Confessions Of An Angry Girl by Louise Rozett
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 272
Summary:Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has someconfessions to make…1. I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate,don't you?
2. I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who might be dating a cheerleader. She is nowenraged and out for blood. Mine.
3. High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry—get it?)
Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.
(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.)
(Sorry. That was rude.)
My Thoughts: Well, well, well what a fun cute little novel. And when I say little, I mean it was a pretty short and fast read for me.
We are introduced to Rose who is a freshmen in high school. Things aren’t easy for her, especially when it feels like her best friend is becoming someone new, and she develops a crush on a badass trouble making boy named Jamie. And of course Jamie has a mean mean girlfriend.
Rose just lost her father and everyone feels a bit sorry for her. Her brother is away at college and her mother barely pays attention to what is going on with her.
Rose does the unthinkable. Worried about her friend, she calls the cops at a party when her friend isn’t breathing. From then on out, she is called a lot of names and tormented. She has a tough life.
And Rose has a problem, because she really likes Jamie and wants to be with him.
I really liked this novel because I felt like I could connect with Rose. At times, she did get a bit whiney but I understood where she was coming from. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series which comes out next year.
This was a bit funny, a bit romance, and a good glimpse into what its like to be going into high school and not knowing who you are just yet.
There were a lot of characters throughout this novel who I really liked and loved reading about. Not just Rose and Jamie!
Want to know what happens with Jamie? The mean girl? Her best friend? Her brother? Read this novel to find out!
Overall: I really enjoyed this one. It was somewhat short and easy to get through. Will I pick up the next in the series? Definitely.
Cover: Like it but I don’t really love it. I think it fits good enough though.
What I'd Give It:
Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard
Release Date: August 30, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Summary: Harper’s new boyfriend Logan Townsend is everything she never knew she always wanted—tall, muscular, with tousled brown hair that falls effortlessly around his face. But what’s most exciting about Logan is that he’s exhilaratingly dangerous, and dating him allows Harper to say, “buh bye” to her good-girl past and “hello” to newfound adventure.
There’s only one problem with Harper’s otherwise heart-stopping romance: Logan’s twin brother Daemon. Harper knows he’s a bad seed, but she tries to look past his dark, icy stare and his chilling demeanor. After all, he and Logan are a package deal.
Then cow bones start appearing in people’s mailboxes, a flock of birds show up dead, and all of the cars in the senior parking lot are given flat tires—and covered with blood-red handprints. Logan insists that Daemon isn’t involved—sure, he’s had some trouble in the past, but they moved to Harper’s quiet northwest Washington town so that they could both start over.
Harper desperately wants to believe Logan, but the more he tries to protect his brother, the more she wonders what she isn’t being told. Now, Harper must unearth the hidden secrets of the mysterious Townsend brothers’ history if she and Logan are to have any hope of a future. But learning what brought Logan and Daemon to town won’t put just her heart in jeopardy... She’s playing with her life.
My Thoughts: What can I say about this one? I adore Hubbards books. I'm always thrilled to get my hands on them and I always adore them. I love her writing style, I love her characters, I always love them! I really enjoyed reading Dangerous Boy and I liked how it all ended but there were parts where I was one confused girl.
We are introduced to Harper who is smart but shy. She doesn't like to take risks, and always plays on the safe side. She has a close group of friends and of course a girl she doesn't get along with. She was a pretty likeable character for me. Than we are introduced to Logan. Logan is a new boy at Harper's school that she falls in love with. He moved to her tiny town a few months ago and they have been dating ever since. She doesn't know how he likes her so much, he's so out of her league.
Logan and Harper have a lot in common. They can relate to each other. Both have lost a parent (Logan lost two) and they understand each other.
One day, she meets his twin brother Daemon. Daemon is the complete opposite of Logan. While Logan is sweet, Daemon is ruthless and has gotten in a lot of trouble. He was expelled from his previous school.
Harper starts to get notes from a secret admirer, mean notes, threatening notes. Notes that say someone is watching her.
Other creepy events are happening around town as well which puts everyone on edge. Nobody knows who is doing them or why.
Harper tries to find out more about Daemon from Logan but Logan never wants to talk about. The one thing he does want to talk about is helping Harper get over her fears. She has a list of her deepest fears.
I enjoyed the book but it started to feel a little slow, and I wanted a turn of events, where something outrageous happened. I got my wish towards the end of the book. It was crazy. I won't go into spoilers but I was wondering if this was how it was going to take a turn. Logan and Daemon. It kind of creeped me out a little bit but I'm ok with how it went down and how it ended. Talk about creepy and insane and really "out there."
Dangerous Boy was definitely weird. But an crazy intense weird.
Overall: This book is kind of different when you think about it. I don't think it was as good as You Wish or Prada and Prejudice but it was a pretty good book. Its not really Hubbards main style. I'm giving it 4 cupcakes because I do think it was unique and a step over from her normal books.
Cover: I think the cover is really neat. I love the colors and how the girl is holding hands with one boy while another is in the distance. Also love the clouds and how it looks like its going to storm.
What I'd Give It:
Smashed by Lisa Luedeke
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Summary: A field hockey star grapples with addiction in this riveting debut that will appeal to fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’sSpeak.
Stay out of trouble for one more year, and Katie Martin can leave her small town loneliness behind forever. She is a field hockey star on the fast track to a college scholarship, but her relationship with alcohol has always been a little questionable. Then trouble finds her. Alec is the most popular guy in school, and also the biggest bully—with his sights set firmly on Katie. When Alec turns on the charm, Katie thinks she must have been wrong about him.
