The Selection by Kiera Cass

Synopsis from Goodreads: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Number of pages: 327
My review: PLEASE NOTE: This review was written disregarding the online drama surrounding it. Let's look at the story itself people.
What better way to celebrate Fourth of July than with a character named America!
Okay, I finished this book in two days because I just loved it so darn much! It was so sweet and girly and I just loved the descriptions of all the dress and the palace (I'm a huge sucker for prince/princess stories).
I will have to say I'm surprised about a few things though. First of all, I was surprised that there wasn't more emphasis on the whole tv show part of the Selection. Which, also surprisingly, I sort of liked! It wasn't as superficial that way. It focused more on what America was going through and her feelings surrounding not only the Selection, but the current state of her country, and much more.
I was also surprised by how much America grew on me. And Maxon as well. Starting out I was like okay here's another YA character that thinks she's sooo ugly and has no talent, but then as the story progressed, America herself became a better person. She fights for her caste, and the one's below her too. She's not prejudiced, knows right from wrong, and has a killer voice (or so I've been told haha!). Maxon I thought would be more stuck up and shallow (just like America thought) but really he's just a confused boy who's trying to choose a wife in this sick twisted game. He's never been in love and never ventured outside his palace so he's confused and intrigued by everything happening in his country.
I loved how Maxon and America teamed up and became friends. There was no beating around the bush. Right from the get-go America told Maxon that she didn't even want to be there to win. She was simply fighting for her family and running away from another dude. Speaking of which, I hate Aspen. He comes off as slimy to me. Gross. Team Maxon all the way.
At times the book seemed a wee bit repetitive (the attacks on the palace) but I loved the book overall. Definitely five out of five stars. And I absolutely can NOT wait to read The Elite! I want to see who stays and who goes! I want to see who wins and what America gets herself into next. She is so hilarious I was laughing out loud when I was reading this at work during one of my breaks and I was starting to get strange looks from people so I had to tone it down a few times.
Anyways, I loved it, and I can't wait to buy it for myself eventually! Also, the cover? Gorgeous! Even though if you stare at it long enough it sort of looks like she's sniffing her armpit...? Anyone else? No, just me okay.
See you soon,

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The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett

Synopsis from Goodreads: She could be a world-famous fashion designer-but can she pass the 8th grade?

By day, Emma Rose is a quiet, under-the-radar student who doesn't mix with the popular set. But when school's out, she becomes Queen of the Runway-whipping up cutting-edge designs.

When Emma is discovered by a well-known fashionista, the pseudonym Allegra Biscotti is born to protect her from the lime light. She soon discovers balancing a secret identity, boys, school, and friends isn't as easy as she thought.

This fashion-themed series features doodles throughout the book-two-color illustrations are found as chapter openers and in the margins-adding tons of delicious style detail!

My review: Even though this book is probably targeted at girls in middle school, I definitely still enjoyed it as a senior in high school. It was fun, fast paced, and if you love fashion books then this is definitely the one for you! (There's even pictures so you can visualize the clothes better, which I thought was really well integrated into the novel, without it being distracting) Also, one of the characters' names is Paige, so how could it get much better than that?

Also, there are a couple of other books in the series, but you can get away with just reading this one (the first one) and feeling satisfied with where it ended. Honestly, this was such a cute book, and it discusses everything from changing friendships, keeping secrets, academic struggles, and of course fashion! So it's a great coming of age story, without it being to in your face like "Hey! This is coming of age!"

A seriously adorable novel, that can appeal to a large variety of girls. I would definitely recommend picking this up as a cute and quick read!

See you soon!

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Cinders and Sapphires (At Somerton #1) by Leila Rasheed

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.

Number of pages: 389

My review: Want to hear the shortest review ever of this book? If you love Downton Abbey you will love this book.

BAM! Done! But seriously, if you like Downton Abbey then this is the perfect book for you. Cinders and Sapphires has just as much drama as Downton along with the switching viewpoints of the upstairs house guests and the downstairs staff (which can I just say I love that concept so much).

There is a huge variety of people to keep track of, and I have to admit that at first I was a little confused, but after a short while you really start to figure out who's who, and start to enjoy the novel for all that it is worth  The two main characters that you really follow though, are Lady Ava (upstairs) and her personal maid, Rose (downstairs). Both characters get into all sorts of shennanigans and mishaps and it truly feels like you're going on a fast paced adventure while you're reading this. 

I loved almost all the characters and felt for them when they got into trouble or some sort of scrape. However, I felt the so-called "villains" or protagonists could have been meaner or somewhat more spiteful. I just felt a little...sympathetic towards them I guess. Their passion for their evil deeds could have run a little deeper, and I felt that if/when the next book comes out they could be persuaded easily to become a better person again. I guess we'll have to wait and see though!

Also, I really hate the cover of the U.S. version. It doesn't seem accurate somehow for they type of things girls in that time would wear (especially the way their hair is styled). And it just looks so incredibely fake and posed.

I completely recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, romance, adventure, and of course, Downton Abbey. This book definitely made me go through Downton Abbey withdrawls (in the U.S. we have to wait a whole more year before we see our beloved characters again!) Definitely check this out, it's super easy reading and if there is a next book coming out (I could see how there might be since the ending could definitely lead the way to another novel) I will definitely be picking it up!

See you soon!

P.S. This picture pretty much sums up the whole book nicely (for the rest of that review click here!)

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Oath of Servitude by C.E. Wilson

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: This is the story of Teague and Cailin, two teenagers who have been brought together by fate. Teague, a human, struggles to come to terms with the consequences of a recent accident that has destroyed the happy life that he had once enjoyed. Cailin, a pixi, is trying to stay true to herself while fighting against forces beyond her control that have exiled her from her home into this strange world of humans. She fears the darkness. He cannot escape it. But when the two of them are thrown together, they begin to discover the light inside of themselves.

Number of pages: 159
My review: Literally the first words that came out of my mouth when I finished this book was "NOOO!" I'm apparently having bad luck with books lately because all the one's I've been reading keep ending on cliffhangers! Disregarding the cliffhanger component though this was a really good book-solid story, plot, characters, setting, fantasy element. This book had it going on.
Also, it's the first book I've ever read about pixi's so it was cool to explore this whole new world and then see how they interacted with humans. I liked how there was sort of that mystery element that went along with the mystical world of the pixi's as the reader tries to figure out what happened in Cailin's father's past.
Something else that I really liked and that you don't see too much in other books, or if you do it isn't done very well, is quite a large emphasis on other characters, besides the main characters. This was done without the book becoming confusing. Like we learned bits and pieces here and there about Teague, his father Owen, also Cailin's father Nolkrin and all her sisters and the people they are associated with, not to mention we are keeping up with all the rules of this world and the backstory of a few of the characters. I mean in that sentence right there I probably just made it a lot more confusing than it ever was in the book!
The internal struggles that each of the characters go through, not just Cailin and Teague, are really interesting to read, and in your mind you sort of have your own battle with yourself over what each character should do (like if they should do something to benefit themselves or others around them). Again, I probably made that way more confusing than it needed to be. 
I think my main point here is go read this book! It's a lot deeper than it sounds from the synopsis and way before the end of the book you will start to care for these characters as if they were your own friends. It's short and sweet, so check it out!
See you soon!

P.S. Thank you to the author for providing this book to me to read and review! And that cover is so gorgeous! 

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Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 303
Holy. Crap. What a fantastic book! (And a beautiful cover to pair it with) When I first started I didn't think I would like it because it felt sort of rushed for the first like quarter but in the end I though that was a good thing because it led to, not only, more character development later on, but also let the story move and flow faster. 
The cover was what really drew me into this book, and once I started reading I couldn't stop! The plot never slowed down for a second and I kept wanting to find out more and more. So here's what happens:
Graylee and her twin Charlene are both witches (so is their mom and a few other people in the town, and they often meet to practice and master their magic) and the twins don't get along very well. Graylee feels that Charlene is annoying and over-dramatic and Charlene feels that their mother dotes on Graylee more than herself. Charlene is also one of the most popular girls at school while Graylee blends into the crowd.
Right from the start we learn that Charlene's boyfriend has broken up with her and she plans to get revenge on the girl that stole her boyfriend, Blake, away. Around the same time Graylee dies in her sleep very suddenly.
Graylee doesn't realize this and one day wakes up in Charlene's body, but then learns from her mom that Charlene is not gone; the sisters are stuck sharing the same body. Graylee gets to be present every other day. Seeing this struggle that Graylee has to overcome while being in Charlene's body and dealing with her "rules" was interesting to see. Even though they are twins they act very differently within their own bodies and that was cool to see the characters overcome.
This obviously leads to complications within the girls' lives (i.e. whose friends to hang out with, what clothes to wear) and all the while Graylee is trying to figure out how she died. Graylee enlists the help of Raj who is a warlock (or a "healer" as his mom prefers to call themselves) and so begins the journey of a very confusing, roller-coaster ride of a friendship. Raj may be harboring hidden feelings for Graylee while Graylee believes that he despises her and will only help her if she teaches him her invisibility spell. 
The pair set out on the task of finding out how Graylee died and how she can live on her own, in either her own body, or a different girls' body.
This book was just so, so, so, GOOD! I like how the characters accepted the use of magic around their other friends who knew about it and could also perform magic, yet still managed to hide it from the general public. I also liked how real the story felt; as if this could happen to anyone. The settings could have been described a little better (but that's what imagination is for right?)
I know there are two more books after this one and I cannot wait to read them! (The rest of the covers are just as beautiful too) I am extremely impressed with this book and it is definitely classified as one of my all time favorites.
See you soon!
Paige

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Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 343
So, I know this book was on my "To Read list of 2013" but I just couldn't get through it. I got to about page 60 or so and just gave up. I actually put off writing this review for awhile because I thought what's the point? I didn't like it. But I digress.
 I was waiting for it to get a lot more fast paced and for something to actually happen but nothing did. Perhaps I should have given it a few more pages but I just couldn't bear to continue on. I felt the characters weren't described well along with the setting, and I never like books that start out in the middle of an event happening. In this case, the twin girls' fathers funeral. That always confuses me.
This book was definitely a lot darker than I expected it to be. If I could summarize it in one word I think it would be gothic.
One of the good points was that it was a historical fiction novel (which I'm always looking for more of) but other than that I just couldn't get into it. Some of the characters (whose names I can't even remember because they weren't all that memorable) plain creeped me out. Which is good, I guess, but it was the sort of creep out that makes you not want to read a book and shove it in a corner where you won't have to try again until a much later date when you discover the novel in the back recesses of a shelf or cabinet. 
Will I try reading this again? Maybe during Halloween next year when I'm in sort of a creepy/spooky mood but not for awhile. It was just too weird for me. 
The style of this book sort of reminds me of Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves so I guess if you liked or disliked that book it will give you a good indication of whether or not you will like or dislike this one. (As you may recall I did NOT like Slice of Cherry and also gave up about 60 or so pages in)
See you soon!
Paige
P.S. I do like the cover though. It's very beautiful.

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The Ivy by Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 322
The Ivy was actually a good book! It wasn't great, but I was pleasantly surprised with how well the story line was written and carried out. The Ivy starts out with Callie Andrews on her first day at Harvard, and she begins to get to know her roommates, and the extremely attractive boys living just across the hall. Of course Callie continuously falls and has a few social blunders in the following weeks, and she feels as if everyone will know her as the klutz from California.
This I found a little unbelievable. Yes, it's written in 2010/2011 and there is a lot of social media so things spread, but come on, Harvard has thousands of students. Not every single person is going to know or care about her tripping in the dining hall. 
In the beginning of the novel, Callie is the perfect student, going to class and  taking notes, but as the novel progresses she starts to care a lot more about her social status. This is when I started losing respect for her because, for crying out loud, you're at Harvard. Many students pine and pine to get in there and can't, and Callie is there and I felt that she was wasting her educational opportunities. Of course she should join some clubs, and try to advance her social career as well, but come on, it's not as big of deal as she made it out to be. 
Callie also wants to keep a secret all to herself, and constantly cries about the circumstances of the situation that it has put her in (the incident occurred back when she was in California and she hopes that it does not follow her to Harvard). I started to think her too, why did she not take legal action? Sure, she might be embarrassed, but if she's going to Harvard she's got to have at least SOME brains up in that beach blonde head.
Towards the end of the book there was just one element that I could not get out of my mind. Callie has to email a paper to herself to print in a lab, because she doesn't own a flash drive. Come on, you live in 2010/2011, and you're going to HARVARD, how do you NOT own a flash drive? I found that way too unbelievable so the circumstance that was related to this handicap sort of made the conclusion feel too fake and forced. The story definitely could have taken a different route.
It was a good plot line, and I would say the writing was nice, but there was a few circumstances that just felt way too unbelievable. Hopefully, the second and third novels in this series are better!
See you soon!
Paige

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Scary School by Derek the Ghost

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 256
Since this is a middle school level book, I wasn't sure how it was going to be reading it for me since I haven't read that level of a book in a REALLY long time, but it was so much fun to read! It was such a cute story and I flew through the book because it was so easy to read, and because the plot was so cute! (Probably not the best way to describe a "scary" book...alright it was frighteningly funny!)
Scary School is written from the point of view of Derek the Ghost, a previous student of Scary School until he died in a lab experiment gone wrong. Derek feels that it is his mission to tell the story of Scary School for the rest of the public and he tells all the adventures that occur within a school that admits both human children, vampires, werewolves, zombies, half possum, and other monsters. Scary School is also a place where the teachers are monsters and if a child misbehaves or doesn't excel he/she/it may be eaten or suffer some sort of punishment that is not as extreme as death.
Derek explains all the teachers quirks and how the work their classrooms while explaining what the students themselves do within the school. This book really set up the background for more books to come, but also had a funny plot interwoven with all the introductions. Scary School was chosen to host the Ghoul Games (sort of like the Olympics, but for children in the monster community) and the Headmaster at Scary School is informed that if the human children lose to the monsters they will be eaten (the man in charge of the games does not like the idea of humans and monsters mixing in schools). As Derek describes the students and teachers he highlights their attributes so when the Games come around, the reader already has some sort of idea of what kind of strategy each character has for the Games. 
This was such a good book for middle school grades, and even though I'm in high school, I still enjoyed it immensely. Even though there may not be as in depth character or plot development as in YA books, this is expected because it is, in fact, a middle grade book. However, I was still able to connect with the characters and root them on as they performed not only in the Games, but surviving in Scary School as well. I think many kids will be able to enjoy this book and it's perfect for Halloween which is only a few months away! I definitely can't wait to see what the next book has in store for Scary School!
See you soon!
Paige
P.S. Huge thank you "Derek the Ghost" for sending me this to read and review!

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Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 351
So, as I was reading this book I was thinking about what a fantastic and joy-filled review I was going to write for this book...however, then I finished the book. It was such a weak ending and it really disappointed me. I felt that things were just quickly resolved and the way things were resolved wasn't very strong. There was too many flaws (thankfully there's a second book). The first half of this was absolutely fantastic! The book moved along at a great pace and things were exciting but then the events started to become less and less...intriguing. I stopped caring about some of the characters and they seemed more distant to me as a reader. 
The story also seemed like it was dragged out really long and it felt sort of like it was repeating itself over and over. Don't get me wrong I loved the story line, but this book had some serious issues with pacing and just having a basic story line, that really flowed.
The title also sets the story up for failure. I would have taken this book way more seriously if it had a less...childish title (also the covers picture is pretty bad too). Going into the story I didn't expect this to have any literary value at all so I was extremely surprised when I actually liked the story (until I got towards the end).
It's a good story line; basically there's a girl, Jessica, who is living the stereotypical "teenage life" and a tall, dark, handsome, stranger who shows up in town. Soon, Jessica finds out that she is a secret vampire princess (which she vehemently disagrees and doesn't believe) and this stranger, Lucius, is her betrothed, and has been since their birth. However, Jessica doesn't want to marry Lucius and so, he begins to pursue her.
There is many twists in the story and things change, which is what kind of disappointed me about this book. Maybe it just didn't go the way that I expected so that's why I didn't like the ending. But it's up to you to decide now!
See you soon!
Paige

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The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 433
I think I tried reading this book once a couple years back and for some reason I could never get into it. So, I decided to try picking it up for a second time and I'm so glad I did! I don't know why I didn't like this book the first time because it was such a fantastic read this time around!
I flew through this book and was constantly picking it back up again because it was so good! There was always so much suspense and I wanted to know what would happen next. Every time I thought something would be resolved, a new problem or situation occurred that added more complexity to the plot and added even more depth to the characters.
This had equal parts suspense and romance set in New York in 1899. Elizabeth Holland is doomed to marry a man she does not love but she is forced to do it for circumstances beyond her control. She feels deeply conflicted, not only because her best friend Penelope is in love with the man she is going to marry, but because Elizabeth loves another man, whom she cannot marry due to societies regulations. 
This book has a massive love triangle er...more like a pentagon. Be ready to be kept on your toes for who loves who, who hates who, and who is bound by which circumstances. This is a book that you really have to concentrate on, but it won't seem like a chore because the plot is so intense and captivating that you'll remember all the characters special foes and woes from the very beginning.
The one thing I didn't like about this book was the language. No, there wasn't any cursing, but this book is set in 1899 and the vernacular was a little too...loose too be believable. The narration sort of made up for it however, by throwing around words like "abhorrent" here and there but the characters never would have talked like that in 1899.
I guess I can see why the writer, wrote it that way however, because it is so much easier to understand and young adults would not have to struggle with the reading. This leads to a lower reading level, but a much faster read too.
I loved this book and I cannot wait to read the second one (which I just picked up at my brand new library today!!!) Hopefully the second book will be as jam packed with suspense, love, and adventure as this first one was!
(And I absolutely LOVE the cover! Usually YA books have girls in pretty dresses on the covers for no reason but this one actually makes sense! It's so beautiful and elegant!)
See you soon!
Paige

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Fallen by Lauren Kate

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 452
This book was...amazing!!! I seriously had my doubts about it, and I'm not really sure why. The story was fantastic! A lot of people think that it's really similar to Twilight but I didn't think they were THAT similar. Twilight does not set the precedent for a book where a girl does not believe a boy is not mortal/human. I'm like 99% positive there were books like that before Twilight came out (Actually I'm 100% sure of it because the Night World series and Vampire Diaries series were written before Twilight, in the 90's so ha!).
Anyways, staying on topic, Fallen was great! And it ended on a total cliff-hanger! I can't wait to go out and buy Torment so I can see what happens next.
So, in Fallen, Luce is sent to a reform school which is really strict, but all the kids get away with doing things that are against the rules anyways (sneaking out of school grounds, holding parties, sneaking in forbidden contraband like food and electronics). So Luce befriends one of the craziest most bizarre girls, Arriane, and a girl that she can really relate too, Penn. Luce's love interest include Daniel who she really likes but he is extremely mysterious with her and sends lot's of conflicting signals. A boy that genuinely shows interest in her is Cam, whom Luce can't decide if she likes or not because of Daniel (yes this story has a slight love triangle but it's not too over the top). The characters were all boat loads of fun too. All of them had so many different quirks and such different personalities that they all meshed together somehow and it worked. The end of the story may have you reaching for some tissues...(I really want to tell you guys!!! Go read this and see what I'm talking about!!!)
Anyways, there are a lot of circumstances that lead too Luce trying to find out more about Daniel and this is how she gets herself in some deep trouble. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoiling it but there was tons of twists and turns in this story and just when you though one thing was going to go one way...BOOM! It totally veers off in another direction! Very exciting read!
Like I said before it also ended on a cliff-hanger so reading the next book will be a must for me. I can't wait to see how things get resolved. This book had tons of action, romance, twists, and overall just bad ass fun! I hope the next books follow that same pattern too!
Definitely one of my all time favorite books!! (I also like that this isn't about vampires it's about...well you can figure that out on your own too once you read the book!)
See you soon!
Paige

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Gossip Girl: The Carlyles by Cecily von Ziegesar

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 243
Wow! Another fantastic book by Cecily von Ziegesar! I think I'm going to like this series more than Gossip Girl! Not really sure why, perhaps the characters were a little more relatable and the story moved along a lot more quickly. There was also a lot less main characters to keep track of. Much easier for the story to move more quickly because then you don't have to keep going back to one character and then another, and another; in general the story will move much more slowly.
Anyways, so a group of triplets, the Carlyles, move to New York from Nantucket and basically take on the Upper East Side (this is a spin-off series from Gossip Girl, obviously, so there are references to the old characters. For example, the Carlyles live in Blair's old penthouse). Avery and Baby go to Constance Billard, just like Serena and Blair did. However, this time the girls start out as the nobodies with a famous, dead, grandmother who used to wreck havoc on New York back in her day. 
Avery is trying to become one of the popular girls at Constance Billard and is vying for the position of Student Liaison (the Student Liaison, makes decisions for the rest of the class). Her enemy Jack, short for Jacqueline, is also campaigning for the position, and the girls go on a rampant of back stabbing. Oh fun!
Baby hates the fact that she had to leave Nantucket behind, along with her boyfriend, and is trying to overcome heartache in Manhattan. She is also trying to break as many rules as possible (cussing in French class on the first day? Awesome!) to get kicked out of Constance Billard's so she can be transported back to home sweet home. However, her views begin to be questioned when she meets some very interesting people...
Owen, the last Carlyle triplet, goes to St. Jude's and is attempting to get over a girl he had a fling with over the summer in Nantucket. He's also trying to make some new guy friends, because he didn't have many before he moved because he was always going after girls and the guys didn't want to compete with him. Surprise, surprise, however, the guy that Owen befriends has some shocking circumstances that will put Owen in a tight place.
I adore Cecily von Ziegesar's writing and I can't wait for the next book. Yes, there is the typical partying, drinking, and overall, misbehavior by teenagers, but you can't hide this from teens forever! Let them read these books and look at is as a learning tool to show that after the party is over, there's ugly hangovers to deal with and ruined reputations (doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but to a teenager it is).
Five out of five stars for another name-dropping, trash talking, overall guilty pleasure of a novel! Can't wait for the rest of the series! I've already ordered the next one's!
See you soon!
Paige

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Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 346
I wish this book had been a lot better. It was good but it didn't completely grip me, pull me in, and make me want to spend hours upon hours reading its pages.
The story follows Alexis as she tries to cope with whether or not her sister Kasey (I hate that name so I'm glad they cast her as the sort of villain in this book) has become possessed. Alexis realized that this slight possession started when they moved into their new, grand, and Gothic house a few years ago. However, lately the possession has started to become more violent and controlling of Kasey's body. Alexis wants to get to the bottom of this sort of mystery of who's possessing her sister and why before Kasey begins to harm any more people or herself.
I have to admit, based on the way Kasey treats Alexis while she's possessed it's a miracle that Alexis wants to help her sister. Any normal person would think they're sibling is going crazy, would tell their parents, and attempt to get them diagnosed with some mental disorder (By the way I found that a little unrealistic about this book; there was hardly ANY parent interactions. Yes, her mom worked long nights and her dad was in the hospital but that's beside the point).
This book was written a little strangely. I don't think I really liked Kate Alender's writing style. The way things are described and told leaves a lot of room for you to fill in the blanks yourself and I typically don't like doing that when I'm reading because I might assume something and then find out later it was wrong, so it changes the whole dynamic of the story.
Either way I gave this book three stars out of five, but I was being liberal so it probably deserved a 2.5. I will not be reading the next books because this one ended really solidly so I don't feel the need to have to know what happens next.
See you soon!
Paige

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Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 537
Another great book by Ellen Hopkins! I didn't like this one as much as Tricks but it was still wonderful. Ellen Hopkins' writing is so dark but it is also heartfelt and makes you really connect with the narrator and see what they are going through. So, this story follows a girl who becomes addicted to "crank" or meth. Throughout the book we see how Kristina personifies her inner bad girl to become "Bree", a girl with no shame, and this results in her downward spiral of addiction, depression, and a whole mess of other problems.
Whenever I read these books I always see how horrible these situations are and it makes you kind of realize that the world isn't perfect and stuff like this happens to teenagers and adults alike, every single day. Kind of a harrowing thought, but it happens. I would recommend these books to a lot of teenagers for that reason because it really shows you how catastrophic the consequences can be once you become addicted to drugs, or, really, anything else.
I also like how the books are written in a sort of verse that doesn't rhyme. If the books rhymed, I don't think I'd like them half as much but since they don't to me the words just look like they are put into funny shapes on the page. If this was written as a full story too, I think there would have to be a lot more detail, but since it's in verse the story is a little more loose, but it works.
Definitely would recommend this one for people 14 and up, because there are some sensitive subjects, but after the 14 year old mark this should be read by teens. Honestly, reading Ellen Hopkins' work, makes me think "I'll never make the same mistakes these kids did. I don't want that to be me." And I think that's part of the point Ellen Hopkins is trying to make with her work; to spread awareness and prevent other teens from getting messed up in the wrong stuff.
I can't wait to read the next two books because this one kind of ended at a cliff-hanger!
See you soon!
Paige

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The Daughters by Joanna Philbin

