Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Title: Saving June
Author: Hannah Harrington
Published: November 22, 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Pages: 336/Paperback
Challenge: The Contemps, 2011 Debut Author Challenge
Source: NetGalley


Summary: Everyone's sorry. But no one can explain why.

Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.

Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except…Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down—again.

Review: I really liked Saving June. I'm a sucker for road trip books, and add in some emotional turmoil/grief and a cute romance and I'm in.

I loved that the story was about June but also focused on the other characters. There was a constant mystery surrounding June. Why she killed herself, how she knew Jake's friends, all are unsolved mysteries to Harper. Yet while we learn all about June we still get a connection to Harper and Jake.

One thing I love about road trip books is that they give the characters time to grow and evolve which I think the characters here did. There was a definite change in all of the characters by the end. At first I didn't get that connection with Jake, but by the end I had connected with Jake and Harper and Laney, pretty much everyone.

I also loved the ending. It was a bit vague in that you don't know exactly what happens, but it gives you enough closure to be happy with it.

Saving June was a story both happy and sad. It worked through complicated issues and had some great characters. Not to mention it had a great road trip!

Waiting on Wednesday (49)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme started and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WoW is a way for bloggers to post about a book or books they're excited or "waiting" for. This week my WoW is:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

April 24, 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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Yay for 2012 debuts with awesome covers! That's definitely a plus for me, as well as it having an awesome summary. I like that it's about a girl who doesn't necessarily want all of the fame and fortune that comes with being selected.

Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more info go here. 

Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read

A lot of these books have been on my shelf for literally years. Some of them I started but just couldn't get into, but I thought I'd eventually get around to giving them a second chance, but that day hasn't come yet. Others I just haven't read yet. I bought it and it ended up on my shelf of unread-ness. So hopefully these books will one day be read and enjoyed.

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Pledge
Author: Kimberly Derting
Published: November 15, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 320/Hardcover
Series: The Pledge #1
Source: Galley Grab


Summary: In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom….


Review: I read and loved The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, so when I saw she had a new book coming out that looked just as awesome (if not more so) I knew I had to read it. And trust me, this book was amazing!


I love Charlie! She was relate-able and like-able and just all around awesome. She had a secret that she knew she had to keep, but she didn't wallow in her misery of having to hide herself. Yes she had to work at keeping her secret, but she accepted it and handled it. She was a strong character who didn't rely on others to do what needed to be done.


Max, oh Max. He's your typical dark and mysterious bad boy, but he actually does have substance. And his relationship with Charlie! There needs to be more relationships like that in YA books! They both knew how the other felt and they TALKED and GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER even after they knew that they liked each other. It wasn't just "We like each other. Therefore I love you and will love you forever!" Their relationship was actually built off themselves and who they were.


Another thing that I liked about this book relationship wise was that it wasn't about having some forbidden romance between a high society guy (Max) and a lower class girl (Charlie). Sure that's what they were and that problem was discussed BRIEFLY, but Derting didn't make the entire story revolve around that problem. There were bigger fish to fry.


I thought the plot was very well thought out and the pacing was great. I'm not sure if this was an entire different "world" or just a different time. But whatever it was Derting did a fantastic job creating it.


The ending was the only thing that bothered me. It seemed like both sides came together a little too easily. But that's really the only problem I had with this entire book. The ending wasn't a cliff hanger per se, but I'm definitely wanting more about Charlie and Max and can't wait to get it!


More Books by Kimberly Derting
The Body Finder
Desires to the Dead
Enthralled (anthology)

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme started and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WoW is a way for bloggers to post about a book or books they're excited or "waiting" for. This week my WoW is:

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman

May 8, 2012

It's the summer before senior year and the alluring Angel is ready to have fun. She's not like her best friend, Inggy, who has a steady boyfriend, good grades, and college plans. Angel isn't sure what she wants to do yet, but she has confidence and experience beyond her years. Still, her summer doesn't start out as planned. Her good friend Joey doesn't want to fool around anymore, he wants to be her boyfriend, while Angel doesn't want to be tied down. As Joey pulls away, and Inggy tours colleges, Angel finds herself  spending more time with Inggy's boyfriend, Cork. With its cast of vivid and memorable characters, this tale from the Jersey shore is sure to make some waves.

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I'm a fan of just about any summer time book. It can be serious or not, but if it takes place during the summer, I want to read it. Plus, it just sounds like it'll be awesome!

Coming Up in November 2011

This post was inspired by Tara's "Excited For..." posts over at Hobbitsies. I decided to do something a little like Tara does and show off some of the books that are coming out this month that I hope get the chance to read and review. Obviously not all YA books coming out in September are going to be here, but the ones I can't wait to read will be.

November 01: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber 

November 08: The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell

November 08: Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough

November 14: Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

November 15: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

November 15: The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

November 15: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

November 21: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

November 29: Vindicated by Keary Taylor

Cover Talk (12)

Cover Talk was inspired by Kristi's Books to Pine For and Steph Su's Cover Lust. I started Cover Talk as a way to show and talk about the cool/pretty/new covers I find while looking for new books (mostly on Goodreads).

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

The Language of Impossible Dreams by Sarah Ockler

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

In My Mailbox (45)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a fun way for book bloggers to share the books they bought, borrowed, or received for review. This week I got:

Bought:

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Faithful by Janet Fox

NetGalley:

The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Fracture by Megan Miranda 

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Title: The Faerie Ring
Author: Kiki Hamilton

Published: September 27, 2011 by Tor Teen
Pages: 352/Hardcover
Series: The Faerie Ring #1
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge, 2011 YA Historical Fiction Challenge
Source: bought

Summary: The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Review: How can I even start a review about The Faerie Ring? By telling you how awesome it was? Because it was awesome, oh how it was awesome. 

Starting off I knew something paranormal/strange was going to happen, but in the moment Tiki seemed like just a normal girl who was doing what she had to to survive. And that helped me to get in her head and understand her. She was a strong girl who didn't give up, especially when it came to the ones she loved. 

I could tell that Hamilton was trying to show that Tiki didn't really trust Rieker and Tiki herself even convinced me a few times that he wasn't to be trusted, but throughout the whole book I just couldn't see him as an untrustworthy guy. He just seemed so good. Maybe that's just me.

There wasn't any real mystery to the book because it was in third person so I pretty much knew what was going on with all of the characters even if they didn't know. What got me was the suspense. I knew what the characters were doing but would it work out? Would they save everyone? Would the faeries get the ring? All of these questions had me flipping the pages faster and faster until I got to the end.

Oh the ending. It really was quite nice. It wrapped up the story nicely and I know there's a sequel planned, but even if there wasn't the ending left it in a nice place to simply be a stand alone novel.

The Faerie Ring was a fantastic book! It had faeries and history and romance and thieves and just utter greatness. Go and read it! I'm begging you!

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme started and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WoW is a way for bloggers to post about a book or books they're excited or "waiting" for. This week my WoW is: 

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

May 1, 2012

I couldn't find a summary for the book, but come on you guys, it's BITTERBLUE! I've only been waiting for forever for this book to come out. I love Kristin Cashore and her previous books, Graceling and Fire. I literally CAN NOT WAIT for this book!

Top Ten Books That Whose Titles or Covers Made Me Buy It.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more info go here. 

Top Ten Books That Whose Titles Or Covers Made Me Buy It

Since this week is all about covers and titles I'm just going to put the book cover and title. Not much of an explanation is needed I think!

Chime by Franny Billingsley

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Split by Swati Avasthi

Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz