Friday, May 23, 2014

My Review : We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars
Goodreads:
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
 
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.


                             My Thoughts:

     I really have no clear words after I read this book...instead, I found tears trailing down my cheeks. It pulled out  huge , heavy emotions from my unsuspecting  heart.  I've experienced clash of emotions ....confusion and clarity ...desolation and hope...anger and pity. All these hit me  like big  threatening ocean waves ...leaving me grasping for air and helpless. It was overwhelming...and yes, that's what I discovered when I went inside Cadence Sinclair Eastman's mind.

    There is really something about Cadence ....and Johnny and Mirren and Gat... and the rest of the Sinclairs.

" Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair Family.
No one is a criminal.
No one is an addict.
No one is a failure... "

"It doesn't matter if one of us is desperately , desperately in  love.
So much in love that equally desperate measures must be taken.
We are Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live,at least in summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts.
Perhaps that is all you need to know..."

  But is that really all we need to know?

  Cadence revisited Sinclairs private island on the hope of bringing up her lost  memories and find out what really  happened  last Summer Fifteen. Maybe The Liars ....her cousins Johnny, Mirren and the love of her life, Gat  hold the answer? About that truth?  Maybe. Just maybe. Or maybe ...it was best left untold?

  This book is a mind blowing mindf@ck. I read only a few really thought provoking and mind stimulating books, but I can already say that this is a good one. It made me question a lot of things. It made me want Cadence to remember everything...every single detail of  what she did or what the Liars did.

   As Cady's memories resurfaced bit by bit.... I thought I knew everything but I don't.  The truth caught me off guard!  It made me sad , angry, sad, angry about how Sinclairs... are simply being a Sinclair. Now, I totally sound....like , not myself?  I would very much like to explain myself... but I stopped. It is better left unsaid.  Or best, find it ...find all about it ,yourself.


I love how the author wrote all that words.   The repetition , seems silly at first but a closer look at it? Strange but I rather find it ...poetic?  ..philosophical?  Like that idea of ...if reality splits?

"...there are parallel universes in which different events have happened to same people. An alternate choice has been made, or an accident has turned out differently. Everyone has duplicates of themselves in these other worlds. Different lives, different luck. Variations. "

    I loved that idea...loved how it stirred something within me. What if I do this , instead of that..would it result to same outcome..or the total opposite? So many what if's... Just like what Cady and the Liars did , that Summer fifteen.


    It was hypnotic... even the fairytale  mentioned, comes with a sudden twist... was a clear story of what might happened to the Sinclairs ..to the Liars. It was engaging that I find it hard to tear me away from the book.

    Until .....the whole truth was revealed. Everything came like flashbacks.  The plan. The intention. The tragedy.  I was dumbstrucked... heart broken...I cried. I cried for Cadence. I cried for Johnny, for Mirren, for Gat.  I cried for the Sinclairs...


           I'm giving this book:
           4 Sinclair Liars Stars







 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

My Review : World After by Susan Ee

World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2)
Goodreads:    
In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

                 My Thoughts:

Here's the  truth about  me making a review : I struggle when I'm reviewing a VERY good ..meaning , amazing book! I feel like  my words doesn't stand up for what I exactly felt with the story . The closest phrase  I could come of ...is  something  more like this  : This book was agffhtkigkdhdytjkhlh;h;h!  <------ Yes! If it's really good then, I have no words! Hah!

    So this book? Ahgkkdhklifjthfhhfd!  Translation: REALLY, REALLY GOOD! World After literally picked up  where Angelfall ended.... and the non stop , heart stopping  action continues! I was all glued up to the story that I never noticed the time moving . ( I finished the  entire book in a day!)

     Penryn was still my favorite kick- ass heroine! I can't think of any flaw for this girl. Even her being drawn to danger all the time doesn't count as a flaw! Because she did all of that , selflessly! My heart crushed when she finally had her  little sister Paige back. ..only Paige's turned into something . I was appalled , how could anybody turned a helpless little girl into something close to a monster?! People are even afraid to go near her.
 Poor , poor Paige  having to deal with that torture?

 
   I  love how the story goes on. It was fast paced and I found myself truly appreciating every written page. There plenty of movie moments in it! And yes! most of it would take your breath away! I got a few favorites but I won't try to get into details so to avoid the spoilers.

  Movie moment number one :  Raffe with Penryn in his arms ...fighting off the hostile angels , air above them and freezing waters below them?! It was WOOOOOOW!!! I mean, car chases in action movies excite me, but this one? INCREDIBLE! Of course, our girl Penryn always got her badass moves at perfect timing! I LOOOOVE it!

  Movie moment number two : Penryn being warmed up inside Raffe's demon wings?! Ahhhhhh! You can call me a  hopeless romantic....but there's nothing more romantic  being  under Raffe's wings  on a cold, chilly evening?! Ahhh.. I am indeed hopeless!

  I won't miss to mention that there are LOT of funny snarks between these too! I LOOOVE all of them. I chuckled and laugh all the time. I admire that despite the danger  and desperate situation, their sense of humor  was always at its  finest!

“You’re cute when you’re afraid.”
I give him a dirty look. “Yeah, you’re cute when you’re afraid too.”
He actually bursts out laughing. “You mean I’m devastatingly handsome when I’m not afraid. Because you’ve never seen me afraid.”
“I said you were cute, not ‘devastatingly handsome.”

"Don't talk. You'll spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth"

   Movie moment number three : Penryn holding Pooky Bear in a real battle against the strongest enemy!  Yes! She named Raffe's sword Pooky Bear!!! *chuckles* What happens next? Gave me the chills and goosebumps of my life! Again, INCREDIBLE!! I couldn't be more proud of Pooky Bear and Penryn! 


     Yes! There's sooooo much to love!!  Even that cliffy ending did not bother me at all.... Uh Wait! I should be bothered..because I have to wait for 2015 for the next book in series!!! 2015... make days go fast! Looking forward for more Rafryn ( Yes! Raffe and Penryn! ) , I wish the soonest!!!  
   
   
                 I'm giving this book:
                  5 Incredible Pooky Stars!




My Review : Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)

Goodreads:
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

                     My Thoughts:

Wow! Just wow!  I said it before, that I'm  "NOT" a fan of dystopian - Post apocalyptic themes. But , Hey! After The  Hunger Games and Legend Trilogy....and now, this? I would say, I am starting to LOVE this new genre.

Angel themed stories are fascinating... but put it inside  of a post apocalyptic scenario? More than amazing! I never thought or even imagined Angels going against mankind and vice versa? This book was a beautiful surprise!

War against the angels? How can mankind even stood a chance? Destruction  and chaos followed. People are either hiding  ... some drove into madness and become savages. I love how Ms. Ee wrote the entire scenario! The carnage... and brutality around them... it was well detailed ...so vivid that I felt goosebumps just picturing it.

The characters, Penryn and Raffe.. I absolutely love everything about them! Penryn is what I pictured my heroine would ever be. She is   fearless, funny ( Wait for her snarky comebacks!chuckle-worthy!) , totally kick ass! ( My ! I was in shock when she fought with a man , Yes A man! Twice her size! in a fist fight?!)....and selfless to a fault !

Raffe on the other hand,  he is one cocky, sarcastic archangel who happens to be agnostic which happens to be a shock, because...really? He's a freaking archangel?! Yeah, you can tell the irony there....and here's the thing, he's a WINGLESS archangel!! Well, not that he had a choice, it was forcefully ripped away from him while wrestling with a few sadistic, blood thirsty, brute angels.( Or should I call evil angels? If there's such thing?!) .

 Enter our seventeen year old Penryn, caught between  the crossfire....which ended up to her saving Raffe ( also ironic! ).... which also backfired when these evil angels took her little cripple sister away from her! Then, the amazing , heart stopping search and rescue begins!

I just love everything about this book. I love Raffe and Penryn's chemistry. It's not insta - love...so nothing cliche-ish here, or so as I think it is. There's no gag worthy  love at first sight here, in fact , they did not even like each other! ( Oh?! Is it so?! *winks* ) They are together because they have to...or at least because Penryn kinda hostage Raffe's broken wings?! So, it's a deal :" Lead me to my sister and I'll give you back your wings."

And yes, what's a great  book without a few "swoony" and "Awwww" moments?  I got a few favorites and it has something to do with ...surprising "non verbal" but really screaming " Oh, I totally dig you?!" Haha!

" His pupils dilate when he sees me. His lips part, momentarily forgetting  to marshal his expression, and I could swear he stops breathing for several heartbeats. "

See, NON VERBAL! And I was all giddy and was about to shout, "Finally, Raffe?! You noticed Penryn?!  Note to self : Wear a teeny red dress, a pair of vicious stilettos and Yes! Prettify that face! Bammm! HELLO RAFFE!!

Oh, and that did not stop there! As much as I hate it, I got to hold off my very excited self  and NOT to spill any spoilers  here! All I have to say, good..good stuff are coming ahead! Keywords : Danger.. great Twist, Tear inducing moments and More questions!

Love, loved this book! Looking forward for the sequel for sure!

             I'm giving this book:
            5 heart stopping stars


Saturday, May 10, 2014

My Review: Unravel by Calia Read

Unravel
From Goodreads:
Six months ago, I was happy. I was simply Naomi Carradine. 

One month ago, I was admitted into a psych ward. 

Yesterday, Lachlan visited me. Kissed me. And told me that I’m starting to lose my mind. 

Hours later, Max haunted my thoughts, reminding me I’m not crazy and that he needs my help. 

A few minutes ago, I drifted further from reality, trying to unravel the past. 

And now...everyone thinks I’m insane. But, I know he's real, and I know he needs me. 

Do you believe me?


                  My Thoughts:


        Ahhhhh.. have no words to describe what I felt after reading this book! This was unlike the books I have ever read.  This book is a total  mindfuck! ( Oh, and I learned a new word today! Whoopsie!)

       Mindfuck : adj. meaning: To experience a situation which calls into question the way your  mind is currently sees a certain idea  or the world in general. Such an experience usually leaves a person stunned / speechless  while he or she begins wrapping his or her mind  around the new idea. ( source: Urban Dictionary )

      Every word true. I was stunned. Speechless. I blinked few times and asked myself, "What has just happened?"  I've been tricked, big time! Wow! Ms. Calia Read , you are soooo good!

      This was my first book from Ms. Calia Read and I would say that this will NOT be the last one. Such an amazing author!  The angst between the pages ...BRUTAL! But surprise , SURPRISE! I loooove it!

     I love how how I was pulled into the story from the beginning ....up to the last page. Going inside Naomi's mind is like walking inside an unknown, long , dark tunnel .. you'll never know  what's waiting for you at the end... or if there's really an end? Or you could be trapped forever.  Everything is uncertain.With what Naomi's been going through , I felt two conflicting feelings : Dread , like everything slowly, painfully cascading into doom  and  Fight back. I want Naomi's to be strong ....free from the prison she built around herself.  It's never been easy for Naomi to go back to that reality...but I felt how she fought ...she fought hard for  normalcy , for the life that she wants and for the person she truly wants to be. Can she make it?  Or will she let the real Naomi slowly fade away?

" When a person is lucky enough to live inside a story, to live inside an imaginary world , the pains of this world disappears. For as long as the story goes on, reality no longer exist. " ( Paul Auster)


      There's just so many "feels" about this book. My  mind was swimming with a lot of questions. What / who  was real and who's not? I was more than halfway through the book ...but my questions were left unanswered! Did I gave up? No, not now and not ever. I was totally into it. It was at the end, that everything came crashing . .. and everything made sense. About Max...about Lana .. about Lachlan ( Oh , I loved him! ) ..and the truth of what really happened to Naomi. Everything made sense. I got goosebumps.  I was astound.