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 275
This is actually my second read through of this book! (And it was just as good as I remembered!) I read this last year or the year before, but the sequels weren't out yet so when I did purchase the second and third books I had to reread this because I couldn't remember what happened.
So The Daughters follows three teenage girls who are the daughters of famous people. Lizzie Summers is the daughter of a supermodel (Katia Summers, I imagined her like Heidi Klum), Carina Jurgensen is the daughter of a multi-billion dollar father (Karl Jurgensen, I imagined him like Bill Gates..? Or someone else as equally rich), and finally Hudson Jones the daughter of a multi-platinum singer Holla Jones (I imagined her like Whitney Houston or Celine Dion).
Throughout the story we see how the three girls deal with everyday obstacles like school, boys, and their parents but there's always an exciting twist about how the girls will go to Fashion Week or drop thousands of dollars while shopping like it's chump change. (As you know I absolutely love stories where there's tons of name dropping and famous starlets.)
This book in The Daughters series primarily follows Lizzie as she goes through finding herself as a writer and possibly model. We see how she deals with the ruthless individuals in the fashion industry but also manages to stay true to her friends and schoolwork.
The characters seemed so honest in this book. They weren't superficial at all and I felt like I could totally relate to them. It seemed like a true insight into being the daughter of a famous person...(as it should because Joanna Philbin, daughter of Regis Philbin wrote the books!)
The writing style is fantastic and I hope the other books live up to my expectations! I can't wait to continue the series! If you're a fan of The Clique or Secrets of My Hollywood Life series' then you will love this!
See you soon!
Paige

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I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 271
When I started this book I actually thought that the main character (John) was much older, but he's actually a sophomore in high school. Here's the basic premise of the book; John and his mother live/work in a mortuary and John is fascinated by serial killers and believes that it is his fate to become one. He goes to a therapist so that he can talk about how he suppresses himself and his thoughts about wanting to kill people. John has a variety of rules for himself to keep the demon inside of him, and to prevent himself from turning into a serial killer. Soon a serial killer comes to town and John is in awe with trying to figure out who it is, why they're making the killings, etc. The rest of the story goes on this great adventure of how John deals with his own inner turmoil and tries to solve the mystery of who the serial killer is.
I had my doubts when starting this book because I thought it would be an adult book, but actually it's not. It's written flawlessly and I kept wanting to read more and more and not put it down. I love seeing how John grows and keeps himself in check throughout the story. It's really an awesome thing to read about.
There's two more in the series and I will definitely be picking those up because this one was so good. It's different from what I usually like but it's kind of inspired me to read more books sort of like this one! Five out of five stars on my grading scale! And I would recommend it to a lot of people too (I think adults and highschoolers and above would enjoy it).
See you soon!
Paige

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 362

Updated Review (February 1st, 2014): I now like this book so much better. I didn't appreciate it at first because I was forced into reading it by my friends, but now I appreciate it so much more. Katniss is an amazing heroine who is a true force to be reckoned with. As I said in my Mockingjay review, she shows so much strength and adversity, and is always looking out for her family and friends.
She has the ability to win people over even though she often lacks charm and the usual niceties. She is one of the first strong female heroines of this time period (in real life) and, frankly, is not given enough credit for that. 
I have to admit the first movie was not that good, but the book is always better right? I think this is one of those books that everyone should read. It teaches young kids about hope and standing up against something that is oh, so wrong. 
This is definitely one of my all time favorite series.

Original Review (March 25th, 2012): Can you believe I just now finished this book?? It's been on my TBR list FOREVER but I just haven't had time, but my friends were all reading it at school so I said I would finally read it.
Honestly, I thought it would be a lot better. For all they hype it gets I thought it would be the most amazing story but honestly it's not. (Please don't hate me!!) The beginning quarter, maybe even half, of the book drags on and on. All my friends told me to just wait until the Games started but my thinking was okay, a book needs to reel you in from the first page not half way through. But I continued on.
Once the Games did start I felt like there could have been a lot more action and was it just me or did Katniss annoy you too? She was extremely self-deprecating, ("Oh two boys possibly like me but I'm SO ugly!!") and I felt like she didn't kill enough people in the Games. If anything she got lucky. As a heroine I expected a LOT more out of her.
Moving on to Peeta and Katniss' relationship. It's built on lies!! How is that okay?? I was finally happy at the end of the book when Peeta realized this and brushed her off and then KATNISS got upset!? Oh boy I have a bone to pick with this girl if I ever met her.
I have to admit the last day of the Games was probably the most exciting but other than that the story kinda fell flat for me. I will be reading the rest of the series though just to see if they are any better and to see how the story ends.

