Book Review

Allison: The Look | Sophia Bennett | Book Review & Giveaway

by Allison L

When a modeling agency tells fifteen year old Edwina (Ted) Trout that she has “the look” that they looking for and offers her a brand new career, she cannot believe her luck. But just as her career is put into motion, her older sister Ava is diagnosed with cancer. With their worlds turned upside down in more ways than they could ever imagine, two girls are forced to look deep inside, and figure out who they truly are, and what actually matters.

When I first picked up The Look by Sophia Bennett, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect even after reading the synopsis. Was this going to be a sugary-sweet story of a girl trying to make it in the modeling world while dealing with some personal things on the home front? Or was it going to be a heart felt story about the relationship between two sisters and the choices that come from that relationship? Ultimately, it was more the second option, which was wonderful but yet it was also so much more than that. It is a well thought out story that will bring laughter to your heart and tears to your eyes in so many different ways.

Ted has spent a majority of her life in the shadow of her older sister Ava who has always been the more popular, the more outwardly beautiful, and the more outgoing of the two sisters. Ava is also the more fashion conscious as well. So, it is a big surprise to both of them when Ted is spotted and asked if she would be interested in becoming a model. At first, Ted is completely willing to brush it off, and believe that it was a joke or a scam but, then her sister is diagnosed with cancer and she becomes willing to do whatever it takes to cheer her up, even becoming a model.

I really loved Ted as a character. She is quirky and fun and she really has no idea what she is getting herself into when it comes to this modeling business. All she cares about is making her sister happy, and helping take her sisters mind off of what is happening to her. The relationship between the two sisters is beautiful. There are so many scenes in the book that brought tears to my eyes because of the way that the two of them were bonded together. This is a cancer story but it is not entirely a sad cancer story. It has points of optimism and hope as well as truths and realities which hit you head on and make you think.

Another reason I really enjoyed the character of Ted was the fact that she was so heartfelt. She takes the rejection and the sting of the modeling industry to heart even as she is saying that it doesn’t really matter to her. She has always been insecure about her looks and being in the modeling industry pushes those insecurities even more to the forefront of her mind. The truth is that it does matter to her but how much it matters to her is all part of the journey that she goes on as she gets further and further into the business of modeling. I really liked the glimpse into the world of fashion and modeling because I felt that it was a very realistic viewpoint of modeling. Ted is not an overnight sensation by any means, and the journey that she goes on allows her to discover more about herself than she could have ever imagined. It makes her think, it makes her feel, and it also makes the reader think and feel as well.

I also enjoyed the character of Ava as well. At first, it appears as if Ava is living vicariously through Ted (just as Ted lived vicariously through her for many years prior) but in reality Ava is really using Ted’s modeling as a way to cope with her cancer. This is what Ted initially wanted but I don’t think either sister realized the magnitude of what was going on because even as Ava is trying to mask her emotions she is still going through a life changing event, and is still forced to decide the type of person she will be through it. I really loved the way that this was approached, and the different events that occurred because of it. It is very nicely done!

To say that I loved The Look would be an understatement. It is a wonderful story to read, and one that I think really pulls at your heart strings and makes you really think about the things you value most in life. I highly recommend you check it out!

Disclosure: Received advanced copy from Oblong Books for attending a signing

Other reviews of The Look by Sophia Bennett:

Queen of Contemporary Books: “Personally, I think every teen should read this heart-wrenching novel!”

Abby The Librarian: “This story hit just the right blend of fluffy and serious, of fashion-y fun and cancer drama, and it’s all told in a believable narrative voice.”

Books, Biscuits, and Tea: “The Look is without a doubt one of those books that will make you roar with laughter one minute, shed a few tears the next but most importantly, it will make you think and re-evaluate your life.”

As a way of promoting my love for The Look by Sophia Bennett, I am going to be giving away my advanced copy to one lucky winner! This contest will be US only and will end March 7th, 2013. Good luck!

Enter here to win a copy of The Look by Sophia Bennett

The Indigo Spell | Richelle Mead | Audiobook Review

by April (Books&Wine)

You probably should NOT read beyond the first paragraph if you don’t want to be spoiled for Bloodlines or The Golden Lily, just an FYI.

