Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publication:January 10th 2012 by Dutton Books
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Owned

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

-- My Rating --

5/5 Oscars: LOVED it

-- My Thoughts --

     Ever since this book was published, it became a YA sensation. Everyone was talking about it, reviewing in a raving way. So, I just stopped reading the reviews so that they won't ruin the experience for me and I decided to read it myself.
     Hazel Grace doesn't have cancer anymore. She used to. Now, she doesn't. But she has to walk around with an IV attached to her at all times because she can't breathe on her own. She doesn't really find anything interesting with her life anymore until she meets Augustus Waters. He is like a storm, a storm that touches everything in its own way and he's taking Hazel with him along the ride.
     This book is 100% character-oriented. If you don't like the characters, then this book is ruined for you. But the thing is, I am sure that John Green had that in mind since there is NO WAY that anyone would not like Hazel and Augustus. They have this kind of bravery, ambition, and pure love that we all wish to have in our lives. They are like role models that you wanna be like, but can never truly achieve. They show you the bright side of this life you're living, even in the darkest times. I fell in love with them both.
     I thought that with this book being about cancer, it's gonna hurt. And it does. But not as much as I thought I would. It is a beautiful kind of hurt. One that you'll love. I loved that John Green took the cure to the cancer to a whole other level. he definitely has a witty imagination. The plot line is mainly centered around Hazel and Augustus and how they grow to love each other, but their adventures are what really fueled the story and side characters added a lot to the already realistic plot.
     The ending was NOT what I expected. But I did kind-of see it coming.  I can't really explain but know that you will be touched to your core. You might bawl your eyes out so keep tissues nearby but know that you will love the ending, nonetheless. I can't believe I have been missing out on such a great author as John Green and I can finally start reading his other books. This is A MUST READ. It's beautiful.

---

He shook his head, just looking at me. "What?" I asked. "Nothing," he said. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful."

---

"That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt."

---

"Okay," he said after forever. "Maybe okay will be our always." "Okay," I said. It was Augustus who finally hang up.

---

"Augustus," I said. "Really. You don't have to do this.""Sure I do," he said. "I found my Wish" "God, you're the best," I told him. "I bet you say that to all the boys who finance your international travel," he answered.

---

"I'm like. Like. I'm like a grenade, Mom. I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the causalities, okay?"

ARC Review: No One Needs to Know by Amanda Grace

Title: No One Needs to Know
Author: Amanda Grace
Publication: September 8th 2014 by Flux
Genre: YA Contemporary, LGBT
Source: Provided by the kind publisher..

Sometimes, the cost of love is too steep

Olivia's twin brother, Liam, has been her best friend her whole life. But when he starts dating, Olivia is left feeling alone, so she tries to drive away Liam's girlfriends in an effort to get her best friend back.

But she meets her match in Zoey, Liam's latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl, Zoey sees right through Olivia's tricks. What starts as verbal sparring between the two changes into something different, however, as they share their deepest insecurities and learn they have a lot in common. Olivia falls for Zoey, believing her brother could never get serious with her. But when Liam confesses that he's in love with Zoey, Olivia has to decide who deserves happiness more: her brother or herself?

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I consider myself a great fan of Amanda Grace. I've read every book of hers under this name. Because this a pseudonym, and Mandy Hubbard is her name. I'll just say Amanda, though :)
     Olivia and her twin brother Liam have learned how to go through life on their own without their always-absent parents, and Olivia could always count on her brother Liam. But it seems like Liam's priorities are changing as he's getting older. And when Liam makes Zoey his new girlfriend, there's  another problem; Olivia is in love with Zoey, so is her brother.
     This is by far, my FIRST LGBT book. And it was a refreshing journey, indeed. First off, I was already sure that I'll like this book because I absolutely loved Amanda Grace's But I Love Him, and The Truth about You and Me. Although this book didn't live up to their level of complicated perfection, it was still very enjoyable.
     First off, there are the characters. Apart from Zoey and Olivia, we don't see many other characters. And the ones we do see are a bit shallow and not well-developed. But I didn't mind that, because the focus is on these two girls. They're two polar opposites from different sides of town. One rich, one scraping by. But they get on together really well. it was wonderful watching their weird friendship unfold. I liked Liam but not very much. he was the typical stereotypical teenage guy.
     The romance is the main part of this book. At first, it's mostly from Olivia's side. But the chapters alternate between Olivia and Zoey's point of views, this was really good. And we got to see the relationship from two different perspectives, which I think was needed to make this story work as efficiently as possible. The romance was sweet, wonderful, really. I loved it. I can't believe I didn't mind it, but really, it was believable.
     One thing that stopped me from giving this book four or five stars is that it was; first, too short for my liking. Second, it was very-slow-moving at parts. Third, it lacked the deep-feelings that I associate with Amanda Grace's books. They're always tragically beautiful and wonderfully deep. Although this is not my favorite, i am definitely going to keep on reading her books. She's a talented author.

ARC Review: Madly, Deeply by Erica Crouch

Title: Madly, Deeply
Author: Erica Crouch
Publication: June 17th 2014 by Patchwork Press
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea...

Annaleigh Wells and William Calloway had a love even the angels envied. It was as if the universe spun them toward one another, like the stars crafted their souls to fit perfectly together.

With a wedding on the horizon, fate had a change of heart. Whispered warnings from phantoms and morbid nightmares darkened every night—but even visions of the future couldn’t save Annaleigh.

