bacteria that made the rain deadly was in the asteroid, and as soon as it was exposed to Earth's water it was on a feeding/reproduction frenzy. Soon all the water is polluted including the clouds. The bacteria wants to get to your blood. If you ingest it, it will melt your insides, if it touches your skin you will get a rash that burns and hurts so bad that you want to peel your skin off, and eventually you will. The world building and idea for the post apocalyptic world were there. But, Ruby is the problem that I have with it all.
The most emotion that was evoked from me during this book is when she has to leave the dog behind, and he chases the car. I cried a little bit at that. That was the extent of the emotion for this. Sadly, I wasn't a fan of H2O. Which is sad since I was really looking forward to it. I have hopes though that Ruby will grow up a little bit in the next book.
The first time H2O was on NetGalley I was denied for it, and then my library never had it and I always had too many ARCs to read to actually go out and buy it. Recently Sourcebooks Fire sent an e-mail out with the sequel to this book, and this one for download. I jumped at the chance. I am a little torn about this one, I liked it enough to finish it but I didn't love it enough to care about what is going to happen next.
Ruby isn't someone I would get along with in real life. She is way to superficial to me. Girl, almost every you know - wait - EVERYONE but ONE person you know is dead, from some alien bacteria and you are worried about what you look like!? After Simon dies, Ruby gives herself a spray tan and dies her hair red, and from there it only goes down hill. I am thinking the makeup, hair and clothes was Ruby's version of having a mental breakdown. That or she was really at a loss on what to do. Also, I dislike books that the main character knows they are telling a story. Ruby made is clear on the first page she was telling this story, and though she may have had a whit to her and claims she told "Everything she knew." I wasn't a fan of the whole idea. Literally at the end of the book she was talking about if this would get turned into the movie. Ruby, 83% of the world is dead. I doubt anyone wants to produce, let alone make a movie right now.
I liked the idea behind H2O though. An asteroid fell to Earth years earlier, making a big mess of everything. The bacteria that made the rain deadly was in the asteroid, and as soon as it was exposed to Earth's water it was on a feeding/reproduction frenzy. Soon all the water is polluted including the clouds. The bacteria wants to get to your blood. If you ingest it, it will melt your insides, if it touches your skin you will get a rash that burns and hurts so bad that you want to peel your skin off, and eventually you will. The world building and idea for the post apocalyptic world were there. But, Ruby is the problem that I have with it all.
The most emotion that was evoked from me during this book is when she has to leave the dog behind, and he chases the car. I cried a little bit at that. That was the extent of the emotion for this. Sadly, I wasn't a fan of H2O. Which is sad since I was really looking forward to it. I have hopes though that Ruby will grow up a little bit in the next book.
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
I picked up Dreamland five separate times, read a few pages and then put it down. I haven't been in the mood for anything but contemporaries for a few weeks now and I knew that I was either going to love this one or end up getting annoyed with it and not finishing it. Thankfully I loved it. I say thankfully because Dreamland is truly unique and something different in YA.
I am going to do this review a little differently. Let's start out with what I wasn't crazy about. I LOVED everything in this book. I wished that Dream Walking took up more of the story line. Robert had a lot of ways to go with this book and though I found the Dream Worlds and walking interesting I wished that it was more focused on that. The only time we see the Dream World is towards the end when Dea is finally about to find her mother and figure out who killed Connor's mother. It was interesting and unique. I've never seen anything like the world in Dreamland. I am hoping for a book 2 and if that is the case I hope Robert focuses more on the Dream World in it.
Now that all the bad stuff is out of the way lets get along with the positives because there are a lot of them. I really liked Dea's character. Being bullied myself when I was younger I enjoyed seeing Dea being able to keep her head high. I was especially happy she had at least one friend though. Even if it was just during school. When Connor first entered the story I figured he was going to lead Dea on then learn about her from the other students and leave her. But he didn't. I LOVE that he stayed with Dea and Gollum. But he is also an outcast due to his mother and baby brother's murder years earlier. A crime many think he committed.
This book does have a creepy side. I am not going to lie when I say the faceless men from Connor's dreams didn't freak me out. Or the mirrors. Or clocks. It all tied in with the story well. As I said above I loved the Dream World and I would have loved to learn more about. But it is a very creative idea. Overall I do recommend this book. It is a paranormal that will keep you guessing onto the very last page. The ending seemed open, so I am hoping that means there is a possibility for another book to Dreamland.
