Category: ya romance

Reviews, ya romance

Book Review: A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

Veronica Porras (TTB)

 

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Goodreads Summary:

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.  But somehow even when nothing is going on, somethingis happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together….

My Initial Thoughts:

I had none except that Kayla really wanted to read this so I said well I’ll give it a chance!

Review:

An ode to shipping. That is what this book is and OMG it is amazing. People who want profound literature this is probably not for you, but if you are looking for an entertaining, sweet, hilarious read, then this is the book for you.

At first I thought that having that many point of views would ruin the story, but it actually worked. My favorite point of view was the squirrels. It was so random and funny, it was great. I do wish we got to see more of their point of views, the main characters. The novel does have a serious side to it which I think many will appreciate.

For once I don’t have much to say except read it. It’s cute, fluffy, and just what you need if you’re having a bad day. A Little Something Different is exactly what the title describes it to be, a little something different.

Rating: 4.5/5

Special Review, ya romance

ARC Book Review: Anyone But You by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Anyone-But-You-by-A-Helmes-and-K-Askew

Thank you Merit Press for providing me with a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary:

These violent delights have violent ends…

Gigi Caputo is fed up. A vicious act of vandalism has dealt another blow to her family’s proud pizza heritage, and the Montes–owners of a rival Italian restaurant–are clearly to blame. The hostility goes far beyond bragging rights for best pizza in Chicago. The Montes have been bent on destroying Cap’s for four generations. Even if it means putting herself in harm’s way, Gigi’s determined to get to the bottom of the feud. Instead, in a secret encounter with Roman Monte, the very boy whose relatives have brought her family such grief, she finds both danger and love at first sight. If the daughter and son of these two warring families fall for each other, can it be anything but a recipe for disaster? Slowly, Gigi and Roman learn that their story is fatefully linked to the summer of 1933, when two twelve-year-olds, Benny and Nick, hop the turnstile at the Chicago World’s Fair. The most stunning wonder of the fair is Stella, who innocently causes a lasting rift between the two boyhood. Wending its way through past and present day, this modern take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is bittersweet, funny, and intensely exciting. It’s classic romance–a tale of hate and the only force that can ever defeat it: love.

Review:

Oh Anyone But You. I tried to read you when I had the free ebook copy. I didn’t read you on time and you were archived. Then I bought an actual physical copy and tried to read to that way and it took me months…6 months later after reading the book my feelings are… meh. I tried really hard to like it. It’s not badly written per say, but it didn’t interest me. I honestly can’t remember much except that I was confused through most of it. I almost DNF’d it, but I pushed through.

I feel like a lot of people like it, but this book just wasn’t for me. I tried though, did I try!

Rating: 2/5

NA Romance, Reviews, ya romance

Book Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. “Dance with me, Beth.”

“No.” I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again….

“I dare you…”

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all.

My Initial Thoughts:

If I am completely honest, I didn’t want to read DYT because of Beth. She broke Isaiah’s heart and I couldn’t forgive her for that. Kayla kept telling me, Come on you’re gonna love it, and I refused until I finally caved on my own.

Review:

Why didn’t I read this sooner?! Honestly I’m kind of mad at myself it took me this long to kinda get over what Beth did to Isaiah so that I could finally read it. I’m glad that it finally happened though.

Date You To is Beth’s story right after Pushing The Limits. We saw Beth in PTL, and DYT is her and Ryan’s story.

Since I just mentioned Ryan can I just say I need a Ryan in my life. He is perfect. For me at least. He is a writer to begin with. I’m a sucker for those, and musicians too… and mechanic dudes like Isaiah. OMG, okay, a lot of guys are my type. Haha.

Anyways, Beth’s story surprised me so much. I did not expect her story to go like this. I personally think it sheds a light on her, and her very “tough” attitude. As a reader, we finally get a in-depth view of the circumstances in her life that made her hard and bitter. The beginning made me cringe a lot because of the effort Beth’s uncle was making to try to make her life better, yet he couldn’t really do much. The entire book is about her journey and how both her uncle and Ryan little by little start chipping away those walls she has built around her heart. Towards the end of the story, her walls hadn’t all collapsed, but she we can clearly see she is on the road to recovery (by that I mean her heart and mental state), and for those who have read Crash Into You, we know she is doing a lot better a few months down the road after DYT.

