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: The Truth About You And Me by Amanda Grace

Title: The Truth About You And Me
Author: Amanda Grace
Publication: September 8th 2013 by Flux
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind publisher..
Goodreads

Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennet. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.

There's only one problem. Bennet is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth.

The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennet - both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     Amanda Grace is an author I am always on the look-out for. Her dark contemporaries are always a guilty pleasure, and her unpredictable endings keep me on edge all the time. So, when I had the chance to read an ARC of this one, I jumped at it. It was worth it, though.

     Madelyn is a 16-year-old prodigy. She is smart, so smart that she has enrolled in college at the age of 16. her life is all planned-out, until she meets the biology teacher, Mr. Bennett Cartwright. He is initruing, sexy, and interested. Madelyn never thought that a single lie could complicate  matters this much.

     The first thing i liked about this book is the 16-year-old prodigy. Yes, she has enrolled in college. And it's almost like she has finished high school altogether. But Madelyn is far from a college student. She is flawed, insecure, unproductive, but lovely, adorable, and witty at the same time. She is a character you cannot help but fall for. Bennett is the same, although I wasn't that lucky of keeping the same idea about him towards the end. I almost didn't like him towards the end, which you might find strange, but read this and tell me what you think!

     The plot of such a taboo relationship kept me on the edge of my seat all the time. It's the idea of what might happen if somebody finds out that intrigued me that much. But it was also the lyrical prose and the tension-infusing style of Amanda Grace, too.

     Never expect a happy ending from Amanda Grace's books. But they are always hopeful endings. Not happy, but hopeful. Which I have come to expect from every book of Amanda Grace's.  She is a talented, straight-forward writer that has taken the contemporary world by storm. I will always be on the look-out for her, and she is definitely on my auto-read list!

Review: In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

Name of book: In Too Deep
Author: Amanda Grace
Publication:  February 8th 2012 by Flux
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Owned
Goodreads

Carter didn't rape me. People at school think he did. Suddenly, new friends are rushing to my side, telling me that Carter hurt them, too. They say he's getting what he deserves.

Maybe I don't want to fix this.

"Honest and constantly refreshing."--Kirkus Reviews

Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but she can't seem to tell him. So she decides to flirt with golden-boy Carter Wellesley, hoping Nick will see it and finally realize his true feelings for her.

On Monday, everyone at school is saying that Carter raped Sam. He didn't, but Sam can't find the words to tell the truth. Worst of all, she's afraid she'll lose Nick if he finds out what really happened.

As graduation approaches, Sam discovers that living the lie isn't as easy as her new friends make it sound--and telling the truth might be even worse.

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I have read one book of Amanda Grace and it was amazingly heart-breaking and real. I loved what I felt through that book and I guess I put too much expectations into this one. It didn't disappoint but it was lacking in many aspects.
     Sam is just the average-looking, normal teenage girl. She has a huge crush on her best friend, Nick and she would do anything to get his attention. Even if it means throwing herself at the most popular playboy at school. But her actions have their consequences and Sam might not be able to ever get back to her normal life.
     This plot had a lot of potential. There were many aspects that were studied: alchohol use, bullying, rape, and many others. I liked the plot very much but what fell short for me was the charcaters. No matter what I did, I couldn't connect with Sam. Maybe a little on the level of loving her best friend, but otherwise, she was too much a drama queen for me. I felt like she cared too much about what other people thought of her. But Nick is adorable, cute, and smart. He reminds me of someone close to me and I loved him for it. He truely cares about Sam, and God! I was glad there is no love triangle
      Do not expect to be happy after reading any of Amanda Grace's books. They are raw and real, and they show you what happens when you walk down the wrong road. Even though I knew this, I did not expect the ending. At all. But I liked it and it teaches you a lesson, indeed. I would recommend this, but will not read it again.

Review: But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

Name of book: But I Love Him
Author: Amanda Grace (Mandy Hubbard)
Publication: May 8th 2011 by Flux
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Borrowed

Sometimes at night, I wake up and stare at the heart for hours. I think of how I collected each piece from the beach, how I glued it all together into one big sculpture. I wonder if Connor realizes what it means, that he'll always have a piece of me no matter what happens. Each piece of glass is another piece of myself that I gave to him.

It's too bad I didn't keep any pieces for myself.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved - and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything - and everyone - in its path.

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

-- My Rating --

-- My Thoughts --

     I seriously don't know how to review this book, or rate it. Reading this was one of the hardest things I have ever done. But don't worry, it wasn't bad. It was just so...... I will talk about this later. Jump on the train and relax.

     Anne was a down-to-earth, easy-going young girl. She had friends, even if her family life was far from happy. She was the average normal teen. Until the day she met Connor. Connor was not like other boys, he noticed her, he helped her, he brought her flowers, he appreciated her time, and he complimented her. Anne was not aware, but she was falling deeper in love by the day.

     Fast-forward, one year later. Anne is not the same girl, anymore. She is broken, bruised, unhappy, and she has no friends. She is living in Connor's apartment, and sadly, she cannot get away from him. Connor is broken, too, and Anne seems like his only savior. Even as she knows he is the reason she is in this state, she loves him. The only answer she has to the nagging questions is "But I Love Him..."

     Why did their relationship went downhill? What is hiding in Conner's past? Will Anne ever be able to get away from him? Why can't she? Find out much more when you read this truly heartbreaking, deeply-moving story of a love that crossed the line.

     I LOVED this book. Believe me, I loved the emotions I experienced through the book. Amanda Grace is a fabulous writer with an amazingly lyrical voice. I found many quotes that I loved in every page.

"The air inside the blanket warms, and I rock back and forth, back and forth, inside this bubble where nothing exists but me. I don’t know what to do anymore. I am alone. Just as he intended."

     This book was hard to read, honestly. I shed so many tears for Anne. Many people who read this, described her as "stupid", wondering why she didn't walk away from such a relationship. But that's the point of the book; -as the author states in an interview- the author wants us to know why people who are in "abusive" relationships can't just walk away. I felt for Anne, I loved her, and I related to her, in more ways that one. She is one of the best contemporary heroines I have ever read about.

     I just don't know how to rate this. So, I am giving it four stars. I was planning on five, but looking back, it caused me so much pain that I gotta get back at it somehow (revenge?). This book is heart-wrenching but gives you such an emotional, wonderful insight on these relationships that it's almost impossible to put down once you have started it. Recommended to every romantic, every contemporary fan, and every avid reader, out there!

My utterly-favorite quotes (hard to name a few, though):

"But even when I stop crying, even when we fall asleep and I’m nestled in his arms, this will leave another scar. No one will see it. No one will know. But it will be there. And eventually all the scars will have scars and that is all I will be, one big scar of a love gone wrong. "
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"He needs me. Just as I need him. But hearing the words buckles everything inside of me. I fold in on myself and bury my face in my knees and wrap my arms around my legs and try to disappear. I could drown in my own tears."

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"These are the things I see in him. The way he makes lemonade out of lemons."

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"I don’t know why he gets to be two different people, and I only get to be me, the one who is here to take what he has to give, and who is here to pick up the pieces afterward."

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"These are the only moments we have left. These precious seconds where the passion blots out everything else, and it is just us. The rest is a war neither of us can ever win. But I have already waved my white flag. I have already surrendered. "

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"People don’t change because you want them to. They aren’t clay, ready to be molded."

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"I want him to be whole so I don’t have to try so hard to make him that way.I want to not care if I make a mistake. I want this to be easy and happy, and I want to not walk on eggshells every moment of every day. I want to say the wrong thing and see him smile anyway. "