Book Review: Bad Rep (A. Meredith Walters)

"Who gives a damn about their reputation? Oh, that would be me! Especially since mine had gone straight to hell in the span of thirty minutes".

Maysie Ardin is soaking up the summer before her junior year of college, shopping, hanging by the pool and shopping some more. But when her black belt in spending lands her in trouble with her parents, she is forced to take a second job at a local bar to dig herself out of a deep financial pit.

She thought she’d be miserable. But then Maysie didn’t count on Jordan Levitt, the hot, pierced and tattooed, drum playing bartender who also happens to be very interested in her. And the feelings are totally mutual.

It had the makings of the perfect romantic set up. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy has girlfriend? Okay, maybe not.

But attraction is a hard thing to ignore and soon Jordan and Maysie find themselves in the middle of a gossip induced firestorm. Maysie has to learn whether she can set aside her fear of public disapproval in order to be with the one she wants. Or will she let the opinions of others dictate her life and her heart?

As an avid reader of Romance and Young Adult, I wasn't quite sure which genre Bad Rep was supposed to belong to. On the one hand, the setting and characters are all college-based, so it would fit well with YA; on the other, it was too adult in some parts to be acceptably YA. Turns out that in the last couple of years when I was exclusively reading romances, a new genre has cropped up: New Adult. And New Adult is apparently what this novel is really about.

I am not impressed. Maybe I'm just too conventional, but I can't seem to reconcile both genres as well as others have. Funny enough I'm probably too old to relate to YA and since I'm a voracious romance reader who have just graduated from university, I should have been the quintessential New Adult lover, but no. I found it awkward and aloof - but maybe it's just this book, but what the heck, I'm also not impressed with the book itself.

First off, characters. Maysie is shallow, spineless, and insecure and totally contradictory. It frustrated me especially during the scenes where the whole campus practically bullies her - I don't begrudge her self-pity, but just when I thought she was going to grow a backbone and actually stand up for herself, she takes one step forward and two steps back. Urgh I wanted to rip my hair off! Why? WHYY? She switches from I'm-going-to-show-these-poeple-I'm-better-than-them to Oh-my-God-my-life-is-in-tatters-kill-me-now mentality. It's like yelling at someone who kicks you when you're down and then halfway through, backing away and apologising. What the hell? She misses every and all chance to clear her reputation until the very end of the book and by then I couldn't have cared less. I cannot understand her, cannot relate to her and cannot read her. The characterisation felt somewhat lacking, so despite the book being told exclusively in her point of view, she just doesn't leap off the page to me. Moreover, her dependance on Jordan is overemphasised and this has really cemented her weakness in my eyes. It could be that because we're all complex beings, our personalities are difficult to map out and the author is perhaps trying to pen that reflect that in Maysie's  inner thoughts - but I'm not really sure I can admire anyone so convoluted as our heroine. 

Now Jordan. I know, I know, everyone says he's hot; I get that he is physically attractive and okay, okay those darn piercings keep every.single.girl.around.him (totally realistic) in lust, he just wasn't drool-worthy enough for me (the standard, btw, is Bones from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress Series). However, I must admit that Jordan is an all-around good guy (apart from the cheating part, which was terrible of him). He is kind, a true gentleman not only to Maysie but to the rest of the ladies around him. Despite their beginnings he is completely devoted to our heroine - sweet, romantic… an all-around good guy. Obviously readers view him through Maysie, which is tinted with infatuation, but his faults are portrayed clearly, establishing a balance in his characterisation. I probably liked the supporting characters best, Riley especially. I thought she came across more consistently and more rounded than our hero and heroine combined. Any chance of a Riley book, perhaps?

Infidelity is a central theme in this book and here we get to see the view point of the 'other woman'. Credits to the author for handling it really well in that the readers get to judge the act but not the person. Both our characters acted true to self and there was no brushing over of the repercussions of infidelity to all parties here. We see the regret, the remorse, the anger; the aftermath and the closure. It would have been easy to portray Olivia (Jordan's ex girlfriend) as someone who deserves to be cheated on, but A. Meredith Walters respected her characters enough that while was necessary to show why Jordan fell out of love for Olivia, she was not cast as a complete and utter villain. 

