2012 End of Year Book Survey

Hosted by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner

1. Best book you've read in 2012?

Contemporary: Saving June by Hannah Harrington and My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Sci-Fi: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Paranormal/Supernatural: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, and The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Fantasy: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta and Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Classic: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love but didn't?
The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa--I really loved The Iron Fey series but ended up with mixed feelings about this spin-off. I will still read the next book though, in hopes that the series will be redeemed because Kagawa is a fantastic writer.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John. This book brought me to tears (in a good way!) and I did not expecting to experience such an emotional response while reading this.

4. Book you recommended most to people in 2012?
Probably Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan because I LOVED that book.

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta OH MY GOD. I honestly cannot gush enough about these books.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
This might be surprising, but my answer is John Green! I read my first book by him this year and fell in love with his writing. And his youtube channel.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky-- I usually try to avoid books that are out of my comfort zone so I'm going to pick a school-mandated book. I found this surprisingly good and ended up really liking the characters.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
Either Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta or The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. I sacrificed so much sleep to finish these books!

9. Book you read in 2012 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred--I am just in love with this story! There's just a timeless feel to it so I know I'm going to be re-reading this one multiple times next year.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce. This may sound weird, but I just love how creepy this looks! Definitely a show-stopper to be displayed on my bookshelf.

11. Most memorable character in 2012?
Oh dear, THERE ARE SO MANY! I'll go with Gansey and Ronan from Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys because I just think they're both such unique characters and I cannot get them out of my head!

12. Most beautifully written book in 2012?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. There are so many unforgettable and quote-worthy passages in this book! One of my favorites is, "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
Let's rephrase this into "Books that turned me into an emotional wreck," shall we?
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (primarily because of Will Herondale)

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen--what can I say? I've never been much for classics but holy sweetness this book was just amazing. Will definitely be hunting down more Austen to read.

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?
Oh. My. Goodness. Seriously?

"She will fight for light, and he for dark,
Battling through the ages for love's sweet spark.
Wherever two souls adore truly,you will find them, lo,
The brave Juliet and the wicked Romeo."
-Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

"We live and breathe words...It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, and how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt--I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted--and then I realized that truly I just wanted you."
-Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only Earth we'll have, and I am in love with you."
-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

"Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn't know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves."
-The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater


16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2012?

Shortest: Cajun Night Before Christmas by Howard Jacobs (48 pages)

Longest: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta (596 pages)

17. Book that had s scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin left me with my jaw dropped all the way to the ground because THAT ENDING. THAT FREAKING ENDING. I don't- I can't even- Just- UGHHHHHH.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan-- the ending of this book simultaneously made me want to curl up and sob and throw the book across the room. In the end, I did neither. I just stared at the last page utterly dumbfounded and SO frustrated.

18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2012 (romantic, friendship, etc.)

Favorite sibling relationship: between Mara and Daniel in Michelle Hodkin's Mara Dyer trilogy

Favorite friendship: between Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah in Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys

Favorite romantic relationship: Will and Tessa from Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Prince

19. Favorite book you read in 2012 from an author you read previously:
Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of the Exiles by the fabulous Melina Marchetta. I just drool over everything this woman writes, I kid you not.

20. Best book you read that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from someone else:
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout-- I normally wouldn't pick up an alien book, but all the glowing reviews convinced me. And I'm so glad I did pick it up because it is awesomesauce.

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?
Ahhh! I have so many!
Cuddlebuggery Book Blog- these writers are full of snark and their reviews are hilarious to read.
Vivaciously, Vivian- she always has the most beautifully-written reviews!
Rainy Day Reads- I don't know how she does it so fast, but Christine always has a lot of great reviews of super awesome, up-and-coming books. I swear my TBR list has increased ten-fold because of her recommendations!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?
Probably my review of Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta because I had a lot of fun incorporating gifs into the review.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Hmmm. Haven't had many discussions on my blog this year. Must remedy in 2013. One discussion that does come to mind is this post I did on oh so popular love triangle and got to hear about other people's opinions on the subject.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on someone else's blog?
Oh gosh, I'm awful at keeping track of those....
I really love all of the Musing Musers posts from Cuddlebuggery Book Blog and (not sure if this counts) but I think this Sarah Rees Brennan's Q&A was also very interesting to read.