Ryan’s story made me cry a little. Okay, my eyes just got a little misty. The home he lives in is horrible. Can you imagine living in that type of hostile environment and having to be exactly what your parents want you to be 100% of the time? It made me upset that his father wouldn’t support his writing career. If your kid is good at something, I say support him in that. Don’t make him something he isn’t. Okay, I’m getting off my soapbox now.

I think the most important thing I learned from Beth’s story is the importance of realizing that our loved ones are not always how we picture them. We can’t make excuses for their bad choices. Beth’s mom didn’t learn her lesson and wasn’t going to either. Beth couldn’t see the damage and danger her mother is to herself and to Beth. When she realized that at the end, I finally exhaled in relief. Her mother needs helps, just not Beth’s help. If Beth wants her life to change, she needs someone else to take care of her mother.

Overall, I thought it was a great book, and I’m glad I read it.

(Reviewer note: Sorry Guys! I meant to post this review up like 3 weeks ago, but the job training I’m going through in Utah is intense and doesn’t leave me time to read or even write reviews, but I made time today! The blog will be back to regular schedule the month of August!)

Rating: 5/5

 

Reviews, ya contemporary, ya romance

Things I Can’t Forget (Hundred Oaks #3) by Miranda Keneally

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Things-I-Cant-Forget-cover1Goodreads Summary:

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt–with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Read an excerpt here.

My Initial Thoughts:

You all know I had several issues with Catching Parker and I said I would not read more Miranda Kenneally books, but I decided to give her one more chance.

Review:

I’m actually happy I gave Ms. Kennneally another chance because I really liked Things I Can’t Forget.

I really liked the decision Kate made at the end. It seems like a lot of books nowadays, especially those that have christian characters, portray them in a way that is not realistic or true a lot of the time. I liked that Kate said no and no meant no. She didn’t care that she might lose Matt, she made the right choice and for that I’m so happy. I think that is one of the reasons why I loved this book. Someone that actually favors their beliefs instead of the guy. Someone that actually favors abstinence.

I also want to point out that Miranda’s writing style is unique. It’s not fake or unrealistic, it’s feels real. I feel like I know the characters in real life, it almost feels like I’m reading a journal. While I was reading the novel in my head Kate was my friend and everything I was reading were letters she had sent me, explaining what’s been happening in her life, the struggles that she is going through, and the things she has to figure out.

I also like the development of the characters and how inanimate objects were used to bring quirkiness and uniqueness to each character. For Matt it was his doorless Jeep. For Kate it was her paintings.

Overall, I think this is the best book out of the three books so far in the Hundred Oaks companion novel series. I liked Catching Jordan and I despised Stealing Parker. We will see if I will hate or love Racing Savannah when I read it next month.

I recommend this book to those who want a quick read. I read this book in a few hours.

Rating: 4/5

NA Romance, Reviews, ya romance

Book Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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I was given a ARC of Crash Into You by Katie McGarry through NetGalley from Harlequin Teen in exchange of a honest review

Goodreads Summary:

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.

My Initial Thoughts:

I had read Pushing The Limits about a year ago and I know that I loved it. My expectations coming into this novel weren’t high because I had forgotten a lot of information and why I had loved this author’s writing so much. After Crash Into You, I quickly remembered why I love Ms. McGarry and why I didn’t hesitate to request this ARC a while ago.

Review:

I am going to start this review by gushing. I LOVED this book. I ab-so-lu-te-ly loved it. Ask Anjie, Ask Kayla, heck go on my twitter and see what I tweeted Ms. McGarry.

One of the reasons why I love this novel so much is the car talk. I love cars, so when you give me a well written book with a to-die for male protagonist and cars?! I’m speechless. If this were my tumblr I would insert here a gif saying that I ship myself with it all.

On a more serious note, I do want to mention one of the reasons why I loved this novel so much is because it is very well written. The story just sucks you in and it almost becomes your reality. In the moment you are reading the novel, you are experiencing what Isaiah and Rachel are feeling. You are in the driver’s seat, and it is one heck of a ride!

The characterization in the novel is fantastic. I feel like I will run out of adjectives soon, but I can’t stop gushing over this novel. I do want to say that this novel may not be a “everyone will automatically love” type of novel. Not everyone is into cars (like myself), and if you haven’t read Pushing The Limits, it might be a little hard to understand what’s going on and why characters act the way they do.

