Hearts are broken every day.
I failed my goal of reading 70 books this year. I've read 57 books in the year of 2011. Here's the last bunch of them.
Fire (Seven Kingdoms 2) by Kristin Cashore
4/5 -great fantasy, mature, love, adventure, period
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
3/5 -good alternative views, angst, contemporary, family, love, mature, realistic fiction, social issues
If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
4/5 -great angst, love, beach read, coming of age, high school, teeny bopper, multiple reads
He's looking at me like-well, like he wants to look at me. Like he likes what he sees, and he's smiling and his eyes are so blue, even in the faint flow of the porch light they shine, and I nod dumbly, blindly, and then grope for the door handle, telling myself to look away and yet not able to do it.
"Sara," he says, softly, almost hesitantly, and my heart slam-bangs, beating hard, and this is what it's like to want someone you can't have. To want someone you shouldn't even be looking at.
Sarah and Brianna have always been friends, and it's always gone like this: guys talk to Sarah in order to get closer to Brianna. So even though Sarah met Ryan first, she's not surprised that he ends up with Brianna (even though Sarah has a massive crush on him).
The three of them hang out, and Sarah and Ryan's friendship grows until one night an innocent exchange between them leads to a moment that makes Sarah realize that Ryan might be interested in her after all. But if there's one unwritten rule, it's this: you don't mess around with a friend's boyfriend.
So Sarah tries to resist temptation. But with the three of them thrown together more and more, tension builds between Sarah and Ryan, and when they find themselves alone together at one point, they realize they just can't fight how they feel anymore...
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
2/5 -okay angst, coming of age, family, high school, social issues
Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.
The OC: The Misfit by Aury Wallington and Cory Martin
1/5 -bad alternate views, tv, angst, family, funny, high school, love, pop culture, social issues, teeny bopper
Must-see TV becomes gotta-have-it teen read!
Break the Rules . . . Or Make Some New Ones
Seth Cohen has grown up among the beautiful rich kids, but he's never been one of them. Cohen? He's the geek, the weirdo, the misfit. But not anymore. Suddenly Seth's got a friend, Ryan Atwood, who's got his back. The popular girl next door, Marisa Cooper, is talking to him. And he's got not one but two girls on the line. Seth's not playing by the same rules anymore, in fact, he's out to break them all.
From the beaches to the boutiques to the parties, what you wear and what you drive matters more than who you are--welcome to the O.C
--------------
The only reason I could read this was because I have seen the show so much. I took me back, and even moments that were horribly written (which was the whole book) like when Seth swept Summer off her feet, I couldn't help but smiling picturing Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson dancing to 'Wonderwall'.
This is the fourth OC book I've read and I feel like they make Marissa a more sympathetic character than the show's portrayal of her.
My number one complaint though is Seth saying that Anna was his first kiss! When we all know it was Summer! By the pool! At his grandfather's party!
Fire (Seven Kingdoms 2) by Kristin Cashore
4/5 -great fantasy, mature, love, adventure, period
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
3/5 -good alternative views, angst, contemporary, family, love, mature, realistic fiction, social issues
If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
4/5 -great angst, love, beach read, coming of age, high school, teeny bopper, multiple reads
He's looking at me like-well, like he wants to look at me. Like he likes what he sees, and he's smiling and his eyes are so blue, even in the faint flow of the porch light they shine, and I nod dumbly, blindly, and then grope for the door handle, telling myself to look away and yet not able to do it.
"Sara," he says, softly, almost hesitantly, and my heart slam-bangs, beating hard, and this is what it's like to want someone you can't have. To want someone you shouldn't even be looking at.
Sarah and Brianna have always been friends, and it's always gone like this: guys talk to Sarah in order to get closer to Brianna. So even though Sarah met Ryan first, she's not surprised that he ends up with Brianna (even though Sarah has a massive crush on him).
The three of them hang out, and Sarah and Ryan's friendship grows until one night an innocent exchange between them leads to a moment that makes Sarah realize that Ryan might be interested in her after all. But if there's one unwritten rule, it's this: you don't mess around with a friend's boyfriend.
So Sarah tries to resist temptation. But with the three of them thrown together more and more, tension builds between Sarah and Ryan, and when they find themselves alone together at one point, they realize they just can't fight how they feel anymore...
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
2/5 -okay angst, coming of age, family, high school, social issues
Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.
The OC: The Misfit by Aury Wallington and Cory Martin
1/5 -bad alternate views, tv, angst, family, funny, high school, love, pop culture, social issues, teeny bopper
Must-see TV becomes gotta-have-it teen read!
Break the Rules . . . Or Make Some New Ones
Seth Cohen has grown up among the beautiful rich kids, but he's never been one of them. Cohen? He's the geek, the weirdo, the misfit. But not anymore. Suddenly Seth's got a friend, Ryan Atwood, who's got his back. The popular girl next door, Marisa Cooper, is talking to him. And he's got not one but two girls on the line. Seth's not playing by the same rules anymore, in fact, he's out to break them all.
From the beaches to the boutiques to the parties, what you wear and what you drive matters more than who you are--welcome to the O.C
--------------
The only reason I could read this was because I have seen the show so much. I took me back, and even moments that were horribly written (which was the whole book) like when Seth swept Summer off her feet, I couldn't help but smiling picturing Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson dancing to 'Wonderwall'.
This is the fourth OC book I've read and I feel like they make Marissa a more sympathetic character than the show's portrayal of her.
My number one complaint though is Seth saying that Anna was his first kiss! When we all know it was Summer! By the pool! At his grandfather's party!