     " Everything that we've been through makes me realize that love is about finding the right person in this cold , oppressive world that loves all the wrong things about you. Everything you try to hide, they accept. And I know he accepts me. "

     " Lachlan stands up and hold his hand. you ready to go home? I nod and take his hand. "


        Ms. Calia Read, thank you for this  Beautiful...powerful story!  Love. Loved it!

           I'm giving this book:
      5 Mind blowing Amazing Stars!

 



Friday, May 9, 2014

My Review : Second Chance Boyfriend by Monica Murphy

Second Chance Boyfriend (One Week Girlfriend Quartet, #2)
From Goodreads:
Lost. That one single word best describes my life at this very moment. I lost the last games of the season and both my team and my coach blame me. I lost the last two months because I drowned in my own despair like a complete loser. And I lost the only girl who ever mattered because I was afraid being with me would destroy her.

But now I realize how truly lost I am without her. She has become my story…and even though she acts like she’s moved on, I know she still thinks about me just as much as I think about her. She’s beautiful, sweet—and so damn vulnerable, all I want to do is help her. Be there for her.

Love her…

If only I could convince Fable to give me a second chance. Then I wouldn’t feel so lost anymore, and neither would she. We could be found together.

Forever.


                              My Thoughts:

    My heart screams, "I LOVE YOU DREW CALLAHAN" with all my heart and soul!  I've been consistently fangirling from the first book  One Week Girlfriend up to this book. ( And I still do, even after I finished reading it! ) Loved everything about it ...EXCEPT.. Yes! There's an EXCEPTION?! ( unbelievable! ) ...EXCEPT the EPIC book hangover and separation anxiety  I've experienced after the last page! Drew, Drew, Drew.... it's your fault!  So, what would I do to make you come running back to me? MARSHMALLOW!!


    As always, I love how it was written.  It  made me forget that I was a mere reader, instead I found myself inside the story... inside Fable and Drew's lives. Oh , the dual POV's was amazing. My favorite was , of course inside Drew's mind. ( A sexy body and a much sexier mind! The things running on this guy's head? Totally would-make-you-melt! )

    Drew , though how much he tried to be tough, he was still harboring the torments and guilt because of  the B@tch / Psycho / Stepmom has just revealed. Oh I really HATE and DESPISED his Evil-incarnate stepmom! How could she do that?? Mentally and emotionally torturing Drew with her lies???? This eff up situation was messing everything in his life, including his budding relationship with Fable.  Oh, Fable has issues of her own too! With a super irresponsible mom and a brother ( Oh! I loved Owen! ) she has to take care, Fable has a full plate in her hands. Can they make it through together?

   I love the angst, but I also love how both Drew and Fable complemented each other. When Drew needs the saving, Fable was there and same thing with Fable. It only takes one word.. "Marshmallow" , their lifeline.. and they come running towards each other. *Le Swoon!*

"Her name. Fable. A story. A myth. A fairy tale. She’s my story. I want to live and breathe and die for her and she has no idea how much she consumes my thoughts. To the point I think of nothing else”

    Drew and Fable are meant to be, it's a fact. I swooned in all the things they did, even the steamy ones. That was the essence of making love, there was a connection... there was healing.  And Drew? The things he did for love, why, Fable just brought out the inner romantic poet in him! And he permanently ink that in his skin! I LOOOOOOVE DREWWWWW!

“We’re going to make this happen, Fable. You and me.” I kiss her forehead. “Together.”
“Together,” she agrees.
Forever.”

    I love the ending. It was the HEA I've always wanted. I got teary eyed...and I smiled. Clearly , Drew and Fable together? Everything will fall into place. LOVE, LOVE. LOVED!

           I'm giving this book:

        5 Sweetest Marshmallows!