5. Best event you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
~Le sigh. If only I lived in a city big enough to have author signings and events. As it is, I'll say my favorite event is the weekly My Book Boyfriend meme because I have a weakness when it comes to swoon-worthy book boys.


6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?
Probably the reveal of Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare on July 10. It's not only exciting because I was just dying to see the cover, but because it turned into a twitter phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of fans tweeting #ClockworkPrincess to get the cover revealed! You can read about the madness here.

7. Most popular post this year on your blog? (whether it be by comments or by views)
I think that would be my blogoversary post.

8. Post you wish got a little more love?
Probably one of my posts, such as my review of Fateful by Claudia Gray, which was my very first review so I don't think many people know about it.

9. Best bookish discovery?
At a local library sale, I found a signed copy of Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover by Ally Carter. For $1!!!!!! That was a good shopping trip.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals you had set for yourself at the beginning of the year?
My goal was to read 100 books this year, but I'm a couple books shy of the mark (darn you, college apps!) and I highly doubt I'll make it by the end of the year. Oh well, there's always next year!

Looking ahead

1. One book you didn't get to in 2012 but will be your number 1 priority in 2013?
Ooh, I actually have a few for this....
-Easy byTammara Webber
-The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
-A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

2. Book you are most anticipating in 2013?
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare- which I think we're all eagerly awaiting, and
Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan

3. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2013?
Keep on reading and blogging! :)
Maybe even take up booktubing and uploading some video reviews!
And make my personality shine in my blog. I'm still in search of "my review voice" which is a little all over the place right now, but hopefully I'll find it in 2013.

Merry Christmas!

My book Christmas tree featuring Darth Vader as the star topper 

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday full of great food, amazing friends and family, and, of course, fantastic books!

Review: His Black Wings

Title: His Black Wings
Author: Astrid Yrigollen
Publication date: November 2012

Claren Maidstone has been forced to flee her childhood home after the death of her parents and a vicious assault from a sadistic young man who intends to marry her. Claren changes her identity and finds employment as an assistant to the handsome Fredrick Lowood, a generous yet mysterious benefactor. However, she soon finds out his generosity comes at a price. Fredrick wishes for Claren to befriend his disfigured son who resides in seclusion at their estate, Westwind.

Fredrick Lowood knows what the history books do not teach, that the Grand Council built this new world of peace and beauty on hidden blood and greed. He has plotted for years to bring down the family that enslaved his own people. Suddenly, he has the last living heir in his grasp.

Etrigan Lowood rejects the world that forces him to hide. He is powerful, plagued with a terrible dark beauty: WINGS. It is these wings that carry him out only at night to watch the unwanted intruder in his home. A creature of refined instinct yet little social grace, he is strangely captivated by Claren but knows nothing of how her family’s dark past is intertwined with his own . Through their blossoming friendship, Etrigan realizes he still retains his human heart and yearns for Claren’s love.

Kurten Wandsworth is the only son of the Mayor of St.Marhen. Kurten lives his life fueled by cruelty and lust. Whatever he wants he takes and he wants Claren to be his wife even it if kills her. Scarred by Claren he hunts her down mercilessly until he can set a trap which she will never be able to escape from.

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His Black Wings is definitely one of the most creative retellings I've ever read. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales, and when I was offered the chance to read this book, I jumped at it!

Astrid Yrigollen has done a fantastic job weaving the elements of the classic fairy tale in a steampunk, futuristic Victorian setting. Sounds a bit strange, I know, but somehow Yrigollen makes it work. The actual story takes place in the future, but the mannerisms and dress of the characters are all reminiscent of the Victorian era. In short, Yrigollen has created a world that is completely unique and interesting.

I will say that the progression of this story was a little... fractured. There is constant switching of POVs between Claren's first person view and the omniscient narration of scenes between Etrigan and his father. Oh, and then there's a rather abrupt switch to Kurten's POV for a chapter. I feel like the flow of the story could have been better, especially when the world-building was finally explained; for 2/3 of the book, I had been full of questions on the origin of the Victorian steampunk world and, rather abruptly, the plot is just paused as the background info is thrust at you. It was nice to learn about the backstory, but the problem was that I felt bombarded by information. It was a lot to absorb in a short amount of time and could have been integrated into the story better.