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A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair

Read a synopsis here!
This is not one of my usual YA book reviews. I took a break from YA to read one of my cozy mysteries that I've had waiting on my shelf for me for...forever it seems!
First off let me just say that this cover is adorable!!! The cover is really the reason I bought the book in the first place. I was at my used bookstore saw this and thought I have to have it! And it was a steal at $4.00 so how could I pass it up? (I also got books 2 and 3 in the series too!)
So the story itself was....okay. Good not great. I would recommend this but I've enjoyed other cozy mystery books a lot more. However this cozy mystery is also a lot better than other one's I've read so it sort of falls in the middle category of average.
Maddie is our main character and she can see ghosts and talk to some of them. She sees the ghosts by touching pieces of vintage clothing and fabric. When there is a murder in her home, her supernatural ability helps her put the pieces together of the murder.
I liked the supernatural take on this story because it took something that could possibly never happen and put it into a cozy mystery, something I've never seen before! But I liked it! It's called fiction for a reason! Give it a fantastic element!
I will be reading the next 2 books in the series because I already own them but I probably won't continue on from there. This book can be read as a stand alone because it doesn't have some cliff hanger ending where you have to rush out and buy the next book.
Like I said before; good not great! See you soon!
Paige

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Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 337
Amazing. That's how I would describe this book. It was awesome! So here's what happened...
The time is present day and Miranda (our main character) is living with her mom, younger brother Johnny, and older brother Matt, and life is going on as usual. Things are normal. However, a meteor crashes into the moon and causes horrible natural disasters. There are tsunami's, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Miranda's family plans for the worst before it happens and collects canned food and vitamins from the grocery store and then the worst possibilities become reality.
First off, there's no electricity (so no AC, heat, radio, phone calls, etc.). Next up, no more water. This happens a bit further down the road into their survival and is pretty much the turning point of the book because it really sets in for the characters that they need to have a survival plan.
Miranda's family begins to ration food so that it can last longer and slowly her family begins to lose their strength. As the book progresses, we see how the characters deal with something as simple and deadly as the flu, and other obstacles like an always depleted food supply, struggles to stay warm throughout the winter, and getting around town without a car and about 20 feet of snow.
The book is flawlessly written and I love how as the book goes on, you can see how Miranda grows and matures. It also makes you appreciate what you have, and when her family starts to prepare to live through this disaster it makes you think what would you do if the same thing happened in real life?
Overall, a great book!! I loved the ending and I can't wait to read the next two!
See you soon!
-Paige

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Talent by Zoey Dean

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 288
So, in this book there is a group of three friends (Mac, Coco, and Becks) and they are 8th graders so they're about 12 years old and they live in Hollywood. All of the girls parents are rich executives or agents, so the girls often name drop about stars and fashion labels and up scale stores. (Think Reese Witherspoon, Louis Vuitton, and Fred Segal)
Mac, Coco, and Becks are the most popular girls at their school Bel-Air Middle School (commonly referred to as BAMS throughout the book) So they sometimes act stuck up but it's actually very occasional which I really liked. Anyways, there's a position that Mac (the leader of the group) is vying for called the Social Chair. Essentially the Social Chair makes all the decisions for the school and it's really like a popularity contest.
Mac thinks she has the votes in the bag for the position, but then another girl (Ruby) comes back over the summer from looking like a loser to a hottie. She is also now vying for the Social Chair position and Mac feels that she isn't talented at anything and needs to come up with an idea to prove she has talent so her fellow peers will elect her for this Social Chair position.
Mac decides to try to become an agent just like her mom and discovers Emily, who is visiting from Iowa with her mom and best friend Paige (eep! That's me! Hahaha!). Emily proves that she can truly act and Mac attempts to land her a role in the newest movie with Emily's celebrity crush Davey.
The story goes on through the twists and turns of the four girls' adventure of trying to land Emily this role. Coco and Becks also have smaller side stories that tie into the plot which are also enjoyable to read about. The ending was a little predictable but in a good way! Also, kind of a cliff-hanger ending so I can't wait to start the next book in this three part series.
I seriously loved this book. It was SO good! I love these trashy books where 12-year-olds try to act like their 20 and I adore all the name dropping of the fashion designers and stars.
The one thing that kind of irked me was how quickly Emily's supposed BFF Paige was dropped so quickly. Emily goes off to hang out with Mac, Coco, and Becks and Paige first off hardly even cares and Emily barely gives Paige a backward glance. (It was originally Paige who wanted to come to L.A. to become a star and now her friend stole that from her and she's being supportive? What!? I would've been furious! Maybe that's just me though...)
It was also a really quick read and since the story does take place in the summer I can imagine reading this by the pool or at the beach in the summertime.
I believe the next book takes place when the girls are actually in school so we will see if Mac is able to become Social Chair! I can't wait!
See you soon!
-Paige

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