Book Review: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Title: Let's Get Lost
Author: Adi Alsaid
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: July 29th 2014
Length: 352 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, road trip, romance, friendship
Source: Edelweiss

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Summary by Goodreads

LET'S GET LOST is made up of five parts, each of them divided into about seven or eight chapters. In his debut novel Adi Alsaid tells the stories of Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia. They are stories about friendship, family, and love. Running away from the past, being scared of the future and how to make up for your mistakes. What connects their stories and makes up the fifth part of the book is the story of a wonderfully warm and caring girl named Leila. She helps Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia on her way and makes friends for a lifetime. I almost couldn't believe she wanted to drive all the way to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Such a crazily exciting trip!

Adi Alsaid wrote one delightfully different road trip. Leila's adventure isn't about sightseeing only, but more about the people she meets along the way. Just like Leila I've been wanting to see the Northern Lights. I spent three weeks in the North of Sweden, but never got the chance to actually see them. So this book gives me a good excuse to fly to Alaska and lie down in a clearing just like Leila did. Leila really impressed me! 

All five stories stand for themselves, and at the same time are connected by Leila's generosity, her kindness, bravery and friendship. And they all had something to do with being lost and wanting to be found, wanting to find your own way in life. There were various parallels between every story that connected them in a meaningful way. Leila helps those teens get through the night and when the new day dawns they might actually find what they've been looking for for all this time.

 

With a few nuances the story could've moved to a deeper emotional level, even more than it ultimately did. Most of the story is about the teens Leila makes friends with and their lives and only a small part of the story is about Leila herself and what this road trip means to her. 
Also, she kisses Hudson, the first boy she meets on her trip and I would not be surprised if you hoped for them to see each other again just like I did for the entire book. Theirs is a subtle and great love story!

Adi Alsaid has a talent to zoom in on great moments and capture them, make them appear in detail and vibrance. Some parts of this story read like the script to an epic YA contemp movie version of LET'S GET LOST. Really hoping to see this one on the big screen some day!

5/5 ***** LET'S GET LOST - A brilliant debut novel with an epic road trip, postcards, new friends and all the things that make life so unexpectedly beautiful.

I have never marked so many sentences as favourite quotes on my kindle before! You really want to get lost in Leila's story. The beautiful writing of Adi Alsaid makes her story come alive and feel as meaningful and beautiful as a favourite YA contemporary novel should in order to stay with you and your friends for a long time. LET'S GET LOST is a favourite of mine, too.

"How unfair that the person breaking your heart could still be resoundingly beautiful, that her face was still the one you loved the most." ― Source

LET'S GET LOST by Adi Alsaid you might also enjoy AMY & ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR by Morgan Matson, SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington and HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski. I really liked all three of these road trip adventures and the many emotions they conveyed. 

 

* You can find more LET'S GET LOST quotes here.

* Click here to read an excerpt of LET'S GET LOST.

* Want to meet Adi? Check out his event schedule.

* You can now add Adi's next book ALWAYS, NEVER, SOMETIMES (2015) to your Goodreads shelves.

* For more information about Adi and his books visit www.somewhereoverthesun.com.

Book Review: The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

Title: The Break-Up Artist
Author: Philip Siegel
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: April 29th 2014
Length: 336 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, romance, friendship, break-ups
Source: Netgalley

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.

Summary by Goodreads

Becca has set up an elaborate break-up business and she's convinced she's only helping couples to make the right choice when she breaks them up. YA contemps are naturally about playing matchmaker, people falling in love, and not about making them fall out of love. So because of Philip Siegel's idea for a YA contemporary book of the different kind, I just had to read THE BREAK-UP ARTIST. I liked how defiant and funny it sounded.
In the end, Becca isn't as understanding and sensible as one would like her to be. She often has a very childish, onesided perspective on matters of love. She considers herself so very mature managing her emotions and not falling prey to her hormones like other girls her age. And maybe that stubborn way of hers was the fault I didn't ultimately connect with her. 

