Partials by Dan Wells

Partials by Dan Wells

Publisher: Balzer + Bray    
Publication date: March 1st 2012
My rating: 4 stars

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what’s left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Before I start reviewing this book I need to point something out. This book came out more than a year ago and that's how long it's been sitting on my shelf collecting dust. I could kick myself for not picking it up sooner but I guess, back then, I wasn't into sci-fi dystopian novels. Even today I'm sceptic cause I find most of them boring. 

That's not the case with Partials. It blew me away. The beginning was rather slow but once you figure out who's who  and their whole world starts making sense it's captivating. 

Kira is living on Long Island with other remaining survivors after the war with Partials and deadly virus RM which wiped out 99.996% world population. Newborns die couple of hours after their birth because their immune system can't fight RM. Kira is tired of watching babies die(she works as a medic) and after her friend ends up pregnant she is determined to find the cure for RM. They decide to capture one of the Partials to run some tests on him. 

Kira is one of the strongest heroines I've come across but she can be so infuriating. She's dead set on doing the right thing even if that thing would get her hurt or even killed. She doesn't see any gray areas. Her world is all black and white and it was pretty annoying hearing her judge everyone. Don't get me wrong, she's great but she was a little bit too good for my taste. I need to see some flaws in my main characters. 

I couldn't get this out of my head and if some of you reading this already read Partials, please help me out get this one thing which didn't make any sense. Why did people create partials? I know there was a mention of a war and humans didn't wanted to kill each others so they created partials, terminators who look like regular people to fight instead of them. Who were they fighting against? Which nation? After that war partials turned against their creators because they were treated as slaves. I can understand why they rebelled and fought back to earn their freedom but it puzzles me why were they even created. And one more thing wouldn't be cheaper to create a partial with the same face and clone him, or whatever they did rather than creating other races and sexes? That's what I would do, to save up. I'm not racist or sexist. 

There were some interesting characters, Marcus, Kira's boyfriend who's always up for a laugh, Samm, a partial who ends up helping Kira to find the cure and the loyal and fierce soldier, Jayden. Now I'm just gonna say something which is very typical of me. I had a crush on Jayden. There. I said it. I can't control my feelings towards fictional characters. I'm not crazy for lusting over a guy in almost every book I read, right?

Now that I've read Partials I want to bash my head on my desk because I don't have the sequel and I'm broke so who knows when I'm going to find out what happens next with Kira and the gang. This is why I don't read the first book in a series if I don't already have the sequel. It's pure torture. 

Joint Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Publisher: Simon Pulse    
Publication date: May 21st 2013
My rating: 5 stars

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Love, love, love this book! It was unputdownable from the first page, up to the last. Sarah Ockler is one of those YA contemporary authors who actually writes books with normal characters mostly dealing with ordinary family problems. They are just like us and that's the reason it's so easy for me to relate to one or two of them. 

You can tell a lot about an author from the way they shape their characters. They can be determined, perky, sarcastic, brave, loyal, witty, modest, independent and so on. I think that some of the authors share pieces of themselves in their novels so even if I started reading a book without the cover I would know who wrote it. And that is what it's all about! Readers recognizing your writing style and setting your work apart from the rest. 

I think I need to point out that this blurb is not entirely correct. First of, the romance part of the book is talking up around %30 of the book while the part where Jude helps her father who's suffering from Alzheimer's, takes the rest 70%. Not that I didn't mind. The love interest, Emilio is in the story right from the start but catching his eye wasn't the priority back then. 

So, this is a story about Jude, a high-school graduate who's spending her last summer as a kid looking after her dad, who's recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She's trying to cheer him up by restoring his old bike so they hire a mechanic to fix it. Complications start after Jude realizes the guy fixing Valentina (the bike's name) is non other than one of the infamous Vargas brothers. Vargas Bros. broke hearts of her two older sisters so Jude is trying to push Emilio away only this time, Emilio is apparently so not like the rest of Vargas pack. He makes Jude question her loyalty to her family and but it takes more than a guy with dimples to get under her skin. She did try to stay away from him but their connection was just evident. 

This book was brilliant. This is my favorite Ockler book, so far. If you're looking for a book with normal teenage character without too much drama, to brighten up your day I suggest you pick The Book of Broken Hearts up! Now! 

What a brilliant last chapter. It made me cry. So touching. It was almost as if I was there with them. I can't wait to read Ockler's next book. Why does it need to come out next year? Ugh! S&S peeps need to give this lady a better contract, where she will be a slave, writing books all day long so we can enjoy every few month and not have to wait a whole year for another taste. Am I right? 

I’ve always been a Papa’s girl. And as far as I can remember, things have always been that way. That being said, if it has to be someone as my confidante for awkward conversations in the world of ladydom and awkward conversations OR conversations in general, then it’s my mother all the way. But there is this peculiar and I’m obviously cheesy when it comes to emotional and sentimental values, so yes, ‘magical’ bond between a father and a daughter. It’s in ordinary moments of ‘my dad taught me how to ride a bike..or my dad scared the shit out of my boyfriend...or my dad got me flowers because I did well..or my dad gave me tea when I was sick..’ etc. It’s also in those unforgettable moments when you’re leaving home to go away and beside your mother, your dad looks at you with that ‘my-little-birdy-is-flying-away-now’ look or when he gives you away at your wedding. So in general, dad’s rock. And after reading this book, I really missed my father. And I started to remember little things that included just my father and me.

Sarah Ockler never disappoints me. In fact, things just seem to get better and better. The Book Of Broken Hearts, is a great story about love and self-realisation. It’s your typical story of a protagonist thrown in a maze full of surprises.

See, when you’re in a maze, the first thing you try do is find a way out. You’re no psychic so you’re going to come across many dead ends. And if it’s a really fun maze then there are those dreaded obstacles and also those amazing rewards. The thing about a maze, is that you never give up and you just try and try and try to get out. So in a similar context. A maze is what is seventeen year old Jude Hernandez’s life. It’s summer, at the end of which , Jude will be heading towards her chosen college and will settle into a new life. But for now it’s summer and she has a bike that needs to be restored , a cute mechanic to handle, three sisters to juggle , friends to maintain communication with, mother to help, a lot of self confidence to build and a dad with Alzheimer’s to spend time with. Think she can get through this surprisingly tender maze? Yes please.

The Book Of Broken Heart, surprised me in many ways. The pace and writing style flows in amazingly and the narrator is fun to read about and see things through. It’s hilarious where it needs to be and sad wherever required.  The characters are great and the secondary characters contribute in perfect measures. It’s a bundle of technical niceness.

Jude’s character is one of my favourite characters in the contemporary genre. I felt for her. I understood her dilemma and it was understandable to see why and how she took certain decisions. The love interest, Emilio Vargas, the guy whose family she was warned about since the age of twelve, added nicely to the mix. I like how their relationship played out. It was nice and sweet and not too dramatic with a healthy flow of banter and intensity here and there. Then there were Jude’s enigmatic sisters, Mariposa, Lourdes and Araceli who with their sisterly awesomeness added to the Sarah Ockler paradise. There was Jude’s mother. And then there was Papi, Jude’s father. Who in my opinion, was my favourite person in the whole book because he reminded me of my father in so many ways.

I’ll tell you now, what I loved the best about the whole book. The relationships. And by that ,not only am I pointing finger towards the fantastic portrayal of father-daughter love or first love in terms of I-wish-to-use-your-body-like-a-jungle-gym (The OC reference never fails to disappoint me.) , but also the case where your friends come into place. People come and go. But it is only the ones stay in times of need, are the ones who count. Things change everyday. People drift apart not by their differences but simply because they changed. And then there are some who just simply stay and no change or difference, could ever tear them away. This is something that happens everyday in life and it’s amazing how Ms. Ockler has managed to inculcate this tiny everyday thought in her book too.

I will not lie. There were emotional moments and it is because of THIS. This thing I don’t know which manages to make me emotional and miss my dad and just invoke those poignant thoughts in general, makes me love this book even more.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Publisher: Penguin    
Publication date: May 7th 2013
My rating: 2.5/3 stars

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

*slightly spoilerish review* 

Even though it's doesn't take much effort for me to write negative reviews because it's easier for me to express those not so good things about a certain book. Believe me, I didn't wanted it to happen with The 5th Wave since I bought it and I've been hearing such great things about it for months. 

