Review #176: Until I Die by Amy Plum

Until I Die is the second book in the Revenants Trilogy by Amy Plum. Goodreads says:

I wish there was only today, just right now, and no forever.

It seems fitting that I fell in love in Paris, the most beautiful city in the world. And if I pretend, I can almost believe that my life is normal and everyone I care about is safe.

But as long as I’m with Vincent, normal doesn’t exist. Gorgeous, charming, and witty, he’s everything you could ask for in a boyfriend—but his destiny is so much more.

Even more terrifying than his destiny are his dangerous enemies, enemies who will kill for immortality. How are Vincent and I supposed to be together forever if we’re always in danger?

I know I’ll do whatever it takes—even if it means lying to the people I love—to fight against a fate that is trying to tear us apart.

For my review of Die for Me, click here. 

Goddammit Ms. Plum!! You know not what you do!!! This book is an EXCELLENT follow-up to Die for Me, and on its own is just a brilliant, brilliant book. Words can not properly express how much I love this book. I was thinking about it hours and days after finishing it. You know a book is good if you're still thinking about the ending long after you are done reading. Man, this book was just so good! The story was excellent, blending slice of life with an underlying, more urgent storyline that interwove with the slice of life. Everything tied together so well, and that ending! Holy shit that ending had my eyes almost popping out of the sockets. I mean it, it shocked me to my core. How could that happen?!?!?!? How could Amy Plum do that?!?!?!?!?!?? But oh man oh man it was soo soo soooo good. Plain and simple the story is amazing.

Kate got some excellent development. She grew as a person, doing all she can to stay with Vincent but learning important lessons along the way. I loved how much stronger she became. I loved how she was trying to find things out on her own, and didn't disappear into her relationship with Vincent. Speaking of that handsome devil, whew! Is it me or did he get even hotter in this book? He is still sweet, smart and amazing. Can I please have a Vincent for myself? XD The rest of the crew, such as Georgia, Jules, Gaspard etc were all still great characters with backstory and development of their own. I'm glad Jules's transparent feelings for Kate did not turn into a love triangle, but I still feel for him because it was like Charlotte's tragic love. I am so glad Charlotte was still in the novel in some way :) New characters Violette and Arthur were great and interesting new additions to the story. I have such strong feelings toward them that I can not express them fully without giving away major spoilers. Let's just say they are very interesting.

Damn Ms. Plum, why must you torture your readers? Whyyyy??? I want to thank you and yell at you at the same time. Holy crap, does this woman know how to write. She builds the world of the Revenants up so well, expanding it while keeping it the same simultaneously. She is made of pure talent, knowing just how to suck you in, then ripping the rug from right out under you. Damn, I can not wait for the final book to see what Ms. Plum comes up with.

I'll next be reviewing I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Bad Book Round-Up

*Le sigh* Why does this always seem to happen? I so so so wanted to love these books so much. It's a shame none of them were very good for me to read. I tried, I really, truly did. *Sigh* So here we go:

Dark Eyes by William Richter:
This book has been touted as "The Millenium Trilogy for the YA audience with a heroine on par with Lisbeth Salander," to paraphrase. All I saw was a girl who got lucky and couldn't handle it. The writing style did not hold my attention, and the story was just not interesting enough to me. Sucks, because I loved the Millenium Trilogy and wanted this to be something like it.

Starters by Lissa Price:
I'm not including Portrait of a Starter because it was actually decent, albeit extremely short at less than 15 pages (on a side note, I'm kinda pissed that POAS cost me $1.99 for less than 15 pages. Seriously? X_X). Starters, unfortunately, was not as good. I couldn't get into the story, and none of the characters were really likeable or interesting. They all seemed lackluster and dull.

I'm adding the book that came after the book that will be getting a glowing review because it is easier to round them all up in this one post, so here it is:

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris:
Another book I was very interested in reading. It started out ok, but as I kept reading, I could not keep going on because the writing just got worse and worse, with Janelle becoming more and more unlikeable. X_X

Luckily, the next post will be a glowing review of a book :) 

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #175: Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Hey everyone! Happy midweek to everyone :) Here's today's review, hope y'all enjoy :)

Struck is the first in the Struck series by Jennifer Bosworth. Goodreads says:

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

  Holy crap, this book is amazing! I can't believe how good it is. I mean I fell in love when I first saw the premise, but oh my god, this book is fantastical in the highest degree! Pure action and romance and just oh my... This story was just so freaking good I can't even. To be honest though, the religion aspect played a bigger role than I expected, but it worked, and it didn't really bother me too much. I loved this story, Mia's journey from the beginning to end had me hooked instantly. I loved the idea of people with Spark, the two warring groups fascinated me, especially the Seekers. Mia's dramas fueled the story and kept me interested. Also there was a twist that I guessed about, but I was still shocked with it nonetheless. I mean this book is GOOD. If you are bothered by lots of religion mentions, this book might not be for you.

Mia was an EXCELLENT character. I could feel how damaged she was, how broken she was. I felt so much for her. I just wanted her to be happy, and cheered for her and Jeremy. Her character, with the lightning addiction and her family issues, all culminated into excellent development. Plus she had some excellent lines :) Now about Jeremy. A good chunk of the time he bothered me with his stalker behavior, but in the end he won me over with how much he cared about Mia, and his sweetness once the stalkerness melted away. I felt for him as well, his pain and his issues. They made him flawed and sexy. I also liked Katrina, despite all of her flaws. She was interesting and funny, also determined and kickass. Others like Mr. Kale, Mia's brother, and every side character had something interesting about them, a hidden history discovered while reading. But the villain, Prophet, scared the shit out of me. I mean holy crap, he literally sent chills down my spine, that's how scary he is. O.O

Kudos to Ms. Bosworth, she wrote an amazing book. Her writing style kept me hooked and yelling on this wild ride. She build up her world so well, created such interesting characters with great dialogue. I can't even describe how fantastic she is. Ms. Bosworth, you have my respect :) Can't wait for book two :)

I'll next be reviewing Dark Eyes by William Richter. 

