The Fault in Our Stars Trailer!

I'm pretty excited for this movie and I have now read the book twice! I didn't like the casting when I first saw the movie poster because Ansel Elgort seems to have a baby face in this picture and it's not how I pictured Augustus Waters. But now that I've seen the teaser I think he was a good choice. 

It really seems like they're staying true to the book and I even like how they're using the same font and colors as the book cover.  It looks like they're doing a really great job!
This video interview of John Green talking to Nat Wolff who plays Isaac is really cute and a chance to glimpse the personality of the guy who plays one of my favorite characters in The Fault in Our Stars!

Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Publisher: Balzar & Bray
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Source: ARC
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

My Thoughts: 

Wren works at her parents reception hall where she is a waitress during weddings and other big events.  During a wedding reception she saves a teenage boy from chocking on a pig in a blanket and cuteness follows throughout the of The Promise of Amazing.  

A lot of people are saying that they didn't like The Promise of Amazing because it has a bad case of insta-love. While I can see why there are a lot of harsh reviews with insta-love running rampant in YA right now, I'm willing to let this slide.  There are a few other things that bothered me about this book. 

So we have the usual story of the plain girl with the beautiful best friends but of course the hottest guy inexplicably wants her. His friends don't really want to be friends with him anymore because he's acting all different and doesn't really want to party like he used to.  They don't want him to get too serious with this girl because they know that she will make him a better person.  

Wren was kind of annoying and she doesn't listen when people tell her that Grayson is bad news.  Of course she looks the other way when he confesses his academic crimes that were worthy of expulsion.  Wren starts by forgiving the little things in the beginning which makes it easier for her to forgive the big things when the shit hits the fan.  And the whole thing about how she calls Grayson Gray right off the bat without him even telling her it was okay for her to call him that.  For some reason that really bothered me. I guess I know a lot of people who don't like nicknames.  

I consider Wren to be a very big person for being able to give Grayson a second chance after she finds out what he was really doing with this friends.  If I was in her position I don't think I could do it, but hey, she saved his life and apparently she loves him.

Overall, The Promise of Amazing was an okay contemporary read.  It kept my attention and I wanted to know how everything was going to play out.  I give The Promise of Amazing 3 starts for being enjoyable.

Waiting on Wednesday (104)

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: The Winner's Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Hitting the Shelves: March 04, 2014

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Why I want this: That cover is so gorgeous. I just won an ARC and I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful books I've seen in a long time :) I will definitely be reading it soon! 

Waiting on Wednesday (103)

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: Fire & Flood
Author: Victoria Scott
Hitting the Shelves: February 25, 2014

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Review: Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepard

Title: Her Dark Curiosity
Author: Megan Shepard
Series: The Madman's Daughter #2
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Source: ARC

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn't forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

My thoughts:

Sequels are always ify for me and it never fails. No matter how much I loved the first book I’m always hesitant going into a sequel because I have been completely disappointed in the past. So I was very hesitant when I picked up Her Dark Curiosity the sequel to The Madman’s Daughter. I absolutely LOVED The Madman’s Daughter and I didn't want anything to taint a really great story.

I went into Her Dark Curiosity completely blind. I didn't read the synopsis and I really had no idea where this book was going to pick up after that crazy ending of The Madman’s Daughter. Her Dark Curiosity picks up about six months later and Juliet is back living in London and has become the ward of one of her father’s co-workers/friends. I thought it was very convenient that she is now living in wealth and she has her best friend’s company again which allows her excuses to steal away to a low rent apartment where she is working on reproducing her father’s serum and trying to make it better so it can cure her. The first part of the book was slow going, the only interesting parts were the string of murders of people who had wronged Juliet in the past.

Why is Juliet crazy though? WHY? What is this attraction she has to that beast boy who changes into this horrible animal who has a very strong blood lust? I’m thinking maybe it’s the animal parts in her speaking to the animal parts in him. It could be something. But she has enough of a rational mind to know that she shouldn't be having such feelings for a murderer! But then she remembers how he kissed her behind the waterfall on the island and she literally remembers that like 10 separate times!!!

Luckily Her Dark Curiosity gets better towards the end and it turns into quite the adventure. There are some very shocking moments and some revelations that are going to make the third book very interesting. I have a feeling there might be some kind of half human half weird beast animal baby happening. But we’ll see! I’m excited!

I'm giving this book a 3 and that's being very generous.

What Does the Bookworm Say? Love Traingles

Hey! Welcome to this week's What Does the Bookworm Say? You can also read more of this discussion at Nite Lit Book Reviews, The Windy Pages and The Reader's Antidote. 

This week's topic of discussion is love triangles. Love or hate?

Oh love triangles. Love triangles are very popular in YA literature. But why? Why does the main character, who has never really every had a boyfriend in her life, now has the choice between two of the hottest guys she has ever met? Usually they're just mostly annoying and make the main character seem whiny and stupid. They're always such a stickey situation and they can really make or break a book. 

Most love triangles don't bother me as long as the main character can keep a good head on her shoulders about it.  And honestly I've never read a book where I have been truly torn between two love interests.  I usually always root for one of the love interests no matter what.  It's not hard for me to decide which team I'm on. So let's talk about some of the most popular love triangles in YA liturature.  

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: Team Adam. I still haven't read Unravel Me yet so I have a feeling that might change but as I'm writing this I'm team Adam.  I remember Warner doing some pretty awful things in Shatter Me. 

2. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: Team Darkling.  I'm so devoted to team Darkling that I can't even remember the other guys name. Again I havn't read Siege and Storm yet but I don't think that's going to change.

3. Twilight by Stepanie Meyer: Team Jacob. Even though I was super sad when Edward dumped Bella's annoying ass, my heart of hearts has always been with Jacob.  

4. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Team Peeta! That's all.

5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas: Team Chaol.  I've loved Chaol from the very first pages he walked on the scene.  Even though I can appreciate why people might like Dorian over Chaol, I can't help but absolutely loving Captain Westfall! 

What do you guys think about love triangle? Love or hate? Let me know in the comments!

Review: The Way We Fall

Title: The Way We Fall
Author: Megan Crewe
Series: Fallen World #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Purchased E-book

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.


And then you're dead.

When sixteen-year-old Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying goodbye, she never dreams that she might not see him again. But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike. As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for the island’s dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.
Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Poignant and dizzying, The Way We Fall is the heart-wrenching story of one girl's bravery and unbeatable spirit as she challenges not just her fears, but her sense of what makes life worth living.

My thoughts:

I bought The Way We Fall as an ebook at least over a year ago and it turned out to be one of those forgotten book that took me forever to finally read. I was nervous going into because I thought that it might me about zombies and I just don’t do zombie books very often. But I’m definitely glad that I gave it a chance.

The Way We Fall is definitely a different kind of book. It’s written in the form of journal entries/letters written to someone whom she used to be good friends with. Kaylen lives on a small island near Canada where her father is a medical research scientist. It all starts with one or two sick people who end up dying less than two weeks after their first symptoms. The disease spreads very quickly and the whole island becomes quarantined because people are just dying all over the place.

I really liked The Way We Fall! It was very interesting and I really wanted to know what was going to happen and how it was going to end. Most dystopia novels that I read are all about the aftermath of some catastrophic even some ten to one hundred years later. But in The Way We Fall we see the world as it is now and watch as it turns to ruins because this disease is destroying the population. It’s quite fascinating and I’m very interested to see what happens to the island and the rest of the world in the later books.