There was this huge hype even before it got out and it drove me crazy when someone posted a 5 star review. I eventually got the book but I was reading the first 50 pages for two days. It was nothing but empty pages. Nothing was happening. Only pages and pages of info dumping. I usually prefer getting info dumped here and there, not right from the start and all through the whole 460 pages long novel. It didn't work well for me. I couldn't ignore it.  Or maybe I was just so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open. Or maybe those twitter chats were more interesting. Maybe it all of those things put together. 

One of my GR friends told me to keep reading because it gets better and surprise! It did. It was so good I started comparing it with Angelfall. At certain points of the novel I liked it more than The Hunger Games. Mayfly was this awesome post-apocalyptic warrior with a soft heart.  There was this crazy killer called The Silencer, Zombie was giving me these tingly feelings and  Nugget was just precious. Everything was super-duper. *insert intense music* DUM DUM DUM  then the dreaded romance started. Oh, Mr. Yancey! I usually enjoy reading romantic scene but you, Mr. Yancey, failed me this time. You gave me a girl who talks more about those deep brown eyes and his chocolate breath; the guy who creeps around the girl, reads her diary and hides the truth. Thank you, dear author. Thank you. 

Everything went downhill from there. I kept reading it and hoping things will turn around and be great again but it never happened. Out of all characters I found Zombie's POV most interesting. Everything else just didn't capture my attention. I kept glancing when his part is coming next. Other parts were, dare I say, boring? At least they were up until the very end when shit got done.

The reason I gave it 3 stars and didn't go any lower is because of awesomeness which is Mayfly (At least before she met The Silencer), Zombie's change from a coward to a hero, Nugget being such a brave little soldier and Ringer giving me Allyson (from The Immortal Rules) feels. In the end, I think I will buy the sequel. I need to find out what the 6th Wave is! Right now! 

Top Ten Tuesday #18

Top Ten Books I HAVE to read in the next two months 

I have a lot of books sitting on my shelves and I never read them so I decided to have a short list of the top ten books I just have to/ need to read in both, June and July. 

1. Partials by Dan Wells - I think I put this one up on my Spring top ten list and failed to read it before. I suck. I really do. 
2. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - I said to my friend Lynn to remind me every once and awhile to read this and Days of Blood and Starlight and she did. Bless her sweet heart. :* Lynn, there you have it! I will read them both soon. Very soon. I promise. 
3. Blood/Fae/Dream/Shadowfever and Iced by Karen Marie Moning - I read Darkfever a couple of days ago and I'm sure these will be on the top of my TBR pile. Barrons is yummy. 
4. The Faults In Our Stars by John Green - This was also on my Spring top ten list and I failed, again. This time I have to succeed and read Paper Towns and An Abundance...along with The Faults In Our Stars. 
5. Black Heart by Holly Black - I'm pretty sure this will be the first book from the list which will get read. I adored White Cat and Red Glove was so heartbreaking. Can't wait to see what Holly has in store for Cassell. 

1. Sever by Lauren DeStefano - The only book in trilogy I still haven't read. Will get to it soon. 
2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - This is the only book on the list I don't own already. The reason I didn't order it is that I hate the design on paperback editions and I can't afford a hardcopy. Look at that sweet cover. I read Rowell's Attachments last year and it was such a sweet and touching book. I'm sure this one is too. 
3. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - I accidentally read the spoiler on the inside of the jacket flap and I was so upset I didn't wanted to read the book after that. I still don't but at the same time I think I'm missing out on this epic conclusion. 
4. Prodigy by Marie Lu - *sigh* I didn't enjoy Legend as much as I hoped I would. It was one of those dystopian books, Nothing earth-shattering. I won this paperback and I need to read it cause people have been saying it's so much better than Legend. 
5. Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers - I'm pre-ordering Dark Triumph in paperback next week so I need to get started on the Grave Mercy. 

OMG NEWS!

