REVIEW: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist.

At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations—that Brittany’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense.

Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.

I had heard a lot of hype about this book for a long time, and I’ve actually owned the book just as long. It was only recently that I finally took the chance to read the book, and I have to say that the hype is completely true. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Brittany in the beginning because of how “perfect” she was and made herself appear to be. I’m not saying Brittany was ever my favorite character, but I understood her home troubles and why she was the way she was.

Alex, however, was one of my favorite characters. He was the bad boy, with a good heart and those characters make me swoon. He felt tied and unable to escape the gang due to his father’s mistakes and the mistakes he is trying to prevent his younger brothers from making. All in all, the characters and their flaws were portrayed amazingly, and the north-side, south-side dynamic was on point and perfectly executed.

I did have a few issues with the book though, the first being the ending. While I loved seeing the year’s later epilogue, I felt that it was an outdated and easy-out sort of ending. I know that there are a couple of sequels to this book, told through Alex’s brother’s points of view, and I would have loved to see the ending of Alex’s and Brittany’s stories through the brother’s eyes instead of the way in which Simone Elkeles did it. I understand that sometimes sequels aren’t a guarantee and you want your readers to know how everything ended happily ever after, but that’s the joy of YA. Your characters are teens and we read the stories to see them grow up and have their whole lives ahead of them. YA books are open-ended most times because of that. Sure, the guy and girl get together but we will never know if they stay together or the trial and the tribulations of their relationship because they’re no longer young adults.

A bit of a rant there, sorry. Other than that, the rest of the cons I had are just the other side of the coin of my pros for the book. While I thought the characters were great, I didn’t love them. Paco and Isabel were the only characters I completely loved. They were true to themselves and to their friends. Brittany and Alex just got so caught up in themselves, and everyone else in the book did too and that was annoying. One relationship cannot be the end of the world.

My final con was the whole part where Alex ran away. I hated that he did that and didn’t just deal with his issues. His family was in danger, which I believed, but it was so weak of him. Sure, he fixed all his problems in the end, but that just made me frown.

Anyway, that’s all I have for that book. Do read it, because it was really good! I know it seems like it wasn’t, but I did love it overall. I even loved the epilogue even though I hated that it was there. Does that make sense?

XOXO Tia

REVIEW: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Everything is going to change….

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty.

But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they’re closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home…wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

I don’t tend to read YA books written by male authors, something about their synopses just never catches my eye. Odd considering the fact that the first book to make me fall in love with reading was a Sci Fi written by a male author (he later became my first favorite author). So I wasn’t originally set on reading this book until I heard about the film adaptation and that the love of my life, Dylan O’Brien, would be starring as Thomas. So I decided to read the book. Have I no shame? None.

I have to say that I am so glad I picked up this book. Not only did it re-spark my respect for YA male authors, but it kick-started my fast-dying love of dystopian books. This book kind of had a little bit of everything I love in it. It was kind of like Lord of the Flies meets The 100. It had all the new civilization dynamics of both, but with no background knowledge. All these boys and the one girl end up in the Glade with no knowledge of their pasts, and yet they still form a working and stable civilization with rules and everything.

James Dashner did a great job in creating this first book. There was so much intrigue and mystery surrounding the lift, WICKED, the girl, the Maze, and Thomas. All the characters were really well developed and the book didn’t end up as a giant info-dump-lopedia, as a lot tend to when there’s a character in a brand new place. The character has to ask questions to figure out what’s going on, and it wasn’t overdone in this book.

Another thing I love about the book was the mix of animal with machine, as most of the creatures in the Maze were. They were gruesome and downright terrifying even though they weren’t nearly as large as they were portrayed in the film. The film’s Maze creatures were so stupid, honestly.

Also, the way to figure out the Maze was genius. I would not have been able to figure is out, which is why I wouldn’t have been alive to get put in the Glade in the first place (plus I’m not Theresa). Sure, there were a few loose ends left untied, but what book one doesn’t have that. It’s definitely one I would recommend. It’s a quick read and a lot of things happen, and tons of secrets are revealed that make for a brilliant read.

