Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

     

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins

Series: Standalone
Pages: 372

Publisher: Dutton 
Release Date: December 2nd 2010 (US)
Source: Bought
Rating: 5 stars

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

Anna and the French Kiss is everything I look for in a romance. Stephanie Perkins sure knows how to write and capture that in between stage of romance.

The writing is pure magic. Stephanie just has this way with words. The narration throughout the novel is so relatable and personal that you can’t help but be pulled in.

Anna is an incredible protagonist. Étienne is an incredible romantic interest. They have incredible chemistry. The sexual tension created is like none other. Basically, everything is amazing.

I don’t think I can say much more or I will just be gushing. Read it. I read it in one sitting. It. Is. Incredible.

In My Mailbox {21}

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren

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Review: Rockoholic by CJ Skuse

    

Title: Rockoholic
Author: CJ Skuse

Series: Standalone
Pages: 365

Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: March 7th 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 3.5 stars

Jody loves Jackson Gatlin. At his only UK rock concert, she’s right at the front. But when she's caught in the crush and carried back stage she has more than concussion to contend with. Throw in a menacing manager, a super-wired super-star, and a curly-wurly, and she finds herself taking home more than just a poster. It’s the accidental kidnapping of the decade. But what happens if you’ve a rock-god in your garage who doesn’t want to leave? Jody’s stuck between a rock-idol and a hard place!

From the pen of C.J. Skuse, author of last year’s super cool debut Pretty Bad Things, comes a tale of rock star obsession gone nuts. Hilariously and sharply explores the fantasy and reality of celebrity obsession through a teenager’s eyes. C. J. Skuse has been billed as the new Nick Hornby for teens.

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about Rockoholic. It was fun, a little silly and really quite funny. The plot is the one of the strangest I have ever come across. A teenage girl kidnaps a rockstar. Majorly bizarre. And totally wacky.

Jody was a fine protagonist. At times she got on my nerves a little with her obsession with Jackson, the rock star. I also had a few issues with Jackson. However, it was a realistic portrayal of an obsessed teenage girl and a rock star. I know many girls who would act just as Jody did and I am sure there are rock stars exactly like Jackson. My favourite character, however, had to be Mac.

The plot at times was a little unbelievable but for the most part CJ Skuse managed to balance realism with the unique nature of the novel. I felt it lagged at moments but the beginning and end definitely packed  a punch.

If you are looking for a light, funny read then I’m sure you will enjoy this.

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

    

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce
Series:  Fairytale Retellings #1
Pages: 346

Publisher: Hodder
Release Date: June 3rd 2010 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 4 stars

The story of Scarlett and Rosie March, two highly-skilled sisters who have been hunting Fenris (werewolves) -- who prey on teen girls -- since Scarlett lost her eye years ago while defending Rosie in an attack. Scarlett lives to destroy the Fenris, and she and Rosie lure them in with red cloaks (a colour the wolves can't resist), though Rosie hunts more out of debt to her sister than drive. But things seem to be changing. The wolves are getting stronger and harder to fight, and there has been a rash of news reports of countless teen girls brutally murdered in the city. Scarlet and Rosie soon discover the truth: wolves are banding together in search of a Potential Fenris -- a man tainted by the pack but not yet fully changed. Desperate to find the Potential to use him as bait for a massive werewolf extermination, the sisters move to the city with Silas, a young woodsman and long time family friend who is deadly with an axe. But the clues to finding the Potential aren't adding up, and Scarlet is shocked to learn new details of Silas's family history. Meanwhile, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and the bond they share not only drives the sisters apart, but could destroy all they've worked for.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. It was dark, usual and really intrigued me. I liked Pearce's writing style and I felt that there were a lot of interesting turns in the plot, especially towards the end.


It was a little slow to start with but definitely picked up its pace and I got sucked in along with Rosie and Scarlett on their hunt for wolves. Rosie and Scarlett were so different yet their relationship was incredibly endearing. The dual perspectives really helped me to see inside the heads of the sisters, giving the story an extra dimension. Rosie and Silas' relationship also added an interesting aspect to the novel.


The ending was super fast and I couldn't stop reading. Things that I never expected to happen, happened. It was truly a fabulous ending. The pace kicked up and I was memorised by the action scenes.


A unique spin on a traditional fairytale. Definitely worth a read!

In My Mailbox {20}

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren

Bought

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty (x2)

She's So Dead To Us by Keiran Scott

Won

 A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler (signed)

Borrowed

Top Ten Greek Legends

The Usborne Encyclopaedia of Ancient Greeks

What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

    

Title: Forgive My Fins

Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Series:  Fins #1
Pages: 255

Publisher: Templar 
Release Date: July 1st 2011 (UK)
Source: For blog tour
Rating: 5 stars

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. 

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Reading Forgive My Fins was like watching a Disney movie. Truly magical. It was sweet and romantic and just too cute. I was in bed all day, sick, and read it in one sitting. It definitely made me feel a lot better!

Lily was just SO much fun. She was a little silly and a tiny bit deluded about romance (like most teenage girls are). She uses phrases like "son of a swordfish". It was hilarious. Quince was just adorable. I want a Quince for myself!!

The plot is a little predictable but it was so much fun that I didn't care at all! It wasn't trying to be serious. It was what it was and I loved that. It was full of witty banter and sarcasm and everything else I love.

If you love romances, fun characters and swoon worthy boys then you will LOVE this. Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

    

Title: Bumped

Author: Megan McCafferty
Series: Bumped #1
Pages: 255

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 10th 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 3.5 stars

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. 

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job. 

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

It was the premise of Bumped that really drew me in. Ethical issues are something I am fascinated with and the harsh reality that the world within Bumped could happen make this a must read. Unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.

The writing and the premise kept me going through most of the novel. I didn’t feel a connection with the characters though they did develop towards the end of the novel. The actions of the twins, mostly Harmony, didn’t make too much sense to me. Zen was the only character I really liked.

Whilst the writing was engaging the slang really confused me. A lot of the time I was confused by the slang and had to try and figure out its meaning by the context. I think a glossary at the back of the book may have helped. It did slow down the reading and pulled me out of the world every now and again.

The world that McCafferty created was skilfully done. Some extra information was needed at times, I felt but aside from that it seemed realistic.

Despite not loving Bumped, I think the next book will be better and I look forward to reading it.