I picked up Dreamland five separate times, read a few pages and then put it down. I haven't been in the mood for anything but contemporaries for a few weeks now and I knew that I was either going to love this one or end up getting annoyed with it and not finishing it. Thankfully I loved it. I say thankfully because Dreamland is truly unique and something different in YA.
I am going to do this review a little differently. Let's start out with what I wasn't crazy about. I LOVED everything in this book. I wished that Dream Walking took up more of the story line. Robert had a lot of ways to go with this book and though I found the Dream Worlds and walking interesting I wished that it was more focused on that. The only time we see the Dream World is towards the end when Dea is finally about to find her mother and figure out who killed Connor's mother. It was interesting and unique. I've never seen anything like the world in Dreamland. I am hoping for a book 2 and if that is the case I hope Robert focuses more on the Dream World in it.
Now that all the bad stuff is out of the way lets get along with the positives because there are a lot of them. I really liked Dea's character. Being bullied myself when I was younger I enjoyed seeing Dea being able to keep her head high. I was especially happy she had at least one friend though. Even if it was just during school. When Connor first entered the story I figured he was going to lead Dea on then learn about her from the other students and leave her. But he didn't. I LOVE that he stayed with Dea and Gollum. But he is also an outcast due to his mother and baby brother's murder years earlier. A crime many think he committed.
This book does have a creepy side. I am not going to lie when I say the faceless men from Connor's dreams didn't freak me out. Or the mirrors. Or clocks. It all tied in with the story well. As I said above I loved the Dream World and I would have loved to learn more about. But it is a very creative idea. Overall I do recommend this book. It is a paranormal that will keep you guessing onto the very last page. The ending seemed open, so I am hoping that means there is a possibility for another book to Dreamland.
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
So, I liked Need. It is one of those books that I don't have much to say about. But I will try. Long story short, NEED is a social experiment of the students of Nottawa high school. It starts off as an invite only site, but eventually as the site gains popularity NEED asks them to do something more. Now, people who want their "needs" granted have to complete an assignment on the behalf of NEED. Soon, people are dying, being frames, and no one but the high school students know about the site that is under it all.
Need changed POVs way too many times for my liking. Every time I thought that Joelle was done adding POVs another one was added. After the fourth person I was getting confused with who was who. Kaylee (Our MC) is told in first person point of view, and the rest in third person. She was the only character, besides Nate that I was able to get a clear view on. Kaylee, is a social out cast. A few months earlier her brother was told he needed a kidney transplant, and in desperation she begged people to be tested. Do to her actions in trying to find her brother a kidney, Kaylee isn't believed by her mother or the police when she founds a connection between Amanda's death and NEED.
This book is incredibly hard to talk about with out spoiling the whole thing. So I am apologizing now for such a short review. Need reminded me a lot of The Monkey's Paw. It was a required reading for my 10th grade English class and it taught the lesson that there is a price for everything you ask for. Which I think is what Need got at. None of the things that people were asking for where actually needs. They were wants. Kaylee asked for a kidney for her brother. That was an actual need and there for she wasn't asked to do anything vs. the people who only wanted something who had to complete an incriminating action.
Overall I liked Need. I had a few issues with it (spoiler things) that caused my rating to be on the low side. But the ending was left open so I am really curious to see if there will be a book two in the future.
So, I liked Need. It is one of those books that I don't have much to say about. But I will try. Long story short, NEED is a social experiment of the students of Nottawa high school. It starts off as an invite only site, but eventually as the site gains popularity NEED asks them to do something more. Now, people who want their "needs" granted have to complete an assignment on the behalf of NEED. Soon, people are dying, being frames, and no one but the high school students know about the site that is under it all.
Need changed POVs way too many times for my liking. Every time I thought that Joelle was done adding POVs another one was added. After the fourth person I was getting confused with who was who. Kaylee (Our MC) is told in first person point of view, and the rest in third person. She was the only character, besides Nate that I was able to get a clear view on. Kaylee, is a social out cast. A few months earlier her brother was told he needed a kidney transplant, and in desperation she begged people to be tested. Do to her actions in trying to find her brother a kidney, Kaylee isn't believed by her mother or the police when she founds a connection between Amanda's death and NEED.
This book is incredibly hard to talk about with out spoiling the whole thing. So I am apologizing now for such a short review. Need reminded me a lot of The Monkey's Paw. It was a required reading for my 10th grade English class and it taught the lesson that there is a price for everything you ask for. Which I think is what Need got at. None of the things that people were asking for where actually needs. They were wants. Kaylee asked for a kidney for her brother. That was an actual need and there for she wasn't asked to do anything vs. the people who only wanted something who had to complete an incriminating action.
Overall I liked Need. I had a few issues with it (spoiler things) that caused my rating to be on the low side. But the ending was left open so I am really curious to see if there will be a book two in the future.
So I was excited because I've heard great things about Nix's writing. Sigh. Review to come
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
We'll Never Be Apart is such a me book. I love psychological thrillers and We'll Never Be Apart didn't let me down. Besides the fact I predicted the outcome of the book in the first few pages, I was still shocked about how everything was executed.
Alice and Cellie have been in and out of mental hospitals, foster homes, and halfway houses most of their lives. There was always one constant though: Jason. Jason helped Alice escape Savage Isle before, and they hid away in a barn. When that barn caught on fire and Jason died, Alice was sent back to the very place she was trying to escape. Convinced the the fire and Jason's death is all her twin sister Cellie's fault Alice starts to plot her revenge. With the help of Chase, a boy who is said to be committed for murder Alice learns the real horrifying truth about her past.
Now, as I said before I predicted this book from the very start. So as I read I was shaking my head at Alice's foolishness in some aspects. But overall I did like her as a character. At first she is very reluctant in her treatment, she is hurt (both physically and emotionally) and mourning the death of Jason. The boy she was in love with. As the story goes one the reader sees Alice begin to realize that her memory isn't all the reliable and not everything was as black and white as it seemed. What if Jason was just as bad as Cellie? As Alice answers these questions she grows as a character, and begins to accept the help that she needs.
The romance is where I took a star off. I liked Chase's character, and I feel for his backstory. No one should have to go through what he did. But, I felt the romance was a little rushed. Maybe I missed something, but Alice wasn't in Savage Isle all that long before the "butterflies" and other things started along with her attraction to him. Especially since she was so in love with Jason, who just died. Alice moved on kind of fast. But that could also go back to the things she learned.
Overall I enjoyed We'll Never Be Apart. It was a head trip and though I caught on to what was happening pretty early on it still shocked me. Especially the epilogue! I probably looked liked a fish out of water trying to comprehend what happened.
We'll Never Be Apart is such a me book. I love psychological thrillers and We'll Never Be Apart didn't let me down. Besides the fact I predicted the outcome of the book in the first few pages, I was still shocked about how everything was executed.
Alice and Cellie have been in and out of mental hospitals, foster homes, and halfway houses most of their lives. There was always one constant though: Jason. Jason helped Alice escape Savage Isle before, and they hid away in a barn. When that barn caught on fire and Jason died, Alice was sent back to the very place she was trying to escape. Convinced the the fire and Jason's death is all her twin sister Cellie's fault Alice starts to plot her revenge. With the help of Chase, a boy who is said to be committed for murder Alice learns the real horrifying truth about her past.
Now, as I said before I predicted this book from the very start. So as I read I was shaking my head at Alice's foolishness in some aspects. But overall I did like her as a character. At first she is very reluctant in her treatment, she is hurt (both physically and emotionally) and mourning the death of Jason. The boy she was in love with. As the story goes one the reader sees Alice begin to realize that her memory isn't all the reliable and not everything was as black and white as it seemed. What if Jason was just as bad as Cellie? As Alice answers these questions she grows as a character, and begins to accept the help that she needs.
The romance is where I took a star off. I liked Chase's character, and I feel for his backstory. No one should have to go through what he did. But, I felt the romance was a little rushed. Maybe I missed something, but Alice wasn't in Savage Isle all that long before the "butterflies" and other things started along with her attraction to him. Especially since she was so in love with Jason, who just died. Alice moved on kind of fast. But that could also go back to the things she learned.
Overall I enjoyed We'll Never Be Apart. It was a head trip and though I caught on to what was happening pretty early on it still shocked me. Especially the epilogue! I probably looked liked a fish out of water trying to comprehend what happened.
I may give it another shot before publication date. But for now I have no interest anymore.
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
The summary really didn't give me much to go on about this story. It was a book I requested a long time ago, was interested in and then when it came time to read it I didn't want to anymore. I am glad I made myself read it though. I would have been crazy to miss this gem. I am going to mention one important thing though: There is a minor detail of cheating. It isn't bad, but I know a lot of people have no tolerance for it.
I liked West for the most part. She is from a small town where everyone knows everyone, her dad is the pastor, and her summer car is detailing cars. She is pretty simple. West had been dating Elliot for the past two years, life was comfortable for her. Then she meets Silas, who is new to town and his twin sister who is a little on the strange side. It is pretty much hate at first sight. West couldn't wait to get away from him, to never see his face again. Until her dad offers Silas to be West's detailing assistant. As summer goes on West and Silas grow closer, and Silas's sister comes out of her shell a bit. But suddenly West has all these questions about herself, and the world that she never had before she knew Silas.
