The Talking Bookworm

Goodreads Summary:

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.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common.

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.

What I liked:

Oh Boy, there is a lot I liked in this book! I liked that we had both Echo’s and Noah’s point of view. I also liked the way the background of the characters was presented in the book because it did not bore me. It didn’t feel like I was being given background information. What I mean by that is that sometimes in some books when the author is giving background information, it seems to drag on forever and I start getting impatient. Also, the pace of the novel was perfect. It wasn’t too slow or too fast. I also enjoyed that the characters in the book were relatable and I was able to empathize.

What I disliked:

The writing could have been a little better. It wasn’t bad, but some sentences felt awkward to me. I wish we would have known a little more about Echo’s mother and Beth. I know this will make me sound nit-picky but I didn’t like the font they used for Noah.

Overall:

I really liked this book. It got me out of the reading funk I was in. I had just finished Clockwork Prince and couldn’t seem to read anything else after that. I guess I was in a book hangover type of situation. Pushing The Limits wasn’t heavy, but it wasn’t a light book either. As the tumblr book community would say, This book wasn’t too hard on the feels. I encourage you guys to read this book. You won’t regret it. 🙂

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!

Editor Letter

May (A sort of hiatus)

May 8, 2013June 1, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Hello everyone!

I am in the last two weeks of school, then a week of finals, and at the end of that week, I graduate! It’s crunch time for me so I have canceled Book Blast from the Past and Book Spotlight for this month. I will continue to do my normal reviews (If I can find time to read and do all of my final papers and assignments) and I will definitely continue to do the Top Ten Tuesday meme because I need some fun and consistency in this blog. The blog will return to normal in the month of June.

Happy Reading!

Tuesday Meme

Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun

May 7, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun

Tired of having book hangovers and getting too emotionally attached to a book? Look no further, I have ten books that will keep you sane and entertained. Thank you Broke and Bookish for these wonderful Tuesday Meme’s. *hugs*

1. Ana and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

3. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

4. Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

5. Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen

6. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

7. The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

8. The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper

9. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

10. Amy and Rogers Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

What are some of your light and fluffy books? 🙂

Editor Letter

April Recap

May 3, 2013May 3, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Another month has gone by. That was fast!

I have one month left of school and I will be graduating from college at the end of May. Basically, I have three weeks left of college. Exciting stuff!

Onto to book news, Here are the Books I read in the month of April, including links to the reviews I wrote:

That Summer by Sarah Dessen| Review
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Insurgent by Veronica Roth| Review
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley| Review
Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald| Review

Books I wasn’t able to finish:

Breathe by Abbi Glines

Books given in Exchange for Review:

Etiquette for the End of the World by Jeanne Martinet| Review

Top Ten Tuesday Posts:

Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character| Link
Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger | Link
Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For| Link
Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did| Link
Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make My Buy/Pick Up A Book| Link

Everything above is basically what happened in the blog for the month of April. Stay tuned for more exciting book stuff to come in the month of May.

Happy Reading!

Special Review, YA Paranormal

Special Review: A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

May 3, 2013June 15, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

I was provided with a copy of this book by NetGalley & Scholastic. Thank you very much for approving my request.

Goodreads Summary:

The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!

This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).

Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot’s dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.

As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds — through an accidental gap that hasn’t appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called “color storms;” a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the “Butterfly Child,” whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses.

Review:

I am going to start off with a food analogy to explain how this book was for me. It was like a big juicy delicious looking steak without the seasoning. It was missing something. I liked the idea of the book. I loved how Moriarty build the world in the book but I wasn’t swept away by the story. This had so much potential for being great. I really wish I wasn’t giving it a bad review. This book did not move me and the characters, especially Belle and Jack didn’t move me. Kala didn’t add much to the story either. The only character I liked was Elliot. I felt nothing special for Madeline.

Overall, this book could have been better. Part of the reason why this book did not move me was the writing. It was strange and it took me a while to get used to it.

Sidenote: I love the cover art for this book. It’s so beautiful.

Rating: 2.5/5

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!

Editor Letter

Blog News

May 3, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

So… I’m a little behind on the April Recap and May News. Why you may ask? Because I had to write a 10 page research paper, a 5 page analytical paper on communication, calling, and sacrifices we make for our calling, and other school stuff. I’ve hardly had any time to sleep.

Tomorrow (Friday, May 3rd) I will post the April Recap and this saturday’s Book Blast from the Past post will be postponed until next saturday (May 11th). Sorry!

On Saturday (May 4th), I will be posting the May News.

Stay tuned for all the blog posts coming to your reader/email soon!

Happy Reading!

Tuesday Meme

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

April 30, 2013April 26, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is about…impulse buys and I guess it was time the world knew what made me say, “Take my money!” (Oh Tumblr Memes…). Thank you The Broke and The Bookish for creating such fun meme’s, even if it does mean that the world will find out about my bad impulsive buying habits.

This week I will not be doing ~~Top Ten~~ but Top Five instead. (I’m currently writing two big term papers. That is my excuse.)

TOP FIVE TOPICS THAT INSTANTLY MAKE ME BUY/PICK UP A BOOK

1. Spies

I’ve secretly wanted to be a spy all my life but I lack the skills and um physical fitness needed for that type of job.

2. Thief/Con Artist

I love a good con. This explains my continuing support of the Heist Society Series by Ally Carter and the USA Network TV show, White Collar.

3. Boarding School

I’ve always lived at home and when it was time to go to college, I picked a university that was an hour and a half away from home. I guess I’ve always wanted to move thousands of miles away and see how that is. The only way I can experience that is through books.

4. Setting: Europe

I think Ana and the French Kiss and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I love those two books. Now I want to go to Europe.

5. Dystopian (Ex: Divergent, The Hunger Games, or The Selection)

I get these moments when all I want to read is dystopian books. I’ve been a fan of dystopian books since I was in middle school. My favorite dystopian novel then was “The Bar Code Tattoo”. I kind of want to re-read now since it has been almost a decade since I last read it.

What are some topics that dissolve your strong will and make you resort to impulsive buying? Come on now… We all have at least one. 😉

Reviews, ya contemporary

Short Book Review: Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

April 26, 2013June 15, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

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

April 23, 2013June 15, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

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!

Tuesday Meme

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE Than I Did

April 23, 2013April 23, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Hello Everybody! It seems I have become a consistent Top Ten Tuesday meme person and I like it. I hope I can keep this up all the way until the end of the semester. Thank you The Broke and The Bookish for this tuesday meme. This Tuesday the topic is Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did.

I have picked the “I Thought I’d Like More Than I did” version. This Top Ten Tuesday is going to be easy for me.

1. Delirium (#1 in the Delirium Trilogy) by Lauren Oliver

I know that most people LOVE this book but I can’t seem to love it or even like it. I am about eighty percent done with the book and I have put it aside for now. The sad part is that I bought the whole trilogy before even reading the first book and now I’m stuck with it. I do have something positive to say about it though. I liked the first half of the book. I did. It’s the second half that I’m having a problem with.

2. He’s So Not Worth It (He So/She So #2) by Kiera Scott

I read the first book in the He’s So/She’s So series and it was alright. I got the second book in the series and I started reading it and I hated it. I really thought I was going to like the rest of the series since I liked the first one but it just took a turn into Crazy-Ville which I did not want to go through myself. So I stopped reading the series. Oops.

3. The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

This book was horrendous. I had just gotten my nook and I had a Barnes & Nobles gift card that had some money left so I decided to buy this book because it was only a dollar. Not bad right? Wrong. I want my dollar back. I think even I could have written something better. I know that makes me sound very judgmental but dear gosh was that bad writing. I felt like I was reading a bad written fan fiction.

4. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

I had such high hopes for this book. Rome and Juliet reinvented? Yes! I was so pumped when I got this book until it all fell apart. I barely had any motivation to finish the book and truthfully, I skimmed the last 40 pages or so. I was so disappointed with this book.

5. If We Kiss by Rachel Vail

I saw the second book of the If We Kiss series at Barnes and Nobles and it seemed promising so I bought the first book on my nook. This book was also a disaster. It was boring and the plot sucked. I can’t even think of some bad adjectives to describe that book. I felt like my IQ fell as I read that book. It was only two dollars in the nook store. Maybe that should have been a sign.

6. Etiquette for the End of the World by Jeanne Martinet

I requested the ARC for this book and in the end, I regretted it. The plot was promising and it had potential but it was poorly executed.

7. We’ll Always Have Summer (Summer #3) by Jenny Han

This is the last book in the Summer Series. The first two books in the series were great. Awesome even. I absolutely loved them! This series was starting to become one of my favorite contemporary young adult series and then the last book took a turn for the worst and it lost me. I was so mad and disappointed that I didn’t even finish it. I skipped to the end to at least have some closure.

8. When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

Someone suggested Susane Colasanti books to me because I love Sarah Dessen. Bad Rec. The story was mediocre and it left me feeling unamused.

9. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

I was in the mood for some deep emotional YA book and I saw this on a Barnes and Nobles display and bought it. I only ended up reading half of it. I was disappointed.

10. Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver, the first book in The Wolves of Mercy Fall, was a great book. I loved it. This book, I hated it. I am not the only one with this opinion. I might read Forever the third and last book in the trilogy but this book ruined it for me.

So, that’s all for this Top Ten Tuesday.

I want to know what you guys are thinking! What book did you believe would be great but ended up disappointing you?