There is a great cast of characters in this book, all of them bringing something different to the story. Claren was a good protagonist who was very brave and selfless. She came across as a Mary Sue at times, but considering the fact that she represents Belle, I cut her some slack. And then we have Etrigan. Ah Etrigan, I have such mixed feelings about you. On the one hand, I didn't like how possessive and, at time, rude he was. But on the other hand, he was the Beast, so this characterization was pretty spot-on. By the end of the novel, though, I did end up liking him. And I liked him and Claren together.

Something that I really loved about this book was how interesting the secondary characters were. They all had a distinct personality that kept the story interesting. From the hilarious rivalry between Horace and Dekker to the dark nature of Kurten Wandsworth, I was enraptured and entertained. I might even go so far as to say that the secondary characters were my favorites!

On a side note, I found it a bit hard to really connect with the characters. Personally, I really like being able to connect with characters, to get inside their heads; it makes the reading experience more enjoyable. With His Black Wings, even when I was reading from Claren's first person POV, I felt rather detached, as if I were seeing the story unfold from afar as opposed to being in the middle of the action. I think this is really a personal preference, though. I'm sure some people prefer this style of narration since it's similar to reading a fairy tale.

So....
Rating: 4 stars*

All in all: Despite my little critiques in the review, I really did enjoy this book! It's a really cool and unique twist on the Beauty and the Beast story. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys retellings, or fairy tales in general. Or Victorian-era books. Or just someone who's looking for something new and refreshing in a world where so many ideas are overused.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Top Ten Books I Read in 2012

Hosted over at the Broke and Bookish

2012 was a good year. And by that I mean I read some seriously fantastic novels! In no particular order, they are:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I cannot believe I put this book off until now to read because it is fantastic! Must hunt down some more Austen to read soon.....

2. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
I am in love. Is it weird that I want to marry this book because I love it so much? Because I do. I needed the sequel like yesterday.

3. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
This book is, hands down, my best summer read of 2012. I loved it so much I couldn't stop rereading it when I was done!

4. Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred
To say that I loved this book would be a huge understatement. This book had literally everything I've ever wanted in one story and I only wish it could have gone on forever!

5. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
This was my first book by the infamous Maria V. Snyder, and after reading it, I totally get why everyone is in love with her writing! Her story is a perfect blend of fabulous characters, great plot, action, and a bit of romance.

6. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
This book crept up on me. I read it and liked it, but the more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with Stiefvater's beautiful prose and fantastically complex characters! I. Need. That. Sequel.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer

7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
I'm pretty sure just about everyone's read this book so you probably know why this just had to be on my list. This was my very first John Green book and I am absolutely in love with his writing!

8. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
I never knew a book could gut me the way this book did. This book gave me so. Many. Feelings. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, and then I experienced some serious angst when this book ended before I was ready to let it go.

9. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Honestly I am just flabbergasted that this was Harrington's debut novel. Because it was absolutely amazing! It was beautiful and heartbreaking and full of snark (which I love)

10. A tie between Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare and The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Guyyysss, it was so hard to choose between these two! One the one hand, there was Will Herondale and all the heartbreak that CP put me through.... on the other hand, there was sheer suspense of Evolution, not to mention Noah and Mara.
So they both made the list.  ;p

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Dracian Legacy

Title: Dracian Legacy
Author: Priya Kanaparti
Publication date: February 14th, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Synopsis:

Ren and Axel are caught between two powerful magical races: one destined to end the bloodhsed, the other out for vengeance.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Pernell is prophesied to end the war between the Dracians and the Telalians. So when a Dracian, Axel Knight, is sent to find and bring back the prophesied one before she turns eighteen and Telalians discover of her existence, unexpected sparks fly start to fly between the two. Once Ren finds the truth behind Axel's arrival, she wants everything to do with him and nothing to do with his mission.
Things prove to be difficult as Ren's life is constantly threatened by forces that are beyond her control, including the leader of the Telalians.
With the clock ticking and Ren's life in jeopardy, it is no longer just a mission for Axel. It becomes a personal endeavor to save the only one he's ever loved. In a heart racing ending, they must find a way to evade the preordained war that won't also end Ren's life

My thoughts:
I don't know about you, but I am in serious cover love right now!

About the author:

Priya Kanaparti was born in India, grew up in Detroit, and is now living in Boise, ID. She attended Wayne State University for her undergrad degree in Bachelor of Science in Biology, and University of Phoenix for her Masters in Business Administration. Priya works as a project manager in software field during the day and lives in the world of her characters during the nights and weekends. She had found the love for reading and writing early this year, when she stayed home with her year old and needed something to occupy those 'downtime' hours. 