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review 174: Immortal City by Scott Speer

Greetings everyone! I hope all is well in your universes right now. Have this here book review for y'all, enjoy :)

Immortal City is the first in a series by debut author Scott Speer. Goodreads says: 

Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them. He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamor, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat … and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.

This book turned out amazing, especially for a book written by a music video director. I mean holy crap it was fantastical. If you've seen my goodreads updates then you know how much this book captured my attention I loved the riff on celebrityism, how people obsess over said celebrities and how the celebrities live. That analogy plus a great mystery and a swoon-worthy romance made this book one of the best I've read this year. The story was excellent, and kept me sucked in the entire time. It came to the point where I was compulsively reading, using any opportunity I could to read more pages. I mean holy shit, this book is so freaking good. The pacing was excellent, and the story itself moved perfectly. Each moment made me smile or shocked or swoon. And holy crap those twists shocked the hell out of me. At one point I was in a car with my parents and a friend when I read a huge plot twist. My gasp of shock was so loud my friend and my mom asked me if I was ok. Yes, I was that shocked. Although when I went back in my mind to various parts of the book prior to said twist, it all made such sense. This book is so good I am ITCHING for the next one.


Maddy was an excellent heroine. She was so awesome, I can't find any other word for her. She is just so strong and resilient, although a bit broody sometimes. I was rooting for her the entire time, as well as for her and Jackson to be together. Speaking of Jackson, oh man is he sexy. He is smoking hot and also a great character. Both he and Maddy got excellent development, and I admired him so much sometimes. Although I did get angry at him for caring so much what people thought sometimes. I mean honestly. But he was an excellent hero, and I was also rooting for him to stick it to his stepfather and the Council. I also loved Gwen and Kevin and all of the side characters, even the villains. Everyone was interesting in some capacity, making the book even better. I especially adored Maddy's relationship with her Uncle Kevin. There was so much love between them, it made me smile.

Like I said, for a music video director/media person, Scott Speer delivered an excellent debut. His writing style was excellent and fast paced. He knows his way around a character arc and created such a rich alternate world that I wanted to swim in it for a while. I can not wait to see what he comes up with next. And I can not wait for the sequel, because the way Mr. Speer ended the novel, he has set up something amazing.


I'll next be reviewing Struck by Jennifer Bosworth.


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #173: Fever by Lauren DeStephano

Fever is the second book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStephano. Goodreads says:

Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped the beautiful prison of Wither’s mansion, but they are far from escaping danger. First they’re chased for stealing a getaway boat, and then the fleeing pair ends up in the eerie den of Madame, an old woman who collects girls and sells them to the highest bidders. Worst of all, Vaughn, Rhine’s sinister father-in-law, seems to be on her trail every step of the way. Rhine remains determined to get to her brother in Manhattan—but the road they are on is long and perilous. Now that Rhine has finally regained her freedom, what lengths will she need to go to in order to keep it?

For my review of the first book, Wither, click here 

This book was excellent. Excellent. Admittedly I did not like it at first, but it got better and better as I kept reading. By the end, my eyes were ga-lued to my Nook, and I could not believe that it ended, or how it ended for that matter. I did NOT expect the book I got, but that by no means is a bad thing. Every moment held suspense, and there were so many heart-pounding moments that I thought my heart would just rip itself out of my chest. Just, oh my god, this is a heartbreaking book. I could not believe what Ms. DeStephano was putting her characters through. But I will say it all made sense, and I can NOT wait for the final book. We went from a sadistic carnival to the streets of Manhattan and all these new places. I loved this ride even though it damn near broke my heart. Everything was so well written and just plain good.

Rhine is still an amazing heroine. I admire her strength so much, having to go through all that she did. My heart broke for her, and all I wanted was for her to be happy with Gabriel and to find her brother. Her development was excellent, and she grew so much in the short span of this book. Speaking of Gabriel, he also got great development. I also still love him very much, and I loved how he adapted to everything around him, his love for Rhine never fading. Speaking of, their relationship is still one of my favorites. They grew with each other, fighting but always loving each other. Their banter still makes me smile, and I also nearly weep every time they show affection. The new characters like Maddie and the various other were so rich with character that I fell in love with them. Madame scared the hell out of me, as well as making me so freaking angry. And of course there was till Vaughn, who still chills me to the bone every time he's mentioned or around. I mean holy eff, he is a SCARY dude. 

Ms. DeStephano has improved so much. I loved the expanded world, however sketchy it was. She showed a bleak world trying to get by, ravaged by disease. She has a fabulous writing style and knows her way around a story. I can not wait for the final book, and anything else she writes.

I'll next be reviewing Immortal City by Scott Speer.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Bad Book Round-Up

I'm going to do something a little unconventional. I'm going to take two books from the list out of order and make them into a BBR-U, because honestly neither book warrant separate reviews. So here we go

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver:
After the fantastic first book, this one was incredibly disappointing. While I had no problem following the new format of this book, I did not like Ms. Oliver's writing style in this one. I thought it was too well, formal or flat. I also did not like any of the new characters, they didn't feel real or likeable in any way.

