'Evertrue' by Brodi Ashton

Evertrue (Everneath, #3)
By Brodi Ashton
Published: Jan, 21, 2014
Read: April 2014
Format: Kindle

Rating: B

“I had believed there was no such thing as redemption. I knew now I was wrong. Redemption had not come from grand gestures of dashing bravery. It had not come from successfully completing twelve impossible labors. Instead, redemption transpired from the small, quiet places.”

Here's the thing about the Everneath series: It's pretty cheesy. Reading through most of the quotes on Evertrue's Goodreads page, I rolled my eyes and wondered why I liked the series. Despite its cheesiness though, it's also funny and captivating. (Warning: Spoilers for the first two books are below.)

Nikki was a normal girl with a normal boyfriend (Jack) until she met Cole, who just so happens to be an Everliving. In order to stay eternal, Everlivings have to feed off mortals for 100 years (which, in our world, turns out to be about 6 months). Cole uses his powers and Nikki's vulnerability to lure her into the Everneath and act as his Forfeit. Except unlike most Forfeits, she returns to Earth unaged when the Feeding is over. Turns out her love for Jack was powerful enough to keep her grounded and not turn her elderly, like it does to most Forfeits. But the price is that she is marked and the Tunnels come for her. Jack sacrifically gives himself to the Tunnels in her place at the end of the first book, and she spends the second book trying to rescue him with Cole by her side. She does so successfully (of course), but Cole informs her at the end that because she fed off him three times while in the Everneath, she is now turning into an Everliving and must find a Forfeit or she'll die.

In Evertrue, Jack and Nikki's mission is to destroy the Everneath so she can return to her mortal self and they can live happily ever after. Like I said, it's fairly cheesy. But for some reason I couldn't put it down. It's interesting and unlike other books I've read. The writing is also witty and I found myself chuckling at the dialogue. It's fantasy and not supposed to be realistic, so I think it has a bit of a license to be unbelievable and groan-worthy.

I also liked the character development in this book, particularly from Cole. We begin to see that he's not such a bad guy after all, and may in fact be a hero. The mythology that is discussed in the first two books is explained more and all loose ends are wrapped up, as they should be in the conclusion of a series. Sure, this is a rather fluffy read and won't impress scholars, but I enjoyed it.

'Into the Still Blue' by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky, #3)
By Veronica Rossi
Published: Jan. 28, 2014
Read: March 2014
Format: Kindle

Rating: B

“We have to tell each other the little things, the bad things. Maybe they’ll hurt for a while, but at least they won’t become big things. If we don’t, we’re just going to keep hurting each other. And I don’t want to do that anymore.”

I've been horrible about writing reviews for the books I've read this year. For a while I wasn't reading, but I've started to read a lot again in the last couple of months since my daughter was born. I have a lot of time while I feed her, so I've used that to read. Unfortunately I haven't kept up with my reviews, so here I am in December writing a review for a book I read in March. My reviews may not be as thorough as what I've written in the past, and I'll probably be writing well into 2015 to catch up, but I'm going to do my best to keep my promise.

Into the Still Blue was the third and final book in the Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi. It was a series I found through Goodreads and to be honest I was reluctant to read the first book because of the cover, but I'm really glad I gave it a chance. Like many of the books I read, this is in the futuristic dystopian category. Aria grew up in a world protected by the elements and full of realms and technology. Perry grew up in a caveman-like society, cast out by Aria's ancestors. The two meet and fall in love in the first book and I was captivated by their love story and the world-building Rossi does so well.

In the third and final book, the pair is looking for the "Still Blue," an elusive place where the Aether storms don't exist and their people can finally be safe. The conclusion to this series was rather satisfying to me. I'll admit it's not groundbreaking writing and will definitely have you rolling your eyes on occasion, but I enjoyed it. I really liked the romance between Perry and Aria, and also the friendships they each have with Roar. The story was exciting and enchanting and I'd definitely recommend it for a fun, romantic read.

'The House of Hades' (The Heroes of Olympus #4)

The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4)
By Rick Riordan
Published: Oct. 8, 2013
Read: March 2014
Format: Hardcover

Rating: B

"Love is no game! It is no flowery softness! It is hard work—it demands everything from you—especially the truth. Only then does it yield results."

