Book Review: For Real by Alison Cherry

Goodreads summary:

No parents. No limits. No clue what they're in for.

Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister's shadow. While Miranda's life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality TV.

When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just before her college graduation, it's Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They'll outshine Miranda's fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome.

But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may or may not be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life... or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what's for real? (less)

My review:

What an awesome read!  I was pleasantly surprised by For Real.  It's so fun and relatable; definitely the perfect fast-paced Christmas break read.  It has a great balance of humor and realism, and there's a great variety of characters.

I love the main character Claire!  I really like her journey to overcome her fears.  I also love that she accepts herself for who she is.  Plus, she's a nerd, which is freakin' awesome - there are even a couple references to Doctor Who and Joss Whedon!  And her explanation for why people like reality TV is so cool; I had never thought about it that way before.

The relationships in this book just had so much win.  The relationship between Claire and her sister is perfectly imperfect.  Yes, they get on each other's nerves a LOT but in the end they stick up for each other.  I love how the author handled Claire's feelings of inadequacy when compared to her sister, and how eventually she learns to stand on her own.  Secondly, there's the relationship between Claire and the love interest, Will.  I don't want to say a lot about this because that would include lots of spoilers.  But suffice it to say, it is so realistic.  I felt Claire's emotions every step of the way and cheered at the ending.  

The plot is super exciting!  Thanks to the competition taking place, there is always something happening.  I laughed at all the awkward situations poor Claire has to go through, and I love how all the minor characters stood out.  There's also plenty of twists!  And a certain scene at the end had me grinning the whole time.

The best way to describe For Real is that it's (pardon the pun) very real.  With a storyline like this, it could easily be cheesy, but this book is refreshingly realistic and features well-written relationships and fantastic character development.  For Real is definitely worth your time.  I can't wait to check out the author's first book!

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  4 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

Book Review: Captive by Aimee Carter

Goodreads summary:

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price? 

My review:

After being blown away by the awesomeness that was Pawn last year, I was a bit nervous about whether or not the sequel would really be as good as the first.  Luckily, Captive was just as epic!  I was honestly shocked by some of the amazing twists.  The only con is that I found myself a little more annoyed with Kitty than I did in the first book.

In Pawn, I was amused by Kitty and connected to her character a lot.  But in Captive, she just didn't click for me.  She is a good character in that she's independent and shows maturity.  Yet I was frustrated because at every turn, she does something that hurts else.  It felt like she was constantly trying to be proactive and help, but she just made things worse!  That bothered me somewhat.

But aside from that, this book was so much fun (and it gave me a lot of feels, just FYI!).  Admittedly, it does start out slightly slow, but about a third of the way there's a major scene that makes you go, "WHAT?!" and from then on, it's literally impossible to put down.  And there are many more twists to come throughout the book.  So many things about the rebellion, Lila, etc. are revealed.  I was really pleased because this sequel expanded thoroughly on things mentioned in the first book.  

Overall, Captive was amazing.  Yay for sequels that increase character growth, have complex storylines, and delve deeper into world-building!  I did get a little irritated with Kitty's character at times, but really, that is the only flaw.  I can't wait to see how it all goes down in the last book!

*I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  4 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

My Top 3 Books of November 2014

This semester has been flying by!  Finals are next week, and once that's over, I'm excited to post a couple more reviews for ARCs I read.  For now, here are the books I read in November:

- Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff
- Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
- The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris
- Mortal Heart by Robin LaFavers
- The Sisters Who Would be Queen by Leanda de Lisle
- For Real by Alison Cherry
- The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
- Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
- Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
- Captive by Aimee Carter

Here's my top 3 favorites:

1. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas.  Um, how is it that every book in this series keeps getting better and better?  Heir of Fire was emotional, gripping, and action-packed.  As always, Maas's writing style is brilliant and perfectly suited for fantasy books, an I was an awe over Celaena's character growth and the events of this book.  Amazing!

2. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFavers.  Like Heir of Fire, this fantasy book blew me away.  I have so enjoyed reading this series and Mortal Heart was no exception.  I was stunned by two amazing twists, and it was impossible not to root for the characters.  I was glued to this book and I'm so glad I read it!

3. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey.  It had been a year and a half since I read the first book in this series, so I didn't remember a lot.  I will say that I think I enjoyed the first book better, but this was still an impressive sequel.  It took me a while to get into it and remember all the characters, but once I did, I couldn't put it down.  There is some truly great writing, and I love how Yancey explores the gray areas of good and bad.  And UGH the cliffhanger.

Shoutout to Captive for being utterly awesome!  (And I'll have a review for it posted soon!)

What books have you enjoyed lately?

~ Kaitlyn

ARC Review: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

Goodreads summary:

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor.

"There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor.

Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?

Combining a fresh twist on the classic REBECCA with a spine-tingling mystery and powerful romance, SUSPICION is an action-packed thrill ride. 

My review:

The main reason I was interested in this book (besides the gorgeously gothic cover) was that it's supposed to be perfect for Downton Abbey fans.  I wouldn't quite call that an accurate description.  Instead, I think it is more like The Princess Diaries, as author Amy Plum said in her blurb.  Unfortunately, this book was good but not great.  It felt like it was littered with cliches.

First off, the main character was very much a Mary-Sue.  Everything about Imogen seemed cliched, from her awkwardly cute personality to her naive and cheerful attitude.  As for the love interest, I found him to be incredibly bland.  He was a handsome, wealthy heir who acted distant and rude.  And Imogen still liked him.  So the romance made me feel very irritated.  Sure, they were good friends as children, but they had no connection as teenagers and so I didn't feel their chemistry.  Oh well, at least it wasn't insta-love.

The plot and the setting were the main reasons I liked this book.  The story did take a while to actually start because there were so many flashbacks to Imogen's childhood, but I didn't mind it.  The flashbacks held my attention and were crucial to the storyline.  The plot certainly had a good deal of suspense, always leaving you to wonder who Imogen can trust.  Although I didn't figure everything out, I did guess some of the reveals.  The big twist at the end was decent, but I have to say it was ultimately a little unbelievable.  But the setting was done pretty well.  There wasn't an overabundance of description, but it was just enough to make me feel like I was in England!

In the end, this book was a fast and decent read, but not particularly memorable.  I disliked the main character and the romance, but the plot was good enough to make me keep reading.  I wouldn't recommend buying Suspicion right away - maybe get a Kindle sample to see if you're really interested or wait till your library gets it.

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  3 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

My Top 3 Books of October 2014

October was a crazy month for me.  But after this next week, things will be slowing down for me.  And I will definitely have a couple reviews up this month - I have a couple books from Netgalley that need to be reviewed. :) So here are the books I read in October:

- Panic by Lauren Oliver
- Of Neptune by Anna Banks
- Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
- Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
- The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
- Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel
- The Jewel by Amy Ewing
- Suspicion by Alexandra Monir
- The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

My top three favorites:

1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.  I only picked this book up because of the hype, but I am SO glad that I did.  It's easily one of my favorite books that I've read lately.  The prose was beautiful; I reread so many lines that were so perfect, I was at a loss for words.  And the suspense!  Wow.  When I read the twist at the end, I just sat there in shock and had to rethink the whole story.  This is one of those books that you'll immediately want to reread.

2. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson.  I did not have high expectations for this book, since I didn't really care for the author's previous book Amy and Roger's Epic Detour.  But wow, did I love this one!  It's everything that a great contemporary novel should be.  I loved the main character's growth throughout the story, and the introspective writing style.  Such a lovely read.

3. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan.  I feel like I've been waiting for this book forever, and I'm happy to say that it was amazing!  There's a proper ending for each of the characters we love so much, and thankfully not too much heartbreak.  The only thing I disliked was that I wanted the points of view for Percy or Annabeth, but oh well.  Still a fantastic conclusion!

What books have you enjoyed lately?

~ Kaitlyn

My Top 3 Books of September 2014

This post is a bit belated, thanks to a history exam and an essay I have due this week, but here goes!

These are the books I read in September:

- The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
- Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
- Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
- Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer
- Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
- Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen
- The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
- Frozen by Erin Bowman
- Stay With Me by J. Lynn

My top three:

1. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins.  I had major expectations for this book - it felt like I'd been waiting to read it for so long!  It was absolute perfection.  Isla is so adorkable and Josh is such a sweetheart and together they made a wonderful couple.  I also love that their relationship isn't perfect and it has its ups and downs - it's a realistic yet cute romance!

2. The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols.  This book was a total guilty pleasure read, but I just loved it.  It was the perfect escapist read, and there was not a moment that I was bored - funny lines were flying every which way and the main character had the funniest sense of humor.  Sometimes it's a nice break for the mind to read a predictable but entertaining story. :)

3. Stay With Me by J. Lynn.  Wow, so my top three books for the past month were all contemporary romances!  What can I say, they're so fun to read.  Stay With Me was so brilliant; it was the perfect combination of romance and suspense.  And the love interest Jax is totally swoon-worthy - he's the sweetest guy ever.  Loved this one!

What books have you enjoyed recently?

~ Kaitlyn

ARC Review: Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer

Goodreads summary:

Earth. Fire. Air. Water.

One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.

Michael Merrick understands pressure. He's the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it in for his family, and he's all that stands in the way.

His girlfriend, Hannah, understands pressure too. She's got a child of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could put her life in danger at any moment.

But there are people who have had enough of Michael's defiance, his family's 'bad luck'. Before he knows it, Michael's enemies have turned into the Merricks' enemies, and they're armed for war.

They're not interested in surrender. But Michael isn't the white flag type anyway. Everything is set for the final showdown.

Four elements, one family. Will they hold together, or be torn apart?

My review:

I can't believe this series is now over!  I'm going to miss the Merrick brothers so much.  Sacrifice was a gripping, fast-paced ending that totally gave me all the feels.  Brigid Kemmerer has done it again!

Michael is my favorite character besides Gabriel, and this book just made me fall in love with him even more.  He's hardworking and cares for his brothers so deeply - as the title suggests, he's willing to sacrifice literally anything for them.  My heart broke for him in this book because so much crap happens and Michael is at a loss as to how to protect his family.  It's interesting yet fitting to see the way Michael views his brothers, because they come across as much younger than they did in the previous books.

Hannah, Michael's girlfriend and the other narrator in this book, was also a well-developed character.  She'd only appeared briefly in the other books, so I was excited that we finally get to learn more about her.  She's a strong character, but...well, let's just say she doesn't handle stress as well as Michael.  I liked her, but didn't love her - she threw tantrums and argued so much instead of just acting her age.  I will say I adored the way the tense relationship between Hannah and her father played out, though.  Very well-done.

The plot was action-packed, as always - lots of fires and explosions!  Kemmerer packs a lot into a fairly short book (and for anyone wondering, the actual book is less than 300 pages - the Kindle and paperback versions are longer because there's previews of the other books/novellas).  I was always on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen to poor Michael next, and I liked the way a couple subplots were intertwined.  My only quibble about this book is that it's almost too much crammed into too short an amount of time.  I believe the whole book only covers the span of a week, and I felt like it should take place over a longer period of time. 

But aside from that and Hannah's sometimes immature attitude, I quite enjoyed Sacrifice.  It's a wonderful, heartfelt conclusion to the Elemental series, and I'm going to miss the Merrick brothers more than words can say.  It goes without saying that I'm picking up Brigid Kemmerer's next book the instant it hits shelves!

*I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  4 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn