November 9 By- Colleen Hoover

21# Book Review– ★★★★☆ (4.5 Stars)

November 9

By-

Colleen Hoover

So my best friend suggested me to read this book, and honestly, I had been a little sceptical. You can’t be too wary of all those NA Romance Novels out there that spout out the same crap book after book. So yes, I’d been a little hesitant. But thankfully, this book didn’t turn out to be a waste of time. Quite the opposite actually, it was a really entertaining read. It reminded me why writers are such dangerous species and how they can stomp on your heart and play with your feelings using just a bunch of words. What even…

I’d shed a couple of tears by the time I finished reading this book. Surprisingly, the tears were tears of happiness. So surprising, right? Like I’m sure we’ve all come across books that make us bawl our eyes out and clog our noses and just make us realize how sad life can really be. But this, oh this was entirely different. This made me laugh out loud, and wipe my tears as I tried to regain the control of my emotions. If you want to feel content and happy and realize how beautiful love can really be, you definitely need to read this book. It reminds you that sometimes very ordinary people can experience extra-ordinary love. It made me want to fall in love with someone right now and experience all those intense beautiful things. But it also inspired me enough to wait for that kind of love to come along, to settle for nothing less than extra-ordinary.

“I’ve never loved someone I hate so much, and I’ve never hated someone I love so much.”

Ever since the terrible fire that burnt away 30% of her body when she was sixteen, and on her way to becoming a successful actress, Fallon has been insecure. A girl who once loved her appearance and was confident, now hides behind her curtain of hair and clothes that hide her scars. Then on the fateful day of November 9^th, she stumbles across Benton Kessler.

“She’s not the kind of girl you choose your battles for. She’s the kind of girl you fight to the death for.”

When Benton Kessler, the so-called writer in the making,  hears Fallon’s asshole-ish father making his insecure daughter feel even more insecure and unworthy, he can’t control himself. So before he can stop himself, he barges in on their conversation, pretending to be Fallon’s “boyfriend”.

“If she’s not careful, I might just fall in love with her. Tonight.”

What starts as a thirty minute fake relationship, extends throughout the day with both of them spending the whole of November 9 together. There’s this undeniable instant connection that is impossible to ignore, and before the day has ended Ben gets to observe the deeply destroyed parts of her soul, her low self esteem and all the insecurities attached with it. But he’s different. Fallon has never come across a guy like him before. Instead of flinching at the sight of her scars and shying away from them, he embraces her for who she is. For the first time in two years she feels beautiful, and wanted.

“He presses his mouth to mine and kisses me with so much emotion, I forget all the things. Everything. I forget where I am. Who I am.”

Before long the day ends, and they have to accept the fact that as much fun it had been, Fallon is moving away to New York. But this connection they had…it’s too good to be true. Too precious to let go of so easily. So they make a pact. That they’ll meet each other every year for the next five years on the same day—November 9, at the same place. Fallon also suggests him to write a book about it—to write a book about those five coming years in which they’ll meet once a year. Between that annual meeting, they’ll have no connection what-so-ever. So they block each other on every social media, and don’t exchange phone numbers. And then they wait, for a whole year.

“But the only thing that makes me sad—the biggest thing—is that I think about you every second of every day and I don’t know how to get over you.”

“Don’t,” I beg her. “Please don’t get over me.”

The idea seems harmless. What’s the worst that could happen?

“Because it’s easy to fall in love, Ben. The hard part comes when you want out.”

Actually, everything.

Okay, first thing, do you have any idea how many beautiful, heart-touching quotes this book has? A lot. Like a lot lot. (You can read them in the Quotes Section of my blog) The book has been written so beautifully. The dialogue work is splendid. It’s absolutely magical. So yes, the writing style is good, like romance novel-worthy good.

Now, about the characters. The female protagonist, Fallon; she just has this…thing about her, you know? That makes it so easy for you to step into her shoes. I don’t know about you, but as a girl, I’ve been insecure about my appearance and my body quite a lot. So, her insecurity and vulnerability is very…believable. You see a part of yourself in her. You can step into her shoes. Despite that, she’s not a cry baby or anything. She’s actually quite spunky and funny and like a really good person. So you don’t get sick of her.

Ah, and what do I say about Benton James Kessler? Reading about Ben was like inhaling a fresh breath of air and I feel so…clean, I don’t even have words to express myself. He was just so refreshing. He was not like those typical book worthy male protagonists that make you swoon but he still was book-worthy. I think that’s because he was…perfect, but in a real, more believable way. Like give me gorgeous billionaires with emotional conflicts and mad bedroom skills any day, but there’s something so…amazing about a normal guy who’s dorky but has this amazing sense of humor and this inner passion, and this humongous capacity to love someone and just be there for them. Someone who is so fucking motivational and says just the right things at the right time. But like he also has his scars and his flaws and his insecurities. And you know, someone who thinks it’s a privilege to be able to love you. You will come to love his character, I promise you.

About the plot: It might seem a little…ordinary and normal during the first eighty page sor so. You know, it might seem kinda predictable and you’ll be like ‘I don’t see anythign special about this novel. It’s…good, but not amazing.’ Give it another couple of pages and you’ll not be able to put this book down. Trust me. It had a lot of romance at the start with hints of humor. But we eventually get the drama we crave oh-so-much! This would be a perfect plot for a RomCom, you know? This really needs to be made into a movie.

Please read this book if you want to get chest pains and feel that your feelings have been manipulated by the author. But most of all, read it to make yourself feel alive and happy (and like a gooey puddle of happiness and tears)

She “loved me” in quotations

She kissed me in bold

I TRIED TO KEEP HER in all caps

She left with an ellipsis . . .

—BENTON JAMES KESSLER

The Gallagher Girls Series By- Ally Carter

19# Book Review– ★★★★☆

The Gallagher Girls (6 Book Series)

By-

Ally Carter

(image courtesy: http://www.beautifulfandoms.com)

So I’m basically writing the review of the whole series. And it’s been ages since this series came out and ended, but I just finished it like thirty minutes ago? Why, you ask? Well, I’d read the first five books out of the six quite early in time. But when the sixth book came out after a year, I decided I needed to read the whole series again, because that’s how the last book would have a proper impact, and well, because I really love this series, like ever since I was in eighth grade I think. But then I got busy and I didn’t get to read the whole thing until today. And now:

WHERE DO I STASH AWAY MY FEELINGS?! Because I know the series ended and I feel so satisfied, but I feel so attached to the characters. I feel like I’ve known them forever. Like I’ve grown up with them. And trust me, you will feel that way too once you read the series. There is some SERIOUS character growth there. Like ‘I-feel-like-a-proud-mom/best friend’ character growth.

*Sigh* where do I begin?

…From the start, I suppose.

So brief description of the series coming right up!

Cameron Ann Morgan is known as the girl who is very good at not being seen. She’s good at blending in. And that’s a good thing too. Because in her school, that’s actually considered a skill. She goes to Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. And when they say ‘exceptional’, they actually mean it. I mean where else would tenth graders be learning PhD level Physics, 14 different languages, and how to break NSA level encryptions? To the outside world Gallagher Academy is a snooty boarding school for snobby little rich girls. But in reality, it’s a school for spies.

“Women of the Gallagher Academy, who comes here?”
“We are the sisters of Gillian.”
“Why do you come?”
“To learn her skills. Honor her sword. And keep her secrets.”
“To what end do you work?”
“To the cause of justice and light.”
“How long will you strive?”
“For all the days of our lives.”

So, that’s the basic thing—the thing that stays common throughout the series, while the main plot keeps changing. The series begins with a fifteen year old Cameron aka Cammie aka Chameleon who has just begun her sophomore year in the Gallagher Academy. Now, studying in an all girls boarding school has its own set of Pros and Cons

PROS: You don’t have to actually care about your appearance that much since there are no boys to see you (unless you’re into girls)

CONS: The students are deprived in certain departments…like dating and boys.

So, falling in love had never really been on the agenda. But then during a mission/class she’s spotted by a really good looking boy. And that’s saying something because for a girl who’s used to feeling invisible, it’s a big deal to be actually seen. And before she knows it, she’s sneaking out of her school (which is in itself a massive feat since there are cameras and motion detectors at all exits) and going on secret dates with an ordinary boy that knows nothing about her world.

The next few years follow Cameron’s life through the next three years at Gallagher Academy, and her development from a dewy eyed fifteen year old into an eighteen year old lethal spy.

REASONS YOU SHOULD READ THIS SERIES

A LIST BY ME

• Amazing Characters: The characters are so…realistic. And so likeable (and hateable too) The character growth is tremendous. Like I said, you actually grow up with them. It’s like you grow up from a silly fifteen year old into a mature eighteen year old. You see so many facets of so many characters—the good and the bad, the smart, and the confused. And all the grey areas too. The characters are so…believable, so human.

 

• Friendship Goals: Two Words: SQUAD GOALS. With an amazing group of best friends, that are not only super talented (we have an actual lethal spy, a scientist, and a really smart and headstrong girl) the friendship shown in the book is actual friendship goals.

 

• Super Cool Adults: Now usually adults don’t have a very important part in teen fiction novels, and most of the time they are missing. But this book is different. Kinda. See, the adults here are super cool because they are actual spies and they go on these really crazy mission. And sometimes? Sometimes they take the kids along. (Or the kids follow without their knowledge and do their thing *shrugs*)

 

• Exotic Locations: From a small town in Virginia called Roseville, to Rome, Austria, Ireland, NYC and many more places. Being a spy takes you places. Literally.

 

• Actual Adrenaline Inducing Action: So many heart stopping action sequences because…spies. And they are written really well too. They are really understandable and it plays like a movie in front of your eyes. It really makes me wonder why this book series hasn’t been made into a TV series yet.

 

• Swoon-worthy Men: Fictional guys are goals, no kidding. But when those aforementioned fictional guys are physically fit, calculative, brave and really intense spies, they take ‘goals’ to a whole new level. Seriously. Falling in love with them will definitely not be hard (Falling out of love after realizing you have no future with the so called fictional character on the other hand would be…difficult)

 

• Heart Stopping Plot Twists: The series will mess with your head and make you want to throw your book across the room, then go and grab it again because you really need to know what happens next.

 

• Writing Style: The Writing Style is actually very quirky full of humor and intense emotions at just the right places. The ‘voice’ is just right, and it’s all very addictive. The dialogue work is really good. The information gets kinda redundant though at the start of every new novel, but it’s only to get the reader acquainted with the series.

So that’s that. I hope I’ve successfully convinced you to at least try the series. The first book might seem kinda childish if you are an eighteen, almost-nineteen year old like me (perfect for those in the 13 to 16 bracket) but the rest of the series get loads better. I’ll leave you with a couple of quotes to help you get a feel of the books:

“I suppose a lot of teenage girls feel invisible sometimes, like they just disappear. Well, that’s me—Cammie the Chameleon. But I’m luckier than most because, at my school, that’s considered cool.
I go to a school for spies.”

 

“Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man seven different ways with her bare hands, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she’s an ordinary girl.” 

 

“You know,’ I whispered, ‘some girls might think it’s creepy having a boy watch them sleep.’
He smirked and pointed to himself. ‘Spy.’
‘Oh.’ I nodded. ‘Right. So you’re a trained Peeping Tom.’”

 

“A Gallagher Girl’s real grades don’t come in pass or fail—they’re measured in life or death.” 

 

“Just so you know Gallagher Girl,’ he whispered softly, ‘I’m going to kiss you now.” 

 

“What is a Gallagher Girl?
She’s a genius, a scientist, a heroine, a spy… a Gallagher Girl is whatever she wants to be.” 

 

“I could have lied. I could have fought. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so I took a chance and called upon a Gallagher Girl’s weapon of last resort. I flirted” 

 

“There’s a boy in my life,’ I told him. ‘He’s a very bad influence.’
Then Zach nodded. ‘Bad boys have a way of doing that. But they’re worth it.””

 

“Tell me Cameron Ann Morgan, what do you want to be when you grow up?”… “Alive.”

Prisoner of Night and Fog By-Anne Blankman

17# Book Review– ★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)

Prisoner of Night and Fog

By-

Anne Blankman

Seventeen year old Gretchen Muller lives in Munich during a time when Germany was going through a rough political and economical scenario. The poster child of the National Socialist Society with her beautiful, honey-blonde braided hair, crystal blue eyes, and a Hakenkreuz hanging down her neck, she is Hitler’s favorite pet.

Or so she thinks.

Nine years ago, her father lost her life protecting Hitler’s during a revolutionary march. He has been considered an honorable martyr ever since, and her family receives all the help and support they could ever need from Hitler, and his political party. The Muller family is safe in the city of Munich that is slowly and steadily turning lethal for the Jews.

In the midst of all the political drama and chaos, Gretchen stumbles upon a fearless, and headstrong Jewish reporter Daniel Cohen who reveals a piece of information that threatens to turn her world upside down—her father wasn’t a martyr who sacrificed his life to save Hitler’s; her father was murdered.

In a world full of untrustworthy and dangerous people, Daniel is the only one she can trust. She can’t help the fierce attraction that starts brewing between them. Falling in love with a Jew is something that could get both her, and Daniel killed instantly. But the passion they feel for each other is simply too intense to be ignored.

With Daniel’s help she investigates her father’s mysterious murder, consequently realizing that the world she’s a part of, and the people that she trusts, are dangerous and monstrous. And the people she’d always mistrusted—the Jews, are nothing like Hitler had described them to be. She can feel her world falling apart right in front of her eyes.

Who is the man behind her father’s murder? How long will Daniel and she be able to hide their relationship? Who to trust, who not to? Follow Gretchen and Daniel, as they uncover the murky details of Gretchen’s father’s murder, and Hitler’s dirty past.

“Nothing made sense anymore. The box she had carefully constructed about herself would fall apart. And she didn’t know if she could bear standing out in the open, in the harsh wind, without the comforting warmth of those walls she had built to shut out everything she didn’t like or understand.”

“He was the only one who cared enough. A jew, caring for her. A travesty or a lie, Uncle Dolf would say. It was a miracle.”

“She had thought the boy could fit into a small box of fierceness and determination and loyalty to his ideals, however misguided they were. Now she saw that he couldn’t be contained, or understood, so easily.”

“But when his eyes fastened upon hers, they were so sharp with intelligence and intensity that it took all her self-control not to squirm. He looked at her as if he knew precisely what she thought of him and didn’t care because there were other things that mattered more.”

“She considered the boy beside her. A breeze had kicked up, ruffling the brown strands that escaped from the newsboy cap he was wearing today and hung over his forehead. His clear, dark eyes met hers without hesitation, as though he had nothing to hide. He was nothing like the monster she had been taught about. He was human.”

“She looked up into Daniel’s face, studying its sharp planes, committing each of its features to memory. Not a monster. But a by, blood and muscle and bone real and breathing before her, watching her with those sharp intelligent eyes that saw so much.

She liked him. She cared for him. Ambitious, confident, fierce, clever Daniel.”

“For a moment, he looked at her intently, in a way no one had ever looked at her before. He stood so close she could smell the scents clinging to his skin, soap and oranges and boy, and she heard the nerves in his voice when he said her name, and she knew what he was about to do, and her heart started pounding.

He kissed her.”

“In that instant, she was more aware of Daniel than she had been of anyone in her life: the high cheekbones beneath his olive skin, the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, the tiny shaving nick that meant he had bothered with his appearance for her. His expression was so unlike his usual sarcastic grin she almost didn’t recognize him.”

“Her heart raced. Never had she been so bold. Her mother’s admonition ran through her head—once a girl’s reputation is tarnished, it is tarnished forever—but she threw the warning aside, and let Daniel’s arms come around her back and gently guide her down to the straw mat.”

“You and I are impossible.” she said. 

“No.” Gently, he brushed the hair back from her face. “We are what’s real and true.” 

Okay, first thing first, sorry for all those quotes, but I really, really loved those lines, so I couldn’t not mention them. I’d like to start with saying that Anne Blankman has an amazing writing style. It was a pleasure reading this book. I soaked up all the beautiful words, and sentences, and phrases. They really helped me connect with the protagonist that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. They were just so beautifully written. Here are some examples.

“She stood on the edge of night, that sliver of gray between darkness and dawn, that razor-thin line separating the first part of her life and whatever lay ahead.”

“For an instant, she was a silver-edged figure in the shadows, then she was nothing more than the whispers of tall grasses and wind.”

“All around them, daylight was slowly dying. Trees clustered tightly together, their interlocking branches and lacy leaves blocking out the fading rays of the orange-pink sunset, enclosing Gretchen and Daniel in a well of shadows.”

“The moment should have felt like a miracle, but it was sad instead., like broken bootlaces, cracked glass, missing buttons on a blouse, everything once whole but now damaged. How could she and Daniel hope to stay together in Munich, that great cauldron of a city whose cobblestone streets were slowly turning the National Socialist colors of brown and red and black?”

Do you understand what I meant? Flawless writing style. Except the excessive use of German words which kind of bothered me initially, I have no complaints. It was a well written book. The characters were realistic (most of them were real!) and relatable.

I absolutely loved Gretchen and her personality. She’s very brave. I loved the fact that she wasn’t vivacious and loud-mouthed and exuberant, yet she was the strong female protagonist we all love reading about. She faced her fears, and trudged through the life that was slowly shattering in front of her eyes. She didn’t give up. Her character development arch was completed. From the timid girl who always listened to her elders, and thought about others before herself, she became a strong girl who stood up for herself and made difficult choices.

I also enjoyed Daniels character, though I wished we’d seen more of him in the book then there already was. He’s so likeable. He’s actually the sort of guy I would want to be with. He’s smart, and headstrong, and believes in his principles, and even stands up for them. He’s fearless, and protective, and observant and caring. I ship Gretchen and Daniel so hard.

The supporting characters were amazing too. They were realistic first of all, and their roles were significant. Their personalities weren’t dull and easily forgettable. I just really liked the fact that all the characters were important in some way or the other, especially Gretchen’s family.

About the plot, I think the story line was unique, and smart. I’d expected a dangerous Germany where Jews are being shipped off to camps to be killed, but it wasn’t like that. It was before Hitler became a ruler. All the same, it did tell us a lot about the political scenario of Germany, and about Hitler himself. The mystery was well plotted, and I loved how they found the clues in the most unlikeliest manners. I kind of knew but didn’t knew who killed her father, so it was fun. I’m just happy there’s another book after this!

I think you all should give it a try! It is a good combination of romance, mystery and history. And it’s a good teen fiction novel as well. I feel inspired!

Until next time, xoxo

After By- Anna Todd

14# Book Review– ★★★★☆ (3.5 Stars)

After

By-

Anna Todd

[Note:- I read the published version of the book. I’d tried reading the Wattpad version ages ago and I’d stopped reading it after a couple of chapters because it was very crappily written. But that’s okay, first drafts always suck.]

So I opened Goodreads, to read the review for this book. All I could spot were single stars followed by aggressive, criticizing remarks. I wasn’t planning to write a book review for this initially, but seeing that basically forced me to share my views.

Being a fellow Wattpader, seeing the published version of the book, in paperback form, in a bookstore in my city (which might I add is not even on the same continent) truly inspired me. From writing fanfictions on Wattpad to reaching bookstores across the world and scoring a movie deal—I just think we should be inspired, and not so criticizing.

Well anyway, here is my book review—

Theresa is shy, contained and proper. Her life is completely planned, always had been. Ever since she’d been a child, it was decided—she would go to WCU after finishing high school, complete her education (Majoring in English) and work as a publisher, or become a writer—whichever comes first. She has a boyfriend Noah, the only guy she’s ever really dated, and her mom is a control freak slash worrywart.

Tessa is the kind of girl who plans her week down to every hour. She is prim, proper and boring.

Hardin Scott is anything but.

With tattoos inking every inch of his skin, his tousled brown hair, mesmerizing green eyes and his big, brown boots he is the definition of trouble. He spends every weekend partying hard, fucking random girls, and living every day to the fullest. He is rude, and inconsiderate; cocky and aggressive. He has a tub load of issues—and soon Tessa finds herself immersed in them.

‘You aren’t my type, just the way I am not yours. But that’s why we are good for each other—we are so different, yet we’re the same. You told me once that I bring out the worst in you. Well, you bring out the best in me’

They both get on each other’s nerves—a lot. Tessa doesn’t appreciate his rude, and hateful behaviour. She’s never encountered anyone like him—and he scares, and mesmerizes her at the same time. Hardin despises her prissiness, and the order, and planning that guards her life. He can’t stand her presence, yet keeps finding reasons to talk (argue) to (with) her even more.

‘I am a moth to his flame, and he never hesitates to burn me.’

It’s kind of messed up.

Long story short, they fall in love. And well, let’s just say…life is never the same After [that].

‘His words unravel me. This indecent, drunken, terrible man just said he needs me, and somehow it sounds like poetry to my ears. Hardin is like a drug; each time I take the tiniest bit of him, I crave more. He consumes my thoughts and invades my dreams.’

Well, first and foremost, I don’t understand why everyone thinks it’s a rip off of ‘Fifty shades of Grey’ because trust me, it’s not. Or rather, I didn’t think it was. Not every erotica between a shy and timid girl, and a guy who is incredibly sexy, but has issues is a copy of fifty shades. In fact I think its’ writing style was much better than that of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. The female character was much less annoying, compared to Anastasia Steele. However, the male character didn’t exude sexiness like Mr. Grey—just fucked upness.

But anyway, I’m not here to compare the two erotica’s. I’m here to give a review on this one—so here goes…

For some reason that is beyond me, I couldn’t put this book down. Well I could, but around some time in the middle, I just could not. The writing style was okay—it wasn’t pretentious and annoying or anything. But it wasn’t very…I don’t know, it didn’t have that quality that pulls you to read the book on an on.

On to the characters—they were clichéd, yes. I couldn’t connect very deeply to them. But they weren’t like cardboard characters either. While in the case of Fifty Shades of Grey, Anastasia annoyed the hell out of me. In case of this book Hardin Scott annoyed me, and not the kind of anxious annoyance that keeps you on your toes oh no, the kind of annoyance that wants to make you punch him and/or flip him off. Like how many times can a person screw up?! I didn’t find Hardin Scott excessively sexy, I’m sorry. Maybe I’m not into punks, but Bad Boys just don’t do it for me. I’m more into the classy guys like our Mr. Grey. (God, why am I comparing them again?!) But then, it’s all a matter of personal preference. The supporting characters weren’t very intriguing either.

The sex scenes were written well, but you know not the kind that would especially turn you on. It didn’t get monotonous after a while though. It was still new but not very exciting.

The book kind of felt like a drag at times, as is characteristic to most of the Wattpad novels and fan fictions (including mine). All the same I think five hundred something pages was a little too excessive for it. I think I could have wrapped up the book in a maximum of three hundred pages.

However, kudos to the writer for the ending! I definitely didn’t see that coming.

Anyway, I will recommend this book to those who have a lot of time at hand (because 500+ pages!) and are patient, and can handle dramatic characters (and I don’t mean dramatic as a compliment) There is romance yes, but I don’t think it’s very relatable.

Ugly Love By Colleen Hoover

13# Book Review- ★★★★☆

Ugly Love

By-

Colleen Hoover

“Ugly love becomes you. Consumes you. Makes you hate it all. Makes you realize that all the beautiful parts aren’t even worth it. Without the beautiful, you’ll never risk feeling the ugly. So you give it all up. You give it all up. You never want love again, no matter what kind it is, because no type of love will ever be worth living through the ugly love again.”

So I just finished reading this book about half an hour ago. My pillow is still wet from all that crying that the last couple of chapters brought on. Here’s the book review.

23 year old Tate just moved in with her protective elder brother Corbin in his spacey San Francisco apartment. She’d predicted a few things, like how she would have to do most of the chores and the grocery shopping. She’d probably have to do her brother’s laundry and the cooking too (even though she sucks at it)

But she hadn’t predicted falling for Miles Mikel Archer, her brother’s insanely hot neighbor slash best friend who is a pilot just like him. The moment her eyes meet his beautiful ocean blues, she knows she’s done for.

‘”You’re a jerk, and you have serious issues, and I don’t want to be a part of them anymore.”

I’m lying. I really do want to be a part of his issues. I want to immerse myself in his issues and become his issues, but I’m supposed to be this independent,headstrong girl who doesn’t cave just because she likes a guy.’

Miles hasn’t been with a girl since six years, and isn’t planning to get with anyone anytime soon. He has made up his mind–he is never going to fall in love. Never. But when his best friend’s gorgeous younger sister enters his life he knows his heart is in danger.

“But the second she opened her eyes and looked at me, I knew. She was either going to be the death of me . . . or she was going to be the one who finally brought me back to life.”

No matter how much they resist, they know they want each other. They let their bodies do the thinking this time, and they make a deal. They’ll indulge in sex, nothing more than that. There are only two rules–Tate can never ask Miles about his past, and rule no. 2 she can sure as hell never expect a future.

No relationship, not even a thought of it. Strictly sex. You know the whole no strings attached thing? Yeah that.

Well we all know how well that works out.

“His lips against mine feel like everything. Like living and dying and being reborn, all at the same time.”

“He inhales a shaky breath while looking down at my mouth. ‘You make it so hard to breathe.”

 Tate convinces herself she can handle it. She lets him use her body even if he tosses away her heart the heart he doesn’t intend to steal but end up doing anyway. She falls for the little things he does (and his mad bedroom skills) Before long, she finds herself in an ugly position–she can’t hold on because she knows there’s no future; she can’t let go because she’s already head over heels.

 “I’m not Tate when I’m near Miles. I’m liquid, and liquid doesn’t know how to be firm or stand up for itself. Liquid flows. That’s all I want to do with Miles. Flow.”

“Every time I’m with him, he fills my heart up more and more, and the more it’s filled with pieces of him, the more painful it’ll be when he rips it out of my chest as though it never belonged there in the first place”

Will Tate survive the end of this roller coaster ride? Will Miles ever move on from his past and accept Tate in her future?

“Hearts get infiltrated. Promises get broken. Rules get shattered. Love gets ugly.”

Find out in Ugly Love.

So yeah, here’s the stuff I liked about the book–

I liked the writing style written in Tate’s point of view. I liked the incredible chemistry the two main characters shared. I loved the way the author described the sexual tention, the intensity and the glorious spark in their relationship. I liked the plot. I liked the ending. I loved the last few chapters. I loved the message this book sent out.

The stuff I didn’t like:- The book was slightly illogical. Like the fact that people kept falling in love but the author never once divulged what made the characters actually fall in love. We were just told to have a little faith in the whole ‘Love at First Site’ thing and just overlook the logic and follow the story (which I was able to do without even trying) I didn’t like the chapters written in Miles’ point of view. They were very redundant, which kind of annoyed me. There was mostly just a lot of sex which kimd of gets boring after a while (but not as boring as it gets in Fifty Shades, trust me)

I just really appreciate the book for the message it gave (won’t  give a spoiler, sorry) and the crazy emotions I felt towards the end of the book. The good part is, it’s not a very long book and is definitely worth (some of) your time.

Read it and share your views in the comment!

Until Later x

Unwind (Unwind 1#) By- Neal Shusterman

11# Book Review- ★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)

Unwind

By-

Neal Shusterman

‘In a perfect world everything would be either black or white, right or wrong, and everyone would know the difference. But this isn’t a perfect world. The problem is people who think it is.’

Decades after the second civil war, fought over the rights of reproduction and life, the ‘Bill of Life’ is passed. Stating that life of a born/unborn child cannot be voluntarily taken by the parent till the age of thirteen. After which a parent can choose to unwind his or her child before it reaches the age of eighteen.

“You see, a conflict always begins with an issue – a difference of opinion, an argument. But by the time it turns into a war, the issue doesn’t matter anymore, because now it’s about one thing and one thing only: how much each side hates the other.” 

What is unwinding, you ask? Pretty simple actually. Scientists have considerably improved in the fields of Biology and medicine. This process allows them to remove the different organs and body parts of the Unwind—that is, the teenager who is supposed to go through the process of Unwinding—and donate it to those who need it.

Who can be Unwounded? Anyone between the age of thirteen to eighteen actually. Just one order from the parent of the guardian and you’re done for. The Juvenile Police comes for you as soon as possible and takes you to the nearest ‘Harvest Camp’, a fancy name for a hospital facility for the Unwinds.

‘No one knows how it happens. No one knows how it’s done. The Harvesting of Unwinds is a secret medical ritual that stays within the walls of each harvesting clinic in the nation. In this way it is not unlike death itself, for no one knows what mysteries lie beyond those secret doors, either’

Fifteen year old Connor, an orphan Risa and thirteen year old Levi have one thing in common—they are being unwounded. Out on the run, away from their families and into the wild they go through a life changing adventure where danger becomes their frenemy and survival becomes their  aim.

‘Most people have two emergency modes. Fight and Flight. But Connor always knew he had three: Fight, Flight, and Screw Up Royally.’

This is their story and the story of countless teenagers who lose themselves every day to this horrendous scientific process.

 ‘Connor had known other kids at school who disappeared over the past couple of years. One day they just didn’t turn up. Teachers would say they were “gone” or “no longer enrolled”. Those were just code words, though. Everyone knew what they meant. The kids who knew them would talk about how terrible it was, and gripe about it for a day or two, and then it became old news. Unwinds didn’t go out with a bang—they didn’t even go out with a whimper. They went out with the silence of a candle flame pinched between two fingers.’

‘”Please…,” says the boy.

Please what? The teacher thinks. Please break the law? Please put myself and the school at risk? But no, that’s not it at all. What he’s really saying is: Please be a human being. With a life so full of rules and regiments, it’s so easy to forget that’s what they are. She knows—she sees—how often compassion takes a back seat to expediency.’

I personally enjoyed this books a lot. Dystopia is slowly becoming my favorite YA genre to read and this one was definitely an entertaining read. The story was a roller coaster ride, the characters were intriguing, and had substance—they weren’t flat cardboard characters but were realistic and maybe even relatable. The author did an amazing job of showcasing their fears and inner demons, portraying them as real and believable teenagers. It was refreshing.

The story was action packed and adventurous, my heart didn’t pound in my chest but it definitely was beating faster than normal. After a little while I couldn’t put this book down.

There were a bunch of unexpected twists and turns and it was just a really satisfying read. Definitely a book worth reading! I’m off to reading the other three books in this Dystology.

Until later x

Take Me Tomorrow By- Shannon A. Thompson

10# Book Review- ★★★☆☆

Take Me Tomorrow

By-

Shannon A. Thompson

Modern day USA just consists of a few regions and not the original 50 states, ruled by Dictator Phelps whose primary concern at the moment is the erradication of the clairvoyant drug ‘Tommo’, a halucinogen that allows whoever it consumes to see visions of the future.

With the ongoing war that is threatening the country, four teenagers’ life is put to test. They must help a criminal boy escape the borders. One of those teenagers being Sophia.

Sixteen year old Sophia Grey’s life was simple. She went to a normal school, did well in her classes and led a simple life. With her father away from home most of the time, she had Argos her pet dog and Lyn her care taker to look after her.

But everything changed that Fall.

Everything changed when Noah Tommery entered her life

Noah is on the run. The dictator wants him dead. But before he finally escapes there’s one last thing he needs to do, and he believes Sophia and her friends can help him out. He needs them to help him out. And soon Sophia finds herself in a terrible mess, illegally entering official government buildings, roaming around after the curfew in the dead of the night, dodging bullets and falling in love.

For the first time, I truly felt like we were two teenagers hanging out. Not two teenagers running from the law. For that moment, I wanted to forget. I wanted to return to a normal world and pretend that Noah’s last name didn’t mean he was involved with a practical drug lord.