XOXO Tia

REVIEW: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI comes knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides—especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

Creepy times 10 billion, and brilliant to boot. When I picked up The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I knew I was going to love it. I mean, how many times does one get to read a police procedural type YA? I can count on one finger how many times, thank you very much. I can honestly say that I believe this to be one of Barnes’ best books so far. Her use of second person for the small chapters in the killer’s perspective was not only absolutely terrifying, but also absolutely fantastic. And even with these killer POV chapters, this book still read at a level acceptable for middle grade as well as young adult. A feat, I tell you.

            The book cover is beautiful and the writing style is very succinct and to the point as a police procedural should be. The characters were good, though they could have been more dynamic. Lia did not seem like an important enough character and was not in the story enough for her to have had to be there. As for the rest of the characters, they were really well done and their Naturals ability truly shone through and developed their characters further. Dean wasn’t as developed as I wanted, though he was supposed to me tall, dark and mystery and thus I did not give a damn! The plot was great, though rushed and a bit clique at the very end. I was reading the big twist at the end about a paragraph before it actually occurred. That was disappointing. The writing wasn’t necessarily poetic or deep but it worked for the story written. With an analytical story such as this, where the characters are all Naturals at what they do, having that stylized critical sort of writing worked amazingly. I mean, all Sloane did was give statistics throughout the book, no other sort of dialogue really, and I feel like I know that character like the back of my hand.

            Overall, I loved the book. I thought the writing was great and made for a really quick read, which I like. I loved the characters, Sloane and Michael being my favorites, and little plot twists throughout (which I won’t mention because spoilers kill baby animals) were well thought out and cunningly brilliant. I really enjoyed the found family trope in this, as well as the tension between Cassie, Michael and Dead. It was a great love triangle of sorts and I honestly have no idea who she’ll choose, much less who I actually want her with. It’s a mental struggle I’m going through, I swear. Also the tension between how Dean used I when profiling and Cassie used You really helped separate and unify the character together despite them both being Natural profilers. It worked incredibly well and helped define their unique backgrounds and how they’ve shaped them.

            I can honestly say that I have not seen a book quite like this one in YA, and rightly so. Who in their right mind thinks, “I’m going to turn Criminal Minds into a YA novel”? Nobody sane is who. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is amazing, and her psychology background really pushed this book to a whole other level. It was an awesome read and I honestly feel like I could recommend it to anyone. What’s next for this author? The YA Grey’s Anatomy? I would actually keel over if that ever happened. I actually tried to think of a way to do it and I have absolutely nothing and so I’m now determined to figure out a way. I may never write it because I didn’t even get past high school biology (I’m graduating with my undergrad in December) in terms of non-social sciences and so I would fail miserably. Anyway, read this book if you haven’t already. It’s great. Sloane is to The Naturals as Abby is to NCIS. If that doesn’t peak your interest then I just don’t know what will.

XOXO Tia

REVIEW: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

            Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.

            So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.

            I’m not kidding, he says.

            You should be, she says, we’re 16.

            What about Romeo and Juliet?

            Shallow, confused, then dead.

            I love you, Park says.

            Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.

            I’m not kidding, he says.

            You should be.

            Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

            Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. This was the only way I could think to start this review other than a slew of disgruntled and unorganized keystrokes of no discernable pattern. Now, first things first, I did like this book. I just did not like the ending. This book was promoted by John Green himself and is often given to readers who really enjoy his works. I, however, do not believe the hype. I know, you’re all like ‘NO’! And I’m like, ‘I know right?’ how could I ever not adore Eleanor and Park wholeheartedly?  It’s not quite that simple, but I’ll get to that in a bit.

            The cover is so cute, I just have to mention that, and the setting is perfect. Hello, ‘80s. I think the meat and bones of this book were great. The love story was beautifully developed and the families were diverse and the character voices were pristinely unique. This book seemingly had it all, except a good ending. The ending was clique and a total shift from what could have been. The ending has been done before, almost exactly, and the characters were incredibly wishy-washy at the end. Like I said, writing and development were great. I really believed the characters, but I did not believe the ending.