I am one of those people who is compulsive about the form I encounter a book or series in. For example, I’ve been reading Richelle Mead’s Bloodlines series strictly in print and had no plans to change that. HOWEVER, when I was offered an advance audiobook copy of The Indigo Spell I was on the fence. Do I change up my routine and try to encounter Sydney and Adrian in different form — or do I wait for an agonizing amount of time for the print version? You guys, it’s a lot to consider — you know a poorly done audio can ruin the experience of a much anticipated book. I ended up quite lucky though — the audiobook of The Indigo Spell is very, very good.

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead | Good Books And Good Wine

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Allison: Mind Games | Kiersten White | Book Review

by Allison L

Mind Games is the perfect title for this book by Kiersten White because honestly that is what this book does to you. It plays so many games with your mind! Everything is part of the puzzle, and every little detail is important to the puzzle. Even if you think it might not be important in the end it could be the one detail that really matters. It’s kinda crazy in a way.

There are two main characters in Mind Games. The first Fia was born with flawless instincts and has learned to trust her gut instinct as it is usually right. Her sister Annie is blind to the world around her – except that she has the ability to have strange visions of the future. Together, they have an unusual and complex bond doing whatever they can to save the other in a world filled with secrets and lies. Even if it means risking themselves in the process.

Mind Games is written in a duel narrative which gives the reader the ability to see where each sister is coming from in terms of their decisions. It also shows how devoted they are to each other, and how much they are willing to sacrifice for the other. The flip flopping of the points of view also created the tension that was needed for the puzzle of the story. Like I said, every little detail mattered, including the flashbacks into the past. It might not have seemed like it when the detail was first revealed but once things started coming full circle, it all started making sense. Except at the same time, it didn’t … and that actually made it more intense to read.

I didn’t necessarily fully connect with either one of the sisters. They both had their strengths and their flaws but I was so drawn into the plot execution of the story that the character’s actually kind of fell to the wayside in a way. This is odd for me to think about but honestly that is the way that it happened. I was so sucked into the strength of the plot, and the implementation of it that I wasn’t focused on the characters. It was something of a different pace for me which was nice. Of course, it was a little easy to get sucked into the story when there is spying, espionage, assassinations, secrets, and lies involved!

Overall, I enjoyed Mind Games, and I look forward to the sequel which I believe doesn’t come out till 2014 (of course). I’m hoping that the second book in the series will answer my still unanswered questions, and fill in the necessary gaps which I feel as still within the story. These gaps didn’t necessarily disappoint me but at the same time I still want to know more. More spying, espionage, assassinations, secrets, and lies please!

Disclosure: Received advanced copy from Oblong Books after attending a signing event.

Other Reviews of Mind Games by Kiersten White:
The Book Belles: “This book will keep you up reading…”

Mostly YA Lit: “I would totally recommend this to anyone who needs a fast, action-y read…”

Mundie Moms: “Mind Games is a thrilling, fun, and incredibly fast read…“

The Center Of Everything | Linda Urban | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

Linda Urban’s The Center Of Everything is one of those delightful read-in-a-single-sitting sorts of children’s books that blends several interesting elements. I was initially interested in Urban’s latest book because A) I am not as well read in the middle grade contemporary genre as I would like to be and B) donuts play a fairly large role and I just love donuts. Thankfully, The Center Of Everything definitely delivers on it’s wonderful premise and is a pleasant read, on the whole.

The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban | Good Books And Good Wine

Ruby Pepperdine has a big task ahead of her. This year she has been selected as the Essay Girl for Bunning Day, an event in Bunning, New Hampshire that celebrates both donuts and sea Captain Bunning, who basically invented donuts — at least according to The Center Of Everything. Unfortunately, Ruby is on the outs with her best friend Lucy and new friend Nero. She is hoping that by using her twelfth birthday wish, things will go back to normal. Or, at least the way it was when she would stargaze from the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors with her now-deceased grandmother, Gigi.

Ruby Pepperdine is a likable young heroine. She is the sort of person who is reliable, those who know Ruby know that they can depend on her to be sensible and level headed. Ruby is the sort who believes in ‘supposed to’. However, Ruby is dealing with a lot of grief and pain. Rather than reach out to her friends and family for help, she turns her grief inward. Urban works this larger issue in seamlessly and rather than be depressed by Ruby, children will empathize with her, and feel ultimately rewarded by the changes and development Ruby undergoes.