Can't say I wish I didn't read the book, but I probably won't revisit it again.

Two Stars

Book Review: Siren (Tricia Raybun)

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything--the dark, heights, the ocean--but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge.  That is until Justine goes cliff diving one night near the family's vacation house in Winter Harbor, Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day. 

Vanessa's parents want to work through the tragedy by returning to their everyday lives back in Boston, but Vanessa can't help feeling that her sister's death was more than an accident.  After discovering that Justine never applied to colleges, and that she was secretly in a relationship with longtime family friend Caleb Carmichael, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor to seek some answers.

But when Vanessa learns that Caleb has been missing since Justine's death, she and Caleb's older brother, Simon, join forces to try to find him, and in the process, their childhood friendship blossoms into something more.  

Soon it's not just Vanessa who is afraid.  All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes home to a string of fatal, water-related accidents . . . in which all the victims are found grinning from ear to ear.  

As Vanessa and Simon probe further into the connections between Justine's death and the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance, and that will change her life forever.

When I first read the blurb of the Siren, I didn't expect to like it at all. Don't get me wrong, I find the subject of Sirens in Greek Mythology incredibly fascinating. So I though I should give it a go. Nothing wrong in trying right? It ended up not too bad at all. And although I can't exactly say I love it - because there are some moments that I would rather rip the book in half - it wasn't at all a bad read.

The beginning of the book actually drew me in and her fear of multiple things really helped me notice the change in Vanessa, the protagonist, throughout the book, which I found necessary in order to find her sister and Tricia Rayburn did exceptionally well in finding a moment that determined that change by placing Simon in the mix. I love love love the contrast of personality between the two sisters which was incredibly vital to help establish why what happened to Justine happened. The close bonding Vanessa and Justine really played a massive part in why Vanessa decided to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her sister and not jut leave it all behind and move on - a very heroic action, I think.

I actually ended up liking the twists - or lack thereof - in the story and even though hints were dropped throughout the book, it's still a slam to your face to actually confirm your suspicions so while reading I muttered a few "oh that's why...". There are a few mysterious characters that raise the questions about who they are and what role they will play - but that is always soon resolved. So it's an obvious - but good plot. I mean, it's still pretty weak, anyone is capable of knowing who the "villain" is, if they paid close attention.

What I felt most annoyed about was actually at the beginning of the book. The family argument. It's not exactly the worst thing that could ever happen to Justine, so I still cannot get over the fact that she went cliff diving. And even after then, when I thought that nothing stupid should come afterwards, does Vanessa find out about Justine's little secrets and spend most of her time whining and complaining about why Justine never told her. While the regrets and misery played on one half of Vanessa's mind, the other was focused on her and Simon which truly exhausted my patience waiting for something to happen. I expected a lot of butterflies in the stomach with Siren, but it didn't deliver. I hated the fact that they knew they were attracted to each other but did not exactly talk a lot about their feelings, of course with the solving the mysteries and all, there wasn't really much time for that.

To be honest, I found the cover extremely unappealing  I know that most became interested in the book because the cover caught their eye, but it caught my eye for a completely different reason. And Not the good kind. What I expected from the book was totally different from what I got, instead of romance (lots of it) and mystery - there was a fair bit amount of it, the book presented a load of worries, regret and family drama. ugh. Fortunately, it still gave a good amount of suspicion.

Two Stars

Book Review: Once Upon a Scandal (Delilah Marvelle)

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free of all his family's debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet. And one he cannot fail!

I shall admit - while Once upon a Scandal is not the best romance book I've read, it definitely ranks high amongst the most interesting ones I've read. This book has a particularly pecular set of characters and settings, which - sucker for romance that I am - enchanted me to no end.

I have been drawn to the blurb, of course - a long-lost lover (Viscount Remington) who have deserted our heroine and is now suddenly back for her hand... yes I know, romantic. The cover is also gorgeous and sigh-worthy, right?

Although this is a stand-alone novel it genuinely feels like a short story befitting an anthology. There are only a handful of scenes between the beginning and the ending, all of which are lengthy, which obviously gives the book its volume. Which is why, the pace felt a little too quick, and also underscores why it feels like an anthology short story. The salvaging point though, is that they are all mildly interesting at least, and did not drag like it easily have. While they are not remarkable, the premise had me turning the pages in the hopes it gets better.