A synopsis for this book is difficult since it is the fourth in a series. And really, the story goes even farther back because it is a companion to the five-part Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

The Heroes of Olympus series follows seven demigods (half-human, half-god): Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Leo, Piper, Frank and Hazel. The group is on a mission to stop an ancient evil god, Gaea, from rising and ending the world as they know it. They journey overseas to Italy and Greece to complete their quest. Here is the publisher's synopsis:

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

I've really liked all of the books in these two series, and The House of Hades was no exception. Once again, the narration duties are shared between all seven demigods. Though this has the potential to make the book feel disjointed, it doesn't. It still flows as we read from different characters, and I appreciate getting different perspectives. Annabeth and Percy's journey through Tartarus was probably my favorite to read because it was so tense and full of adventure. But I enjoyed reading about the other demigod's journey to the House of Hades as well. 

Though I was disappointed when I heard that Riordan decided not to make this the conclusion and instead add another book, I'm looking forward to reading that. I was a little frustrated that I didn't get to find out what happens in the end, but at least there's more Percy, Annabeth and the others to look forward to.

Throwback Thursday: 'Attachments'

Attachments
By Rainbow Rowell
Published: April 14, 2011
Read: December 2013
Format: Kindle edition

Rating: A

“There are moments when you can't believe something wonderful is happening. And there are moments when your entire consciousness is filled with knowing absolutely that something wonderful is happening.”

It's 1999 and Lincoln is a wayward guy in his late 20s who takes a job as an "Internet security officer" because he's not sure what else to do. He works at a newspaper, so most of his co-workers are journalists, including Jennifer and Beth. Lincoln's job is to monitor his co-workers' emails, and he becomes particularly intrigued by Beth and Jennifer's exchanges, leading to somewhat of an infatuation with Beth, whom he's never even met. It sounds like it may be creepy, but it's not. It's incredibly cute and romantic, even if not very believable. 

I loved the three main characters. I found them fun and relatable. If they were real people, I'd want to be their friends. Lincoln has just finished another degree and moves back home with his mom. Through flashbacks we read about his high school sweetheart who broke his heart in their first semester at college. Though it's been nearly 10 years, he's still not completely over that trauma. He's a geek at heart, who spends his weekend playing World of Warcraft with his buddies, but he also craves adventure and wants to meet the love of his life. Jennifer has been married for a few years and is struggling with being unsure if she's ready to be a mother or not when she discovers she's pregnant. And her best friend, Beth, has been living with her musician boyfriend for years, but he shows no sign of wanting to settle down. If you watch Parks and Recreation, he's basically Andy from Season 1, but not as charming and funny. To put it simply, he's a huge jerk and she deserves way better. Which of course made me root for Lincoln even harder.

This story was especially fun for me since I too am a journalist. I like reading about characters I can relate to. And at almost 27, I'm close in age to these three (they're all 28), so that helped even more. I also found it nostalgic and enchanting when the author described the character's outfits and popular songs and movies at the time.

I'm a romantic so I want to believe something like this could happen in real life. But it's not likely. At any rate, I thought Attachments was very endearing and I liked it a lot. It was funny, sweet, charming and just irresistible. It's also a very quick read, which was only a downside because I didn't want it to be over. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. I really don't think you'll regret it!

'Panic' by Lauren Oliver

Panic
By Lauren Oliver
Published: March 4, 2014
Read: March 2014
Format: Hardcover 

Rating: B-

“It was so strange, the way that life moved forward: the twists and the dead ends, the sudden opportunities. She supposed if you could predict or foresee everything that was going to happen, you’d lose the motivation to go through it all. The promise was always in the possibility.”

Panic takes place in Carp, a small town in upstate New York. It is narrated by Heather and Dodge, two 18-year-olds who just graduated high school. The book starts on the first day of Panic, a game where any graduating senior can compete for a large pot of money. The stakes are high and the challenges are dangerous. Heather and Dodge participate for two very different reasons: Heather has just been dumped and chooses to jump (a move that signifies your intention to participate in the game) on a whim; Dodge, on the other hand, has a very clear goal: revenge.

Panic follows Heather, Dodge, and Heather's two best friends, Bishop and Natalie, throughout the summer of the competition. It is interchangeably narrated by Heather and Dodge, though I would have preferred it if Heather was the sole narrator. Dodge's intentions were only clear when reading from his perspective, but I found his character rather flat and I was always hoping the next chapter would be Heather. Thankfully, her sections seemed to outnumber Dodge's.

Heather and Dodge are both very poor and have sad family lives. Though the title of the book suggests it is mainly about the game, it focuses a good deal on them and their difficult situations. Dodge's sister was paralyzed two years ago when she was the runner-up for Panic, and he helps take care of her in the rundown apartment they share with their mother on Meth Row. Heather lives in a shady trailer park with her 11-year-old sister and their mom, who is more interested in sex, drugs and partying than taking care of her daughters. Their family lives fuel Heather and Dodge's desires to win the game, and make them more likable.

I've read and enjoyed Lauren Oliver's Delirium series and her standalone book Before I Fall, so I was interested in reading Panic when I first heard about it. The description doesn't do a great job of explaining what the book was about, but the fact that Oliver wrote it was enough for me. Overall, I liked the book. I thought it was interesting and thrilling in parts. The challenges were definitely unpredictable and dangerous, and it was fun reading about how Heather, Dodge and Natalie tackled them. However, there were several big "surprises" that I saw coming from miles away. I found the ending and many of the reveals to be predictable, and this spoiled it for me a bit. But it was a still entertaining and a quick read. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a semi-thrilling, fun book to read.

Throwback Thursday: 'Allegiant' (Divergent #3)

Allegiant (Divergent #3)
By Veronica Roth
Published: Oct. 22, 2013
Read: October 2013
Format: Kindle

Rating: C-

“The first step to loving someone else is to recognize the evil in ourselves, so we can forgive them.”

Until Allegiant, the Divergent series has been one of my favorites, and I  eagerly awaited the release of its conclusion for more than a year. I am sad to say that it was very disappointing.

Veronica Roth chose to tell the story from Tris' and Tobias' points of view, which I liked. The only problem I had with this approach was that she did not follow the every-other-chapter-changes-perspective format, so I sometimes got confused by who was speaking and had to go back to read the first few pages in the right perspective. That being said, I really liked hearing from both Tobias and Tris, as I thought it helped round out the story and made it less biased toward one character.

The dual storytelling is not the only thing that made Allegiant stand out from its predecessors. Tris, Tobias and company venture out of the city in the beginning of the book and spend most of their time at a compound formerly known as O'Hare Airport. Though I liked that it took place in a different location, I did not so much like what happened there. I will be vague in an effort not to reveal spoilers, but I thought Roth strayed too far from the main plot once she revealed the difference between GD and GP (not going to explain that here as it is kind of complicated). It was interesting stuff, I just think it was a distraction from what was going on in the city and it took away from the story.

The ending. Ahhh, the ending! Again, I don't want to spoil anything here, but the ending was highly dissatisfying. Not just what happened, but how it was treated. I didn't think it was drawn out quite enough, and I feel like it didn't do justice to our two main characters. It happened and then we moved on. I wanted more time to cope, more explanation as to how everyone dealt with it and so on.

Overall, I think Allegiant left a lot to be desired. Aside from the ending, it was an all right book. It definitely kept my interest and I enjoyed it. There was a little bit more romance between Tris and Tobias, and reading his perspective definitely increased that aspect. But the ending just really spoiled things for me, and because of that I've given it a low rating.

Throwback Thursday: 'Insurgent' (Divergent #2)

To continue my Throwback Thursday series I will review Insurgent, the second book in Veronica Roth's Divergent series.

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
By Veronica Roth
Published: May 1, 2012
First Read: August 2012
Format: Hardcover

Rating: A

“No matter how long you train someone to be brave, you never know if they are or not until something real happens.”