At it’s heart, The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban seems to be a novel about friendship. Ruby spends much of the book worrying about her friendships with Lucy and Nero. Lucy has been Ruby’s best friend for a very long time. Unfortunately, she is quite cross with Ruby, which is hard on Ruby. What further exacerbates this is that Ruby has also messed things up with Nero — a character who has the potential of being a wonderful friend to her. Will the three resolve their issues? Will Ruby’s wish come true? You’ll have to read this or buy it for your child to find out.

Urban’s writing style has a way of drawing the reader in. The Center Of Everything was a very quickly paced read that I did not want to put down. Granted, I am older than the target range for this book. Yet, even I found that as an adult I could connect with Ruby’s love for her extended family and how deeply she cares for her friends. I found the inclusion of donut lore to be a fun addition to the book as well — I quite like reading about food.

I would recommend The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban to the 7-13 year old age range, however, it is also a generally good read. You don’t have to be in that age range to enjoy it, but I think it will find the most traction with that age group. This is recommended for readers who like real life situations with a twist of the extraordinary, and quirky characters who value community.

Disclosure: Received for review via Amazon Vine

Other reviews of The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban:

GreenBeanTeenQueen – “a gentle story of family and friendship”

The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog – “Linda Urban writes beautifully”

Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets | Evan Roskos | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

Evan Roskos’s young adult debut, Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets is a YAWP!-worthy book. Depicting the awkwardness of unrequited crushes, an unstable home life and mental illness, this a a book that deserves a place in school and classroom libraries. Roskos brings a unique voice to the contemporary young adult genre as he weaves the tried and true poetry of Walt Whitman, and especially Song Of Myself in with the poetry of his main character James Whitman.

Dr. Bird's Advice For Sad Poets by Evan Roskos | Good Books And Good Wine

James Whitman does not have the easiest life. His older sister Jorie was kicked out of the house by his parents. Unfortunately, his family refuses to delve into the issue further. This just serves to fuel James’s anxiety and depression. To alleviate his internal pain, James has made it his mission to get the school to allow Jorie to finish out her senior year and walk in graduation. He also wants to convince his parents to let Jorie come home. However, his parents are the abusive sort and refuse to let Jorie come back. Matters are complicated even further when James finds himself pulled into helping with the school literary journal in order to impress a girl. Thankfully, Roskos effortlessly weaves in complex themes and issues, but the plot never feels convoluted.

James Whitman is a perfect blend of gawky and earnest. He is a weird kid, but Roskos never presents him in a mocking light. You see, when James is stressed he hugs trees and he talks to an imaginary pigeon psychiatrist named Dr. Bird – hence the title. James also is quite obsessed with Walt Whitman because they share a last name. He uses poetry as a creative outlet and a way to express his internal strife. In all, I found James Whitman to be the sort of character that I simultaneously rooted for but was also glad to not be in his situation. However, if you were or currently are an angsty and lonely teenager, chances are you will be able to relate to the main character of Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets by Evan Roskos.

It’s also important for me to mention James’s sister Jorie. Although she’s largely absent from the book – - we hear more about her than we interact with her, she’s sort of the central force behind the story. She is James’s catalyst to seek therapy and answers. Rather than turning Jorie into a cliche, she’s fascinating in that she has secrets of her own. We discover that although Jorie is the black sheep of the family, she and James have more in common than originally thought. I especially loved reading the emails and texts between Jorie and James, as she would often encourage James’s creativity.

Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets does a bang up job depicting the theme of teenage depression without being a totally buzz kill. Instead, Roskos weaves a thread of hope and humor throughout the book. We get to see different types of depression — one type that manifests in talking to imaginary things and suicidal ideation, the other sort that manifests in cutting. It is sad and hard to read about, but Roskos shows the possibility of happiness for both of the characters. Further, there are secondary characters which do add a light touch to the book as well as a positive support system.

Evan Roskos’s debut novel comes across as quite literary in style. If you are a fan of Where Things Come Back chances are you will enjoy Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets. The writing is sophisticated, but accessible. What I mean by this is that Roskos has effortlessly placed Song Of Myself within a teenage context and it does not feel awkward. I’d recommend this book to anyone with a penchant for poetry, angst, and quirky but earnest characters.