Partials by  Dan Wells:

I wanted so much to like this book, so damn much. I mean it's an interesting as hell plot, which takes place on the island that I live, mostly in a town I've been to. But the writing was just so terrible, and the characters so flat and lifeless. It got harder to read with each passing page.

I'll next be reviewing Fever by Lauren DeStephano.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #172: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Why hello there everyone! I hope you are all well :) Have a few things for y'all today, and I hope you enjoy :)

Insurgent is the second book in the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. Goodreads says:

 Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

For my review of the first book, Divergent, click here.

This book, holy shit batman. This book just blew the water into the air and up into the heavens. I mean holy effing effness. This book was AMAZING. Even better than Divergent, in every way. I literally read the thing in two days, I refused to be torn away from it. This is another book where all I want to say is "so good so good soo good sooooo fucking gooooooooooddddd." But now that would not be a good review now would it? So I'll say that this book surpasses Divergent in every way. The story was fantastic. We get to see more of the world Ms. Roth created, going from Amity to Candor, etc. The characters had great development, and everything was just so much better. The story of political upheaval coupled with the romance, just everything fell into place and made for such heart pounding action and sweet romance. I loved every single moment, and that ending, I mean holy crap. I was just so damn shocked it felt like my face almost fell off or my mouth would stay on the floor from shock. And I could not be more shocked with the twists. Nothing was predictable, just the way I like it.


Tris just blew me away with her strength in this book. She got amazing character development. I still think that she and I would get along great. I just wanted to comfort her and make sure she was ok. A book reviewer I love and respect named CassJayTuck (She is fantastic, look her up!) who said something about Tris that really resonated with me: The reason people in the book think Tris is cold and cruel is the fact that they don't feel like a normal human being. That the idea of being Divergent is nothing special in real life, but it is in this world because of the way Tris' society has functioned, with each faction being about one single virtue. So while Tris is actually a normal human who feels everything, those who aren't Divergent are not, so they think she is cruel and cold. That is really true and after I finished the book I thought about that hard. Because you read the book from Tris' perspective, you know how she's really feeling, and that she is being torn apart by grief, her actions, everything. Her arc is one of the best I've ever read. Four was also even better. He had his own development which rivaled Tris'. I could not believe the twists his character took, shocking and I loved every minute. With every time he was around I fell in love with him even more. They're relationship really made me swoon. I also loved that they had fights like other couples, they had their issues and worked them out. I also adored Susan, Christina, and the other fabulous side characters that came to life on the page.


Damn, Ms. Roth just keeps getting better. She has built a world that gets richer and richer. Like I said, as you keep reading, you see more of this world. I loved how Ms. Roth created Amity and the other factions, building the tension that I could cut with a knife. Everything came together so well and the writing style was excellent. I will seriously read everything that Ms. Roth will write. She is a freaking genius :).


Wait for my next post :)


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #171: Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Ok y'all, last post of the night. Hopefully won't take so long to post a review again lol. 

Taken by Storm is the third in the Raised by Wolves series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Goodreads says:

 Bryn knows first-hand that being the alpha of a werewolf pack means making hard decisions, and that being human makes things a thousand times worse. She's prepared to give up her humanity, but the wolf who promised to Change her is waiting - though for what, Bryn doesn't know. Still human, she must take her place in the werewolf Senate, the precarious democracy that rules the North American packs. Standing side by side with werewolves who were ancient long before she was ever born is enough of a challenge, but Bryn soon learns that the Senate has been called to deal with a problem: the kind of problem that involves human bodies, a Rabid werewolf, and memories that Bryn, Chase, and the rest of their pack would rather forget. With bodies stacking up and political pressure closing in from all sides, Bryn and her pack are going to have to turn to old enemies and even older friends for help - especially when it starts to look like this time, the monster might be one of their own.

For my review of the second book, Trial by Fire, click here.

Holy flipping shit, this book was AMAZING!!! Sorry, but it literally took me by surprise. I don't know why, Ms. Barnes is an amazing writer who has made me fall head over heels with this series. But oh my god, this book just made me feel every emotion, in the best sense possible. I mean what the hell Barnes? Why did you put my heart through all of that aching? I hate and love you for it Ms. Barnes! I love that I did not see any of the twists coming. I literally gasped out loud, while I was with my parents and my friend when some of those twists came at me like an out of control train. I nearly cried a few times. And that ending. Holy eff that ending! I mean it, that ending was shocking and awesome and everything I was hoping for. I just don't know though, is this the final book? Or is there another one coming? I hope it's not the last book, because that ending spelled cliffhanger all over it. Although to be fair, I wouldn't mind that much if it was the final book, because Ms. Barnes wrapped up mostly everything nicely. But oh my god this story was sooo freaking good. I loved the journey Bryn went on, the new people she met, I loved her conflict with Shay, and the story itself was just, I can't even describe it, it was that good.