She loves playing tennis on a good summer day and chess during the cold winters, but reading and writing has become a year round hobby.

She lives in Boise with her husband, son and a Yorkie. Dracian Legacy is her debut novel.

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Review: Don't Tell

Title: Don't Tell
Author: Mercy Amare
Publication date: September 21, 2012
Synopsis:

I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.

I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.

I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?

This book was the perfect blend of gritty and sweet.

Lucy is a girl who, on the outside appears to have a perfect life, but in reality, behind closed doors, she suffers from abuse inflicted by her alcoholic father. I liked that this book tackled a tough and serious issue, but didn't let it dominate the whole story. This story is also about falling in love and exploring the limits of what someone would do for the person they loved.

This book is written from the dual POVs of Lucy, the girl who is suffering when no one is looking, and Ian, the golden boy of school who has been in love with Lucy for almost his entire life. I'm normally not crazy about dual POVs, but I really enjoyed getting to know both of these characters. My heart went out to Lucy for what she was going through. At times, I wanted to reach into the book and give her a big hug. I love how good Lucy was despite all that she was going through; her life was hell, but she still managed to be a kind person and a good friend. Ian was super sweet, the kind of perfect guy who could have easily become a cliché but didn't. Ian is honest, kind, and quite mature for a high school boy. He's the kind of guy that any girl would be lucky to date.

This book was quite short, but I thing so much was covered in the span of 66 pages. The story was concise, getting right down to the core of the story without any unnecessary drama. Overall, I thought the pacing was nice, however, due to its length, the point of view switched very frequently and the romance felt brisk at times. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well I felt I got to know the characters despite the story's brevity, and there was actual character development happening! In only 66 pages! I've seen 300-some page books who never achieved the character development that this book did.

The only thing that really bothered me was how Lucy's beauty was emphasized over and over again. Yes, I understand that she is a beautiful girl, but there's no need to remind me every single time Ian lays eyes on her! She's pretty, yes, but she was also a beautiful person on the inside, always very caring and nice. I wish that had been emphasized more than her physical attributes.

Rating: 3.75 stars*

I think any fan of YA contemporary and romance would like reading this. Literally, you could read this in one sitting, and believe me, it's hard to put this book down. The only thing that's keeping me from giving this a full four stars is because I just feel like I'm missing that extra oomph that probably could've been achieved with some more time for development and transition.

On a random note: 
You want to know the weirdest thing about this book? The fact that the blurb says Lucy always wears long sleeves to cover the bruises, but the girl on the cover is wearing a tank top! O__o

*I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

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Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

The unfortunate byproduct of being a high school senior is that I don't have much time to read. Not as much as I used to, anyway. Before, I was able to finish a book in less than a week, and now, quite frankly, I'm lucky if I make it through half of the book in that time.

This book took me three days to finish.

Three days.

GUYS. THREE DAYS.

Insanity. I don't even remember the last time I finished a book so quickly.

So here's how it all went down....

Me before reading:

Beyond excited. In fact, I may (or may not have) done a happy dance when I finally had the book in my hands. And this happy dance may or may not have been incredibly embarrassing and performed in public...

Me while reading:

This book was an addiction. It's fast-paced and full of creepiness, revelations, and sexy times with Noah, and if you think you can just stop after one chapter, you are lying to yourself.

The stakes, suspense, and mystery are all elevated in Evolution. More than ever, you see Mara's sanity being put in question, to the point where she doesn't even know whether or not she's experiencing reality or a delusion. Reading this story was akin to playing a mind game  Half the time I was trying to figure out who to believe, what the truth really was, and the other half, I was questioning everything I thought.

Unlike many YA books, Evolution really included Mara's family into what was going on. Her parents aren't absentees or idle spectators. They see their daughter in trouble and they act. And don't even get me started on the sibling relationship in the Dyer family because I won't be able to stop gushing! Mara's relationship with her brothers, Daniel especially, was just incredibly realistic and SO sweet. It definitely made me wish I had an older brother like Daniel.

My favorite part of this book, though, was seeing more of Mara and Noah's relationship. At the beginning of the series, it seemed like the only thing really tying the two of them together was their inexplicable abilities.  In this book, however, it becomes so much more apparent that these two are perfect for each other!  I think it's safe to say that they are both quite screwed up as a result of their respective powers, but when they're together, they make each other better (which sounds cheesy, I know, but there's really no way to describe it!) They keep each other grounded when everything around them is questionable.