This is the best news ever! I was freaking out when I saw the casting. Last night we finally have the rest of the Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters.
Dominic Sherwood is going to be Christian Ozera. My baby! I love him more than Adrian. I'm so happy with the actor they chose.  Sarah Hyland from Modern Family got the part of Natalie. Queen Tatiana is the ageless beauty, Joely Richardson and Gabriel Byrne is the 'noble' Victor. 

Another news is that Eddie won't appear till Frostbite. It sucks but they know their stuff. 

Here's a little picture Morgan (Mason) posted on his twitter account and his tweet. 

"@CameronMonaghan: When your train breaks down in the Tube, @zoeydeutch isn't bad company to have."

They seem like they're having fun and out Zoey is in top shape. Her hair is a little darker. It's happening people! It's almost time! Just a few days and they start filming. 

Stacking the Shelves

I got a bunch of books this week. And I already read one of them and I'm reading the second.  

I bought used copies of Fever series (still need to order Shadowfever) and Black Heart on Better World Books. If you don't want to spend over $20 for new hardcovers you can find a lot of used books in great conditions on their site, for $8. I just need to say one another thing. Darkfever and Bloodfever were brand new. Never opened so if you the book you're interested is listed under 'used like new' you're probably getting a brand new book.

The 5th Wave is from TBD and Blood Red Road from Fishpond. I'm currently reading The 5th Wave and it's really good even though it had a shaky start. I'm glad I finally bought Blood Red Road since I pre-ordered Rebel Heart last year, before I even got the first book. 

 

I only got this two books from NG. I'm over my head with egalleys. I don't even know when I'm going to read them since my tablet stopped opening files. I just hate reading on my laptop. Maybe it's a good thing. My TBR shelf is getting smaller every week, though I still have so many unread books sitting around, collecting dust. 

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Publisher: Knopf    
Publication date: September 28th 2004
My rating: 5 stars

Francesca used to think her biggest problem was transferring to St. Sebastian's--a school only recently turned coed: "What a dream come true, right? Seven hundred and fifty boys and thirty girls? But the reality is that it's either like living in a fish bowl or like you don't exist."
But now there's this matter of her usually vibrant and annoyingly optimistic mother Mia refusing to get up in the morning. Her taciturn father doesn't have much to say on the subject, her beloved little brother Luca is anxiously looking to her for answers, and her so-called friends from her old neighborhood seem to have abandoned her. So, Francesca keeps it all inside--her frustration with school (there aren't enough girl's bathrooms and no girl's sports teams); her fear making new friends (with the few girls who do go to St. Sebastian's); and her overwhelming hatred of the smug Will Trombal, who despite being completely infuriating, is also incredibly cute. Keeping this to herself when all she wants to do is spill it to her mother is killing Francesca, but with Mia trying to make herself well again, Francesca will have to figure out how to save herself.

Actually, there's no other way to rate this book other than giving it 5 shinning stars. And just like Jellicoe Road I'm speechless. What to say about Marchetta which hasn't already been said? If you still haven't read at least one of her books I just can't take you as a serious reader. Her books are always on people's favorite shelves. If you in fact didn't like her books then we can't be friends anymore. I'm just joking but I'm afraid you'll lose my respect. Now, I'm serious this time. 

Francesca's mum is suffering from depression and Frankie doesn't know how to coordinate the new all boys school she's attending and the quiet life at home. She's also struggling to find herself. She had to pretend around her old friends and she was always judged for being loud and a show-off. Now that's she's in this new school where there are just thirty girls she can't express herself so she mostly keeps her mouth shut. But she slowly discovers there are people who see her for who she really is and sooner or later she'll have to open up and let them in.  

Marchetta books always have great characters. I'm not only talking about the main characters but also those really small ones. In Saving Francesca there were jewels like Thomas Mackee, Jimmy Hailer, Tara Finke and Will Trombal. *ahem* Most of them are guys but they were the ones who shined and captured my attention. Most of the people like Tom or Will but I have a soft spot for Jimmy. He start of as a bully but he's also the sort of guy who'll follow you home and eat dinner at your place. He's just so weird and funny but I like this sort of people in books and in real life. Tom was also fun with his burps, kissing noises and farts. I have the second book, The Piper's Son so I'll read it soon and find out more about Tom. He was a very secretive person in Francesca's story. 