Okay, and I had to put this at the end, for the part that isn’t going into the Amazon Vine review because I try to make those seem a bit more formal and professional. So, I used to be in poetry elective and poetry club when I was in high school. What this meant was that I helped with the yearly poetry journal AND I did things like poetry slams and won an award at a competition for public speaking. #humblebrag. Anyways, I just was thinking the entire time reading this that I would have LOVED Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets as a teenager because I could relate to James and his love of Song Of Myself and his YAWP-ing. And being awkward around people I liked. And a few of the more personal things that I won’t share. Anyways, suffice to say, this legit would have been the perfect book for teenage me, and thus I really do wholeheartedly recommend it. It seems to have a sort of quiet buzz around it, but trust if you can get your hands on Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets, you absolutely should read it.

Disclosure: Received for review via Amazon Vine

Other reviews of Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets by Evan Roskos:

Haven’t seen any in my google search of the book blogosphere, so if you review this PLEASE drop your link in the comments so I can add it up here.

Also Known As | Robin Benway | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

I am solidly in the camp that as an author, Robin Benway can do no wrong. Also Known As was the third book I’ve read by Benway, and like her previous two it was an absolute hit with me. Also? Holy moly I was clicking the pages so fast (I read this on my Kindle on the bike). Benway brings her trade mark humor and sass to her latest story of spies, espionage and boo, high school with Also Known As. Seriously, if you aren’t already on the bandwagon of RB love, you will be after reading this book, it is MAR-VEL-LOUS!

Also Known As by Robin Benway | Good Books And Good Wine

Maggie’s parents are spies AND SO IS SHE. Her family works for this shadowy agency called The Collective that takes them all over the world where they basically bust human trafficking rings and even take down dictators. Pretty much her family has the best job ever. Of course, Maggie isn’t a useless lump content to ride on her parents’ coattails. Instead, she brings her own talent of safecracking to the table — and what that means is she’s kind of a master lock picker. Girl can work a bobby pin, yo. Anyways, Maggie is about to get her first assignment, and so her family packs up from Iceland and heads to Manhattan. Maggie must get close to this boy, Jesse Oliver and somehow prevent his dad, Armand, from running a story in his newspaper that he owns that would dox members of the Collective. OH? And? Maggie still has to do calculus homework while trying to save the world. What a life, eh?

Even though Maggie is very new at the whole school and friendship thing, I think that for the most part I’d totally give her a friendship bracelet. She’s got this crazy awesome sense of humor. Further, when it really matters she is there for her first friend ever ROUX and I love that. Y’all, Maggie was so compelling to read about. First off, she is not at all angsty like other teenagers that I usually end up reading about. Secondly, she actually has an interesting backstory. Third, omg Maggie is FUN. You guys, fun. And hahaha I am dorky but I feel I could read about her safecracking all day.

Are you all about the contemporary books that have different types of relationships, each POSITIVE? Then friend, Also Known As should totally be on your to be read list (and also Benway’s other books). Seriously, okay as with Audrey, Wait! there’s a fantastic best friend. You see, Maggie makes friends with this social outcast named Roux on her first day of school. Roux is sarcastic and loud and my spirit animal. LOL, at one point Maggie is feeling down, so Roux offers her this clear drink and Maggie is like, oh thanks for the water. BUT IT IS VODKA. ROUX, I LOVE YOU. Of course, there aren’t just friend relationships, but also romantic relationships. Y’all, yes Jesse Oliver is the mark, but of course, Maggie develops feelings for him. I can’t blame her. Like other Benway dudes, Jesse is NICE and sweet and kind. ALSO, he banters with Maggie like constantly. Seriously, I just loved reading the conversations between the two and was like, please please banter for the whole book AND THEN have a three way banter session with Roux.

One trademark that you can usually count on with Benway’s books are that she usually does not portray her adults as bumbling idiots. Instead, Maggie’s parents are portrayed as quite realistic but without much dysfunction. Her parents are slightly goofy and weird, but what parents aren’t? Further, Maggie’s mom and dad actually really do give a crap about her and are protective of her but still give her room to grow. Also Known As might not have typical parents, in that they are spies, yet, Benway does a great job portraying a healthy relationship between Maggie and her parents. ALSO? There’s this other adult character named Angelo who rocks a lot of suits like Barney from How I Met Your Mother only he’s totally not a womanizer, but awesome, regardless. He was one of my favorite side characters.