I especially enjoyed seeing more of Noah's character. He wasn't exactly a flat character in Unbecoming, but I definitely didn't get to know him as much as I wanted to. Evolution did a great job of showing me more of Noah Elliot Simon Shaw and I loved it.

Eep.

Help.

I'm swooning.


Me after reading:

In Unbecoming, I was full of questions, wondering just what the heck Mara was and how it was possible that she could do the things she did. In Evolution, it feels like Michelle Hodkin is finally letting you in on the big secret.... but it's all a big. Fat. Lie!!! It's like she's dangling this delicious-looking carrot of truth in front of you, making you read page after page after page, but in the end, all you are left with is a blown mind and more questions. Oh, and frustration. Heaps of that. Well played Ms. Hodkin, well played. 

Rating: 5 stars

Dear Ms. Hodkin,

Book three....

Pretty please?

Feature and Follow #24

Follow Friday is a really fun way to make new blogger friends and promote your blog in the process! This weekly meme is hosted byAlison Can Read and Parajunkee. 

Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common?

This was a pretty hard question to answer but I'm going to go with Blue Sargent from Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys. She gets to live in a house full of eccentric psychics and befriend the four Raven boys, and believe me, I would LOVE to meet Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah. 

Blue and I are both a little weird and not exactly extroverted, but I'd love to be her because I really admire the fact that she loves being different. She owns it really well, even going out of her way to be not normal. She's also stubborn and quite witty, which I'd like to think I am too.

  I can't remember her exact description at the moment, but I know that she has short dark hair that's usually a bit messy.

My Book Boyfriend: Noah Shaw (part 2)

MBB is an awesome weekly meme started by Missie The Unread Reader (find out more at by reading the intro post) and is currently co-hosted by Lesley over at My Keeper Shelf!

All right, I know I've been MIA from My Book Boyfriend for months now and you have no idea how much I miss fangirling over fictional boys with all of you!  It's not that I haven't been reading about any good boys lately, just that I haven't had time to look up quotes and write up a post. The lack of posts could also, possibly , be attributed to my natural laziness.....

BUT! But, I recently finished The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (which I will hopefully have a review of up in the next day or two) and oh my goodness gracious I swooned so hard over Noah Shaw. Again!

I did an MBB post on Noah way back when book 1 of the series came out, but GIRLS. He got so much hotter in book 2 I can't even- 

So, yeah. Let the fangirling and swooning commence.

Noah Shaw

• 17
• "Tall, with dark brown, perfect hair," usually rumpled
• "Unbelievable smile," usually somewhat cocky
• "Blue eyes," that are sometimes a beautiful shade of gray
• usually sporting a five o'clock shadow
• Loves animals
• British. Accent.

"This was the boy I loved. A little bit messy. A little bit ruined. A beautiful disaster. Just like me."

But my favorite half-smile appeared on his mouth. I wanted to live in it. "How long do you want me?"  he asked.

How long can I have you? I thought.

"What do I sound like?" I asked, more breathily than  intended. God, so predictable.

He considered his answer for a moment before he gave it. "Dissonant," he said finally.

"Meaning?"

Another long pause. "Unstable."

Hmm.

He should his head. Not the way you're thinking," he said, and the shadow of a smile on his lips. "In music, consonant chords are points of arrival. Rest. There's no tension," he tried to explain. Most pop music hooks are consonant, which is why most people like them. They're catchy but interchangeable. Boring. Dissonant intervals, however, are full of tension," he said, holding my gaze. "You can't predict which way they're going to go. It makes limited people uncomfortable--frustrated, because they don't understand the point, and people hate what they don't understand, But the ones who get it," he said, lifting a hand to my face, "find it fascinating. Beautiful." He traced the shape of my mouth with his thumb. "Like you."

"Never mind what I want." his voice was quieter, now. "What do you want?"

"You." Always you.

"You have me," he said, his eyes meeting mine. You inhabit me." His face was stone but the words issued from his lips in a plea. "You want to know what I want? I want you to be the one wanting me first. Pushing me first. Kissing me first. Don't be careful with me," he said. "Because I won't be careful with you."

"If i were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one."

Melina Marchetta on "Francesca and Stuff"

Oh.

My gosh.

