Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Well, since I was on vacation over Christmas break, I had NO TIME to read AT ALL! It was horrid. You have no idea how boring it was without my books. So, to make up for it, here is a review of the next book in the Evernight Series.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
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So many things happen in this book, it's almost hard to keep up! The twists and turns are intense and make you want to jump up and down some times. The changes in this book assure that there will be some very big problems in the next book, and the cliff hanger you're left with will make you want to get your hands on Afterlife as fast as you can.

What I love about this book is that it surprised me. I wasn't expecting the events of Bianca and Lucas' lives to unravel the way that it did. Claudia Gray pulled a fast one on me, and I'm happy she did! Usually it's easy to predict where the author is going to take the story next, and with this one, I was completely wrong. So, be prepared for a big twist (or twists) at the end.

The romance was still there of course, and I felt it was what held the story, and the characters, together. If the romance was excluded, I don't think Bianca and Lucas would be able to keep going as they did. The both of them would even say thay were doing what they were doing for...love. And disappointingly, in this book, I didn't feel like their romance was as strong as it was in the previous books, but maybe it was just me.

Another thing that I didn't like was that the story seemed disjointed and chunky in some parts. Like, a part in the story, or a scene, wouldn't end smoothly, and the next would start too suddenly. Parts just didn't fit. Also, it seemed that every moment, something tragic was happening. I mean, I can handle one big twist at the end, but two or three? It gets to be too much after a while. Thankfully, it wasn't too hard to ignore the things that were bugging me, and replace them with the exciting aspects because I really like this series, and I really liked this book as well.

Astonishing, suspenseful, and creative, Hourglass will shock you. It has definitely surpassed anything I've read by Claudia Gray. The ending of the third book in the series will leave you gasping for more. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Afterlife.

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A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Release Date: February 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 288
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When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life could not possibly get any worse. Until moments later, when her long-time crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very shy, very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.

A series of hilarious pranks and misunderstandings leave Fiona wondering: is there something her supposed “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than a deep voice and an awesome music collection? And perhaps most intriguing of all, is it possible that Todd Harding could actually have a heart – and a brain – beneath his pretty-boy exterior?

Who knows what might happen once you begin a match made in high school…

The first thing I noticed about this book was that it was easy to read, and moved at a fast pace. Before I knew it, I was half way through the book enjoying every word. A Match Made in High School is an easily likable book, it'll make you laugh numerous times and keep you interested until the end.

Fiona, the main character, has a huge crush on Gabe. She's liked him since they were little and he showed her an act of kindness, but what she doesn't seem to realize is that people change. The book begins with Fiona getting up for her first day of her senior year. Everything starts on a bad note, until of course, she crosses paths with Gabe and vows to touch him at least once this year. But that doesn't go too well, because the school day starts with an assembly, and during that assembly, she learns that in order to pass every senior must be married to another during the whole year. Fiona is paired with Todd Harding, a stuck-up popular boy, while Gabe is paired with Todd's girlfriend, Amanda, who just so happens to be a cheerleader.

Along with that, while Fiona is trying to survive her senior year, her best friend, Marcie, is changing back and forth before her eyes. Plus, Johnny, the guy her best friend is "married" to is starting to have eyes for her. Man, there were so many juicy things in this book! I couldn't help but adore it! But while the book was enjoyable, there were some downfalls. First off, I was completely confused by Fiona and Todd's relationship. They never really seemed to like each other, but it was hinted that they did, which was odd. Another thing was that Fiona didn't have romantic feelings toward Johnny until the end and she changed her mind so quickly that it wasn't believable.

So many amusing things went on in this novel. The witty banter, and war of pranks between Fiona and Todd were hilarious. While the novel was initially light-hearted, deeper occurrences went on and tugged at my heart repeatedly. A Match Made in Heaven was a cute novel, and many teens will love it.

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The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 336
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Violet Ambrose can find the dead. Or at least, those who have been murdered. She can sense the echoes they leave behind...and the imprints they leave on their killers. As if that weren't enough to deal with during her junior year, she also has a sudden inexplicable, and consuming crush on her best frined since childhood, Jay Heaton.