Love and friendship are both equally important parts in THE BREAK-UP ARTIST. On the one hand Becca has her friendship with Valerie. A friendship with honesty and irony and good fits of giggles. And on the other hand there are the feelings she's having for Valerie's boyfriend Ezra. Her idea of relationships, actual love and the inner conflict caused by her feelings for Val and Ezra are a major issue in Becca's story. 

The kind of love triangle between Val, Becca and Ezra was a total downer. That's because Becca didn't get what she actually needed from the beginning of THE BREAK-UP ARTIST to get her off her anti couples attitude. She would have needed someone to throw her off her feet, showing her what true love means. Becca really deserves a much kinder love story.

 

This is a debut novel that I didn't end up liking as much as I'd hoped I would. But this should be no indicator of how good an author Philip Siegel is. His writing was perfectly fine and I really enjoyed his humour and his overall story idea. I guess I just wasn't okay with the way things were happening and how Becca and Ezra and all the others kept acting crazy and irresponsible, not understanding what truly mattered until the very end.

What did entertain me were the break-up techniques and the persona Becca created in order to run her break-up business. That she even came up with the idea in the first place. Becca has dealt with break-up cases before but now she has to deal with the most popular couple at school. Here Philip Siegel comes up with a few pretty hilarious ideas and break-up schemes.

 

3/5 *** THE BREAK-UP ARTIST - Sassy & artistic! A fun read for all the juvenile anti-relationship rebels out there. 

Becca's story is like a competition between singles and couples, an examination of all kinds of relationships, lots of complicated relationships, too. You should definitely enjoy Becca's break up plotting and trying to help her find the weaknesses in this annoyingly sweet couple's relationship that's her main target at the moment. Just for fun, you know. For those who loved Philip Siegel's debut novel, there will even be a sequel to THE BREAK-UP ARTIST.

"I may not be an angel in all this, but I'm certainly not the bad guy either. If you can't handle my line of work, then go read the latest bodice ripper. I'll leave you with this: How many lives have been ruined because of love? Who's really the bad guy here?"

THE BREAK-UP ARTIST you might enjoy THE ART OF LAINEY by Paula Stokes about Lainey who is dumped by her boyfriend and then tries to get him back. Tia in BIGGEST FLIRTS by Jennifer Echols is like Becca, she doesn't believe in relationships either. THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger is a fun anti-relationship read, too.

* Click here to read an excerpt of THE BREAK-UP ARTIST!

* Want to meet Philip Siegel? Check out his event schedule.

* For more information about Philip Siegel and his books visit www.philipsiegel.com.

* Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the chance to review THE BREAK-UP ARTIST!

The Break-Up Artist Blog Tour: Q&A with Philip Siegel

Today I'm very happy to welcome Philip Siegel, 2014 debut author, on the blog. My stop of the THE BREAK-UP ARTIST blog tour features a Q&A with Philip Siegel. He was patient enough and so awesome to answer all the questions I sent his way. Hope you enjoy them. There's also a giveaway (actually more than one)!

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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.

About The Break-Up Artist:
Goodreads | Amazon |  Barnes & Noble |  IndieBound


Philip Siegel grew up in New Jersey, which he insists is much nicer than certain TV shows would have you believe. He graduated from Northwestern University and promptly moved out to Los Angeles, where he became an NBC page. He likes to think that the character of Kenneth on 30 Rock is loosely based on his life rights. Currently, he works in downtown Chicago by day while he writes novels at night and during his commute sandwiched in between colorful characters on the El. THE BREAK-UP ARTIST is his first novel.

Find Philip:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Tour Schedule

Monday April 28 - Bumbles and Fairy Tales - Guest Post

Wednesday April 30 - Reading Teen - Guest Post

Friday May 2 - Scott Reads It - Guest Post 

Monday May 5 - Miss Page-Turner's City of Books -Author Interview

Wednesday May 7 - Xpresso Reads  Author Interview

Friday May 9 -  Me, My Shelf and I  Guest Post

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Q&A with Philip Siegel

1) How are you celebrating THE BREAK-UP ARTIST's release date on April 29th?