Except that she wasn’t. On a rain-soaked, alcohol-drenched night, one impulsive decision leaves Katie indebted to Alec in the worst possible way. This debut novel is a fast-paced and compelling story of addiction, heartbreak, and redemption.
My Thoughts: For some reason, I thought this book was going to be more of a lovefest than a fightfest. HAHA.
We are introduced to Katie who is a star hockey player. She lives with her mother who is never home and her little brother. Katie likes to party and drink. She also has a best friend named Cassie. She is also great friends with her neighbor Matt.
Katie starts to bond with a guy named Alec. I’m not sure how to really describe him. I never liked him from the get go. I thought when I started this novel, I would be drawn to him. For some unknown reason, I thought he was going to be a bad boy, but one who was good and I'd fall right in love with him. I did not. I knew from the start, he was just flat out bad news.
One night, Katie and Alec get into a car accident and things go crazy from there. Alec feels like Katie owes him and he starts to take advantage of that. He is always around and wants Katie to do exactly what he says. He's very abusive towards her.
Yes, this novel had a great message. It's about bullying, consequences, what can really happen, and how to try and fix it. Things aren't great for Katie. She's in a lot of trouble and she doesn't know where to turn or who to turn too.
This novel is a prime example of how things can get out of hand really fast. You can never really predict the future and that is what makes life so hard.
Katie's life changes, and she knows she must admit the truth eventually and go from there.
Smashed was an ok novel, but just not the right one for me. Yes, the message is there and I finished this, but I couldn't really connect with it, maybe because the novel is such a serious message that I wanted something light and didn't require much thought, I don't know.
Overall: Smashed is going to wow some people. Some people will read it, and think about it for days. Smashed will suck some in with the characters but I just didn't feel the connection like I usually do. Is it worth the read? Yes, probably. Will I recommend it? Sure, especially to people who want to read about abuse and how rough life can be. It just wasn't my kind of novel.
Cover: Like it. The cover drew me in and I had to pick it up.
What I'd Give It:
Speechless by Hannah Harrington
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288
Summary: Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.
My Thoughts: I was a big fan of Saving June so I knew I had to give this one a chance. I had heard some negative reviews about it, so I was a little weary going into it. But I found myself quite enjoying it.
We are introduced to Chelsea who is pretty good at spreading gossip. She says things out loud before she has a chance to think. So, when she walks in on the most amazing gossip, she runs right out and opens her big mouth. BIG MISTAKE. Some of her friends take it into their own hands and do something extremely stupid. I don’t want to tell you because it takes the mystery away.
Chelsea realizes the next day that everyone is mad at her because she came clean and told the cops and her parents the truth. She felt like she had too, there just wasn’t another way. It wasn’t right what happened. And for this, she is tormented so she takes a vow. A vow to keep her mouth shut. If she doesn’t talk, she can’t say anything bad. She can’t ruin anymore lives. However, she does have a nice little whiteboard to write on. I loved this! I loved how she communicated!
She meets a new friend in detention named Asha. I really liked Asha. Asha was a true friend and she was really there for Chelsea. Than, cute sweet Sam. Man, I liked him from the minute I met him. I just knew he was going to hit it off with Chelsea, even if she didn’t.
Speechless was a good novel. I almost didn’t read it, because the description didn’t thrill me. A girl who won’t talk, how much of a story can be in this one?
Let me tell you, A LOT. Chelsea learns some tough lessons but she also learns about forgiveness. The lessons, the secondary characters, and the way this book is played out is what makes the story so great.
Please read this novel if you like contemporary, please give it a chance!!!
Overall: Really liked it! And I fell for Sam. I want more of him now! I want to read more scenes with him in them! I liked this so much more than I thought I would! This is one of those novels you're unsure about and then you read it, and you're like wow, should have read that sooner.
Cover: It’s a big plain. Don’t know if I would pick it up on the cover alone.
What I'd Give It:
Every Day by David Levithan
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Summary: Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.
My Thoughts: My very first Levithan book! I expected something really brilliant and magnificent things from this novel. While it was ok, I never felt the magic others have.
We are introduced to A who gets to change bodies everyday. Everyday is a new day for A. He becomes a new person and gets to live a day in their live. He is never the same person twice. He’s not even technically he, since we never really know what sex he is, but I’m going to refer to A as he so I don’t have to call him or her “this person.”
This sounds pretty cool, right? And the concept really is.
He then wakes up in a body of a boy named Justin. Justin is a douchebag. He doesn’t appreciate what he has, kind of a slacker. He has a girlfriend named Rhiannon. A likes Rhiannon from the moment he meets her. He enjoys the day with her.
Than, the next day he contacts her again as someone else. And this becomes the plot of the story. A falls more and more in love with her and she has feelings for him as well, no matter who he is.
Everyday was an interesting concept, it really was. I just didn’t love this story. I don’t know. I appreciated it for what it was, but I didn’t love it. And, the ending, ouch. Wasn’t what I was expecting.
Everyday was interesting to say the least. I can see where some people will absolutely adore it, while others will finish it (like me) and then think to themselves, thats it? And then what?
Overall: Yes, I can see the bigger picture of this novel. I really can. But I just don’t love it as much as everyone else. You should give the novel a chance anyway and see what you think of it. Thought I would love this one, but a bit let down. I’ll give another Levithan novel a try and see if I like something else better.
Cover: Its okay. Kind of plain.
What I'd Give It:
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