Review: Beautiful Lies

Title: Beautiful Lies
Author: Jessica Warman
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: August 07, 2012
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC, ALA

Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins-so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they've lived with since their parents passed away, can't tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong-especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself?

My thoughts:

Beautiful Lies was a complete mind confusing mystery straight from chapter one! I don’t know any other way to explain it but to say WHAT??!!?? Rachel and Alice, identical monoamniotic twins, take readers on a really crazy adventure that never fails to throw twists and turns right in your face!

Rachel and Alice are identical monoamniotic twins which mean that they shared the same amniotic sack while they were in their mother’s womb. Apparently this type of twin is very rare and back when doctors didn’t know much about it, very few survived. That’s not too hard to wrap your head around because you can google it and read all about it. But then the reader is hit with the fact that the twins claim they share physical sensations such as pain. So when one twin is chocking the other twin chocks as well even though nothing is obstructing her airway. It’s a pretty interesting concept and it plays out really well in the book! Beautiful lies really reminded me of that really weird Lindsay Lohan movie I Know Who Killed Me. Even though the story lines are completely different, both sets of twins experience their sister’s physical sensations.

Although Alice and Rachel are identical, it turns out that their personalities are completely different. Rachel is the straight-A honors student who dresses conservatively and never breaks the rules. Alice is definitely the rule breaker. She struggles to pass her classes, breaks curfew and throws all of her energy and emotions into her art. I had the most difficult time keeping up with the flash back parts of the book. The littlest thing would trigger Alice’s memory and without warning the reader would be thrown into a memory that would last for pages! I sometimes forgot what was happening in the present time. I also got the implication that there was a history of mental illness in the family so I was never really sure if things were imagined or if they were real. The scene in the barn was the most bazaar for me. Alice is convinced her sister is bound and gagged in the hay loft and truly believes that she watched Rachel pull one of her own teeth out. Then suddenly Rachel is gone and when Alice goes back to the house, it’s like it never happened. Super weird!

In the end, I still don’t really know what happened! Were some of the characters real or imagined? I don’t know. Was it Rachel or Alice who was kidnapped? I don’t know. Was Alice seeing ghosts? I don’t know. Do the twins have special powers? I don’t know. I’ve struggled over the rating but I’ve decided to give Beautiful Lies 3 hearts because I was left with so many unanswered questions. If you’re looking for a good mindf**k, then this book is for you!

Stacking the Shelves (12)

Hey there! Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves! This awesome meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and we get to show each other the books we acquired this week whether bought, from the library or for review!

Another video! You're welcome!

Books: 

Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Once by Anna Carey

People:

Raeleen from Padfootandprongs07

Top of My Pile (2)

Hey there and welcome to Top of My Pile! I decided to start this post because I often times feel the need to talk about the book that I'm currently reading and throw out some of the thoughts I have about before I finish it! I usually have all these crazy theories about how the story is going to end or what's going to happen to the main characters. But by the time I get around to writing my review, I forget what was swirling around in my head. So that's why I started this new Saturday post. It also gives me a chance to let you know what I read this week and also, what I'm planning on reading next.

Currently Reading: 

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow by Katy Towell is a really interesting book! I'm excited to finish reading it and learn the mystery of this creepy carousel and why people are disappearing from this really strange town! Definitely one of the better middle grades I've read! And some of the pictures are really scary!!

What I plan on reading next:

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin

The Diviners by Libba Bray (So excited!!)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Finally!)

Weekly Wrap-Up:

Sunday I showed you guys what new books are Stacking my Shelves!

Monday I reviewed Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey!

Tuesday I revealed my blogger confessions!

Kim @ The Windy Pages explored the bookshelf with my bookshelf tour video!

On Wednesday I waited for Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys!

On Thursday I reviewed Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire!

Review: Don't You Wish

Title: Don't You Wish
Author: Roxanne St. Claire
Publisher: Delacourte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC compliments of the Publisher

When plain and unpopular Annie Nutter gets zapped by one of her dad's whacked-out inventions, she lands in a parallel universe where her life becomes picture-perfect. Now she's Ayla Monroe, daughter of the same mother but a different father—and she's the gorgeous, rich queen bee of her high school.

In this universe, Ayla lives in glitzy Miami instead of dreary Pittsburgh and has beaucoup bucks, courtesy of her billionaire—if usually absent—father. Her friends hit the clubs, party backstage at concerts, and take risks that are exhilirating . . . and illegal. Here she's got a date to lose her V-card with the hottest guy she's ever seen.

But on the inside, Ayla is still Annie.

So when she's offered the chance to leave the dream life and head home to Pittsburgh, will she take it?

The choice isn't as simple as you think.

My thoughts: 

I really enjoyed this story! It’s a somewhat different take on the whole “the grass is greener on the other side”. And who hasn’t wondered if the grass really is greener on the other side? I know I have. One of the reasons that this book really stuck with me is because I spent a lot of time in junior high and my early years of high school wondering what it would be like if I was born into a wealthy family or if I was more popular. In Don’t You Wish, Annie experiences firsthand what it would be like to have a different life while retaining her previous life memories.