“Why do you take it?” I asked, trying not to scream at him. “Why do you have to take it?”
“I don’t have to,” he said, hopping down the stairs. He was inches in front of me. “I want to. I like to,” he paused as he moved toward the door. “You wouldn’t understand.” He hesitated to open the door. “Someone like me has to take it.”
“Someone like you?” I repeated.
“Someone like me,” he continued as he opened the door. The night air rushed inside. It smelled like the oak trees after they roasted beneath the summer sun all day. They smelled like they were waiting for winter. “Someone who doesn’t know if tomorrow will come would rather live every day twice than live it once.”
“No one knows if tomorrow is coming,” I argued, but he stepped outside. He stretched his arms above his head, and his back rose as he sucked in a deep breath.“Tomorrow can take me,” he said. “I don’t need today, anyway.”

Glancing around, my eyes took a moment to adjust, and I looked at Noah lying on the couch. His arm was draped beneath him as if it was a comfortable pillow, and his lips were slightly parted as he breathed, his side lifting and falling. I held my breath, struck by the absolute stillness of his expression − calm and relaxed − one that he never wore when he was conscious. It was as if I was looking at Noah Tomery before his last name became public enemy number one. Instead of a criminal or a drug addict, I was looking at a boy − just a boy.

“You wanted to know how tomo worked.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to take it.”
His head hung back as he groaned. “I’m not giving you any,” he said, repositioning himself, but his words made it sound like he had some on him. He straightened up. “I’m going to show you” (…) “Sometimes you see it.” When he let me open my eyes, his lips were against my ear, “Sometimes you listen to it.” His tender voice traveled down my neck, and my nose brushed his shoulder. “Smell comes next.” He smelled clean and crisp, like a spring breeze as it crossed over a lake. I could see the photograph of the ocean from the Raleigh Region he had given me. It was still in my pocket. I imagined that if I knew what an ocean smelled like, it would be him. “But most of the time—” he paused, and his lips hovered over mine. “you feel it,” he whispered before he kissed me.

After reading my review on another Dystopian Novel ‘Delirium’ by Lauren Oliver, author Shannon A. Thompson contacted me and gave me a copy of her book ‘Take Me Tomorrow’ in exchange for an honest review for the book. Having finally read it, I am ready to share my views on it.

The book started at a slow pace and eventually picked momentum. The author maintained an aura of mystery, not revealing anything immediately which made it slightly difficult to understand what was really going on. As a reader, I couldn’t understand why the current events were important. The book was obviously a plot-driven novel, not a character driven one which kind of didn’t sit well with me. I always like to feel connected to the characters but in plot-driven novels, that hardly happens.

I’ll be honest, the book seemed a little boring to me in the start. One event kept happening after the other and I wasn’t able to really connect to the story. I just read through the pages, without really feeling the plot, if you know what I mean. So the story started out like a barely burning candle flame, like it will extinguish any second. Then suddenly it started burning really brightly and never dimmed. What I’m saying is, it started out slow and mellow then suddenly it picked up pace and I couldn’t put the book down. I liked the action in the second half of the book, which was fat-paced and exciting unlike the first half. So yeah, you readers out there? You need to be a little patient.

Coming down to the characters. I admired them–all of them. They were brave and young and determined. I liked that. Escpecially Sophia, she does not like to take a backseat when it comes to action. She’s got this spark. I liked that. I liked the mysterious aura that surrounded Noah. He intrigued me. I liked how he was so in-control and so messed up at the same time. I even liked the supporting characters. But I couldn’t really connect to any of them. I couldn’t feel their emotions or understand them as much as I’d wanted to. That’s basically because the story didn’t really focus on those aspects.

I also couldn’t really get a feel of the dystopian world. It didn’t seem like a dystopian world. Mainly because, enough words and pages weren’t devoted to explaining the big picture. I think the author could have focused a little more on explaining what’s the current situation. Like I got the basic overview, but I didn’t really feel it. I didn’t really understand how dire the state of the country is or what’s the current state of war etc. Phelps, the big bad dictator didn’t leave an impact on me. I didn’t get enough background information about the Dystopian world. It’s like how we feel when we sometimes read some news. We read it, we store it our mind, we even understand it but we don’t understand how dire the circumstances are. We don’t connect with it. That’s how it was when I read the few pieces of information given in the story.

I liked the whole young-teenagers-doing-illegal-dangerous-stuff-and-playing-a-small-role-in-the-big-picture thing going on. It seemed believable. It would be kind of unbelievable if the fate of the whole country depended on one person. So I liked the fact that this wasn’t the case.

All in all, I liked the book. I enjoyed the second half of it and it was a nice read. I wouldn’t say entertaining or exhilarating. But it was nice. I do hope there is a sequel.

Until Later x

Black Ice By- Becca FitzPatrick

7# Book Review- ★★★★☆

Black Ice

By-

Becca FitzPatrick

What do you think about a back-packing trip across a mountain range in Wyoming along with your best friend for Spring Break? Sounds fun? Well how about getting stranded in the blizzard and being abducted by two criminals? Not so much fun anymore, is it? And the last thing you want is Stockholm Syndrome to make an appearance.

“If I had known things would turn out this way, I would have trained harder. I would have learned to take care of myself. But I guess that’s the point, isn’t it? You never know what you’re going to have to face, so you’d better be prepared.”

“What about-you?” I kept my voice carefully indifferent.
He flashed me a cold smile, sharp at the edges. “Worried about me?” Because I couldn’t think of anything snide to say, I stuck my tongue out at him.
Jude wagged his head. “More tongue exercises? Would have thought you’d had enough last night.”
“Go to hell.”
“Sorry, love, but we’re already there.” 