Now a serial killer has begun terrorizing Violet's small town...and she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Filled with suspense, a gripping romance, and deadly consequences, The Body Finder is an impressive debut novel that's impossible to put down.

Violet, the main character, has a spectacular ability. She can sense death, whether it be a certain taste in her mouth or an aura that only she can see. This plays an important role in the novel, because now she must use her special ability to help catch a killer that preys on young teenage girls. But when it gets dangerous, the people around her are reluctant to let her get involved, especially when the killer might be after her as well. Oh, the suspense! I loved this aspect of the book. The Body Finder not only was intruiging, but was also engaging. I did not want to put this book down until I knew who the killer was!

Throughout The Body Finder, I felt sympathetic for Violet, because not only does she have to deal with the complications and frights of having to help catch a predator, but she also has to deal with what almost every other girl has to: a love interest. She has developed feelings for her best friend, Jay, who has seemed to attract the attention of every other girl in school since his summer transformation. And, I must say, I loved this! In my opinion, nothing is better than a friendship developing into love. I just melt thinking about it.

The only thing that slightly annoyed me was how Violet acted at times. Even thought she knew she was in danger, she acted carelessly. It made me want to yell something about common sense at her, because I don't think she had much. She would have had a lot less issues if she thought out her actions.

With that minor negative pushed aside, this book was something else! I was surprised at how much I was enveloped in it. The Body Finder is a thrilling romance that will appeal to almost anyone!

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Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Release Date: September 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 288
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I'm marooned.
Abandoned.
Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

Viola is a fourteen-year-old with a passion for film. She believes that she gets it from her parents, who are currently in Afghanistan filming themselves. So, in the meantime, she is dropped off at an academy that her mom attended when she was younger. As you can guess, she hates it, but not after long, she doesn't find it to be so aggravating.

As the story develops Viola begins to find her place at Prefect Academy, and realizes that there is more out there than just the busy streets of New York. When she finally stops fighting to get back home, she starts enjoying her year at the academy. She and her roomates become great friends, and she even gets her first boyfriend! But, even though her life at the academy starts looking up, she still has a dilemma. Her best guy friend from home is acting weird, and all of the sudden, she thinks she's seeing a ghost! As you can tell, this story is not too far from being realistic, and I enjoyed the truth of it. I could really imagine a fourteen year old girl living Viola's life at a boarding school. It was great to read.

The only thing that bothered me was that her best friend, Andrew, wasn't in the story as much, but of course, he was on the other side of the country. Hopefully there will be a next book so their friendship can blossom into something more, because that's the kind of vibe I got from this book.

Viola in Reel Life is an entertaining read. A lot of teens will enjoy it because they can relate to the issues she is going through. I can't wait for more from the author!

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Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Release Date: 11/17/09
Publishers: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 339
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Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world's darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just as their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source...Jude Knight.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before...

In Shadowland, Ever is in a tough spot. She can't do what she wants to do most. She can't kiss her beautiful soulmate Damen, or even touch him for that matter, in the fear of their DNA mixing. Because if that were to ever happen, he would die, despite him being immortal. And leaving Ever alone is what he wants to prevent from happening.

While I thought the book was going to be fully about Ever and Damen trying to find the cure to their problem, it wasn't, because there were so many more things occuring. Things that took too much attention away from the both of them, making it ever harder to focus on the fact that they can't touch each other without clothing or energy between them. Like the twins for instance. Due to special circumstances, they must now live with Damen for an unknown amount of time. Or Ever's new job, the one that her aunt told her she needed to have. Or her young, green-eyed boss, Jude, someone she feels connected to even though they've just met. Their biggest threat, though, is Roman, the very reason they can't be truly together.

So many twists and turns were in Shadowland, and I almost couldn't keep up! I have never been more unexpectedly surprised by an author. Noel knows exactly how to keep me enthralled in her books. I can only imagine what she has instore for Dark Flame, the next in the series.

Shadowland is purely mesmerizing. A book with a little bit of everything in it— romance, suspense, friendship, and immortality—all meshed together to create a mind-blowing combination. Only the next book in the series will satisfy my need to know what will happen next. I simply cannot wait!