Bryn had excellent development! I loved how she matured even more in this one. I loved how she dealt with everything, and my heart went out to her so much. I enjoyed the hell out of her practicing with her Resilience, that was just greatness. I loved Chase as well. He was still my heartthrob in here, and he damn near broke my heart (I will not spoil that for y'all, but I nearly freaking cried). I love love love his and Bryn's relationship. Their love makes my top list of favorite fictional couples. There's no frills with them, and you can feel the love they have for each other pour out from the pages. Devon wasn't in this book too much, but he was still my Devon. His journey also was fabulous to read, and I love how he ended up at the end of the book. His and Bryn's relationship is another one I love. Their friendship is just so damn sweet, I want to be Bryn for a day just so I can be best friends with Devon. Now Lake got some unexpected development, but I loved it completely. I loved what Barnes did with her character, and how she and her past was in a way integral to the story. That was an unexpected boon. I still love her sarcasm and pure kickassery. Her dynamic with the other characters always makes me smile. The other characters, like Callum and Jed were excellent as always. The addition of Jed and Caroline added a dynamic that added a layer to the story. I loved reading the exchanges between Bryn and Caroline, and Caroline and Devon. Excellent

Damn Barnes, why did you rip my heart out like that? I mean it, she is SUCH a great writer guys. Ms. Barnes built her world up even more, expanding it and adding even more new and exciting information. She kept me guessing every second, never once making me falter in the attention I was paying to this book. She deserves every single solitary bit of success she has gotten.

I'll next be reviewing Insurgent by Veronica Roth.

Until next time, viva la literature! 

Currently Reading #18

Well everyone, the time has come for a new Currently Reading list to rise from the ashes of the previous one. Let us get started!

The theme for this list will be Hype Catch-Up. This is probably the longest list I have every attempted, but hopefully it'll be a good one. This list is a lot of the most hyped up books of this year that I have not yet gotten to. So without further ado, here are the stars of the list!:

1. Taken by Storm (Raised by Wolves 3) - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
2. Insurgent (Divergent #2) - Veronica Roth
3. Pandemonium (Delirium #2) - Lauren Oliver
4. Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) - Lauren DeStephano
5. Partials (Partials #1) - Dan Wells
6. Immortal City (Immortal City #1) - Scott Speer
7. Struck (Struck #1) - Jennifer Bosworth
8. Dark Eyes - William Richter
9. Portrait of a Starter (Starters #0.5) and Starters (Starters #1) - Lissa Price
10. Until I Die (Revenants #2) - Amy Plum
11. Unraveling - Elizabeth Norris
12. I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1) - Barry Lyga
13. The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) - Julie Kagawa
14. Slide (Slide #1) - Jill Hathaway
15. Bewitching (Kendra Chronicles #2) - Alex Flinn
16. Croak (Croak #1) - Gina Damico
17. The Selection (The Selection #1) - Kiera Cass
18. Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1) - Aimee Agresti

Damn, that is a LOT of books! Hope they are all good and worth every bit of hype they got.

Until next time, viva la literature!                    

Bad Book Round-Up

Hey everyone, have a BBR-U for y'all.

The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich:

I tried reading this once before and wasn't that interested. I tried again and still wasn't interested. I don't know what it is really. I guess I can chalk it up to writing style. I just did not connect with it and therefore, the story. If you want this story, watch The Social Network. A great adaptation of this book.

Tough Shit by Kevin Smith:
This book started out ok at first, but went downhill for me. Again, it was the writing style. I just could not connect to it at all. 

Well, that's the end of this Currently Reading list. I shall post the next one soon.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #170: License to Pawn by Rick Harrison

License to Pawn is by Pawn Stars star Rick Harrison. Goodreads says:

In Las Vegas, there's a family-owned business called the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, run by three generations of the Harrison family: Rick; his son, Big Hoss; and Rick's dad, the Old Man. Now "License to Pawn "takes readers behind the scenes of the hit History show "Pawn Stars" and shares the fascinating life story of its star, Rick Harrison, and the equally intriguing story behind the shop, the customers, and the items for sale.Rick hasn't had it easy. He was a math whiz at an early age, but developed a similarly uncanny ability to find ever-deepening trouble that nearly ruined his life. With the birth of his son, he sobered up, reconnected with his dad, and they started their booming business together. "License to Pawn "also offers an entertaining walk through the pawn shop's history. It's a captivating look into how the Gold & Silver works, with incredible stories about the crazy customers and the one-of-a-kind items that the shop sells. Rick isn't only a businessman; he's also a historian and keen observer of human nature. For instance, did you know that pimps wear lots of jewelry for a reason. It's because if they're arrested, jewelry doesn't get confiscated like cash does, and ready money will be available for bail. Or that WWII bomber jackets and Zippo lighters can sell for a freakishly high price in Japan. Have you ever heard that the makers of Ormolu clocks, which Rick sells for as much as $15,000 apiece, frequently died before forty thanks to the mercury in the paint. Rick also reveals the items he loves so much he'll never sell. The shop has three Olympic bronze medals, a Patriots Super Bowl ring, a Samurai sword from 1490, and an original Iwo Jima battle plan. Each object has an incredible story behind it, of course. Rick shares them all, and so much more--there's an irresistible treasure trove of history behind both the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and the life of Rick Harrison.

This book was flipping fantastic! It was a short, quick and fabulous read and I enjoyed every single minute of it. So much so I stayed up until about 5 in the morning to finish it, it was that good. I loved learning more about the Harrisons, the shop, and the items and people who have frequented it over the years. I learned so much and was engaged the entire time. Rick is a great writer, and made me laugh and learn. It felt like a friend and I had gotten together, and started telling each other stories from our lives. I was shocked to see chapters written by Old Man, Corey and Chumlee. They also had great writing styles that were true to their voices. I loved learning about their lives as well, especially Chumlee. I loved seeing that he really isn't as dumb as he's made out to be on the show. I also liked learning the history behind the show Pawn Stars. I never would have known on my own that Rick had been wanting a reality show for years before this show happened.