I think I’ll go around to a few local bookstores and see if my book is on the shelf. And then of course enjoy the surreal moment of seeing MY BOOK in a bookstore. My release party is two days later, which is when I’ll celebrate with friends and cupcakes.

2) Becca Williamson breaks up couples for money. How did you come up with this rather unusual job idea for a high school student?

I’d wanted to do something like the anti-Hitch. We’ve all seen and read stories about matchmakers, but what about people who break up couples? I’d been a bit cynical about relationships growing up; I was always on the outside looking in. Plus, a few years back, I had some friends in bad relationships. In those situations, it’s hard to step in and say something because you don’t want to damage that friendship. It made me wish there was someone who could break up couples for me.

3) What are Becca's top three sneaky methods for breaking up couples? And what was the most hilarious or even awkward moment in her career?

In the book, she hatches a plan to break up this megapopular couple by making the girl think that her boyfriend is falling back in love with his old girlfriend. I loved the slow burn plotting of her scheme. You can’t just throw rumors of an affair in someone’s face. Step by step, Becca makes it seem like the guy is straying, fueling the girl’s paranoia.

Becca’s also broken up a pair of actors by making it seem like they wrote negative reviews of each other’s performances, and for another couple, she spread rumors that the guy was badmouthing the girl’s friends. When writing the book, I realized that break-up schemes couldn’t be forced or too obvious. They needed to be subtle, with time to sink in. She mostly needed to plant seeds of doubt and discontent in her marks’ minds.

4) Becca and Val are best friends, but then Becca suddenly has feelings for Val's boyfriend after spending some time with him. How important is friendship versus love in THE BREAK-UP ARTIST?

One of the big reasons Becca became a break-up artist is because she saw the friendships that were being ruined by relationships. Friends being ditched for boyfriends and girlfriends. Becca believes that love is toxic and that friendships rules, but she realizes that friendship is its own form of love. I really like that Becca does champion the importance of friendship.

5) How much of your original draft made it into the final book? Can you share a deleted scene with us that you really liked but had to cut anyway?

Probably less than 10%. When I think about my original draft, it’s a totally different book. In fact, I had to reread the original synopsis from 3 years ago to refresh my memory. In the original draft, I wrote a scene where Becca’s sister Diane takes her on a road trip to crash her ex-boyfriend’s wedding. It involved leaping out of cars and crying at a gas station. I loved the emotional weight and the dynamic of the sisters in the scene. Becca realized here that she needed to play the big sister for once. I cut the scene because in the end, it was too extreme. Becca’s sister is down in the dumps about being left at the altar, but trying to crash and ruin her ex’s wedding just made her a little too sad and crazy. In future drafts, I shifted her story away from getting back with her ex to reconnecting with her friends.

6) Which recent YA releases can you recommend to readers who are looking for a read just as fun as THE BREAK-UP ARTIST?

My all-time favorite YA novel is THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger. Go ahead and read all her books because they are amazing. For more laughs, you must check out MEANT TO BE by Lauren Morrill and ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway.

7) Can you tell us something about other book projects you are currently working on?

I am working on a follow-up to THE BREAK-UP ARTIST that’ll be out in 2015. I won’t ruin the surprise since there’s a neat little set up for it in the epilogue.

8) Becca and her crush Ezra are talking about movies quite a lot. What are some of your favourite movies? And did you have to do a lot of research or was the extensive movie knowledge something you already had before you began to work on Becca's story?

I am a total movie buff, and I definitely used it as a crutch when writing Ezra. Usually in books, the characters are really into music or sports or some other hobby. I know movies, so it was easy for me to drop references into scenes. I didn’t have to do research; it was all in my head. (I have an uncanny talent of remembering when movies came out and how much they grossed at the box office. Feel free to test me in person.)

I listed out my Top 10 movies in the back of the book, which was agony to pare down, so I’ll mention some of my other favorites: To Die For, Boogie Nights, Network, The Social Network, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, The First Wives Club, Six Degrees of Separation, Fargo, Addams Family Values. I’m stopping myself here or else you’ll need a whole ‘nother blog post.