Insurgent picks up right where its predecessor, Divergent, left off. After Erudite and Dauntless went to war on the Abnegation and made known their mission of hunting down the divergent, Tris and company escape to the peaceful Amity compound. But they're not welcome there for long. They must find somewhere to stay while also finding a way to take down Erudite and the rebel Dauntless members.

I can't say too much about Insurgent without giving away spoilers, so this will be short. I thought this was an excellent book, and it definitely did not suffer from the "second book syndrome" trilogies often face. It had even more action than Divergent, making it exciting and a quick read. I devoured the 525 pages in just over 24 hours.

Tris is rather moody in this book, but I'm sure you would be too if you were 16 and went through everything she had in the last few weeks. Her decisions don't always make sense, but they're realistic. I had no trouble buying into what she does. She is conflicted and has just gone through heartbreak and betrayal so deep she loses herself.

Those who enjoy the romance between Tris and Tobias may be slightly disappointed throughout the book, as they both struggle with their grief and keep secrets from each other. There are some sweet moments between them, including the first time she tells Tobias she loves him, but they spend a lot of time apart and they bicker quite a bit. But in the end they are a stronger couple for everything they endure.

The ending was quite the surprise and had me kicking myself for reading the book more than a year before the third book came out. Now that it's been released, you'll want to jump right into the last book of the series.

'The Cuckoo's Calling' (Cormoran Strike #1)

The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike #1)
By Robert Galbraith (pseudonym for J.K. Rowling)
Published: April 30, 2013
Read: Feburary 2014
Format: Hardcover

Rating: C+

“The dead could only speak through the mouths of those left behind, and through the signs they left scattered behind them.”

Cormoran Strike is a down-and-out private investigator in London who lives in his office. The gruff former military man has just broken up with his long-term fiance and is in desperate need of some business. In walks John Bristow, a well-to-do lawyer who is convinced that his supermodel sister, Lula Landry, was murdered, despite much of the evidence pointing to a suicide.

Against his instincts Strike accepts the case and finds himself emerged in a world filled with "multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends and desperate designers." He may be a bit over his head in the first case that has involved more than surveillance, but thankfully he has Robin, the woman who is supposed to be his temporary secretary but takes on much more.

The mystery behind the death of Lula Landry was fascinating, but quite frankly, I found much of the book to be a bore. The first half dragged on, with far too many descriptions. We were told about almost every step Strike took, which was annoying to me. Here's an example:

“The country was lumbering towards election day. Strike turned in early on Sunday and watched the day's gaffes, counterclaims and promises being tabulated on his portable TV. There was an air of joylessness in every news report he watched. The national debt was so huge that it was difficult to comprehend. Cuts were coming, whoever won; deep, painful cuts; and sometimes, with their weasel words, the party leaders reminded Strike of the surgeons who had told him cautiously that he might experience a degree of discomfort; they who would never personally feel the pain that was about to be inflicted.”  

This entire paragraph is pretty much irrelevant to the story. It felt like Rowling was trying to just get in as much description as possible and prove that she can write stories other than Harry Potter. I liked the characters and I wanted to know about them, but I think she took it too far. Reading felt like a chore for the first half of the book, which is not how it should be. 

Thankfully the story started to pick up after a little more than halfway through. Strike started interviewing more celebrities and interesting characters and as he got closer to solving the mystery the suspense grew. I'm not sure if the writing was better in the second half or if I was just more motivated as I got closer to the end. Either way, I enjoyed the second half much more. 

The ending was definitely a surprise to me. However, it didn't make a whole lot of sense and I wish Rowling had explained it more. At the risk of spoiling anything I will leave it at that. I guess I was just hoping for more of an explanation. It's been announced that this will be a series. At this point I'm not sure if I'll read the next book or not. I think it will depend on the case Strike is trying to solve. As long as it sounds intriguing I'll probably pick it up.

'Fangirl'

Fangirl
By Rainbow Rowell
Published: Sept. 10, 2013
Read: January 2014
Format: Hardcover

Rating: A-

“In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can't Google.)” 

