The Summer I Found You (Book Review)

The Summer I Found You
Jolene Perry
Source - E-arc from Albert Whitman Teen via Netgalley
Expected publication: March 1st 2014 by Albert Whitman Teen

All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.

Kate's dream boyfriend has just broken up with her and she's still reeling from her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Aidan planned on being a lifer in the army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's a disabled young veteran struggling to embrace his new life. When Kate and Aidan find each other neither one wants to get attached. But could they be right for each other after all?



Review:

First of all I am going to let you know three things.

1. The cover doesn't really have much to do with the book.
2. Both of the characters in this book have some serious issues going on in their lives. They do have a reason to complain a little.
3. Yes Kate does complain and handle her problem worse than Aidan, even though her problem is not as big. But she is also two years younger than him, and I didn't think that her complaining was excessive.The book switches between Aidan and Kate's points of view. The switching was done well, and I enjoyed both of their takes on life.
Yes, Kate is immature with her diabetes problem. But she is in high school and having to deal with a huge life changing medical problem. Having to stick yourself with a needle and having to watch what you eat CONSTANTLY is no fun at all. Also, a while after finding out this problem. Kate's wonderful (do you sense my sarcasm?) boyfriend breaks up with her. With no warning at all. Claiming it was because of them going to different colleges in the fall. But then goes on to date a high school girl a year younger than him.

A little after the break up. Kate is introduced to her best friends cousin Aidan. There was some "love at first sight" in this book. But it wasn't a big enough issue to bug me.

Aidan's life changing problem is that he lost his dominant arm while stationed overseas in the military.
He seems to handle his problem better than Kate is handling hers, but it is also pretty obvious that Aidan is struggling.

I liked the chemistry between Aidan and Kate. I think that their romance was cute, but also heartbreaking.

Overall if you like contemporary. And if you can deal with some hard life problems with the characters. And if you can deal with a little complaining and cluelessness on Kate's part. Then I think that you will like this one.
(3.5/5)

52 Reasons to Hate my Father (Book Review)

Be prepared to a whole lot of CAPS in this review. I will be completely honest. Someone recommended this book to me and I was unsure. It looked like it was going to be a completely ridiculous, stupid read. And the cover didn't help. And I was so very, very, VERY, wrong. This book is the PERFECT blend of comedy and drama. Characters: ***WARNING*** Lexi is a bit of a snob at the starting of this book, so be prepared. But I know that the author meant for her to be that way. And although she was a litt...more 52 Reasons To Hate My Father Jessica Brody Published July 3rd 2012 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it. Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either. Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her. Review: Be prepared to a whole lot of CAPS in this review. I will be completely honest. Someone recommended this book to me and I was unsure. It looked like it was going to be a completely ridiculous  read. And the cover didn't help. And I was so very, very, VERY, wrong. This book is the PERFECT blend of comedy and drama. Characters: ***WARNING*** Lexi is a bit of a snob at the starting of this book, so be prepared. But I know that the author meant for her to be that way. And although she was a little annoying there was so much humor in the things that she did and in the text that her being a snob didn't mean anything at all. As the story went on and you learned why Lexi is the way she is........I started to love her character. She was relatable and she cared. I won't say his name here but the main romantic interest was loveable and sweet. I enjoyed the banter between the Lexi and him. Plot: There is not much I can say about the plot except that it was the PERCET EXAMPLE OF GOOD COMEDY! The different jobs that Lexi had to do were hilarious to read about (some of which I have done myself so I could relate). And the drama and sad parts of this book were touching. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a drama/comedy that will make them both laugh and cry. REALLY LIKED THIS ONE! And I am planning on reading anything else I can get my hands on by Jessica Brody.

Characterize It (9)

 

Welcome to Characterize It, a meme held every Thursday and hosted by http://theyabookbutterfly.blogspot.com/

As usual for memes, link the meme back to the host page so that other can join in!

If you want to know more about Characterize It, go to this page.

 

Farm Girl: Girl or Guy character that lives on a farm at some point...