The pacing is aces. Seriously, there is not a single dull moment in Also Known As where I was like urgh this book is going nowhere. Of course, yes there are suspenseful moments where I worried about Maggie, but that’s different and good. If you’re looking for a quick read that’s great for working out, then Robin Benway’s Also Known As is a great choice. It has humor, heart and strongly drawn characters. I could not recommend this book more. I also would suggest checking out Benway’s other two books.

Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley, however I will be purchasing a signed copy on March 2nd.

Other reviews of Also Known As by Robin Benway:

Great Imaginations – “I recommend the book to someone looking for fun and a few good laughs”

Quinn’s Book Nook – “a hilarious book with an amazing main character, fabulous, well-developed secondary characters”

Rather Be Reading – “Benway brought more comedy to this story than I expected”

Books by Robin Benway:

Audrey, Wait!
The Extraordinary Secrets Of April, May And June

BONUS: You can order a signed copies of Robin Benway’s books through Oblong Books. HOWEVER, I think that you have to order by 3/1/13 if you want them personalized.

The Sociopath Next Door Martha Stout Audiobook Review

by April (Books&Wine)

I think I must be a bit of a weirdo in that I quite like learning about anomalies and different sorts of things. Obviously being a sociopath is not normal and it’s outside my realm of experience, thus I find it fascinating as a topic. After a pretty big tragedy struck (not me personally), I found myself wanting answers and wondering how a person could do something like that. And so, I plunked down a $10 gift card and $0.91 to purchase The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout on Audible in hopes of gaining an understanding of how people who do not possess a conscience think and also function. Thankfully, The Sociopath Next Door reminded me exactly why I delve into non-fiction quite often.

The Sociopath Next Door Martha Stout Book Cover

So, basically The Sociopath Next Door is all about how 1 in 25 people are sociopaths. It shows that not all sociopaths are criminals nor do they all engage in murderous rampages. However, people who have sociopathy do not think like I do. They don’t have that whole guilty conscience thing. Stout chose to focus the book on every day behavior, which to be honest, I liked because then I didn’t get nightmares — I am prone to them when reading about real life terrifying things. ALSO at the end she delves into how to protect yourself from being manipulated by a sociopath with a set of rules to live by. It’s helpful, I guess. I don’t know if I actually know any sociopaths though.

I actually quite enjoyed the way that The Sociopath Next Door was written. It’s on a level that I understand. You see, I took one psychology class in college (aside from educational psychology but that’s another can of worms) and was like ‘this is not nearly as awesome as I had hoped’, thus if there was nothing but jargon I would not have understood a single word. Instead, I was easily able to follow along with Stout and her conclusions. Plus, she makes it interesting by putting in stories about her clients and the sociopaths who victimized them. The sociopaths range from a powerful business man, a principal, and an elderly woman among others. OH OH and she puts in this really great example at the beginning about this guy who has to fly out for a meeting, then heads back to his house to feed his dog, and explores every angle with us readers to decide whether the guy is doing this out of intrinsic self-motivation and driven by a conscience, or doing it out of extrinsic motivation and what others might think. And she relates that whole scenario to factors that determine whether the guy is a sociopath or not. Either way, being a total weirdo nerd, I found the whole thing fascinating and felt as though I learned something by the end — well until I saw that some people cast a bit of doubt on Stout’s findings. Alas, I am not a psychology major so I can’t tell you anything about the validity of Stout’s book.

Of course, I listened to the audiobook because these days that is exactly how I read all my non-fiction. The Sociopath Next Door is narrated by Shelly Frasier. This was my first audio narrated by Frasier and it certainly won’t be the last. She has impressive enunciation. She has a clear voice that’s not unpleasing. Plus, she sounds intelligent while she’s narrating, which is an important quality to me when it comes to non-fiction audiobooks. The Sociopath Next Door is 7 hours and 26 minutes unabridged. It’s produced by Tantor Audio. There weren’t any weird breathing or mouth noises thank goodness, and I was actually impressed with the production quality of this book. I’d definitely recommend this short listen if you want to broaden your horizons and learn something.