Fangirl is about an 18-year-old girl named Cather (she goes by Cath) who has just started her freshman year at a university in Nebraska. She has an identical twin sister named Wren who wants to branch out and make new friends--including having a stranger for a roommate--and Cath just can't understand why. She has always preferred to be alone and sit at home writing her fanfiction, but then again she's never really needed friends because she's always had Wren. When she and her sister start to drift apart, Cath doesn't know how to handle it other than throwing herself into her writing.

Cath is an introvert and mildly socially awkward. Where her sister is bold and vibrant, Cath plays it safe and prefers solitude. She spends most of her first semester writing fanfiction for a book series that is similar to Harry Potter. She and Wren used to write together, but Wren grew out of it and Cath never did. She chooses to major in English and even gets into a fiction-writing class for upperclassmen. She learns some tough lessons in that course, where she meets a boy who uses her for her mind, and her teacher likens fanfiction to plagiarism. In the midst of a challenging year academically and socially, Cath constantly worries about her dad, who raised her and her sister alone after their mom walked out when they were 8. Her dad is bi-polar and it's the first time he's been alone since before they were born. Cath also must deal with the feelings she has when her mother suddenly reappears and she and Wren have opposite reactions.

Even though I was probably more like Wren than Cath my freshman year of college, I could still relate to feeling lonely and lost and like you're not worth loving. Once again, Rainbow Rowell did an excellent job creating believable characters. And though it wasn't necessarily the focal point of the story, I loved the romance too. In fact, I was sad when the book ended because I wanted more of Cath and Levi. It was really cool to see Cath open herself up to him and allow herself to be loved by someone else. I know this a standalone book and I think that's a good thing, but I would gladly read more about Cath, Wren, Levi and Reagan (Cath's surly but somehow likable roommate).

Fangirl was very enjoyable. It was a fun read, but also had depth and was a great coming-of-age tale about finding love, leaving home and your parents, coming to terms with past hurts in relationships, betrayal, making new friends and finding yourself. However, the one thing I could do without was the excerpts in between chapters. Before each chapter there was a small excerpt of either the fictional books Cath loves or one of her pieces of fanfiction. These weren't really enjoyable to me and I found them unnecessary. They didn't add to the story, but I still felt like I had to read them because I didn't want to miss anything. Turns out I easily could have skipped them. I understand Rowell was trying to show us Cath's world, but they were distracting and kept me from giving the book an A. Overall though, it was still a great book and I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday: 'Divergent' (Divergent #1)

Since I'm reviewing books I'm reading this year, I thought it'd be fun to do a series where I review books I've read in the past. So let me introduce you to Throwback Thursdays! It probably won't be every Thursday, but hopefully it'll be somewhat consistent.

This week I'll write about Divergent, by debut author Veronica Roth. The third and final book in the series was released in October, and I reread this before reading the last one. It has also been made into a movie, which releases at the end of next month.

Divergent (Divergent #1)
By Veronica Roth
Published: May 3, 2011
First Read: July 2012
Format: Hardcover

Rating: A

“Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.” 

Beatrice Prior lives in a futuristic Chicago, where society has been divided into five factions. Each faction has been built around a specific value, and its residents are expected to uphold that value above anything else. Beatrice lives in Abnegation, which values selflessness. There is also Amity (peace), Candor (truth), Dauntless (bravery) and Erudite (knowledge). When citizens are 16, they take a simulation that's supposed to tell them which faction to which they belong and then on Choosing Day they pledge their loyalty to that faction. Except for Tris (as she is later named), it isn't that simple. Her test results are inconclusive, meaning that she doesn't belong to any one faction, but could choose between several. This is called being Divergent, and though she doesn't know why yet, it's so dangerous she's told not to tell anyone of her unique status.

Tris embarks on an adventurous journey, which was exhilarating, exciting and breathtaking. She makes new friends, enemies, and even falls in love. Though it sounds similar to the Hunger Games series, Divergent is unique. The author's writing style is similar but it won't feel like the same story. I was hooked on this book from the beginning. It was long (almost 500 pages) but the fast pace made it seem much shorter. I was so entranced that I found myself reading it while I got ready for work and ate breakfast. It was just as captivating the second timer around as well, even though you know what's going to happen. I am a sucker for romances, so I did enjoy this portion of Divergent. But it was by no means the main point of the book, and I think even those who don't love romance will enjoy it.