Annie Nutter is a great character! She’s the epitome of nerd, striving to be noticed by those who are deemed “more popular” by her peers. Annie and her best friend eat junk food to their heart’s content, gossip endlessly about the hottest guy in school and have each other’s back no matter what. After a seriously mean prank played on her by her ultimate high school crush, Annie goes home wishing she was popular more than ever. When her house gets hit by lightning, she wakes up a completely different person in a completely different place.

Annie/Ayla is convinced that she is having the most awesome dream for the whole first day. She’s gorgeous, popular, filthy rich with the most popular boyfriend. She is pretty much basking in every moment she can. After a few days pass she begins to understand that not everything is perfect in this world and she doesn’t know if she wants to go back. Even I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to go back and I was kind of hoping that she could fix her family in this new life. Annie/Ayla always does the right thing so I knew in the end she would make the right decision.

I believe that Don’t You Wish dealt with the question of “what if” really well. It showed that nothing can ever be perfect and even wealthy and beautiful people have problems. I give Don’t You Wish 4 hearts for being fun and tackling series questions at the same time!

Waiting on Wednesday (69)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Hitting the Shelves: February 13, 2013

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

What are you waiting for?

Top Ten Tuesday: Blogger Confessions

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme of lists that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! 

Forgive me Father for I have sinned. Here are my blogger confessions:

1. Book Hype: Unfortunately, I have found myself caught up in some book hype.  The one that I feel the worst about it Delirium by Lauren Oliver.  When I read the book, I thought it was good but I don't feel like it deserved the five star rating that I gave it. Everyone loved it so much and I felt like I had to love it too! One of these days I'm going to go back and change my review and rating. 

2. Twilight: The Twilight Saga are the books that got me back into reading.  I had always loved to read but while I was in college I didn't read for fun much and when I did, adult chick lit was my genre of choice.  Twilight really opened my eyes to the gems of YA!

3. Library Books: I'm ashamed but I have knowingly stolen library books.  I didn't have the intention of stealing them when I checked them out but then I never returned them. 

4. ARC Jealousy: Sometimes I specifically don't participate in In My Mailbox or Stacking the Shelves because I get so jealous of all the ARC's that everyone gets! I do get ARCs too and I would hate myself for being so jealous so it's something I've been working on and I haven't felt that way in a log time!

5. The Fae: The Fae and I do not get along! No matter how many faery books I've read I just don't like them. Yes, even the Iron Fey series! I only don't like books that are strictly about the fae but I can tolerate them when they're with a mix of paranormal creatures. 

6. Clary Fray: I hate Clary! Last summer I listened to The City of Bones and The City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare on audio book and she is the most annoying character I've come across yet! I felt like she just whined the whole time and got in the way! I couldn't continue the series. 

7. Twitter: I am almost never on Twitter. I don't get it, I don't understand and I don't understand how people spend so much time on it. I'm convinced I'm using it wrong. 

8. Blogger friends: I only, recently, made blogging friends and that was this past summer. After I had been blogging for two and a half years. It has definitely made blogging so much more enjoyable!

9. Comments: I'm the worst commenter in the world! Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to say. 

10. TV: I watch way, way, way too much TV! I can count about 10 shows that I'm excited to return this fall and that's not counting all the new shows I'm going to get sucked into! I could read so many more books if I wasn't addicted to TV!

Review: Cold Kiss

Title: Cold Kiss
Author: Amy Garvey
Series: Cold Kiss #2
Publisher: HarperTeen
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Be careful what you wish for. . .


When Wren's boyfriend, Danny, died, Wren decided that what she wanted—what she had to do—was to bring Danny back. And so, in a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, she did.

But the Danny who returns isn't the boy Wren fell in love with, and she must hide him away while her life unravels around her. Then Gabriel transfers to her school and somehow he knows what she has done—and he wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone must undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

My thoughts:

Cold Kiss was definitely not what I expected. I had heard that it was about zombies because the main character brings her boyfriend back from the dead but he's definitely not your typical zombie. Actually, I wouldn't really call him a zombie. Cold Kiss was more about witchcraft than anything else. It turned out that I kind of liked it and I kind of didn't like it. I've wavering between a rating of 2.5 and 3 hearts.

Wren is a weird character to me. She was really hard to relate to which is really the best way I could put it. I didn't like any of the decisions she made and I didn't enjoy getting to know this character. The parts that I did like were the flash backs of how she met Danny and the scenes that they had together. I really enjoyed their relationship before he died. Gabriel was an okay character and I'm kind of iffy about what I feel towards him too. I definitely did not like Wren's mom! She kept so many secrets from Wren even when Wren insisted that she tell her even a little bit! I was very annoyed!

Then there was the case of insta-love. Maybe it wasn't necessarily insta-love but it was definitely insta-connection. Gabriel is the new kid at Wren's high school and as soon as their eyes met from across the classroom they started to have feelings for each other! You don't even know him! You only know what he looks like! Things like this frustrate me very much!

I pretty much skimmed the last few chapters because I understood the jist of how it was going to end by then. I felt like most of the book was pretty predictable and I was ready to move on to my next read. I give Cold Kiss 2.5 hearts because it just wasn't anything special to me and I felt like this story has been told before.