There was this one scene where Tom calls girls Bitch Spice, Butch Spice, Slut Spice, and Stupid Spice and they spend the next 2 pages trying to figure out which one is which. It's such an ordinary thing people do when they're hanging out it was just like I was there with them.  

Marchetta pulled me into her world right after the first page and makes me tear up in the end. She bring out happy tears from my cold heart I can't help but love her for it. She truly is a contemporary Queen. No one can compare to her work. 

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray    
Publication date: January 24th 2012
My rating: 4 stars

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned--to her old life, her family, her boyfriend--before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

Don't know what it is but I feel like I give higher ratings to books I own in print. I'm actually positive. It must be because of that wonderful book smell and page flipping. 

So. How to start this thing? You know those love triangle books have two different guys fighting over a girl? And you always pick a side. You either go for the bad boy or the boy next door. Well, this time I can't make up my mind. On one hand there's Jack. Nikki's boyfriend who's always been there for her and treater her right. Basically, he's a really nice guy. I should be on Team Jack but I'm still not sure. Then there's Cole. He's an Everliving. He's an immortal/Hades/supernatural being or whatever and he wants Nikki to stay with him forever in Everneath. He's also in a band called Dead Elvises which means he's very popular with the ladies but he only has eyes for Nikki. This should pull me in from the start but there's this thing where Cole doesn't actually feel anything. He just steals other people's emotions. He doesn't have his own so I'm not completely on board of Cole x Nikki ship. There's still time for improvement in the sequel which we'll probably see Cole's some human side. Hope I'm not wrong about this. 

Huh. I do love to ramble about love triangles. 

I did start reading this book last year but abandoned it after the first ten pages for some reason. I think I was tired of the hyped YA books back then. However, I did like it this time. In fact, it was unputdownable. Mum was bugging me to help her with some things and I said I have just a few pages left when there were actually 120 pages left. Now she's mad at me but I'll make it up to her somehow. I didn't mind hearing her yell. It was worth it. :) Can't wait to find out what happens next. Now I just need to order Everbound. 

Top Ten Tuesday #17

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

1. If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin - One of this year's biggest surprised. This story is heartbreaking. I recommend it to anyone. Seriously people! This needs to be read. 
2. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma - Ahh. Forbidden. This book is a killer. 
3. The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis - This is even a bigger shocker than Forbidden. I feel like this destroyed a piece of my soul after I was done. 
4. Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick - I read it late last year and I still can't get it out of my mind. 
5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - Gah! I'm still mad it ended that way. I won't spoil it for anyone who's interested but it's a must read. 

1. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver - I borrowed this book from my cousin last year and I couldn't believe my eyes. 
2. Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts - The only erotica book on this list. There are erotic books and there is Captive in the Dark. It's the darkest erotic book I've ever read. 
3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - One of the first YA books I've read and I still love it after all this time. 
4. Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman - It's sad that not a lot of people read this amazingly depressing book. I assure you, it will bring you down for sure. I was a mess after reading it for days. 
5. Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara - Wow! People! This book is truly beautiful. It's hard for me to find the words to describe it. 

I didn't reveal much about this list because I didn't wanted to spoil it for those who haven't read it but some of the issues they're dealing are: suicide, murder, kidnapping, rape, massacre, teacher- student relationship, euthanasia. 

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Muller

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Muller

Publisher: Entangled Teen   
Publication date: May 7th 2013

My rating: 4.5 stars

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.
Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

I love this book so  much. After reading a bunch of depressing books it was time to read something uplifting and The Summer I Became a Nerd was a perfect escape. It was funny. It was cute. I had a great leading character, interesting dialogs, a hot nerdy guy and entertaining sidekick. 

Maddie is a popular cheerleader dating a quarterback who secretly LOVES to read comics and when she accidentally meets her secret crush in a comic store things get more complicated. She's trying to have fun and hang around her new crush, Logan but she doesn't want her friends to find about it because that would be a social suicide. Sooner or later every secret will be exposed but will she lose Logan in the process? 