9) Becca's sister Diane gets dumped on her own wedding day and Becca loses all belief in true love. Can you think of anything or anyone that could change her mind?

I think if Becca saw a healthy, loving couple where each person had their own life outside the relationship, she would feel better about love. What bugs her the most is how she’s seen people change for the worse once they get a boyfriend or girlfriend. They stop hanging out with their friends and being themselves.

10) If you could choose anyone to make a guest appearance in THE BREAK-UP ARTIST (film, TV, literary character) who would it be?

Wednesday Addams from Addams Family Values. I think they would get along great!

11) Do you have one place that inspires you or can you write anywhere?

I can, and do, write everywhere. At my desk, on my couch, on a futon in the back room, on the train, at a Starbucks. But my favorite place to write is at the library. It’s quiet, and I’m surrounded by books.

12) Are there any characters in THE BREAK-UP ARTIST who are based on anyone you know in real life?

Yes! When I wrote this book, I needed to think of real people for each of the characters in order to get inside their head and get the voices down. Readers may think the character of Val can be over the top, but she’s very much based on a friend of mine. Some of the things she does, like making charts of potential boyfriends, sending multiple notes that say I NEED A BOY!, hatching schemes to get boyfriends, going after guys who just broke up with their girlfriend, asking Becca for her percentage chance with a guy…well, that all happened verbatim. It just goes to show you that life will forever be stranger than fiction. 

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Giveaway 

Each tour stop is offering up a copy of The Break-Up Artist. And one winner will receive a fantastic grand prize package including the following Harlequin Teen titles: 2 copies of The Break-Up Artist, a copy of White Hot Kiss, The Forever Song, The Secret Diamond Sisters, Played, and an ARC of Let’s Get Lost.

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open to US/Canada.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/207d1c516/

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For more information on the THE BREAK-UP ARTIST blog tour visit www.kismetbt.com. Thanks for organizing such a great blog tour!

Mini Reviews #17

Historical and fantastical kingdoms are inviting to be enjoyed in today's Mini Reviews post. TOUCH OF POWER by Maria V. Snyder pictures a world where healers are hunted and killed for their talents and a very strong heroine has to be willing to fight to win the war against evil. LEGACY and ALLEGIANCE are book one and two in Cayla Kluver's LEGACY series and should definitely be in the race if you are looking for your next historical fiction read.

Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Avry of Kazan is a healer, she's done only good with her gift, but if people find out what she's capable of, she will be hunted. In the fifteen realms healers are accused of spreading and originally causing the plague that's been bringing misery and death. Avry has been in hiding for quite some time now and her life changes radically when she's kidnapped by a band of men. That's when she starts questioning her sentiments and her loyalties. Can she become friends with strangers who are keeping her hostage, or heal her enemy?
We get to learn much about Avry's healing talent and she learns a different way of living. She falls in love with a man she never thought she could appreciate.

Maria V. Snyder sent Avry on a journey through many hardships. With a group of rogues who will soon feel like friends and one man among them who will mean everything to her. The camaraderie that binds them and their past, their fascinating stories and backgrounds, plus the dynamics of their group are a guarantee for liking them all and wanting to immediately return to the magical world Maria V. Snyder created with TOUCH OF POWER every time you had to leave it.
It was a long read and I enjoyed it so much, it was something entirely different from what I'd read so far. Really familiar characters, that fast became my friends, too.
All in all TOUCH OF POWER is a very satisfiable read with a great historical touch, a romance for Avry that you will come to enjoy naturally and an overall encompassing quest.

5/5 ***** A TOUCH OF POWER  - A fine fantasy read with an excellent historical touch and a fierce heroine.