Thanks to the Hunger Games series, the dystopian genre has been very hot in the last several years. Dystopian fans will love Divergent, as it is a unique addition to the genre. But even if you've never read a dystopian novel or don't think you'd enjoy fantasy, I implore you to try out this book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

'The Moon and More'

The Moon and More
By Sarah Dessen
Published: June 4, 2013
Read: January 2014
Format: Kindle edition

Rating: B-

“When you've never gotten love from someone, you don't know what it might look like if it ever does appear. You look for it in everything: any bright light overhead could be a star.” 

Emaline lives in the small beach town of Colby, which is familiar to you if you've read Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride. But in The Moon and More you read about Colby from the perspective of a local, so it feels a little different. It's the summer before Emaline goes to college and she lives a seemingly good life. But in true Sarah Dessen form, her life gets a little shaken up in the course of the novel. We follow her throughout the summer as she navigates her job, her family, her love life and what it means to leave at the end of the summer.

Emaline has two love interests throughout the book--Luke, her high school sweetheart, and Theo, an interesting visitor from New York--but it's not really a love triangle. The two boys couldn't be more different, and Emaline must decide who makes her happy, or if she even needs a man in her life to be happy. Like most main female characters in Dessen's books, Emaline also has a complicated family life. Her mom got pregnant when she was young and her father has been largely absent from her life. Her mom got married when she was little, and she considers her stepdad her dad. He has two daughters, who she calls her sisters. Her biological father unexpectedly comes into town at the beginning of the summer, bringing her 10-year-old half brother she barely knows. Throughout the summer she grows close to Benji, but must decipher her feelings for her father. 

I liked The Moon and More, but I'm convinced that I would have liked it better if I hadn't read Sarah Dessen before. Having read several of her past books, I've come to expect romance and a certain kind of ending. This book had romance, but not in the way her other books do. I don't want to spoil anything, but if you've read Sarah Dessen before, you may be disappointed. This was a fairly light book, perfect for a light summer read. I read this in the middle of winter of course, but it was still fun. Though there are some awkward and slightly intense moments--mostly with Emaline's family--not a whole lot happened. It is more about character development and what teenagers experience before going off to college than it is about action and exciting events.  

If you haven't read Sarah Dessen yet, this is a good place to start. And if you have, try to get rid of any preconceived notions before starting The Moon and More.

'Champion' (Legend #3)

Champion (Legend #3)
By Marie Lu
Published: Nov. 5, 2013
Read: January 2014
Format: Kindle edition

My Rating: A

“My heart's been torn wide open, just like I feared it would be, and I have no willpower to close it back up.”

Champion, the conclusion to the Legend series, begins about eight months after Prodigy ended, with June and Day living in separate cities, having had no contact since their goodbye in Prodigy. A war brewing between the Colonies and the Republic brings them back together. Once again, they each have integral roles in what's happening in the Republic. I read Legend and Prodigy last year so I thought they were fairly fresh in my memory. I wish I had reread them before reading Champion, but I was able to follow along all right.

This book follows the same format, switching perspective between Day and June. There are portions of the book where they are separated, so this is not only necessary, but appreciated. I read the first two books as hardcovers, where it is very clear who is narrating because of the color and font change. I read this on my Kindle and was worried I'd be confused, but I wasn't. Their character voices are so different that it's always clear who is narrating. I think that's really hard to do, and I applaud Marie Lu for mastering that.

I really liked Champion. After being disappointed by Allegiant, the last book in the Divergent trilogy, I was nervous about reading the last Legend book. I really enjoyed the first two and was scared that this book would not live up to my expectations. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about.

I'm not sure why the Legend series is not as well-known and acclaimed as other series in the YA dystopian genre, but I think it deserves it. The characters are really well developed and hard not to like--even secondary characters, like Anden, Tess and Eden. The books are written very well and are definitely page-turners, with a great mix of action and adventure, romance, and self-reflection. Champion was a wonderful conclusion to to this series. Though it did have some sad parts that may make the more sensitive readers cry, it also had a great ending--one that shouldn't disappoint all you Day and June fans.

