Category: ya contemporary

Reviews, ya contemporary, ya romance

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Veronica Porras (TTB)

the-fault-in-our-stars

Goodreads Summary:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours 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 tumours 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.

What I like:

I absolutely adored the relationship between Augustus and Hazel. I loved the humor and the witty lines in this book. I was pleasantly surprised because I was expecting something along the lines of an Abundance of Katherines and Looking for Alaska hybrid and it wasn’t. I am not one to love every part of a book; I can always find something wrong with it, but this book just left me breathless and actually made me shed a tear. A tear for me is the equivalence of others sobbing. The letter at the end that Augustus wrote was beautiful. It left me gasping for breathe with how beautifully written it was.

What I dislike:

The only complaint I have with this book is how the relationship of Augustus and Hazel ended up turning out in the end.

Overall:

I cannot express how much I love this book so I will just say it was brilliant and it will not be easily forgotten.

Rating: 5/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hated it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I liked it (A fun read).

4/5: I really like it, but something was missing.

5/5: I love it! A Masterpiece!

Reviews, ya contemporary, ya romance

Book Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Veronica Porras (TTB)

15805597

Goodreads Summary:

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

What I liked:

I can describe this book in one single word… perfection. There is a reason why I bought this book without even glancing at the synopsis and just on the basis that it is written by Sarah Ockler. Her writing is phenomenal. I can just read and lose myself into the pages she has written. That my friends is a God given talent.

I was not expecting the ending because the new trend in YA is to have a unhappy ending or as some people call it, a realistic ending. Excuse me, there can be a happy ending in real life too. Its how you view it, half empty or half full. I loved all of the characters, especially the Holy Trio, or Jude’s three older sisters. Being the youngest girl in my family, I can connect with Jude with how difficult it is being the youngest.

I think a reason this book hit home with me is because of the use of the spanish language and hispanic boys. I loved the way hispanic americans were portrayed. A little bit of our past culture mixed in with the american culture. Just how we are in real life.

One more thing, where can I find an Emilio Vargas all for myself? 🙂

What I disliked:

I wish we had more Emilio and Jude moments. I also wish the book was longer.

Overall:

The Book of Broken Hearts deals with a heavy subject without making you sob uncontrollably (Can we all say The Fault in Our Stars?). It has romance, family, good advice, and it mentions amazing food that I wish I could be eating right now. Empanadas anybody?

If you are a fan of Sarah Dessen, Morgan Matson, or just some good YA Contemporary, this is the book for you.

Rating 5/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hate it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I like it /A fun read.

4/5: I really like it, but something is missing.

5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!

Reviews, ya contemporary

Short Book Review: Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by Miranda Keneally

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

“Whoever said football and girls don’t mix hasn’t read Catching Jordan. I couldn’t put it down ” — Simone Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she’s ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he’s also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan’s feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart’s on the line?

Review:

I was a bit skeptical about this book because I thought to myself I can not in any way relate to Jordan, I’m not a football player but after reading the first chapter at Barnes & Nobles, I went against my previous stance and bought the book. This book was perfect. Some people say it was cliche but I have a different opinion. To me it was the opposite of cliche. The love triangle was very different in the sense of I didn’t expect it to turn out like it did. I loved this book and the fact that Jordan stood up for herself and when she saw that something was wrong for her, she changed her behavior and did what was best for her. In YA we see a lot of female characters be at the mercy of the guy and I loved that Jordan was not that girl.

Rating: 5/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hated it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I liked it (A fun read).

4/5: I really like it, but something was missing.

5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!

Reviews, ya contemporary

Short Book Review: Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

Veronica Porras (TTB)
Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald
Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

Goodreads Summary:

Take an administrative snafu, a bad breakup, and “The Hot-Tub Incident,” and you’ve got two thoroughly unprepared sophomores on a semester abroad. For American party girl Tasha, an escape to Oxford may be a chance to ditch her fame as a tabloid temptress, but wading Uggs-deep in feminist theory is not her idea of a break. Meanwhile, the British half of the exchange, studious Emily, nurses an aching heart amid the bikinis and beer pong of U.C. Santa Barbara. With an anthropologist’s eye for detail and a true ear for teen-speak, Abby McDonald crafts a funny, fast-paced, poignant look at survival, sisterhood, and the surprising ways we discover our true selves.

Review:

Folks, this is what I call good Realist Young Adult Contemporary Fiction. Phew… that was a long title but I want you to know what this book is all about. The first novel I read by Abby McDonald was Getting Over Garrett Delaney and it is one of my favorite novels to date. I’m pretty sure most of you know that by now. I believe this book was the first book she wrote for YA (Don’t quote me on that, I haven’t researched all of her completed works yet) and it was almost as Good as GOGD. This book was a little slow and almost a bit blah in the first one hundred pages, but after that, I remembered why Abby McDonald has become one of my favorite authors of this time. I’m a little tired of books that are too hard on my emotions and this book did connect me emotionally to the story but it did not rip me to shreds. Thank you Abby McDonald for taking care of my feelings.

This is a must read for everyone. Well, if you like YA or realist books that is. 🙂

Caution: This book is marked as Age 14 and up. It does not contain mature content but people openly talk about having sex in the book but they never describe sex at all. Just a warning to parents.

Rating: 4/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hated it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I liked it (A fun read).

4/5: I really like it, but something was missing.

5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!

Reviews, ya contemporary

Short Review: Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Veronica Porras (TTB)
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Goodreads Summary:

Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning.

When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: Emily, please forgive me.

Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City, where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.

Review:

This book was really fun for me to read. The first one hundred pages I was like, “No… I want something that will grab me and keep me hooked, not make me want to cry!” but then the story progressed and I got into it and didn’t even notice how much time had passed! I read most of the book in one sitting. Lipstick Apology is Jennifer Jabaley’s debut novel and I think it was a good start on her behalf. There are some areas she can improve on as an author but overall she did a good job. Some scenes seemed a little rushed and I wish she would have expanded more on some characters but overall, I was okay with the book and I loved the ending.

If you want a slightly emotional yet fun read, this is your book. It’s like a slice of yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Not too intense yet not too bland either.

Rating: 4/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hated it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I liked it (A fun read).

4/5: I really like it, but something was missing.

5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Veronica Porras (TTB)
Epic Fail by Clare LaZebnik
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

When I first saw this book the title through me off. Epic Fail? What type of book title is that?! I am very glad I decided to take a chance on it and read it anyways.

At first, it seemed to be your run-of-the-mill cliché and fluffy young adult book. You have Elise who moves to Los Angeles and starts going to a private prep school where the majority of the student body consists of Hollywood brats (or at least that’s how Elise sees them). Then we meet Derek who will be her love interest. A very interesting character with some pride and a bit of prejudice thrown. Hope you caught what I just did. 😉

Someone said in their review of the book that this book was a gobbler. A gobbler is a fun book you can read in one sitting, and it was just that!

I was so pleased with this sort of cliche, fun, lovey-dovey book. It’s hard to find these type of books nowadays. A good amount of YA books appear to be gobblers but are not. They are like the gobbler’s dumb and boring cousin.

Anyways, if you want something fun to read, pick up Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik. You won’t be disappointed!