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Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: 10/13/09
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 391
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For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

The first thing I want to say is that the cover did the book justice. I was initially intruiged by this book because of the cover, and once I read the summary I knew I needed to read it! And after finishing it, I'm so happy that I did. It was something else...definitely a spectacular debut novel from Becca Fitzpatrick.

Characters are a main part to the story and Becca wrote her characters in wonderfully. They were compelling and entertaining. It was a pleasure to read about Nora, Patch, and Vee. With Nora's logical thinking, Vee's free will, and Patch's witty comments, it's not surprising that I loved this book.

Hush, Hush wasn't too big on the romance and probably would've been less interesting if it was. Sure, there were cute scenes that I loved reading and I enjoyed the moments of conversation between Patch and Nora, but it wasn't as important as everything else that was going on. I loved that, because in some novels, I feel like the romance is the only thing that's keeping me reading and interested. And I'm happy that I can say that I would've kept reading Hush, Hush with or without the romance.

Riveting, mysterious, and addicting, Hush, Hush is one of the best books I've read this year. I can only imagine what will come next.

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Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 195
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Charlotte Emerson seems to have the perfect existence. She is enviably beautiful and lives alone in a mansion full of treasures and beautiful clothes, perched atop the cliffs of the Pacific Palisades. But Charlotte has been lonely and dead for almost a century. Now she might get a second chance at life.

I am so glad that I read this Francesca Lia Block book before any other of hers, because now I am majorly impressed and will go into reading her previous work optimistically.

Pretty Dead was a lot more than I thought it would be. The book itself isn't very long, and usually that's a put down for me. However, this book didn't need to be long to be entertaining and skillfully created. The writing was probably one of my favorite aspects. It was detailed, , and just plain beautiful.

The intricate and delicate love in this novel was a new thing to me. Most vampire novels consist of a female or male entering a new environment and catching the eye of the vampire, but in this novel, it was completely different. The main character, Charlotte, did have to move a lot, but that was to explore and for necessary purposes regarding her ageless body. The process in this novel was almost reversed. Instead of the main character becoming or developing vampire powers, she begins to lose them.

It's quite interesting to read about her previous years and experiences as well. I just about loved everything in this book! I'm so joyed to have read such an enticing book! I recommend this to everyone, if you love vampires or not.

Pretty Dead is a beautiful story about regret, loss, love and hope for a better life.

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Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Release Date: October 20, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 240
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An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, froma breakthrough new voice in YA fiction

Dear Caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself

Hold Still is a heart-wrenching novel about the struggles a girl must go through after her best friend's suicide.

Caitlin was a mesmerizing character. Her pain and depression bled through the pages and meshed with my own thoughts. The writing was so wonderfully done that I felt her pain like it was my own. She was so connected to Ingrid, her friend that committed suicide, that when she died, part of Caitlin left with her. Ingrid's death left Caitlin feeling broken, exposed, and the farthest thing from being whole. Ingrid was a great character as well. Though she was only seen through Caitlin's memories and her journal entries, you could tell that she was great at hiding her true emotions. While Caitlin had known about some of the depressing and unspeakable things Ingrid was going through, she didn't know how bad they were and to what extent. However, I honestly thought that even if Ingrid had let Caitlin, or anyone else, into this side of her life, they wouldn't be able to help her. She was deeply dug into a pile of negative thoughts and emotions. It was hard to read about some times, but that's what had my interest; it was true and not many authors choose to write so adventurously.

The other characters were crafted intricately as well. They were all not as they would seem to the outside world. Dylan, Caitlin's new friend, was a lesbian. Taylor, a guy that Caitlin begins to develop a connection with, is popular, but interested in Caitlin's thoughts, even though she's drifting on the edges of the social crowd. Jayson, Taylor's friend and the object of Ingrid's affection, was also very different. So, not only in this novel does the story mention suicide and depression, but it also brings different people from different groups together.

Nina LaCour really did a magnificant job with symbolism. At one point on the novel, an old theater is mentioned. It actually becomes a big part in the book and I liked that it was. But what becomes of it is what I liked most, it was like the starting point of a new beginning.

Hold Still is a devastating journey of love, loss, and new beginnings. An impressing debut from Nina LaCour. She will surely make an impact with her fresh, new voice.

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