 

I chose D. J. from Dairy Queen. D. J. runs the family farm after her parents both have some complications, I really loved Dairy Queen and its two sequels.

Dairy Queen is an older one, it was first published in 2006. I included three of its covers......each one has changed pretty drastically.

 

 

 

 

 

Can you recommend any books where the main character lives on a farm?

 

Better Off Friends (Book Review)

Better Off Friends
Elizabeth Eulberg
Expected publication: February 25th 2014 by Point

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?






Review:

This book was absolutely adorable. The story starts when Macallan and Levi are still in middle school. So this is definitely a story that younger readers can enjoy.
The book switches between Macallan and Levi's point of views......Also, at the end of ever chapter you had these adorable comments between the two of them.
Both Macallan and Levi's characters were great. Macallan wasn't a whiny character. I though that here character was sweet and realistic. She handled the different things that were thrown at her with ease, but she still didn't act too old (she is younger than the average YA character). I really liked Levi's character for most of the book. He was a pretty typical boy. Although, sometimes I think he acted a bit older than his age.

The entire story line has just the right amount of sadness and comedy. The plot and characters were(for the most part) realistic.
Not going to go into the plot too much, because it would ruin the entire story line. But I will say that I was very pleased.
I would call this one an older middle grade book. It is definitely clean enough for pre-teens to enjoy also.

Will Levi and Macallan become more than friends? Or will they just stay best friends?
You are going to have to read it to find out!

This book was great. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, innocent contemporary. Much cleaner than the average YA book of today.


**Point via Netgalley provided an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Do you like books with best friends? Have you read this one? What did you think?

Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read

Hosted by  http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

 

Top Ten Five Popular Authors I've Never Read

 

 

Stephenie Meyer

Twilight series

The Host. 

 

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter series.

 

Kami Garcia

Co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series.

 

Alyson Noel

The Immortals series

The Soul Seekers series

 

Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy

 

 

Paper Towns (Book Review)

Paper Towns
John Green
Published 2008 by Dutton Books

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.





Review:

YA Genres:

Romance
Historical Fiction
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Contemporary

And then there is John Green, he is in a genre all of his own.
This is my third John Green novel, after really liking The Fault In Our Stars and thinking that Looking for Alaska was ok I wanted to pick up Paper Towns to try it out.

The first 1/3 of the book was both hilarious and captivating. I loved the chemistry between Q and Margo.
After that, I wasn't really loving the story. The plot didn't interest me and I wasn't crazy about all of the "mature content" of the book.

The Characters:
For the first 1/3 of the book I was LOVING the characters. Q and Margo were so funny together, and I was laughing along with there entire night of (you'll see). After the first 1/3 I slowly started to dislike both of them. Although disliking Margo took only 1 chapter, Q took a while for my dislike of him to set in.
Part of the reason is I honestly don't like reading books in the guys point of view only. I don't mind alternating points of view, but only in the guys point of view frustrates me.
I had hoped for more of a romance in this book, so in that way comparing it to The Fault In Our Stars this was a huge disappointment.

The plot was just OK....Although a high five to John Green for such a unique story line, I just wasn't really getting it.


Altogether I did think this one was good. But I also think that I was hoping for something as good as The Fault In Our Stars, which this definitely is not. If you liked Looking for Alaska, you will probably like this one....Because I liked the two of them about equally

February Challenges Wrap Up

 

I only read and reviewed one book for this challenge this month...

Being Sloane Jacobs (review posted) 

 

Adding this one to the others that means that I have read and reviewed 3/15 2014 YA Contemporary's for my goal.

 

 

 

For the "Real" Book Challenge this month I did good. But not as well as January.

 

February:

17. The Offering
18. Vitro
19. Juliet's Moon
20. The Impossible Knife Of Memory
21. Dairy Queen
22. The Off Season
 23. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
24. Unremembered
25. Annie Between the States
26. You Be the Jury 

 27. Front and Center
28. Tuck Everlasting
29. Resistance
30. Forget You