            Now, my problem with the ending was not even Eleanor’s split with her family or the final three words business, it was the fact that it was predictable and nothing happened conflict-wise. There was no confrontation, and I was not okay with that. Granted, it was all very realistic and I get that, but I don’t think the ending was what it should have been. It felt very cut-and-paste like she didn’t really have anything better so here’s a placeholder and I’ll figure it out later (and then she didn’t figure it out, but rather just left it). And the character! The bullies just flopped over and turned into entirely different characters altogether. I was all; they’re secretly helping her and will betray her! They didn’t. Gosh, that ending was just so womp! It fell completely flat to me! I just loved that book until then, and because of that ending I can’t give this book a very good rating and that makes me sad. Eleanor and Park were totally relatable and I loved them so much, but when I look at the book I don’t see their love story. I see that horrible ending.

            That ending has been done over and over again in much better ways. The love story was very original, especially the way it wasn’t love at first sight. I was so beautiful, but the ending is what brought it down. I think Park’s family was a little stereotypical (Eleanor’s too actually, but at least hers had additions of originality to it).  I just don’t know what else to say. This book was heart wrenching and beautiful. I loved it and I hated it and then I just overall really loved it. I simply believe that there are some things that could have elevated the book that much more.

XOXO Tia

REVIEW: Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

            They hear the spirits.

The must obey.

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashlyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters must journey to find each other, sending them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

            My mind says yes, but my body asks why? I thought I knew what I was getting into when I picked up Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong, but I honestly had no idea and I did not realize how invested I was going to get. I think I know exactly how this book was pitched: Game of Thrones meets The Walking Dead. Sounds fabulous right? It really was. Fantasy meets horror, hello genre of my dreams. Maybe it’s just me on this, but I picked up a hint of Avatar: The Last Airbender (I know, more reasons why I loved it) but that, again is probably just me. Perhaps manga is a better example, because Avatar is way too cheesy for what this book was.

Anyway, The book was lashed with Japanese elements and it was amazingly done. The book can probably only be read at a young adult level and not middle school since there was a lot of death and deception but you know what? Kelley Armstrong originally writes for adults, and the fact that she is even gracing the YA world with her creativity and beauty is good enough for me. I just cannot even describe how much I enjoyed this book and the characters. Ugh the characters!

The title. NO. I do not feel that the title conveyed the book premise, story, or tone to the level which I would have liked. It makes sense once you read the book, but it did not capture my interest enough. As for the beginning, there were a few barriers to entry. The prologue was weird and felt unnecessary even though I knew Ronan was a central character and it was important to capture the whole exiled to the Forest of the Dead bit. Didn’t work well enough and I wasn’t keen on it. The book was a little difficult to get into but once the action started it STARTED (and believe me it started quick). And then, once the boys were there I was completely hooked.

The characters were great! Each one had their own voices, insecurities, relationships and secrets. Plus, even Tova and Daigo (a giant dog and wildcat, I’m sorry, Hounds of the Immortals) had their own voices without saying a word a lot. How is that even possible?  When they were all in the Forest of the Dead I was like, this place is horrible it can’t get much worse than this, but then every place after that was even worse! Inconceivable! And then the plot twist at the end. Well, I’ll leave it at that. Of course, there were dull points when there wasn’t danger and they were just walking, but I got over it because oh God the relationships between Ashyn and Ronan, and Moria and Gavriel. ‘Nuff said. So Dead. Oh and Kelley Armstrong was mean and did split POV that only changed on odd chapters until the end. I’m the kind of person who wants to end on a new POV but also wants to end on an even chapter. A dilemma, and thus I couldn’t put the book down. (One of many reasons)

I did not expect as much fantasy. I was expecting more horror. The horror lived up to my expectations and I ended up loving how fantastical it was.  Now, first things first. The characters. I love love loved all four of the main characters, and I didn’t know who I loved more. OF course, with the plot twist at the end I threw one of those characters along with the book out the window (I then I picked them up and cuddled them under my covers as I cried). But no, this book! I laughed, I cried, I threw it on the ground. The ending was horrible, in a brilliant plot twist way and I am so shattered inside. Favorite character by far: Ronan, hands down. Anyway, I just loved this book. I loved that the stories Moria told the little kids came to life and it was terrifying and I couldn’t look away.