Guys.

GUYS.

I just read the new blog post Melina Marchetta (goddess divine) posted on her wordpress in which she talks about selling the film writes to Saving Francesca.... but more importantly, THIS:

"Strangely, Saving Francesca is difficult because of its simplicity, but writing the treatment surprised me and reminded me just how much I loved those kids and Mia and Bobby Spinelli.  They’ve also come back into my life at an important time for writing because 24 year old Jimmy Hailler is camping out in my head.  It’s not just his story, but a bit of a four hander and it will definitely be an adult one rather than YA.  It’s interesting that I didn’t know where Jimmy and his life was until I played with circumstances in Froi and Quintana’s life."

Oh yeah, that's right. Read it again if you don't believe me, but it totally sound like....

WE'RE GETTING A JIMMY BOOK!!!! AS IN AN ACTUAL BOOK WHERE WE GET TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS (BUT OH SO LOVABLE) JIMMY HAILLER!

Cue the intense fangirling.

Review: Rape Girl

Title: Rape Girl
Author: Alina Klein
Publication date: June 5th, 2012
Publisher: namelos

Rating: 4 stars*

Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.

But not the rape girl.

That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.

Rape Girl is the compelling story of a survivor who does the right thing and suffers for it. It is also the story of a young woman’s struggle to find the strength to fight back.

Shell-shocked. Amazed. Appalled. Dumb-founded.

These were all adjectives that described me upon finishing Rape Girl. 

Wow. Just...wow.

This is the story of Valerie, the "rape girl," as she's called by the people who don't believe her story. Why is that, you might ask? Because her rapist is an upstanding member of the community, whose dream, I might add, is to become a mormon missionary.Not exactly the sexually deviant type, and because of that, Valerie gets alienated and ridiculed as the girl who cried rape.

First off, I would just like to applaud Alina Klein for not being afraid to be in-your-face about this. I'm not saying this book is very graphic--it's not. However, from the bold title and the synopsis, Klein does not shy away from the sensitive subject about this book. She could have chosen a less-subtle title. But she didn't.

This book grabs your attention and the story keeps you captivated--whether in a good way or a bad way, that's for you to decide.

Rape Girl was very real. There were no false pretenses that rapists are always violent and scary, or that victims always get justice. Klein depicted the situation, the status quo, as it really is, however disappointing that reality might be. This book is an unflinchingly honest account of a horrible crime and it. Is. Worth. Reading.

All in all: This wasn't a light or happy read. But ultimately I am glad I read it because this book tackles a very tough issue, one that happens all too often, with amazing honesty. This isn't a very long book, but it says exactly what needs to be said.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Feature and Follow #23

Follow Friday is a really fun way to make new blogger friends and promote your blog in the process! This weekly meme is hosted byAlison Can Read and Parajunkee. 

Who is your to-die-for book crush? What do you think they look like?

Ahahahahahahahahaha! Oh lordy, if you've read some of my other posts, then you know that apple of my eye, love of my heart, fire of my loins, etc etc. is none other than Will Herondale from Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices series!

I don't remember exact quotes, but Will is a black-haired, blue-eyed BAMF and he is witty as heck. Also, he loves books. Like, really really loves books.

He's snarky and hilarious and at times, somewhat inappropriate, but underneath the bad boy exterior is a beautifully complex character that you will love so much it hurts.

I've always had a hard time picturing book boys as real people, and Tessa did say that Will looked "like every fictional character she had conjured up in her head" which makes him even harder to cast! However, I did see an old picture of Alex Pettyfer from a while ago where the photo was edited so that he had black hair and By The Angel, I could definitely see him as Will. 

So are you swooning yet?  :)

Review: The Raven Boys

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publication date: September 18th, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Synopsis:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Let me just start off by making this clear: the synopsis of this book does not do the actual story justice. Not by a long shot.
Yes, Blue is apparently destined to kill her true love with her kiss, and yes, she meets four Raven Boys.

More than that, though, this book is about an eccentric family of secretive psychics and a non-psychic daughter, a journey to find a magical ley line, the legend of the Welsh king, Glendower, and the fierce friendship between four boys that is complex and heart-breakingly beautiful.

The best part of this book, for me, is definitely the friendship between the four Raven Boys.

