Top Ten Authors to Read If You Love Historical Fiction

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Top Ten Authors to Read if You Love Historical Fiction (non paranormal or fantasy)

 

Ann Rinaldi

Elizabeth Wein

 

Jennifer L Holm

 

Carolyn Meyer

 

Lisa Klein

 

A. C. Gaughen

 

L.M. Elliott

 

Sharon Biggs Waller

 

Susan Coventry

 

 

Michelle Moran

The Break-Up Artist Book Review

The Break-Up Artist
Philip Siegel

Hardcover, 329 pages

Expected publication: April 29th 2014 by Harlequin Teen

Recommendation Level: Would hesitate before recommending.

Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy

Review:

If I were rating just the first 1/4 of this book and the last 1/8 or so.....Then it would easily get a 4 star rating or higher. Unfortunately there was also the in-between.

Characters:::

Told in the point of view of Becca (AKA The Break Up Artist) you get a very cynical idea of love. After her sister gets jilted at the alter, she becomes a "love is not real" kind of person. The first 1/4 of the book reading in her point of view was great. I was enjoying her different quirks, and getting through different high school troubles. And then it all went downhill.
SPOILER ALERT!!! (You should be able to see the text if you highlight it)

 (view spoiler)[Right around the time Becca kissed her BEST FRIENDS BOYFRIEND. And then proceeds to (almost) convince him to break up with her best friend. And instead go out with her. (Now remember this is someone who doesn't even believe in love. Just lust.) As a matter of fact, the best advice Becca gets the entire book is (I believe from Huxley) that a guy isn't worth breaking up Becca and her best friends relationship. So yes, after this I couldn't stand reading Becca's point of view. (hide spoiler)]

END SPOILER!!!

The end wrapped up well, I think I liked Becca a tiny bit better.


The Plot:::

I think that the idea behind the plot was really cute, and had a lot of originality. It was also set up well.
The very end of the book went by really fast, and I found it to be a bit confusing.

If it weren't for the middle of this book I would give it a high rating. And if it also weren't for Becca.
Would only recommend this book if you think you can stand Becca.

I received this as a digital galley from Harlequin Teen via Netgalley. I am in no way compensated for this review.

Have you read The Break-Up Artist? What did you think about it?

Top Ten Books About Friendship

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Top Ten  Six Books About Friendship

 

1. Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

This is one of the most heartbreaking, best friendship books ever. Everyone needs to read it.

 

2. The Gallagher Girls Series.

Watching Cammie, Liz, Bex, and Macey go through the struggles of friendship with the twist of being teen spy's is pretty awesome. One of my favorite series ever.

 

3. The Daughters Series.

The Daughters Series is another one that stuck with me. Although I haven't read it for years, I remember really liking both the books and the friendships.

 

4. Better Off Friends.

Both a book about friends, and a romance. A wonderful mix. My Review.

 

5. You Look Different In Real Life.

Five kids going through the same kinds of things. Watching them go through it all together was a really great story.

 

And last, but definitely not least is......

6. Sense and Sensibility.

Sense and Sensibility is an amazing book. One of my favorite classics.

 

 

I'm sure that I missed a bunch, but these are the ones that I could think of.

 

Leave me a link below to your blog/Top Ten Tuesday! I would love to visit!

 

 

I Read YA Book Recommendations

 

 

More About I Read YA Here

 

*Note* If I included only the first in the series in this post, I do recommend the entire series. The series was probably just too long to include all of the books.

Realistic Fiction:

Review Here

Review Here

 

Sci-Fi/Fantasy:

 

Review Here

 

 

 

Review Here

 

 

Review Here

 

 

Straight Up Sci-Fi:

 

Contemporary Romance:

 

 

 

Review Here

Suspense/Mystery:

Comedy:

 

 Fairy Tales/Retellings:

 

 

Fun Reads that Could Be Classified In a Bunch of Different Genres:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Maybe One Day Book Review

Maybe One Day
Melissa Kantor

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published February 18th 2014 by HarperTeen

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

Review:

The best books are the ones that can make you feel sad, and at the same time have parts that will make you laugh.
And this one did both so well.


I think that one of the best things in this book (other than it will make you laugh and cry) is that the story is not a full head on romance. The real story is about two best friends. Zoe and Olivia.
There is only one word that can be used for their friendship. And that is it is beautiful. The way that Zoe stands by Olivia even when things get impossibly hard it wonderful to read about.
And although there is a little romance thrown in, it is not a huge element of the book. And although the book is about friendship, the romance was done very well also.

Zoe and Olivia are (now) two of my favorite characters. I really enjoyed reading in Zoe's point of view, although I think that if it had been switching between Zoe's and Olivia's points of view, it would also have been very good.
There were some points in the story where I thought that Zoe was being a jerk, but those points were worked out. And I am happy to say that I really enjoyed her character.

Overall this is a very emotional read that will have you still thinking about it days afterwards. I haven't read anything else by Melissa Kantor, but after this I will definitely looking out for more!
A definite recommendation, even for those who don't particularly like realistic fiction.

Have you read Maybe One Day? How about any of Melissa Kantor's other books? (I need recommendations) What did you think?

Characterize It (Character From Another World)

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.

Character from another world.

This week I am choosing Ash from The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. The Iron Fey series is one of my all time favorite young adult fantasy series, and if you love fantasy I would definitely suggest trying it out! Ash is a highly misunderstood character. But that only makes him all the more perfect!



Be sure to link up your Characterize It post below!




What character would you choose for this weeks topic? Have you read the Iron Fey series?

Waiting On Wednesday (17) This Shattered World

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is-

 This Shattered World (Starbound #2) - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

 

First of all, isn't that cover gorgeous???!!!

I really, really enjoyed These Broken Stars (review here)  and I can't wait to read this next installment!

 

Expected publication: December 23rd 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

 

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

 

 

 

Previous books in series:

 

These Broken Stars

 

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.