A read right up my alley when I at least expected it. It's been over a year since I read TOUCH OF POWER, so it's definitely time to pick up the sequel soon. Equipped with a map of the fifteen realms, navigating this new fantasy world full of possibilities is even more fun.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: December 20^th 2011
Length: 390 pages
Keywords: YA, historical, fiction, romance, healer, quest

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Touch of Power Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Legacy (Legacy #1) by Cayla Kluver

Seventeen-year-old Alera will soon be queen of Hytanica. The kingdom is in desperate need of a strong souvereign and so the young princess has to face her fate of marrying the suitor whom her father feels most capable of inheriting his legacy. And while her father is still trying to decide who to name new king of Hytanica, Alera clandestinely falls in love with another man, a Corkyrian, a traitor.

LEGACY is a debut novel with a slow start, overflowing with many redundant and way too many decorative phrases and scenes, and could have well been cut by some pages. Instead of all the irrelevant extra info I could've used more details about Hytanica's history and Alera and Narian's romance, more scenes concentrating on their emotional development and the very fatal war their relationship might be causing.

What always filled me with excitement and girly anticipation, left me cold in LEGACY. The search for an heir to the throne, a husband for Alera, daughter of the actual king. I know that it's a different time and that the story is set in a country with its very own complicated history, but no actual right to a say and ignorance of Alera's feelings made me so angry. The development of her character didn't live up to my expectations either, but other characters like palace guard London fast found a place in my heart.

3,5/5 ***/* LEGACY -  A potent YA debut, improvable in writing pace and editing that convinces with its strong world-building and Hytanica's history.

To be honest, it took me quite some time to finish LEGACY. With nearly five hundred pages it's not on the short side of YA books. It was the pacing, the excessive mass of details and additions here and there that hindered me to read LEGACY as fast as I would've liked. Now I'm hoping for a more consistent sequel to the first book.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: June 28^th 2011
Length: 496 pages
Keywords: YA, historical, fiction, war, romance, marriage, kingdom

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Legacy Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Allegiance (Legacy #2) by Cayla Kluver

"An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...", that's how ALLEGIANT continues the story of Alera and her Hytanican kingdom. The beginning was kind of sluggish and slow, comparable to the first half of LEGACY. Even though I couldn't get a head-start into ALLEGIANCE the world grew on me a lot in this sequel to LEGACY and I felt more at home than in the first instalment.

Her friendship with London was of such a strong presence, I couldn't help to be drawn into their story, his fate and his unbelievable will to survive. London is probably my favourite character in this series including Alera and Narian.

Alera's marriage to Steldor was a bummer. So much bickering (with negative energy), quarrels and coups wouldn't have been necessary to see that these two are not destined to be husband and wife. So Alera's heart is very much torn between her duty and her required respect for her husband and her passionate and undeniable feelings for Narian. You won't get to see too much of him, since this novel seemed to be intended to focus on Alera's relationship with Steldor and the changing bonds and loyalties between her and her family.

The war against Corkyri that has been dormant until now is raging again, turning the second half of ALLEGIANCE into a fast-paced and easily entertaining read. There are many twists and turns to the story, intrigues,  much is at stake and our Hytanicans have to think up a good plan to beat the evil Overlord.

4/5 **** ALLEGIANCE -  A historical YA read with a slow start, but a very strong outcome. Now give me the next book!

If the first book in this series wasn't your favourite, don't give up on the LEGACY series yet. Alera's story promises to become better with each new book in the trilogy.  I'm planning on reading the third book in the series soon, because I want to read it while the events of ALLEGIANCE are still fresh and present in my mind. The three books in the LEGACY series would make good material for a book binge.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: February 28^th 2012
Length: 494 pages
Keywords: YA, historical, fiction, war, romance, marriage, kingdom

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Allegiance Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Mini Reviews #16

There are still so many 2011 and 2012 Netgalley titles on my review list that I thought I'd feature three of them in today's Mini Reviews post. NEW GIRL by Paige Harbison, ALL THESE LIVES by Sarah Wylie and DANCERGIRL by Carol M. Tanzman are on the darker and more thrilling and mysterious side of YA contemporary reads.

New Girl by Paige Harbison

This year a new girl is attending Manderley Academy. And she took Becca's place. Becca who was friends with everybody. Becca who was perfect. Becca who is gone now.