I feel like there are books in the ballpark of the tone of this book (The Forest of Hands and Teeth being one of them), but I think the mix of Japanese elements with horror and fantasy was really original. I know I said Game of Thrones meets The Walking Dead meets Avatar: The Last Airbender and I do not rescind that statement. It’s a bit different than that but I think it strikes the same chords. Plus the voices of the characters were really original. They all had that medieval court tone but they were all unique and it was just great.  Now excuse while I go into a dark corner and go mad waiting for the next book in the series.

And please, read this book if you love fantasy and horror. Then gush with me in a dark corner until the sequel is released.

XOXO Tia

REVIEW: Heist Society by Ally Carter

            When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind.

            Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, the gorgeous Hale, appears, pulling her back into the world she has only just escaped. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster’s priceless art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Now. Only a master thief could have pulled off this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

            Kat’s solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and, hopefully, just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history. And, with any luck, she just might be able to steal her life back along the way.

            I was incredibly excited to read Heist Society by Ally Carter, and I’m very happy that I did. I really enjoyed the book and found it to be a quick and excited read that left a lot for the imagination to fill in, in a good way of course. I can see how the series can be read in a serial fashion, and left just enough loose ends at the end of the first book to make me really, really want another, but not need one necessarily. Which is really good. Ally Carter did a brilliant job with this fun, light-hearted, and exciting novel and I cannot wait to read the first book in her Gallagher Girls series, at least until I can get my hands on Uncommon Criminals that is.

            Now, despite the serious issue of World War II stolen art and the tragic background to all of the pieces that were pertinent to this novel, the book did ring a little chick-lit. This was fine, of course, because any other way and I wouldn’t believe that Kat was going to rescue art instead of fulfill the greedy thief stereotype I have in my mind. Kat is truly a hero even despite being part of a sort of mob family of brilliant thieves. The barrier to entry on this book was very low, great for readers of all ages and levels of knowledge about thievery (like my total lack thereof). Also, there was no blood, gore, or cursing. Shocking for a book about criminals, right? But Ally Carter did a good job avoiding all of those issues so as to have a final product that is completely PG and completely suitable for readers of all levels.

            I love the cover and title of this book; I’m just going to put that out there. Succinct and beautiful, just like the book. I love the premise of this book too, the fact that Kat is trying to escape the family business of stealing but is swept back in kicking and screaming to save her father. It’s great, and the characters are splendid. I’d tell you my favorites, but the list would literally have everybody’s names on it. Each character just worked off of each other perfectly. Hamish and Angus had that whole Weasley brother vibe to them, and Simon and Gabrielle each played their roles amazingly. Then Kat and Hale were so perfect for each other! I even loved Nick and Taccone. Aside from the characters, the plot worked really well. The book was divided into a sort of countdown system and it also told where all the characters travelled. Sadly, it was a little hard to believe (even with a private jet courtesy the W.W. Hale family) the characters could just fly around to all these different places under the time crunch. Then there’s the plot and conflict with Kat figuring out how to steal from the Henley all while Taccone threatens her. Sadly, that is all that happens conflict wise. Sure, it’s easy to be concerned whether or not they’ll pull off the heist or whether or not Taccone will do something, but nothing truly happens. Taccone never carries out his threats, and they complete the heist without a hiccup (well, there were some minor ones of course).

I know Ally Carter tried her hardest to keep the book PG, but there wasn’t enough meat to Taccone’s threats. There were the subtle hints, like the guard with the burned hand, but it just wasn’t enough for me to fully believe in Taccone as a villain. I wish he had done more instead of just sending various threats Kat’s way. Then there’s the heist, which went incredibly well considering all their fears. Sure, there was Nick, but even that was resolved rather hiccup free. All I’m saying, is the conflict was very minor for a gang of criminals. There should have been more! Of course, don’t get me wrong, I did love the book, but these are just a few of the things that could have been done better. Also, the book was written in third person. This wasn’t a problem, but the POV would randomly be somewhere and then it would lead back to Kat’s POV and her introduction with the character. While I liked it and it was very unique to read, it got old after a while and sort of stole some thunder from the fast-paced heist going throughout. It made it easy for me to put down the book and for my excitement level to go from ‘100’ to ‘huh?’ and that makes me sad. The book was a quick, exciting read still, but sometimes those other POV beginning were weird. The book was hilarious, though, and it needs to be said that Ally Carter’s voice is amazing.

            In the end, the book was very original even though the topic of young thieves is one that has been done a few times over. The mob family is a common trope in YA and the characters in the gang were all the stereotypical members needed for a heist of any sort: the genius, the leader, the billionaire, the flirt, and the explosion techies. Despite this, Ally Carter brought a fresh take to this story with the unique third person technique, the witty and hilarious dialogue, the easy barrier to entry, and of course the backstory to the art being stolen and then re-stolen. It was a great, fresh story and very entertaining.

XOXO Tia

REVIEW: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

            Some secrets shouldn’t be kept…

            Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia’s life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia’s life becomes far from ordinary.

            Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She’s reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she’s inexplicably drawn to Ben…and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he wants to help—but can he be trusted? She knows he’s hiding something… but he’s not the only one with a secret.

            While I expected to absolutely love Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz, it ended up falling short in comparison to her Blue is for Nightmares series. To me, at least. It also took me longer to get into than her other books. For some reason the characters just had annoying voices in the beginning. Granted they did grow on me over time and I did really enjoy the book, but my initial feeling toward them was annoyance. I realize that the voices of the characters were very mirrored with the voices of teens, but it did not ring well with me and left a gross taste in my mouth.

            The book cover is really beautiful, though misleading. The cover says ghosts but the synopsis says stalkers. I guess the stalker is metaphorically a ghost but no. Cover = misleading. The characters were very 2D and they should have really been developed into more 3D versions. The plot was stereotypical of the stalker genre, and the addition of Ben’s abilities did nothing to assist in the story except to turn Camelia into an incredibly unlikeable character. The story as a whole just wasn’t believable enough. In comparison to Laurie Faria Stolarz’ other works, this was nowhere near as good as any of it.

            I hated the majority of the first half of the book. The characters were atrocious. Camelia, Kimmie and Wes were annoying as all get out. I hated Kimmie so much in the beginning; I mean, what a horrible best friend. All three of the characters had grating voices and over-the-top personalities (usually a good thing, but bad this time around). However, I should mention that I did end up liking Kimmie and Wes. They were way too obnoxious in the beginning, and only when they got a little bit of depth did I like them. Camelia was a boring protagonist, and she just kept putting the phone of the holder! I think I face-palmed every single time she did this. I just didn’t believe her character or her fear enough. And then the way she just accepted Ben’s gifts like they were normal, everyday occurrences? No. Unbelievable, and thus I hated her after that. I was totally with her friends. If Ben kills her it’s her fault for not listening to her friends. I think I might be ranting.

Anyway, the plot was a little stereotypical, but I really loved how she kept the stalker a deep dark secret until the very end. There were so many guys I thought would be the killer at so many moments throughout the book and by the end I was reading so quickly all “tell me who the stupid stalker is”! So, in terms of genre, the suspense was absolutely there but the magic was unnecessary and made the book too similar to one of her other series’.

This was one of the most annoying things about this book. It was almost exactly like Blue is for Nightmares only not as good. I love Laurie Faria Stolarz’ works. She writes stalker/creepy books scarily well, but this book was just like her other. So not only is it not very original because stalker books have been done, and even more have been done with magic involved, the author has herself done it before. This book just wasn’t incredibly gripping and the stalker was kind of predictable (even though I had no idea who it would be until the very end). I was just let down here, and that makes me really sad. Of course, I will read the next two because I own them. I’m hoping things will get better. I mean, I really enjoyed the book at the end and had no idea what would happen, so I’m just hoping the oomph in her writing that I know and love will show up in the next book.

XOXO Tia