This is such a great book, if you love Pawn Stars and the Harrisons/Chumlee, you'll love this book. If you want a quick and good read, you'll love this book.

My next post will be coming up soon.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #169: Guts by Kristen Johnston

Hello my wonderful and amazing friends! It has been almost a month since my last post, and I've missed you all so very much <3 To be honest, I was in a reading slump and very uninterested in the books I was reading. But now I'm back and better than ever! There's a lot to be posted today, so let's start with this review :)

Guts is the memoir by Kristen Johnston. Goodreads says:

 The two-time Emmy Award-winning actress has written her first book, a surprisingly raw and triumphant memoir that is outrageous, moving, sweet, tragic, and heartbreakingly honest. GUTS is a true triumph—a memoir that manages to be as frank and revealing as Augusten Burroughs, yet as hilarious and witty as David Sedaris. With GUTS, Johnston takes us on a journey so truthful and relatable, so remarkably fresh, it promises to stay with the reader for a long, long time.

 I wanted to like this book so much. It seemed like a great memoir and great insight into the head of an actress I like. Unfortunately the writing style Ms. Johnson used just completely put me off. I'm all for sarcasm and wit, but honestly the way she wrote made me feel like she thought here readers were idiots and was talking down to us. It just felt so off-putting, I literally could no longer read it. I tried, but the writing just felt so, I don't know.

I'll next be reviewing License to Pawn by Rick Harrison. 

Until next time, viva la literature!

Surprise! Review #168: Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Hello everyone! Another Surprise! review for y'all, enjoy!


Thumped is the highly anticipated sequel to the book Bumped, both by Megan McCafferty. 


For my review of Bumped, click here.


Goodreads says:


It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!

Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.

To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.

The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:

Tell the truth.


I started this book last Tuesday, while I was frequenting my local Barnes and Noble. I decided to pick the book up because I was excited it was released. So I started reading, and I couldn't stop. Over the course of the week, my mother and I usually go to Barnes and Noble at least twice, occasionally three times. Last week was a three time week, and I finished Thumped in this time. Now onto the review!


Thumped was an excellent follow up to Bumped! I actually love Thumped more! It was just pure excellence story-wise. It, like Bumped, takes place in a short amount of time, but the story didn't feel rushed. I loved how the characters developed, how the story developed, etc. The pacing was excellent, as I said. And the twists. Oh. My. God. The twists were AMAZING! I NEVER saw any of them coming, and I mean holy shit, they were doozies. I mean I literally gasped, out loud, in the middle of Barnes and Noble, in full view of everyone in the cafe. That is how good and shocking those twists were. They were so fantastic, they made me love the book even more. I do have a major issue with this book though, which I'll address at the end when I speak about the author. Other than that, I adore this book, and am sad to see the world of Bumped come to a conclusion.


The twins, Harmony and Melody, are still excellent characters! First to Harmony. I feel like Ms. McCafferty focused more on her story than Melody's, but it did not bother me all too much, because I honestly thought it was more interesting. You can really see her struggle with her crises of faith, how she feels about her past, her pregnancy, everything. I just wanted her to be happy, to make the choices she wanted to make, and I was outraged at the people of Goodside. She had excellent development, and I think I came to love her more than her twin Melody. Speaking of Melody, she also had great development. You could also see her struggles, although they were quite different from Harmony's. I rooted for her and Zen, because they are awesome as a couple. I wanted her to succeed and I wanted her to be free as well. Have I mentioned how much I love her and Zen together? Speaking of Zen, holy hell. He is even more sexy now, I don't know why, but he is. Probably because he has more time in this novel than he did in Bumped. I loved how his character matured and developed, became more of a person. Plus he's always good for some great comic relief :) Now onto Jondoe. Like Zen, Jondoe's role was expanded, even though he had more time in Bumped. I liked seeing him try and become a better person in order to win back Harmony. I still feel like he was phony at some points, but I do love that he was trying. Also Ram, Ram is freaking fantastic. He is just so selfless, and so kind, oh god he's probably one of my favorite characters. The colorful collection of side characters were fun to read, and I loved to hate Lib. Oh Lib.


Great job, Ms. McCafferty! I love how she expanded on her world, adding new while still having those elements that made me love Bumped. She really put her characters through a lot, and I loved that. Now to address the major issue I have with this book, and by extension, Ms. McCafferty. I feel that near the end of the novel, it became quite preachy. I feel that Ms. McCafferty started preaching near the end using one her characters, and it made me uncomfortable. I mean I agree with her overall, but I don't think you should use your characters as a mouthpiece like that. Other than that, kudos!


Until next time, viva la literature!

Surprise! Review #167: Grave Mercy by Robin/R.L. LaFevers

Greetings everyone! Surprise! review today. 


Surprise! Reviews are reviews for books I pick up and read on the fly, such as ARCs, new releases I couldn't resist getting (XD), etc. 


Grave Mercy is the first in the His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin, aka R.L. LaFevers. Goodreads says:




Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?


So this review is a long time coming. See, my Nook friend David graciously decided to send me an ARC of this book out of nowhere back in March (PS Thank you so much David! I am completely honored and grateful you thought of me. Thank you so much for the ARC. I salute you sir ^^). I started reading it voraciously. Sadly as time has gone on, other books took precedence over this one, and my reading of Grave Mercy slowed. I finally finished it on Friday, so lets get on with the review!