There are chapters alternating between our new girl and Becca’s point of view.

Set at boarding school, I was looking forward to a lively setting with a bunch of fun and individual characters. But the characters weren’t as I imagined them to be. Our protagonist who is known as the new girl at Manderley is welcomed by prejudiced and withdrawn people who have to constantly compare her to Becca. And I found myself growing irritated by the permanent references to the perfect girl who disappeared one year ago. So our new girl doesn’t really have a chance to be herself, people started defining her before she even arrived.

The love stories of Becca and the new girl aren't ordinary and solely romantic, they are bringing lots and lots of drama, intrigues and lies to the story. Becca is very different from the new girl who is only interested in one boy, Max. His and new girl’s relationship was one of my favourite parts of the story. Although Becca went missing over one year ago the story is mostly about her relationships and friends that the new girl picked up. It’s interesting to see how both girls started their lives at boarding school differently and how they define their relationships.

4/5 **** NEW GIRL - A cleverly constructed, lulling psychological drama.

The uncertainty about Becca Normandy's whereabouts, the strange behaviour of other students towards our protagonist and otherworldly occurrences play with the reader's imagination. This whole story is very mysterious and scary and I caught myself developing the wildest theories about who the new girl really was and what it was about her connection to Becca.

Publisher:Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: January 31^st 2012
Length: 320 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, mystery, missing girl, boarding school, romance

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

New Girl Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

Dani is devastated about her sister having cancer. She is convinced she has nine lives and should be the one to offer all of hers for the one life her sister seems barely able to hold on to.

It must be a tough fate to deal with the looming death of one of your closest confidantes. ALL THESE LIVES is told from Dani's perspective in a first person point of view. We see how much Jena's weakness and pain upsets her and forces her to take fate and the life of her sister into her own hands. Dani wants to save her sister by giving away her own lives, of which she believes to possess nine. Her story is filled with dares and many risky stunts and near-death experiences. Where I first found the concept of her having nine lives intriguing, I never found a tangible point to feel like the things she was doing made sense. The whole story just didn't work for me, seeming dubious, inordinate and generally confusing. While Sarah's first book just wasn't for me and I highly missed a memorable romance, I'll still be keeping my eyes on her next book, SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH YOU, coming out in 2014.

2/5 ** ALL THESE LIVES - A profound sisterly bond, the fear of losing the other and very absurd ways to express your support.

Sarah Wylie's debut novel might have been a quick read for me, but not one that will stay with me for long. The cover was what drew me towards this book on Netgalley and the concept of Dani having nine lives was an intriguing feature, but in the end I couldn't find many points to connect with her, the other characters and her breakneck behaviour and irritating ways of thinking. 

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Publishing Date: June 5^th 2012
Length: 245 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, cancer, family, nine lives

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

All These Lives Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman

Alicia Ruffino is a dancer. And when one of her friends posts a video of her online, everyone knows her as dancergirl. There is admiration and adoration. And behind a mask of false pretense, watching her every move, someone is stalking her. Wanting to be near her, to observe her. And that person wouldn't stop from hurting her either. 

Dancing is her passion. It was her private joy, her excersise and now she's sharing her talent with the whole world. DANCERGIRL was my favourite book about dancing so far. Ali was a cool character and very natural, modest and confident about her talent and her passion for it.

The love story underlying the overall stalking drama was beautiful. Ali's best friend Jacy is always there for here and would do anything for her. Jacy is such a sweet person. Whereas Ali's stalker is a major creep. It could be anyone who stalks Ali and it only takes a few chapters to feel watched yourself.

4/5 **** dancergirl - It's a fine balance between passion and obsession. Well-written and relevant YA contemporary read! 

Dancergirl was more exciting than any thriller and I'll happily pick up its companion novel, CIRCLE OF SILENCE, set at Washington Irving High, too.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: November 15^th 2011
Length: 248 pages
Keywords: YA, thriller, contemporary, dancing, friendship, love, stalker

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

dancergirl Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Mini Reviews # 11

My eleventh Mini Reviews post is dedicated to three YA reads with mythological background. The THE GODDESS TEST series by Aimée Carter just wasn't mine but EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton is a 2012 debut I would always recommend.

Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

Nikki Beckett spent one-hundred years (equalling a few months in the real world) in a version of the underworld, the Everneath. Now she's back on earth but only for the limited time of six months, to say her goodbyes and spent the rest of eternity in the underworld. The first chapter was confusing at times, the Everneath a strange new sphere but you'll get what's happening when you are a few pages into the story. I really enjoyed the mysterious and hellish setting of the Everneath.

I felt connected to Nikki from the second I met her, thanks to Brodi Ashton who reserves plenty of time to get to know our heroine and her emotional dilemma. Her time in the Everneath, spent with Cole, robbed her of all emotions and she's feeling devastatingly empty. She's so strong despite everything she's lost.

And when she thought she'd lost her will to live, too she falls in love with her ex-boyfriend Jack all over again.

There is an Everneath boy, too. Cole, a very ominous character. He might be a hot rockstar and gather lots of fans around him, but he is also egoistic and kind of a  parasite, drawing Nikki's energy to prolong his own life.

The concept of dependence that somehow binds Nikki, Cole and Jack in a love triangle was what made the relationships intriguing and I liked how both boys have very different meanings for our protagonist. Our present story is interrupted by scenes from the past that help us understand how Nikki got to know both boys and how she ended up in the Everneath.

But truly Cole has nothing on Jack. Jack, Nikki’s ex-boyfriend, Jack who she ran away from many months ago. He is exactly what I needed in this story! He has been waiting for her to return all along and he's willing to sacrifice everything for Nikki. Such an epic love story!

4,5/5 ****/* EVERNEATH-  A smoldering & emotionally charged countdown to a beloved heroine’s ultimate Goodbye.

EVERNEATH was a new kind of story that I fast became absorbed in. Two hotties, one devilish clever, the other angelic sweet, are fighting for Nikki's love and for a way to bind her to their respective worlds. As invitingly hot and daring as the gorgeous cover of EVERNEATH, the story behind it is no different. EVERNEATH is a definite 2012 cover and debut favourite!

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publishing Date: January 24^th 2012
Length: 370 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, mythology, underworld, romance, love triangle

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Everneath Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimée Carter

Fearing the inevitable death of her mother Kate strikes a deal with a man she just met, Henry or Hades, god of the underworld. She has to take a few tests to prove worthy of becoming Henry's new queen in order to save her mother.

I was looking forward to an impressive test marathon. These kind of stories with game character are often very active and daring and belong to my favourites, like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

THE GODDESS TEST didn't make use of all its possibilites. No grand arena, or crazily exciting tests to endure. The tests are nothing spectacular and often even passed by Kate without us knowing or being told. 

Greek mythologies are full of quarrels and tests, wars and epic love stories and I was drawn to THE GODDESS TEST after reading its summary. I was disappointed to find out Kate and Henry's story was nothing like that. Henry's still in love with his wife Persephone. I appreciated his honesty but ignoring Kate and keeping something important from her is just no way to treat your potential partner and so I just couldn't think of Henry as a genuine love interest. Their romance is defined by the ever same circle of arguments, whiny statements, excuses, I couldn’t hear it any longer.

3,5/5 ***/* THE GODDDESS TEST – A  Greek mythology YA debut for beginners.

Kate's story was one that had so much potential, especially with the tests she has to pass in order to save her mother. THE GODDESS TEST is a well-written debut and even though I wasn't overly enthusiastic about its characters and their romance, its world building and Greek mythology background made for a promising sequel. 

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: April 19^th 2011
Length: 293 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, mythology, gods, romance, tests

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

The Goddess Test Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimée Carter

Kate and Henry's story continues. She might have proven herself to be worthy. She is the one that should have Henry's heart forever, but even after everything they've been through he's keeping his distance and secrets from Kate. No improvement in the romantic department. Both Henry and Kate didn't learn from past mistakes and their so called love story is more a constant fight than pure harmony. Their relationship felt rather pitiful and their constant whining made me furious just like the overall ambiguity and promiscuity of the other gods.