Disclosure: Purchased on Audible with one of those here’s $10 for being kickass gift certificates.

Other reviews of The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout:

I can’t find any by like actual book bloggers, so if you review this, leave your link in the comments and I will be certain to add it.

The Statues that Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island | Terry Hunt | Carl Lipo

by April (Books&Wine)

Friends, I freakin love history. Especially ancient, INTERESTING history. Now, my excitement cues up a notch when said history is the subject of a non-fiction audiobook. YOU GUYS! I was beyond pumped up for my purchase of The Statues That Walked: Unraveling The Mystery Of Easter Island by Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo on audible during one of those super cheap sales. Unfortunately, the book was much cooler in concept than it was in execution and I ended up with a major case of eye glaze. You guys ever get that? When you get so excited about an academic topic, so you read a book about it and then you end up totally zoned out because it wasn’t what you expected. Like, I was expecting fascinating stories about the statues and why they exist, because let’s face it those statues are fricken cool. Alas. It was not meant to be.

The Statues That Walked by Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo | Good Books And Good Wine

So, Easter Island was “discovered” by Europeans in 1722 on Easter, hence why it’s called Easter Sunday. What the Europeans found were some big ass statues and a mystery! How the hell did those ancient people build the statues and move them around? Like, these statues are several tons, right. And so, The Statues That Walked attempts to unravel that mystery and answer the question. Also, Easter Island apparently was ecologically devastated. So, what the book provides is a pretty intense look at the culture of the people, the different theories about how they made and moved the statues and actually a long, in depth segment about archaeology. It’s all based on this study that the two authors, Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt conducted in 2001. OH OH and the book also tries to counter Collapse by Jared Diamond, but as I have not yet read Collapse I cannot say which theory I think is better.

Y’all, I HATE when I am not into a book that I am pumped up about. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate The Statues That Walked, but I just felt so lukewarm about it. My thing was, it was super boring. Like, I know, I KNOW the archaeology bit is important and kind of the basis of the book. And I know it’s important to show your work and how you came to your answers. I also know it’s important to talk about how one conducted their studies. But for me, this was so boring. I just wanted to hear about the ecological devastation and the statutes. Actually, mostly the statues and their significance. Unfortunately, while the book does talk about the statues, obviously, I just thought it wasn’t that compelling to listen to. Kind of like my rambling right now — it’s likely not all that compelling.

Fortunately, the audiobook narration is relatively decent. The audiobook of The Statues That Walked: Unraveling The Mystery Of Easter Island by Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo is produced by Audible, Inc and so the quality of sound is fantastic — no static or weird feedback here. ALSO! The audiobook is mad short, so it wasn’t too much to sit through the dull parts. It is 6 hours and 40 minutes long, which again, not that bad for a non-fiction. The narrator is Joe Barrett who does a decent job with the material. He sounds like a college professor — and I don’t mean that negatively. He enunciates and probably pronounces everything correctly. Anyways, if you are SUPER interested in the topic and methodology, then get your hands on The Statues That Walked. On the other hand, if, like me you just want the statues none of the methods, you should probably skip this one.

Disclosure: Purchased on Audible

Other reviews of The Statues That Walked: Unraveling The Mystery Of Easter Island by Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo:

Devourer Of Books – “A solid work of nonfiction”

S. Krishna’s Books – “The authors present an intriguing portrait of this island”

Bonus content! Here I am at the Museum of Natural History In New York with an ‘Easter Island’ head:

Easter Island Me

Wild Awake | Hilary T. Smith | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

When all of your twitter friends are reading and discussing the same book, the pressure to read it kind of becomes expotential, especially when they are reading an early copy and you find that you also have that same book in your posession. Y’all, I read Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith because I WANTED TO FIT IN WITH MY TWITTER FRIENDS. Thankfully, this was the good sort of peer pressure, and not the type that gets you arrested. I ended up mostly pleased with Wild Awake, a book that has one of the strongest voices I have read in a long time. Now, not everyone is going to fall head over heels for this book, as I think there’s a certain demographic that will love it and one that just won’t dig it. Personally, I liked Smith’s debut but have a few reservations.