I'm happy to report that this book is fabulous! Save for steampunk, I'm normally not one for historical fiction. But this book really grabbed my attention, and held it as I went on the ride. I loved the idea of assassin nuns, a concept that is just so brilliant, I could not resist it. Although there is much more time spent on political intrigue and romance, I still loved the entire story, every last nook and cranny of it. I loved reading Ismae's story, and the stories happening around her. The political intrigue played more like a mystery, one which I was scrambling along with Ismae to solve. The twists shocked the hell out of me, and I loved every single one of them. I love a good twist that's hard to predict, and this book has them :) 


Ismae is a kick-ass character, as well as a great protagonist. She is a badass assassin nun, sired from Death himself, and I loved her. She was fascinating, struggling to reconcile her past, her feelings for Duval, what to do with her convent, she handled everything so well. Ok, so I wish she had more action scenes, but I still loved reading her journey. I know I wouldn't want to mess with Ismae, knowing her skills. I especially loved her relationships with Beast, Anne, and Duval. Speaking of Duval, he was a great love interest. Sexy and sweet, honorable and just all around awesome. I loved how he was willing to do anything for the Duchess. At the same time, it was so much fun seeing him fall in love with Ismae, and watching the arc of their relationship play out. I can just picture him in my head, and oh boy he is sexy! I also loved Anne, the Duchess of Brittany. At first, I did not know how young she was. When I did find out, I was shocked! She was so mature, so, well, adult. I feel a tinge of sadness when I think of Anne, because she was forced to grow up at a young age, and had to deal with a boatload of shit. I give kudos to Anne as a character, because her strength was amazing, and I admire her so much. Like I said, I loved her relationship with Ismae. It started to turn into a sisterly bond, it was so sweet. I loved having to guess the villain, and was shocked at the end at who it was. I loved the backround characters, like Beast (Go Beast !! Rock on my friend), DeLornay, Annith, Sybella, and the whole slew of others who were fully developed and three dimentional.


Damn Ms. LaFevers, you are a great author! I loved Ms. LaFevers' writing style, it was perfect for this book. She made me truly engrossed in Ismae's world, developing it well, staying true to historical fact while adding her wonderful elements in it. She created such vivid characters, who have engrained themselves in my brain, I commend her on this book! I wish you much success :)


Until next time, viva la literature!

Surprise! Review #166: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Greetings everyone! I've missed you all so much <3 How are you guys? Well I hope :) Have this surprise review for y'all this fine evening/day, hope ya enjoy it :)

Masque of the Red Death is the first in a series by Bethany Griffin. Goodreads says:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

STORY TIME: Before this book came out, it was one of my most highly anticipated books in a long time. It was love at first sight, from the cover to the blurb. I mean come on, don't tell me that premise doesn't sound absolutely fantastic! So I was at Barnes and Noble last Friday, looking around in the YA section like I normally do. I saw that one of the booksellers was putting out some new books, and that MotRD was one of them, having its own stack. No joke, I literally squealed in excitement, and asked the bookseller if I could take a copy. He said yes, and I fully admit to snatching one up and holding it to my chest in happiness. I bought it that day, and instantly started reading. 


Now the review ladies and gents!:


This book is FANTASTIC!!! To be completely honest, I do have words I can describe my feelings with, but all I really want to say is "THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD THIS BOOK IS SOOOOO FUUUUCKING GOOOOOOOOODDDD!!!!!" Now that would not make for a good review, so I'll use more words than that :) But yes this book is utterly amazing. I mean it when I say that Masque of the Red Death is a freaking masterpiece of YA literature. This book is just so good, so full of gorgeous brilliance, I'd recommend it to anyone. 

The story is beautiful. I adored going on the journey with Araby, and oh boy did it keep me on my toes. I can honestly say that this is the first book in a while where I was truly shocked at the twists that occurred. I'm talking full on gasps and all sorts of "NO! IT CAN'T BE!" going on. Like I said, I love the story. It pulled me from page one, refusing to let me go. It's like author Lauren DeStephano said "This book has the knife factor. It’s one of the books that held a blade to my throat and said, 'Tell the world about me.'" Perfect wording to be frank. The story just oozes that classic Gothic style, enticing you with lush description and wonderful dialogue. The political intrigue, the emotional issues, it all flowed like a beautiful waterfall into one another. I mean it when I say this story is lush, in its descriptions, in everything.

Araby was such a fascinating character. She was so broken, all I wanted to do was reassure her everything would be alright, despite the fact that her world was going to hell. I loved how she started the book as one person, while ending the book in an evolved form, while still retaining who she truly was. I loved how she realizing everything along with her, although I was more shocked than she was at times. Now onto her two love interests, Elliott and Will. Both guys are wonderful characters. Elliott was the most fascinating, since you never truly knew what he was really thinking or feeling most of the time. Those rare moments of real emotion made me really like Elliott. I felt for him, I wanted him to succeed. Even though I like Elliott, I also disliked his behavior most of the time. I wanted to scream at him. Despite my liking him, I loved Will even more. Despite certain things Will did, I loved how sweet, smart and protective he was. Safe to say I am completely Team Will. He is just so sweet. I loved it when he was with Araby, his brother and sister. Those moments just made me well up with emotion. I also liked April's arc. She was probably one of the most interesting characters I've read. She wasn't around for a good chunk of the novel, but I loved seeing whose allegiance she held. I did not give her too much credit in the beginning - I underestimated her. I also loved Araby's parents, who even had their own little arcs to go through. Every character oozed interesting, and always got an emotion out of me. And the prince just made me shiver. Oh god he is scaaary, among other characters.