As sad as it sounds (and I hate to say it) but this second book made me like the characters so much less. I don’t think there was a single one that didn’t annoy me at some point.

In the second installment in the THE GODDESS TEST series Henry is abducted and Kate and the other gods set out to save him. A test scenario like the first book offered, only on a bigger, a bit more exciting scale.

2/5 ** GODDESS INTERRUPTED - Our gods and Kate are tested again, and sometimes even your patience.

I'm a fan of YA stories shaped by elements of Greek mythology but obviously having a few gods in the story cast and following their various tests is no guarantee for a book to become a favourite. Aimée's writing is as flawless as in her debut novel, it's just that I couldn't find access to her THE GODDESS TEST characters. I don't give up easily on a series, but I decided to pass on the third book in Aimée's THE GODDESS TEST series.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: March 27^th 2012
Length: 296 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, mythology, gods, romance, tests

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Goddess Interrupted Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Book Review: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: April 30th 2013
Length: 434 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, vampire, virus, rabids, romance
Source: Netgalley 

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Summary by Goodreads

THE ETERNITY CURE was a sequel I wasn't sure I would read too soon after the first book. I saw the book on Netgalley and like any other book addict couldn't resist to request it. It took me some time to finish THE IMMORTAL RULES and the second book was just as thick. As I had predicted the story was more on the slow side in the beginning. Allison Sekemoto is wandering around, searching for her sire Kanin. I felt like I was looking for something as well during that first third of the story and Allison's restlessness and her desire to make progress were passed on to me. When things finally started to get under way I noticed fast that THE ETERNITY CURE was a sequel that for once would bring the story forward and not just step on the same spot most of the time.

Allison is joined by a familiar face known from THE IMMORTAL RULES, who appears as an unknown ally. Their constant quarreling adds a new zappiness and snark to our dismal journey through deserted planes and crumbling cities. But Allison isn't the only one searching for someone. Guess who else joins their group? A certain fair-haired boy with the warmest and kindest heart. Yes, Zeke! His and Allison's romantic feelings for each other are another puzzle they're trying to figure out on their way to finding a cure. I think I liked their moments and love story in THE ETERNITY CURE even better than in the first book, because a greater development becomes apparent.

This books' title is its subject, too. Allison and her new ally - one that will certainly surprise and amuse you - are hunting psycho vampire Sarren who is holding Kanin hostage. They are also searching for a cure to the disastrous virus that's threating to destroy both humans and vampires. Theories and possible solutions are discussed and old abandoned labs explored. Julie's BLOOD OF EDEN series is the first series centering around a deadly virus that I actually felt drawn to.

THE ETERNITY CURE promised hope, but is an even darker read than THE IMMORTAL RULES, full of atmosphere. It's a mix between dystopian and horror, vampires and zombies (just thinking about the manic rabids makes me shudder). This is probably no book for a queasy stomach and there will be a lot of fighting. It contains various descriptive scenes of macabre, violent and pretty bloody nature.

1) of a new chance at love

2) of fighting till the very last second

3) of a crazily torturous ending

4) of one entertaining bickerung duo

5) of knowing there'll be a paradise at the end of your journey

4/5 **** THE ETERNITY CURE – A vampire world with the most chilling and delicious post-apocalyptic feel about it!

Allison isn't new to the vamp business anymore. As she gains more experience and strength, she as a character very much grew on me, too. With an honorable goal in mind Allison is embarking on a gripping and, most important, life-saving quest that will lead readers through many states of emotions, varying from bright hope to deepest despair. Be warned, this book ends with a mean cliffhanger! 

* Want to learn more about the world Allison Sekemoto lives in? Then you should read the prequel to THE IMMORTAL RULES, TIL THE WORLD ENDS!

* Read an excerpt of THE ETERNITY CURE.

* Click here to watch the book trailer.

* For further information about Julie Kagawa and her books visit www.juliekagawa.com

* Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the chance to review THE ETERNITY CURE!