What really strikes out most are the characters. In particular, Jonathan - or Viscount Remington as he is mostly addressed - is a breath of fresh air to the many heroes of the genre. Unlike most gentlemen of his time, this character is affectionate, sensitive and wears his heart on his sleeve. He is very outspoken in what he feels for Victoria. On the contrary, Victoria is guarded and reserved, bitter almost in the second half of the book. They share a very peculiar relationship - I was not sure how to look at it, as it is the very opposite of consistent. They simply ricochet off different paths every time. Although there is an effort to include tenderness in their interactions, it feels a little bit awkward as one cannot be entirely certain as to their emotions.

While Once Upon a Scandal is supposed to be inspired by the fairy tale of Cinderella, I felt there was hardly similarities between the two, and would rather forget that little piece of tidbit. Also, the book is partly based in Venice, which felt like a complete waste as the setting hardly played a memorable role in the plot - sure, things happened in Venice, but it takes more than that to make a setting worth noticing. Having said that, despite the lack of tangible plot in the book, it ends rather vaguely - and so, should there be a sequel, I will perhaps pick it up.

Two Stars.

* E-galley copy courtesy of Net Galley.

Book Review: Torment (Lauren Kate)

How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

Fallen left me disoriented and grappling for answers, so I expected Torment to ease my confusion. In fact, I was pretty excited for it since I loved the idea of Luce and Daniel's enduring love across time.

Unfortunately, Torment just left me more frustrated.

There's a difference between leaving readers wanting more and leaving them in a totally disorienting limbo of confusion. What Torment did for me was dump more rather than answer some of the questions that was left hanging by the end of Fallen. There is a lot question rising up in this book that only made the whole series a little too overwhelming. While I like complex world building, sometimes there's just information overload. So, rather than marvel at the intricacy of the plot, I just found it too complicated to entangle. I won't even start on how frustrated I am to have to wait for the third book to (hopefully) find the answers I am looking for.

Hidden away at a school for Nephilims called Shoreline, Lucinda Price begins to question a lot more about her past, herself and why Daniel insists on her recluse. Feeling trapped, clueless and still racked with guilt about Penn's death, she explores more of her surroundings, which in turn places her in danger. She disregards Daniel's instructions and often other's too, choosing instead to find answers of her own accord. While I like this stronger, more courageous Luce, her erratic behaviour annoyed me. Her stubbornness got to me, and I found it hard to symphatise with Luce. Of course, a big part of the blame lies with Daniel, who - even more than Luce - is just a tad too distant to my liking. I found it hard to connect with Daniel in Fallen, but in Torment he becomes a lot more elusive. He keeps Luce in the dark and evades her questions, and then fails to understand why she uses her own devices to find the answers that she wants. There is a lot of misunderstanding between these two in Torment - it gets quite tiring.

I love the romantic aspect of Torment best, and I did love Daniel and Luce's interactions, no matter how quick and fragmented they come and go. There is something so endearing about their love story and general, and despite my dislike of the details surrounding it, I'm holding on and hoping the next book(s) will elaborate more on their destinies. One other part of this book that I like are the new characters introduced, some of whom wriggle their way between Daniel and Luce, and present one very good option at that. I enjoyed Luce's experiences and adventures with her new friends, who seem to understand her best. The best part is towards the end, when the angels and nephilim appear side by side. The ruckus and tension they caused is quite thrilling. I hope these characters play their parts in the next book, as I'm looking forward to them a lot!

Most of the action is centered towards the end of the book, although tension also heightens at many parts within the novel. Like Fallen, Torment has a very good action sequence, one which can make you feel as if the characters are trapped without a way out. It ends with a very frustrating cliff-hanger though, and that deprived me of fulfillment. I have been expecting something explosive as the blurb suggests a big discovery of some sort about Luce and Daniel, I guess. The book just did not live up to that.

Maybe some can gain a lot more from Torment than I did, so I won't necessarily say skip this sequel. However, I didn't think it was a good sequel. It seems to be the type of book I'd consider to be set between book one and book 2 of a series, and hence missable.

