What Happened to Good-Bye

What Happened to Goodbye

By Sarah Dessen

402 pages

Grade A

What can I say, I am a sucker for teen chick lit, and Miss Sarah did not fail to impress me. All of Sarah's characters are usually some kind of troubled teen, but somehow she still makes them moderately different. Same thing with the guys in her books too. What I liked so much about this book was that the main character, McLean, lives with her dad. She choose to live with her dad after her parents divorced. Now I grew up with my dad. I didn't have a choice between my parents like McLean did so I don't know how hard that choice would have been to make, but I am happy with how my life turned out living with my dad. I know now, especially since I am a parent myself, that I would not be the person I am today had I not grown up being raised by my dad. And for that, I thank him because I think I turned out ok. So dad, if you are reading, I love you and you did a great job!!!

Anyway, back to the story...McLean's dad works for a consulting company that forces him to travel, and in his travels, he carts his teenage daughter along with him. McLean learns to adapt, maybe not in a healthy way, but in her own way. I think out of all of Sarah's lead characters, I liked McLean the best. For me she has been the easiest to relate to. But most of Sarah's books have the same idea or concept behind them, odd girl falls for a guy, something happens, the girl and the guy split and then at the end of the story they work it out and get back together. And this book went along with that basis too, but for me, this book wasn't like reading just another Sarah Dessen book. There was something about this book that really set it apart from her other books. So good job Sarah. I can't wait to read what you put out next!!

Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

By Jillian Lauren

352 pages, read on my Kindle

Grade C-

A friend of mine hosted book club a few months ago, and this was her book choice. She is friends with the band Weezer and when she found out that the lead singer (I think it's the lead) was married to Jillian, and that Jillian had written this book, she decided it to be her book. Because she is friends with Weezer, she also made arrangements for Jillian to Skype with us during our book club, which was pretty cool seeing as I had never really "talked" with an author like this before.

Ok so on to the review...

This book is actually a memoir. It's really really hard to believe that it is a memoir when you start out because Jillian as an 18 year old girl goes to Dubai to live and be a prostitute for one of the princes. There are nights of partying, drugs, shopping and sex. It's so hard to imagine that someone would actually sign up for something like this. I mean, the idea of getting handed wads of cash and taken to the mall with an unlimited spending amount and being given gifts of expensive jewels is pretty exotic and intriguing, but knowing that you have to sell your body in order to get these things totally changes the "awesomeness" of it.

Towards the end, Jillian goes home to NY for a little while and all of a sudden she becomes very whiny. A friend of mine actually told Jillian that she sounded insipid (10 point word if you ask me) to avoid saying whiny and spoiled brat. After she goes home to NY, she ends up going back to Dubai for a short stint where things in the harem have changed, she isn't happy anymore, and goes back home...again. She then meets her husband and they adopt a son. And then BAM! just like that, the story ends. Very, very anticlimactic.

Jillian as a person, was really fun to talk with. She was very down to earth and we all had a great time. I admire her for telling her story and coming out with it. It takes a lot of courage to do something like that. She is also writing another book that is coming out here soon, and it will show up on this blog at some point because the same friend that selected this book is picking her next book. Maybe we will Skype again, because honestly, that was pretty cool.

Where She Went

Where She Went

By Gayle Forman

264 pages

Grade A

This book is the book that follows If I Stay, which I read last year. I finished this book in about a day and a half. For me, it was amazing. I really really liked it.

Basically in the first book, Mia is in a terrible car accident and has an out of body experience and watches as everyone around her wonders if she is going to make it or not, it's really tough. I cried, a lot. Where She Went is actually told by the perspective of her ex boyfriend, Adam. I kinda fell in love with Adam's character. I really liked him.

But anyway, Adam runs into Mia in New York one night. They spend the whole night together and catch up with each other's lives. The journey between them is just incredible to read. I LOVE how the author completely entraps you in her story. I am really happy that I got a chance to read this book. I think I am going to pick up a copy of the first one in print so I can re-read them because it was really just that good.

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This post was my first post for "Book Review-a-thon" hosted by Jacki over at the Lovely Little Shelf.

Book Review-A-Thon

Hey everyone, since I am behind again, not only in my reviews, but in blog maintenance in general, I decided to participate in this, the First Annual Book Review-A-Thon, hosted by Jacki over at Lovely Little Shelf. I am hoping I can take one week out of my oh so busy new stay at home life (what am I talking about, I watched Rio about 14 times last week) that I can get caught up, and make you all love me again.

So there you have it...let's see if I can do it!

Wish me luck!!!

Fall for Anything

Fall for Anything

By Courtney Summers

Grade B+

I don't normally do this, but I like this summary of the book, my review will follow:

From Goodreads.com:

From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

I was totally blown away by this book. I am not sure if it was because I have experienced some of the same emotions that stem from knowing someone that has killed themselves, or if Ms. Summers was just that good at gripping your heart. Either way, I can't believe I put this book off for as long as I did. And when it only took me about two days to finish it, I was mad that I read it so fast.

Hunger Games, Catching Fire (re-listen)

Hunger Games and Catching Fire

By Suzanne Collins

Re-listen

I started to re-listen to this series before I quit my job, and as it was the first time, it was amazing! I didn't get a chance to finish Mockingjay on audio, so I think I will pick it up in print before the end of the year. Either way, this series is incredible. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, then you just need to do it. You won't regret it!

Some more Janet E.

Three to Get Deadly

Four to Score

High Five

Hot Six

By Janet Evanovich

Grade D

To continue on my Stephanie Plum series journey, while I still was working I finished four more of them on audio. At least I think it was four more. I might have finished number 7 but I can't be for 100% sure because since my laptop died I can't see what book I left off on my iPod.

However, honestly, these books are only moderately entertaining. I don't remember much of the plots of each book, only that there is a lot of very corny story lines, and ridiculousness. I am not impressed with them, and if I never finish this series, I doubt I will lose any sleep over it.

I know I said it before, and I will say it again...I don't get what the appeal to this series.