Ms. Griffin, you are a flipping genius! Can I please read the word document for book two? I mean holy shiiiit, you created such a brilliant novel. She built such a gorgeously broken world, and made me not care what the time and place were. Griffin knows her way around the written word, and her style is wonderful. Honestly, I'd read anything she's written now. 

I do think a warning is in order: If you are uncomfortable with drug use and some alluded sexual activity, you might not like this book. 

This is an AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING book, and I am jonesing for book two. 

I will hopefully finish Guts soon, and have the review for y'all to enjoy :)

Until next time, viva la literature! 

Review #165: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Greetings everyone! It's been weeks since the last post, and I've missed you all so much :) <3 Back with a new review for y'all, and I hope you enjoy it :)


Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) is by actress/writer Mindy Kaling. Goodreads says:


Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.


This book was utterly fantastic! Just brilliant and so so so freaking good. I devoured this book like candy (well, candy that took two weeks due to life getting in the way X_X). Mindy's voice is so funny, so refreshingly honest and purely fantastic, I never wanted the book to end. I loved reading about her life, her struggles, her feelings and observations. Like I said, her voice is funny, honest and real. I related to so much of what she was talking about. There were times when I laughed so loud from something Mindy said, everyone in the room turned to stare at me. Yes, the book was that funny to me. I just, this book cast a spell on me man. It's one of those instances where all I really want to do is type "this book is so good this book is so good this book is so good this book is soooooooo gooooooood." and that would be the entire post XD. Honestly, it's hard to describe how much I love this book. I liked it when Mindy was describing her friends, it felt like I was truly getting to know them and their personalities. Her life observations were probably my favorite parts of the book. Mindy is a brilliant observer. 


I can't wait to see Ms. Kaling's star continue to rise, and I hope she writes another book, because I will read the living daylights out of it. 


I'll next be reviewing Guts by Kristen Johnston.


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #164: Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg

Nerd Do Well is Simon Pegg's autobiography. 

 The unique life story of one of the most talented and inventive comedians, star of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Star Trek. Zombies in North London, death cults in the West Country, the engineering deck of the Enterprise: actor, comedian, writer and self-proclaimed supergeek Simon Pegg has been ploughing some bizarre furrows in recent times. Having landed on the U.S. movie scene in the surprise cult hit Shaun of the Dead, his enduring appeal and rise to movie star with a dedicated following has been mercurial, meteoric, megatronic, but mostly just plain great. From his childhood (and subsequently adult) obsession with science fiction, his enduring friendship with Nick Frost, and his forays into stand-up comedy which began with his regular Monday morning slot in front of his twelve-year- old classmates, Simon has always had a severe and dangerous case of the funnies. Whether recounting his experience working as a lifeguard at the city pool, going to Comic-Con for the first time and confessing to Carrie Fisher that he used to kiss her picture every night before he went to sleep, or meeting and working with heroes that include Peter Jackson, Kevin Smith, and Quentin Tarantino, Pegg offers a hilarious look at the journey to becoming an international superstar, dotted with a cast of memorable characters, and you're rooting for him all the way.

I tried to get through this, but I just couldn't. I love Simon Pegg, and his movies are amazing and full of fabulous. I thought his autobiography would be just as amazing. Sadly it was not. I didn't like his writing voice, I couldn't get into it at all. I felt like Pegg was being too cheeky and sarcastic, as well as kind of lofty and disconnected with the reader. Shame really, this seemed like it would have been a fantastic read.


I'll next be reviewing Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling.


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #163: My Boring Ass Life by Kevin Smith

My Boring-Ass Life is by Kevin Smith. Goodreads says:

Anything but boring, the creator of Jay and Silent Bob shares his x-rated thoughts in his diary, telling all in his usual candid, heartfelt and irreverent way!

Lewd, crude and hilariously rude, Kevin Smith pulls no punches in this hard-hitting, in-your-face exposé of, er, his rather dull and uneventful life… well, not always dull. In between watching his TiVo, he manages to make and release Clerks II, relate the story of his partner-in-crime Jason Mewes’ heroin addiction, get a tattoo, serve on a jury... and get caught stealing donuts from Burt Reynolds

Thrown in are his views on the perils of strip clubs, the drawback of threesomes, the pain of anal fissures, his love-affair with Star Wars and so much more!

To be honest, I did think while going into reading this book that I might not enjoy reading a few years' worth of inane blog posts. And granted, Kevin Smith does warn that the posts are very inane and boring, and you do get that in the very title of the book. But I wanted to read this anyway, and guess what? It was boring! I just knew around 40 pages in that I would not be able to make it through over 500 pages of these posts. Not to decredit Kevin Smith, because he did make the inane semi-interesting. I just knew in my heart and mind that his genius sense of humor was not enough. I mean these posts were really inane, to the point where I almost fell asleep. Luckily, this is not the only book he's written, and I can't wait to read Tough Shit, because that seems to be a lot better than this was. Who knows, I might even return to this someday.

I'll next be reviewing Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Currently Reading #17

With the last review of the previous list written, the time has come for a new list to rise up out of the depths and take the old list's place.

This list's theme is Non-fiction, specifically memoirs/autobiographies. I have been wanting to do this one for a loong time, and I can not wait to get into these books :)

So here I present, the books:

1. My Boring Ass Life - Kevin Smith
2. Nerd Do Well - Simon Pegg
3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - Mindy Kaling
4. Guts - Kristen Johnston
5. License to Pawn - Rick Harrison
6. The Accidental Billionaires - Ben Mezrich
7. Tough Shit - Kevin Smith

So there ya have it folks! These books look amazing, and I can't wait to dive in :)

Until next time, viva la literature!      