I would have liked West more if she didn't constantly flirt with Silas and lead him on while she was still with Elliot. Poor Elliot, he was planning the rest of his life to be with West when she was making heart eyes at Silas. Imagining how he kisses and ect. Eventually West does end things with Elliot, and peruses Silas. Here is what annoyed me: West made a point to tell us that her and Elliot haven't had sex yet. Which, she explains to being afraid, and her dad being the pastor and all. Which I totally got. But then when the moment arises for her and Silas she dives head first with out any questions. Giving a boy she only knew for a few months her virginity. The moment she mentioned it in the first chapter I knew what was going to happen. It wasn't a shock, more of just "when is it going to happen" sort of thing. I loved the constant banter between West and Silas, there were so many moments where I was laughing out loud at what one or the other said.
Besides the romance the book takes on a bit of a darker tone. In the summary it says: "But Silas has a sister-- and she has a secret." I wasn't expecting for mental illness to take a part of this book. Laurel has Solipsism disorder which basically means she believes reality is a dream. She created this life, and one day she will wake up and it will all have been a dream. Silas isn't real. West isn't real. God isn't real. It was really heart breaking to read, Laurel was an amazing character and she was obviously in pain. Which leads to this: Jackie managed to wedge a knife in my heart. I haven't cried for a book in a long time. The same night that West and Silas sneak off in the tower and have sex is the same night that Laurel drove her car off the bridge and though she didn't die instantly she did later that night.
From there I predicted everything that was going to happen (Which was only 17% more of the book). I did how ever expect West and Silas to get back together in the end, which they don't. But I understand how Jackie left everything off for the reader. Trust bought forward a lot of questions about fate, and life, and taught lessons about friendship. Overall I will be looking forward to Jackie's writing in the future.
The summary really didn't give me much to go on about this story. It was a book I requested a long time ago, was interested in and then when it came time to read it I didn't want to anymore. I am glad I made myself read it though. I would have been crazy to miss this gem. I am going to mention one important thing though: There is a minor detail of cheating. It isn't bad, but I know a lot of people have no tolerance for it.
I liked West for the most part. She is from a small town where everyone knows everyone, her dad is the pastor, and her summer car is detailing cars. She is pretty simple. West had been dating Elliot for the past two years, life was comfortable for her. Then she meets Silas, who is new to town and his twin sister who is a little on the strange side. It is pretty much hate at first sight. West couldn't wait to get away from him, to never see his face again. Until her dad offers Silas to be West's detailing assistant. As summer goes on West and Silas grow closer, and Silas's sister comes out of her shell a bit. But suddenly West has all these questions about herself, and the world that she never had before she knew Silas.
I would have liked West more if she didn't constantly flirt with Silas and lead him on while she was still with Elliot. Poor Elliot, he was planning the rest of his life to be with West when she was making heart eyes at Silas. Imagining how he kisses and ect. Eventually West does end things with Elliot, and peruses Silas. Here is what annoyed me: West made a point to tell us that her and Elliot haven't had sex yet. Which, she explains to being afraid, and her dad being the pastor and all. Which I totally got. But then when the moment arises for her and Silas she dives head first with out any questions. Giving a boy she only knew for a few months her virginity. The moment she mentioned it in the first chapter I knew what was going to happen. It wasn't a shock, more of just "when is it going to happen" sort of thing. I loved the constant banter between West and Silas, there were so many moments where I was laughing out loud at what one or the other said.
Besides the romance the book takes on a bit of a darker tone. In the summary it says: "But Silas has a sister-- and she has a secret." I wasn't expecting for mental illness to take a part of this book. Laurel has Solipsism disorder which basically means she believes reality is a dream. She created this life, and one day she will wake up and it will all have been a dream. Silas isn't real. West isn't real. God isn't real. It was really heart breaking to read, Laurel was an amazing character and she was obviously in pain. Which leads to this: Jackie managed to wedge a knife in my heart. I haven't cried for a book in a long time. The same night that West and Silas sneak off in the tower and have sex is the same night that Laurel drove her car off the bridge and though she didn't die instantly she did later that night.
From there I predicted everything that was going to happen (Which was only 17% more of the book). I did how ever expect West and Silas to get back together in the end, which they don't. But I understand how Jackie left everything off for the reader. Trust bought forward a lot of questions about fate, and life, and taught lessons about friendship. Overall I will be looking forward to Jackie's writing in the future.