The pacing of the novel was perfect right up until the end where I did feel like it hiccuped a little. Knowing that the next novel is through abut a certain character (I wish I could say but I don’t want to spoil anyone), it makes sense why the end is how it is.

Overall, I find no fault in this novel and I can’t wait for future books written by Ms.McGarry.

Rating: 5/5

Reviews, ya contemporary, ya romance

Book Review: If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

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.

My Initial Thoughts:

I began reading If I Stay cautiously because I knew it would break my heart. Within the first ten pages, it did. I’m not going to talk about the heartbreak, or how much it will make you cry. I’m going to talk about Mia’s dilemma and why this book is so freaking amazing.

I know there are some out there that coudn’t connect with Mia, but I did. Several times in my life I’ve lost people I’ve loved. Once it was death and the few others… its almost as if they did die.

Review:

The back and forth scenes within the novel were easy for me to follow. I also felt like I was reading Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver where there were alternate chapters going back and forth in time.

The way the novel was written helped gain momentum for the ending and even if it was a simple ending, because the whole novel was moving to that point, it made it huge.

Throughout the novel we got to see what Mia would lose if she stayed and also what she would lose if she left. The entire book is her journey deciding whether she will stay or go.

The people in Mia’s life are strong. Her grandparents, family friends, Adam, Kim, when it comes down to a heavy part of life, they are strong and do everything and anything they can for Mia. If Mia stayed, all of those people would be by her side, helping her cope with the grief she would feel. They also understood if she decided to leave. The pain of being an orphan, of all of her immediate family dying at once is a horrible thing to deal with of she decided to stay.

I really found Adam and Mia’s relationship real and adorable. I also cried when I saw Adam frantically trying to get into Mia’s hospital room, wanting to see her, not caring he was missing his show. So many parts of this book tugged at the strings of my heart.

Overall, it is a novel about making the best of what you have and deciding if life is worth fighting for or not.

Rating: 5/5

Reviews, ya romance

Short Book Review: Suite Dreams by Rachel Hawthorne

Veronica Porras (TTB)

9780061688065Goodreads Summary:

Hello, mate!
(Practicing my Australian.* How am I doing?)

I’m so glad the timing worked out for this couch exchange. I’ll be crashing on yours by the time you get to mine.** If you run into any problems, just find Alyssa. She’ll help you out with whatever you need.***

Your couch-swapping mate,
Rick

*That’s cute. Go have fun in Australia and leave ME—your girlfriend for an entire semester—to waste away on campus, alone.

**Um, think again. Your couch is already taken.

***Great. Now I’ve got to find a place for the (unbelievably hot, it turns out) Aussie to crash. But there’s only one couch available: the one in my dorm room. . .

Review:

This book was so fluffy and cute that it made me want to move to Vermont and find this couch swapping business so I can have a Aussie stay at my couch too… Just Kidding! [Kind of… 😉 ]

Suite Dreams is the ORIGINAL NEW ADULT genre. Why do I say that? Because it has older characters that are in college. That seems to be the formula of a lot of New Adult books nowadays. I prefer books like Suite Dreams than the New Adult Books that are hitting the bookshelf’s today.

Suite Dreams is wholesome PG rated romance which I love. It’s cute, it’s well written, it may be a little far-fetched at times, but who said I wanted reality when I’m reading a book. Especially a fluffy romance.

I recommend this book to someone who wants a fun short read or anyone trying to get out of a reading slump. It will lift your spirits and make everything look dandy.

Rating: 4/5

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)

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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 romance

Opinion: Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen (Not a Official Review)

Veronica Porras (TTB)
Confessions of a Serial Kisser
Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen

Just finished reading Confessions of a Serial Kisser. I can describe this book in one word, Hilarious!

This book was so much fun to read. It was what kept me sane, and distracted me enough to really let my mind rest in between sessions of editing essays.

Evangeline, the main character, is funny! Even though the thing she is looking for is not what she should be looking for, (The perfect kiss) as the reader we somehow still root for her and hope that she finds the perfect, “crimson” kiss. Evangeline is a character that in some level we can all relate to in this imperfect world. You’ll understand why I say this if you read the book because I don’t think we all are going on around kissing boys looking for the perfect kiss right? Or at least I’m not.

Reading this book is the equivalent to eating chocolate ice cream out of the carton. So wrong yet so good. A guilty pleasure!

Happy Reading!