Review #162: Dark Descendant by Jenna Black

Greetings everyone! It's been a little over a week since the last review, and it feels like forever. I have a bunch of stuff for y'all today, and I hope you guys like it :) On with the reviews!

Dark Descendant is the first in the Nikki Glass series by Jenna Black. Goodreads says:

Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die. . . . Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s manhunting skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy. But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy. . . .

Godsdammit! This book sounded awesome when I first read the summary. The premise reminded me a little bit of the Sabina Kane series, which is one of my all time favorite series. Then of course I read the book, and eeverything went down the drain. To be fair, it wasn't really the story that made me stop reading. No, it was the characters and the writing that prevented me from even forcing myself to continue reading this book. The story was ok, ableit it went very fast, shooting past my mind before I could play catch up. I just could not follow anything that was going on, and that is a baad thing. The story also felt poorly written, not always cohesively written.

Nikki was a horrible character! Just horrible. I despised her voice, because she just felt shallow and hollow. I could not connect with Nikki, and I felt like she was a stereotypical, overblown badass with hollow attitude and snark that did not feel genuine. The other characters were just as poorly written, themselves being overblown stereotypes with horrid personalities. No one felt real in any way shape or form.

Ms. Black's writing was absolutely bad in this book. She wrote the characters so so poorly, and her world building felt like utter shlock, that it frustrated me to the point where I almost chucked my Nook at my wall. I will give her another chance with her Fairiewalker series, HOPEFULLY that book will be much better than this shock of a book.

With all of that said, we are at the end of yet another list. I shall be putting up the next list in a few minutes.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #161: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Hey everyone! Hope y'all enjoy this review :)

The Goddess Test is the first in a series by Aimee Carter. Goodreads says:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

At first, this book frustrated me. Something was just off, and I couldn't explain why. But as I continued reading, I really got into The Goddess Test. There was just something enjoyable about this book that made me smile. Plus I literally could not for the life of me predict any of the plot twists, and that in itself is amazing. I know there are a lot of issues with this book, but for some reason I just loved every second. With that said, I do have issues with this book. The slut shaming for example. Even though I admittedly was a bit annoyed at the behavior of the character who was slut-shamed, but I still was bothered that the shaming occurred. Also after the book was over, and I read the list of who was which God/Goddess in the manor, I was kind of perplexed at the villain. I won't go into details, but the God/Goddess the villain is supposed to be made no sense when it came to their reasons as to why they were the villain. I also didn't like Kate's personality all too terribly much.


Speaking of Kate, lets chat about our intrepid heroine. As I've said, I didn't like her personality too much. The problem was there was a lack of it. I felt like Kate was like so many other heroines from dozens of other YA novels. I also did not like that she really slut-shamed that unnamed character. I also didn't like some of her motives behind her choices. She also spent a lot of time in her own mind moping and over-analyzing everything, especially her relationship with Henry. Now we come to Henry, the romantic lead. He definitely fit the Brooding Hero archetype. He also had the formal cadence that remind me of a certain beloved vampire. He was ok at best, but I didn't really find him all that romantic. His brooding got in the way of him truly becoming a great character, and even though there were some sweet moments, I felt like the romance was one-sided on Kate's side. The other characters were okay at best.


The writing was surprisingly good. Ms. Carter's style is smooth and easy to read. While she did not do so well with her telling of Greek Mythology, she somehow cast a spell on me that made me fall in love with this book, despite all of my issues with it. That's a pretty damned good feat if you ask me.


Thing is I won't be reading the short in between novella or the second book, because I read some reviews by bloggers that I trust, and from the looks of it nothing improves in book two.


I'll next be reviewing Dark Descendant by Jenna Black. 


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #160: Oh. My. Gods by Tera Lynn Childs

Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed St. Patrick's Day :) Anyway, I have this review for y'all, hope you enjoy it :)

Oh. My. Gods is the first in a series by Tera Lynn Childs. Goodreads says:

When Phoebe’s mom returns from Greece with a new husband and plans to move to an island in the Aegean Sea, Phoebe’s well-plotted senior year becomes ancient history. Now, instead of enjoying a triumphant track season and planning for college with her best friends, Phoebe is trying to keep her head above water at the überexclusive Academy. If it isn’t hard enough being the new kid in school, Phoebe’s classmates are all descendants of the Greek gods! When you’re running against teammates with superpowers, dealing with a stepsister from Hades, and nursing a crush on a boy who is quite literally a god, the drama takes on mythic proportions!

I got this book when I first was getting into Tera Lynn Childs' work. I was excited because this book looked great when I first saw it, and looked like it was gearing up to be fantastic. Unfortunately the story went down after page one. Honestly, the story felt contrived immediately, with the quickie marriage completely unrealistic even under these circumstances. I couldn't follow anything that was going on, and everything happened waaay too quickly.

I'm sorry, but Phoebe was a horrible character. Her voice/POV bothered the hell out of me, and irritated me to the point where it made me quit reading. She is possibly one of the single most whiny characters I have ever read about. I swear, her whining knew no freaking bounds. I could not handle how her character was written. One of the worst things about it is that the character was written as knowing she was saying mean things to her mom and stepfather, yet she said them anyway, without apologizing. I just, I couldn't. The other characters were just not memorable, and Phoebe ruined this whole book for me. 

I'm sorry Ms. Childs, but I won't be continuing this series. Thankfully I can't wait for your next Fins book :)

I'll next be reviewing The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. 

Until next time, viva la literature!