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith | Good Books And Good Wine

After smoking weed in her best friend Lukas’s basement, Kiri heads to her parent-less home where she receives a mysterious phone call from an older man asking her to pick up her sister Suki’s things from the dangerous part of the city. As Kiri’s parents are on a cruise, she decides, hey why not. And so, putting herself at considerable risk, she goes to get deceased Suki’s things and thus unleashes a chain of events that will uncover the true circumstances about Suki’s death. OH OH and there is a boy too, who is decidedly not Lukas. And a lot of music and piano playing. And really, that’s Wild Awake in a super nut shell. Obviously more things go on and happen but you totally should go into without spoilers.Like I went in only knowing that my friends were flipping the frick out and OMG-ing all over the place.

I wouldn’t say that Kiri is the sort of strong, kick ass heroine that I love. HOWEVER, I liked her for the most part. She is quite determined and stubborn. She has a huge heart, as evidenced by her treatment of Doug, a junkie who basically lives in the really bad part of town (he knew Suki). I think that Kiri is the sort of teenager who definitely does not have her shit together and that’s perfectly fine. Not every teen does. And well, Kiri is dealing with absentee parents who seem to want her to be the perfect kid to make up for how much of a problem Suki was. Kiri is also pretty manic — like she doesn’t sleep, she thinks she can play piano in her head, she is quite trusting of strangers. Oh and she definitely smokes a lot of j’s in Wild Awake. She’s DEFINITELY realistic,gritty, raw and true, ya know? And yes, those are the absolute most cliche words ever to describe a contemporary, but I honestly think in this case, it applies.

Kiri has a love interest. Which to be 100% honest didn’t entirely make me swoon. Yet, if you’re a fan of those books where two totally fucked up people fall in love, I think you’ll like this. Personally, there were some things that her love interest did that were dealbreakers to me. And no, he’s not a bad boy or the abusive sort AT all, just for ME and me alone, I was like eh, I could take you or leave you after that. However, there were some pretty sweet moments, and okay I won’t lie a kissing scene where I definitely underlined the page.

I think that Wild Awake is it’s strongest in it’s voice. It’s not like anything I’ve read in a long time. The book is written in first person and yeah, getting inside Kiri’s head is kind of a trip. I’ll be honest, I thought a lot of it was weird — but in this case, I was fine with the weird. This is because the weird blended into utterly gorgeous prose that made me want to dog ear pages. As I was reading I kept thinking there’s a certain wild cadence to this book and I love that, love it so, so much. And ya know? Wild Awake is the sort of read where if you want a contemporary that isn’t cookie cutter, but a bit literary and kind of like beat poetry, you’ll like the writing style.

In all, Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith is an impressive debut. There were parts where I questioned Kiri’s life choices, but then I was like — hey I remember being a teenager and also making awful choices and sat back and let the book unfold. Kiri is an interesting heroine, and Wild Awake, a compelling story. I’d wholeheartedly recommend this to people who are fans of the off-beat and who don’t get all bent out of shape when a character doesn’t do what you want them to do. Seriously, this is a great book and utterly enjoyable.

Disclosure: Received for review

Other reviews of Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith:

Chick Loves Lit – “WILD AWAKE gives me more reason to shout about contemporary YA from the mountaintops”

The Perpetual Page Turner – “her energy just pulses through you and holds you captive.”

Real Men Read YA – “will go bat-shit crazy with the “I don’t read much” teenage crowd”

The Moon And More | Sarah Dessen | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

When I read a Sarah Dessen book, I feel that the experience is akin to a pair of sweatpants. Bear with me here. Sweatpants are the most comfortable article of clothing, ever, at least in my opinion. Sarah Dessen’s books are the most comfy YA books. By this, I mean that when you open up a book by Dessen, you know that you’re going to get a quality contemporary read about a girl who isn’t too out of whack, usually with a pretty level head, although not all the time with a problem. I LOVE her books and each one I read feels like coming home. Y’all, The Moon And More definitely lived up to my expectations, and then some.