'The Longest Ride'

The Longest Ride
By Nicholas Sparks
Published: Sept. 17, 2013
Read: January 2014
Format: Hardcover

My Rating: B

“If we'd never met, I think I would have known my life wasn't complete. And I would have wandered the world in search of you, even if I didn't know who I was looking for.”

In this latest romance from Nicholas Sparks, we follow the journey of two couples. The story starts with Ira, a 91-year-old man trapped in a car after driving off the road in a snowstorm. He recounts his life with his beloved wife Ruth, who appears to him even though she died nine years. Then we go to Sophia and Luke, two young people who we watch fall in love through both of their viewpoints, told alternately.

This is a bit different for Nicholas Sparks, as most of his stories are told from one perspective. This book is told from three, and it's unclear as to how Ira and Ruth's story is even related to Sophia and Luke's until the end. Despite these differences though, this book is a classic Nicholas Sparks romance, with typical male and female characters and of course a North Carolina setting.

Fans of Sparks should like this tale, as it has two romance stories for the price of one. I quite enjoyed it, finishing it in just over a day. There were times when Ira's parts felt a little long and I was eager to get back to Sophia and Luke, but it was worth it to read his story, and I was glad I didn't skip over anything. Readers new to Sparks may find this a bit contrived or unrealistic, but I liked it.

'Paper Towns'

Paper Towns
By John Green
Published: Oct. 16, 2008
Read: January 2014
Format: Kindle edition

My Rating: B

“I'm starting to realize that people lack good mirrors. It's so hard for anyone to show us how we look, and so hard for us to show anyone how we feel.”

Q is a high school senior hopelessly in love with his neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman, who hasn't paid him any attention since they were 10. Until she shows up at his window one night and drags him on an epic adventure filled with pranking her friends and breaking into Sea World. Just when he's filled with hope that Margo might become more than just the popular girl who lives next door, she disappears. He and his friends (but mostly just him because he's kind of obsessive) set off to solve the clues she's left and find her before graduation.

The story took place in Orlando, which I enjoyed because I lived there for three years and I was able to picture exactly what was being described. It added a realness to me. I didn't particularly relate to any of the characters, but I liked them all the same. The answer to Margo's disappearance was definitely a surprise to me, and I didn't feel let down at the end. It was sort of anti-climactic in the sense that Margo herself was built up to be this epic character, and the ending wasn't very epic. But that made it more realistic, and it was kind of the point: People aren't always who we think they are. Sometimes we build them up to be so much more than they are, and then when we get to know them, it turns out they're just as ordinary as anyone else.

Despite the similarities to other John Green novels and what some critically call his "formula," I liked Paper Towns. It may not have been very realistic, but it's a YA fiction novel, so why should it be? I liked the ending and I enjoyed the book. It was a fun read and I'd recommend it.

How This Blog Came to Be

Ever since I was little, I have loved to read. Even before I could read, I savored every night when I would bring my pillow out to the couch and my dad would read to me. We used to go to the library almost every week and get stacks of books that reached over my head.

Once I started having to read for school, the novelty wore off a bit. I still enjoyed reading for fun, but as I got older I had less and less time. A few years ago, my love for reading was rekindled when I started working a full-time job and realized I had an hour to myself every day at lunchtime. I asked for a Kindle for Christmas and got to reading.

I've read more than 100 books over the last two years, and I plan on adding another 50 (or more) to that this year. But to challenge myself and spice things up a bit, I decided to set a goal to write a review for every book I read in 2014. I got this idea from my friend Joy, who made this her goal last year.

I thought I might be more motivated to keep this goal if I have a blog dedicated to the project. I also like the idea of having all of my reviews in one place, rather than having them scattered about the Interwebs (on Goodreads). So, I present to you, Pages and Thoughts, where I read pages of books and share with you my thoughts on them.

I'm excited for you all to join me in my book-reading adventures. I've already read several books this year and written reviews for all of them (yeah, I'm doing well on my goal so far!), so I'll be posting those over the next few days.