Two Stars.

Book Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han)

Some summers are just destined to be pretty

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

I almost regret reading The Summer I Turned Pretty. I found it to be rather distasteful.

I should start with the few strengths of this book. Firstly, I thought it really captures the essence of summer. While reading I could almost feel the warmth of the summer breeze seeping through the pages of the book and the smell of the ocean in Belly's narration. It's also a wonderful book with regards to its portrayal of family life and friendships. The relationship between the Fishers and Belly's family is uplifting to read about. Their closeness is enviable, and although Belly is often bullied by the three older boys - Steven, Conrad and Jeremiah - it is obvious that they all love and care for her.

Realism is also strong factor in The Summer I Turned Pretty. It's not about a perfect summer, but is about its many imperfections and how one grows in facing it. Hence it's not a light-hearted book per se, it's also about the heavy problems that life throws at you, summer or not. Towards the end of the book, Belly begins to understand this and hence mature, and it becomes clear how the book chronicles different people's way of coping.

Unfortunately, developments appear to occur only towards the end. The first three-quarters of the book is a pain to read. Belly is the type of person that I don't mind meeting but I certainly would not want to hang out with. She's immature, whiny, possessive and self-centered. The narrative is told in her perspective and is a criss-cross of the present and the past. While the flashbacks serve to elaborate on present events, I found that Belly hardly matured. She is constantly obsessing about being a grown up (while not acting like it), and this becomes a constant drone that has irritated me. I also felt that a lot of her attention were drawn to inconsequential matters, which was a waste of time. I could not get the point up until three quarters of the book. Shame.

The secondary characters were not all bad, of course. I like Susannah and Jeremiah, whom I thought were perfectly drawn. However, I felt Conrad needed more development. Belly is always constantly mentioning changes in his attitude, but he's such a vague character I thought his reactions were anything but abnormal. Which is another reason why I never really connected with the book.

Finally, I had issues with Belly's relationship with her mother and Cam. Belly is borderline ignoring her mother - she loves Sussanah so much, but her affection for her mother is so limited it is almost inexistent. To make it worse, she hardly appreciates her mother's efforts - no thank yous or I'm sorrys - which annoyed me to no end. Meanwhile, Cam is just like a passing breeze that shows how Belly is completely insensitive, which is no excuse for anyone to be, summer fling or not. His presence is misleading because here I was thinking there were only two boys for Belly, when there was actually three. It's a little over my limit, especially if the aforementioned two are siblings.

I'm not a fan of this book, I'm afraid. Sorry.

Two stars.

Book Review: Blue Moon (Alyson Noël)

Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.  In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must chose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day...

As much as I adored its prequel, Evermore, I have to be utterly honest about my less than enthusiastic response to Blue Moon. Ever is perhaps one of the densest, stupidest, most inconsiderate character I have  ever come across. At one point I felt as if carrying on reading was a torture - I could not, and almost would not submit myself to anymore of Ever's unwise decisions and selfish ramblings.

Generally, I think my dislike springs primarily from Ever's character. I felt suffocated by her by the end of the novel, not least because the book now solely focused on her. The fact that my favourite characters Riley and Miles were hardly present, not to mention Damen was MIA half the time also affected my view.

The beginning of the book was by no means a terrible start. Sure, it consisted mostly of Ever's insecurities about taking her relationship with Damen to a more intimate level, but that I can honestly say did not bother me. It was slow-paced, through not extensively draggy. The introduction of a suspicious, albeit charismatic new characters was an addition I welcomed and from then on the mystery and distrust slowly unravelled. Of course, at the climatic part of Ever and Damen's relationship, everything was shattered.

Shattered also was my excitement over Blue Moon. I felt that from this point onward, Ever dwindled to an incomprehensible character. Her voice began to fragment and I felt as if I needed to psychoanalyse her simply to follow her line of thought. Though I very much enjoy complexity of characters, I did not appreciate the fact that Ever seemed to be prone to the least intelligent of choices. For instance, would you really trust the person whom you've always disliked from the very beginning, the one whom you know is under the influence of darkness, more than the person who, despite flaws, helped you in your journey albeit a little annoyingly? I took into account the fact that Ever was distraught and damaged and hence may not have a fully-functioning logic, but even so her decisions hardly made sense and hence annoyed me.