“Because those four days in the mountains, they changed us. I gave you a piece of me. And you must have given me a piece of yourself, too, because you wouldn’t have come here otherwise. You would have let go. I can’t let go of you, Britt. And I don’t want you to let go of me.” 

“I like having you around, Britt. That’s the truth. I’m not leaving you. Even if you were a pain in the butt, I’d stay with you. It’s the right thing to do. But it turns out I find you likable and interesting, and while I’m not glad you have to go through this, I’m glad we have each other.” 

Britt Pheiffer was ready to take on the Teton Mountain ranges. She’s been training herself for this for the whole year. She’d read numerous guidebooks and trained hard. Nothing could derail her from her path.

Or so she thought.

When she finds out her ex-boyfriend aka her sister’s older brother is accompanying them on the trip, she feels frustrated yet determined. She has to show him what a dumb decision he’d made by dumping her. What’s more, she’s gonna make him wish they’d never broken up. Any impromptu make-out sessions are most welcome to make an appearance.

Except nothing of that sort happens.

They never make it to their destination. Britt and her irritating best friend Korbie get stranded in the mountains midway and are forced to seek shelter from two men. (Stupid! Stupid!) Turns out, they both are criminals on the run and abduct Britt, thinking she’ll help them cross the mountains in time.

It’s hard pretending she knows what she’s doing. She will have to guide those men across the mountains or risk getting killed. Survival is the key. The blizzard doesn’t make it any easier. It doesn’t help that she starts hosting romantic feelings for her abductor.

What to do? Who to trust? How to survive?

I found this story incredibly satisfying. Initially, the characters had gotten on my nerves—they were naïve, and annoying. But as the story progressed, the main character at least, improved and finished her character arch. (I guess that was the whole point of the story) I liked how the story got me anxious and all riled up.

It was a pretty good blend of action, thrill, suspense and romance. I’d initially loathed the main character and her best friend but soon I was able to empathize with her, and was even rooting for her. What I seriously loved about the book was the character growth. Step by step the main character grew, from making bad choices she eventually made smart ones. From depending on the men in her life to protect her (I know, so spoilt!) she takes the lead and becomes independent and perseveres. I loved her determination. She showed substance.

I can’t say my experience with the other characters was as pleasant. First of all, her so called best friend was a complete pain in the butt and extremely stupid. Also, she wasn’t fit to be termed Britt’s best friend as you will see. And what confused me was why it was such a hard concept for Britt to grasp. The main male lead was hot and intense. The antagonist was effed up, to put it simply. The story was slightly far-fetched, but it’s allowed to be. Because hello, it’s a book!

All in all, it was a really entertaining read. So if you want to be mildly entertained for a couple of hours and don’t have anything else to do, grab this book, settle down on the couch and begin this crazy ride that’s gonna leave you slightly breathless (try to ignore the dumbness of the characters in the beginning)

Until next time xx

Numbers By- Rachel Ward

4# Book Review ★★★★★

Numbers

By-

Rachel Ward

Do you want to read something that will blow your mind? Something that will get your heart racing, ready to kick it out of your rib-cage? Do you want to feel those butterflies in your belly due to the all the action and suspense? Then you’ve stumbled upon the right book!

Jem has a gift–more like a curse actually. If she was a living person and you met her, she wouldn’t look you in the eye; not because she’s ashamed to or anything. It’s because she doesn’t want to. Whenever she looks in someone’s eyes she sees an eight digit number–a date actually. What is that date? She finds out when her mother dies on the same date she would see everyday when she looked in her eyes. She can see the date a person will die on–she doesn’t know how that person will die but she knows that person will. Those numbers never lie.

So one day, she’s hanging out with this new boy she’s met. They’re ready to get onto the London Eye except something stops her. Everywhere Jem looks, she sees the same number in everyone’s eye–the same date–today’s date. Everyone around her is going to die today for some unknown reason. She has no idea why. So what does she do? She gets the hell outta there with her guy friend Spider (yes, that’s his name) And her life changes forever.

“He loved me and I loved him, but the number in my head was telling me that he was going to die today. And the numbers had never been wrong.”

“You get use to someone—start to like them, even—and they leave. In the end, everyone leaves.”

“And just when I thought things were starting to get better, everything had gone wrong again.”

“We all know we’re one day closer to the end when we wake up in the morning. We just kid ourselves that it’s not happening.”

The description behind the book had gotten me excited, so for the first few chapters, I kept waiting for something dramatic to happened–it didn’t. You have to be a little patient. The characters in this book are not the typical teen characters. They’re messed up, broken kids. They have a very depressing outlook of the world. So you might have to get used to that at first.

But soon after, the action begins–and it never stops. It’s so thrilling, so amazing. So many plot twists, so much action. The plot is perfect and unpredictable. The book got me hooked and I couldn’t put it down. It was a race against time.

All of you guys who want something to thrill you, to blow your mind should read this. It’s not a romantic book. There is love, but no romance so if you’re looking for something mushy, please abandon this book immediately–it’s not for you. However, if you want something to give you goosebumps and those butterflies I mentioned earlier, head to the nearest bookstore and grab a copy.

Note:- This is the first part of a trilogy, however it’s sequel and the book that follows after that does not have the same characters. I’ve read the second book and it was amazing too. You won’t regret reading this series, trust me.