The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen | Good Books And Good Wine

It’s summer, obvs, and Emaline is working for the family beach rental realty agency. She has a perfectly comfortable life, living with her mom and stepdad (whom she calls dad) and two sisters. She’s been dating the same guy, Luke, since 9th grade. Yet, as we all know — things won’t stay comfortable and cushy for long. Emaline’s estranged father shows up in Colby for the summer and we find out that there are a lot of unresolved issues between the two – mainly centering around Emaline’s potential for going to Columbia University. To further complicate matters, one of the renters is a famous documentary filmmaker named Ivy and she’s doing a documentary on Clyde, one of the island residents who used to be a well-regarded artist. Also. Ivy is a pain in the ass. BUT she also has a kind of socially awkward, cute assistant named Theo who thinks that Emaline is destined for bigger things than Colby.

Emaline is a total Dessen protagonist and I mean that in the greatest possible way. She has a good head on her shoulders, she has good friends, an interesting family, and is at a crossroads. She’s on the verge of leaving and becoming independent in college, East U. This is her last summer before school, to state the obvious. Emaline does a ton of internal reflection and we see that she’s making that awkward transition from past to future. I think if you’ve gone away to college or experienced a major life change that involved leaving home, you’ll understand what I mean. Anyways, on the one hand Theo and her father say that she’s too good for Colby, she’s too smart to stick around. On the other hand, there’s so much that Emaline LOVES about Colby and so she’s conflicted about her future. And well, I don’t want to go too much more in depth because spoilers are the worst for brand new books.

YOU GUYS! I am so excited to return to Colby. I absolutely loved Along For The Ride, so it was nice to return to a familiar location. We get to revisit the bike shop and the all night laundromat/cafe. It is awesome. PLUS! We get to see characters from Along For The Ride again. Anyways, this book made me want to take some of my vacation time and spend it on the beach riding bikes and eating shrimp burgers. I have to say, Dessen really does the beach setting very well. OH OH and while we’re talking about Easter eggs, our favorite fictional social network makes an appearance and there’s a few more you will spot and be glad to be in on the reference as the super fans you all are.

Of course, there are boys in The Moon And More, not just one but TWO! Luke is Emaline’s long time boyfriend and he’s pretty adorable. He’s apparently good looking without a shirt. Kids love him. And he gets along very, very well with others. However, the spark between Luke and Emaline seems to have faded out. Enter Theo. He’s pretty much a hipster, or that’s my impression of him because he wears girl jeans. Anyways, Theo is totally awkward, but he’s ambitious and has big dreams. He might be a contendor for Emaline’s heart, but yes, you’ll have to read to find out. Although, to be honest, I thought the love interests weren’t nearly as important as Emaline and her coming of age.

When it came to swooning and The Moon And More, I actually swooned WAY HARDER for the supporting couple of Daisy and Morris. They definitely are not the lead characters, however, their relationship is solid. PLUS, they are just so different. Morris is not exactly what you would call ambitious, he’s slow moving, but he’s a super nice guy and genuine. Daisy, on the other hand, is a super achiever and really into art and fashion. You’d think their coupling would be weird and off, but it’s actually quite sweet and one of my favorite things about Dessen’s latest.

This book didn’t feel a page over 200 — despite actually having over 400 pages. What I mean by this is that I inhaled Dessen’s prose, as one does when reading her books. I was so caught up in the drama between Emaline and her estranged father. But then I was also absorbed by all of the side characters, from Benji the awesome little brother to Amber, the dramatic hair stylist character, to Ivy and Clyde and Daisy and Morris. Seriously, one thing Dessen never skimps on is character. ALSO! The parent/child relationship in The Moon And More is wonderful. Emaline’s big crazy blended family all really care for one another and are supportive of each other when you get down to it. Also, you guys totally need to meet Emaline’s grandmother. She’s the bomb. (Well, if people still said THE BOMB)

Basically you can just boil this whole long review to this: you should definitely preorder The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen. Actually I am pretty sure that a few of you were already going to do that. It’s another great addition to your Dessen collection — especially if you loved Along For The Ride and Lock And Key. I fell in love with this book and really appreciate that it was about SO MUCH MORE than cute boys and swooning, but about actual things that matter, like the future and life and the paths we take.

Disclosure: Received for review
FYI: For more about The Moon And More, check out Sarah Dessen’s Blog Tour Stop HERE

Other reviews of The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen:

Chick Loves Lit – “Fans of Dessen won’t be disappointed”

Books by Sarah Dessen:
Along For The Ride