I really can't say anything bad about this book. It was perfect. Muller made me fall in love with Logan and I also liked Maddie, which is strange for me since most of the leading ladies in YA fiction are a bunch of airheads. Sure, Maddie had some issues about showing people who she really is but who doesn't?

I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a perfect summer book with a sweet romance and a lot of humor. Guys, you don't want to miss this. 

Bout of Books Read-a-thon 7.0. Sign Up & Goals

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

This is my first Read-a-thon since I don't really have the time for the one that lasts 24h. I always wanted to try it but I just can't sit around all day and read. Some of us have work to do. :) Not judging. Believe me,if I could I would be that person sitting and reading.

I may pick some other book which is not on this picture but I would really like to stick with these selected ones since I've had some of them for ages and they need to be read. There are nine books on my list and I plan to read four. One of them has to be over 400 or around 380 pages. I'm looking at you, Sever!

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning | The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta (I have the signed Slovenian edition) | Sever by Lauren DeStefano | Everneath by Brodi Ashton | Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta | Grave Mercy by R.L LaFevers |  Partials by Dan Wells | Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills | Prodigy by Marie Lu 

These books have 3222 pages altogether. *whistles* That is a lot! 

Wish me good luck! :) 

Updates

Monday,  May 13:
Books Read: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta and Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Pages Read: 613

Total Books Read: 2 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 613 out of 3222
Comments: I started reading late last night so I was able to finish two books from my pile. I even started on the third book, Darkfever but eventually fell asleep after 130 pages. I think I did good for my first day and I will probably read slower in the next couple of days. 

Tuesday, May 14
Books Read: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Pages Read: 309

Total Books Read: 3 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 922 out of 3222
Comments: I didn't have much time yesterday and I was so tired but I kept on reading and finished Darkfever. When I finally found the time to read my cat made a 'mess' on the couch so I had to clean that up. My Tiger stinks. I also got two new books, The 5th Wave and Blood Red Road so I'll probably read them instead of one or two books on my pile. I'm not sure yet. 

Wednesday, May 15
Books Read: none today
Pages Read: 49

Total Books Read: 3 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 971 out of 3222
Comments: I started reading The 5th Wave but I just didn't have the time to properly sit and read. Had to do a lot of chores around the house.

Thursday, May 16
Books Read: none today 
Pages Read: 11 

Total Books Read: 3 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 982 out of 3222
Comments: Well, this is embarrassing. I only read 11 pages before I fell asleep on my sofa. But I guess, I'm doing great. I wanted to read 4 books this week and I already read 3. I shouldn't be worried, right?

Friday, May 17
Books Read: still reading The 5th Wave
Pages Read: 180

Total Books Read: 3 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 1162 out of 3222
Comments:  I did good today! I'm so glad I got past the first 100 pages of The 5th Wave. I'll try and finish it today but I'm not sure I'll have time. My dad got back from hospital today so I'll probably spend my day with him. My copy of Black Heart also arrived so I can't wait to finally find out what happens with Cassel and Lila. 

Saturday, May 18
Books Read: The 5th Wave by Rick Jancey
Pages Read: 220 

Total Books Read: 4 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 1382 out of 3222
Comments: I finally finished The 5th Wave! I was so relieved. Didn't think I could pull it off. After that I didn't read anything else. Made a short break but I'll start something tomorrow, which I won't finish by Monday, but it doesn't matter. 

Sunday, May 19
Books Read: none today
Pages Read: 214

Total Books Read: 4 out of 9
Total Pages Read: 1596
Comments: Today I started reading Blood Red Road by Moira Young. Read 214 pages. Since I didn't have time I 'read' the first 150 pages listening to the audiobook and later, when I was done with the work, picked up my paperback. 

Challenge Completed? I totally forgot about the challenges. Remembered on Friday and it just didn't seem like it was worth it. I wanted to do them every day. 

All in all, I'm very pleased with the number of books and pages I read. Can't wait to participate in another read-a-thon. :) 

Whole Week

Total Book Count: 4,5 out of 9

Total Page Count:  1596 out of 3222

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (my review)

Everneath by Brodi Ashton (my review) 

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

The 5th Wave by Rick Jancey

Reviews for Darkfever and The 5th Wave are coming soon.