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem Annabel Lee, Crouch’s period romance Madly, Deeply tells the tale of love so great, it cannot be contained in just one life.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really Liked It

-- My Thoughts --

     When I received this book for review, I was really excited. I am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe and specially his poem, Annabel Lee. And this book is a retelling of the poem, so this was definitely a plus.
     Annaleigh and William had a love that went beyond all reason. It was as if they couldn't be without each other, in life and in death. But fate had different plans for them and it all started on their wedding day.
     This book is an eerie, dark read. I loved the author's writing style. It fit perfectly with the surrounding gloom and tragedy. Beautiful lyrical prose is what describes it. And Crouch's descriptions are a treat to the eyes. You can vividly imagine the beautiful surroundings.
     Then, there are the characters. We don't have that many; there is Annaleigh. Whom is a brave, sweet and lovable girl. And William, who is everything a girl can ask for. Then, there is William's sister and I absolutely loved her. She added a lot to the book considering that she was just a secondary character.
     The romance is the main subject of this book. it is always there, creeping up on you. And I found that I didn't really mind that this book was mainly focused on the romance and not much of the paranormal aspect of the story. I loved that the author used a different approach, when this book starts, Annaleigh and William are already in love and have been together for a long time. That was definitely refreshing to witness.
     The ending was quite a surprise. I definitely didn't expect this book to go down that road. I wanted more of the paranormal aspect explained. But I didn't get that. And that was definitely the reason why I gave this book four stars instead of five.  But all in all, this was a very enjoyable and quite short read that will appeal to fans of doomed romances and star-crossed lovers.

Review: Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

Title: Nearly Gone
Author: Elle Cosimano
Publication: March 25th 2014 by Kathy Dawson Books
Genre: YA Thriller, Mystery
Source: Owned
Goodreads

Bones meets Fringe in a big, dark, scary, brilliantly-plotted urban thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

ARC Review: Where Silence Gathers by Kelsey Sutton

Title: Where Silence Gathers
Author: Kelsey Sutton
Publication: July 8th 2014 by Flux
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the kind publisher..
Goodreads

In this companion novel to the critically acclaimed Some Quiet Place, Alex must choose between Revenge and Forgiveness.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Tate sits outside Nate Foster's house, clutching a gun. After serving ten years for the drunk driving accident that killed Alex's family, Nate has been released from prison. Every night, Alex waits out of sight, building up the courage to exact her own justice. There's just one problem: Forgiveness. 

Alex has been able to see personified Emotions for as long as she can remember, and Revenge is her best friend. But when Forgiveness suddenly appears, he offers Alex a choice—getting even or moving on. It's impossible to decide when Revenge whispers in one ear . . . and Forgiveness whispers in the other.

-- My Rating --

5/5 Oscars: LOVED it

-- My Thoughts --

     I read Kelsey Sutton's first debut book, Some Quiet Place almost a year ago and it was PERFECTION.  Who would have thought that she could even top her first novel all over again? I surely didn't.
     Alexandra Tate lost her family to a car accident that she survived. And she knows who was in the other car. Now that he's out of prison, she sits in front of his house with a gun in her hand but she can't decide. Not when she can see Emotions and Choices. Not when Revenge is telling her to pull the trigger and Forgiveness telling her to move on. Not when she's falling in love, with both of them. Not when someone is trying to kill her and her remaining family.
     I absolutely adore Kelsey Sutton's writing style. It's indescribable, it fills you up, it pulls you in, it makes you feel like you know everything about these characters. Every single feeling. Every single secret. She has this captivating kind of writing that every author takes a decade, at least, to master. But she just HAS it, it's a gift and she excels at it.
     As with the first book, I am still in awe of the creative road that Kelsey has taken. The ability to see Emotions is, by far, the most imaginative thing i have read about. And I have only found it in Kelsey's books. I don't know if any other author has written anything about it, but it's a unique subject, for sure. And Kelsey has put so much work into it, to differentiate between all the emotions and how Alexandra sees them.
     The characters take the main stage in Kelsey's books. First, we have Alexandra Tate which is the  opposite of our previous heroine in her first book. The previous one could see Emotions but she could feel NOTHING. But Alexandra sees the Emotions and she feels everything. And it was refreshing. I fell in love with Alexandra, and all she was going through. It was so sad to see her grow up in such a way, still, she grows amazingly.
     Then, there's Revenge and Forgiveness. The two Choices that Alexandra has to decide. I loved the twist that was associated with them both, but i am not gonna spoil it. So you have to read it to find out. Revenge and Forgiveness are swoon-worthy. I loved Revenge, he had this magnetic pull in him and he cared about Alexandra, he has been with her in her whole life and the sexual tension between them was delicious. Forgiveness is like the calm to Revenge's wild. He is amazing and sweet and caring. These are Emotions, you're not supposed to fall in love with creatures like them, but you do, just like Alexandra does.
     The cast of secondary characters are also unique and add a lot to the story. One other thing that I LOVED was the appearance of Fear in this novel. he was one of the main characters in the previous one and I really liked seeing glimpses of him here and there. The ending caught me off guard, I was totally not expecting it. But I loved it all the same. I cannot go on and on saying all the great things this novel made me experience. But I can say this: Reading Kelsey Sutton's books is a MUST. If you think you truly love paranormal and romance genres but you still haven't read her books, then please reconsider. You won't be disappointed, I promise.