Also, while I found the blurb to be exciting, I thought it was slightly misleading as the novel touches just briefly on her choice - I would have liked and also expected the book to have done it differently. The twist was not also given, for me, the proper acknowledgement. It did catch me off guard, but the intensity of betrayal I expected to have a lot more depth.

Although I did not like Blue Moon as much as I'd hoped, and was left with a personal disapproval of Ever, I still generally regard the mythology as solid and with potential. Hopefully, Shadowland would contain more action and more Damien&Ever interactions, both of whom I still really do like.

Two Stars.

Book Review: Forever (Judy Blume)

Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year's Eve party. They're attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they've decided their love is forever, they make love. It's the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine's parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart..."Forever" is written for an older age group than Judy Blume's other novels for children. It caused a storm of controversy when it was first published because of its explicit sexual content. It was a book ahead of its time - and remains, after thirty years in print, a teenage best-seller. America's No. 1 children's author has written some of the best books of our time about real-life issues - family stress and pressures, what happens when your parents divorce, the problems of growing up and sexual awakening, bereavement - with insight, sensitivity and honesty. The response of readers all around the world continues to make her one of the best-loved writers ever published.

Three decades after its publication, Forever remains to be one of the most controversial and most debated YA novel around. It was what attracted me to the book - surely I could learn a thing or two from such an open novel, right?

I did...well not enjoy, exactly, but more like  appreciate...the themes the novel touched on. Although not in depth, there are more controversial issues highlighted within the novel: gender issues, depression, parental relations, contraceptions, etc. I must applaud the author for incorporating such varied and controversial themes all within Katherine's perspective, and in a manner that seems realistic and true. It underscores how in each of our lives, these important issues linger. As a mature reader I would have wanted a lot more depth and outlook into these themes - but I think the novel works effectively for younger teens.

It is explicit at times, but the subtle descriptions only shine enough light to allow it (just about) to be read by fifteen, sixteen year olds. I'm sure they can relate to Katherine's dilemmas and decisions in Forever, and learn more than a mature reader like me.


Despite this, I found Forever strangely empty. For a book to be surrounded by so much hype I expected something a lot more than what Forever offered me. I found the description very minimal and the characters dense to the point of irritation. I could not at most point find myself sympathetic to Katherine, and it might only be me, but Michael appeared to be pushy, demanding and even violating. I thought both had been foolish, and decided terribly - althught of course I must mention that this is well explained.

Perhaps these flaws reiterates the type of target audience the novel caters to (supposedly younger teens). Perhaps times have changed since the 1970s and our modern outlook does not contextualise its message and overall theme. Perhaps as a mature reader it really just does not appeal to me personally.

Overall, I'm sure others will find Forever a good novel - sadly, it's just not the one for me.


Two Stars.

Book Review: Need (Carrie Jones)

Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

Need is my first pixie read in such a long time - which is why I ought to be excited about this one. The blurb was okay, but not totally intriguing. Need was not in my to-read list until it was on buy one get one free offer on Waterstone's. I gave it a chance.

Sadly, I didn't like this book. I mean, sure, I'm not a total pixie fan, but I thought the mystery of the book may be its saving grace. Expecting that was a let down too. I think it's only the cover that I actually like - and maybe three of the few characters in the book. That's all.

Seriously, I didn't think the characters were drawn well enough. Zara seems to be written inconsistently - she doesn't have a fluid, distinguishable personality. Other characters did, but Zara being the lead and all should have been solidified better. On the other hand, I think Issie and Devyn are probably one of the, if not the cutest couple I have so far read. Like really - if only Zara and Nick were half as interesting.

This book should have had potential. Sadly, the plot lacks life. Twists were not highlighted well, let alone delivered with the strong 'surprise' impact that I was looking for. There wasn't much emotion in the book - Zara talks about her stepfather many times, yes, but the grief was not effective. The romance lacks weight and the resolution I found totally poor. It lacks actions, lacks romance, lacks emotions. Bland.

I'm so not buying the sequel (Captivate). Though, I might maybe reconsider if I miss reading about Issie and Devyn.

Two stars.