You've got Gansey who is born with unimaginable privilege and harbors an obsession for finding the legendary Glendower. I loved the dichotomy of Gansey's character! On the surface he is the cookie-cutter rich boy, but beneath that there is this inexplicably complex nature, from his deep insatiable yearning for Glendower to his love and protectiveness of his friends. I wish I knew the right words to describe Gansey, but all I can tell you is that he is a truly unforgettable character. 

"In the end, he was nobody to Adam, he was nobody to Ronan. Adam spit his words back at him and Ronan squandered however many second chances he gave him. Gansey was just a guy with a lot of stuff and a hole inside him that chewed away more of his heart every year.

They were always walking away from him. But he never seemed able to walk away from them."

Then you've got Adam, sweet and endearing Adam. He's a tortured hero who has been able to retain this rare kindness and gentleness about him despite the hell he grew up in. Adam comes from nothing and, like Gansey, yearns for something more, but he won't accept anything unless he's earned it himself.

"It means I never get to be my own person. If I let you cover for me, then I'm yours. I'm his now, and then I'll be yours."

Ronan is the bad-boy of the bunch; angry, intimidating, and downright dangerous. However, there is a concealed softer side of him, a side that may not be described as "kind," but definitely shows that he cares more about people than he seems to. His past is shrouded in mystery and I really cannot wait for the sequel to find out more about him!

"Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn't know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves." 

Last, but certainly not least, is Noah, the most mysterious of the four--but just as endearing. Noah harbors a dark secret which plays an integral part in this novel, both in the the mystery of the book and in the relationships between the Raven Boys.

"Noah was a good bellwether for people. He was so shy and awkward and invisible that he could be easily ignored or made fun of."

These four boys are as different as could be, but they fit together like jigsaw pieces falling into place, balancing each other and keeping each other in check. Their relationship is complicated, but so compelling to read about, and before I could help it, I'd fallen in love with each of them.

I've read Stiefvater's Shiver trilogy and part of her Scorpio Race, and in The Raven Boys, her writing is still effortlessly gorgeous! Her descriptions are so vivid it's really like I'm in Henrietta, Virginia with its hot days, cold nights, and mountain air.

The only frustrating part of this book, for me, was the romance. Or lack thereof. As a romanceaholic, I crave that bit of romance in books and as I was reading this, I was constantly anticipating the emegence of the romantic element....but it never came! Not really. There was a slight blossoming of feelings, but for a story that emphasized how Blue was going to kill her true love, there really wasn't a whole lot of love present.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

Let me repeat: It's okay that there wasn't much romance. I still loved this book regardless. The story, the mystery, and especially the characters drew me in and kept me a willful prisoner for 408 pages.

Rating: 4.5 stars*

All in all: I. Need. The. Sequel.
I need it now! This book captivated me while I read and even when I finished, I could not get the story or the characters out of my head. So the question now is, how many "reallys" do I have to put before "recommend" to get you to read this?


*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own

Top Ten Most Anticipated Books of 2013

Hosted over at the Broke and Bookish

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, which is totally a given! I'm a ball of nerves and excitement and dread just waiting for it--and have you guys read the snippets?!--I'm not ready for it to be over, but I also need to know how it all wraps up!

2. Crash by Lisa McMann because I adored her Wake trilogy as well as Cryer's Cross. There's just something about her writing that I can't get enough of! And this one sounds like it's going to be awesome!

3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell because I am a fellow fangirl.

4. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen because I LOVE Sarah Dessen novels. 

5. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins because all of Perkins' stories are just so cute and funny and heart-wrenching and romantic and I JUST NEED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF REASONS, OKAY?

6. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer because Cinder left me with  A LOT of feelings and I need to know what happens to Cinder and Kai and I want to meet the Wolf and I. Need. It. 

7. Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan because if you've read my review of Unspoken, then you know that I am *very* obsessed with this story and the ending left me incredibly frustrated.  

8. School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins because GUYS. This is the Hex Hall spin-off!!!!!!!!! Need I say more?

9. Sever by Lauren DeStefano becaus, ohmygoodgracious, she cannot leave me hanging after that ending in Wither!

10. ...Aaaaaand I'm going to be a bit of a cheat with this one because the books don't have titles yet (*sobbing*). Raven Cycle #2 by Maggie Stiefvater (loved The Raven Boys!), Gallagher Girls #6 by Ally Carter (ZachandCammieZachandCammieZachandCammie), and Divergent #3 (Insurgent's ending kind of blew my mind!).