Review: Fangirl

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Format: Hardback
Pages: 433
Date(s) Read: July 27-29, 2015
Rating: 5

Summary: 

Cath and Wren are Simon Snow fans...though for Cath, being a Simon Snow fan is LIFE.  They've now gone off to college, Wren has outgrown the fandom.  Wren doesn't want to be roommates, her fiction professor things fanfiction is the worst thing, and she's worried about her dad. With all the issues Cath faces, it comes down to the questions of can she do this? Can she make it on her own? Is she actually ready to start living her life without her sister holding her hand? 

Review: 

This is a cute, emotional, coming of age story.  This was the second book I'd ever read by Rainbow Rowell, and the first YA I'd read of hers.  I was not at all disappointed.  Seriously.  There was very little about this story that disappointed me, if anything.  Well, the one thing....I wanna know how the Simon and Baz story that Cath is writing ENDS!  That's about the only complaint I have! 

I had heard a WHOLE LOT about this book.  The hype was something that I'd listened to, read the reviews of people who had read it.  They ran the gambit from loved it to hated it to somewhere in between.  So, much like I do with any movie that I see that has reviews on either side of the spectrum, but very  little that resided in between: I waited.  I waited patiently, and ultimately grabbed the book from the library. I settled down, not entirely knowing exactly how I would react to such a story.  

I think part of me really, really liked Cath, because I knew a girl like her (well, minus Cath's level of social anxiety) when I was in college.  She was actually one of my best friends and she drew and wrote Final Fantasy VII fanfics, comics, and the like.  They of course weren't the only thing she drew/write, but I know for a fact that the Final Fantasy series to her is like Simon Snow is to Cath.  So I could relate to Cath a bit, and to be honest I've always been the dorky, geeky awkward girl with the social anxiety and things like that...I mean yes, I have my fandoms but I do not live, eat and breath them...unless you count Nightmare Before Christmas...then all bets are off. 

The mix of humor and heart in this story is pretty much perfect, and I was happy to finally get a chance to read one of her YA novels.  I think I will be spending a bit more time with some of her books as I can get my hands on them.  I mean, seriously?  Even her adult novels can get me right in the feels. 

I highly recommend checking her out and getting to know all about the characters she creates. 

Review: Unravel Me

Title: Unravel Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Format: Hardback
Pages: 461
Date(s) Read: July 25-27, 2015
Rating: 5

Summary: 
Juliette has escaped Omega Point, which is at the same time a place for people like her.  People with gifts, and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.  She can be free to love Adam...but she will never, ever be free of her lethal touch...or Warner who wants her more than she ever thought possible. 

Review:

Okay, I still love this series.  Even though Mafi's particular writing style does take some getting used to, however, that does not mean that it detracts from the actual story.  There is a beautiful flow to the story, and the world building is wonderful.  The emotional ties between her characters are something that are tangible and gut-wrenching when things do not ultimately work out the way we hope they do. 

This particular story will, be like the first, and the twists and turns will keep you completely enthralled from beginning to end.  Things will definitely not turn out as you hope, and Warner will break your heart just a little bit.  That will be the extent of the spoilers I share with you about this particular book.  I am greatly looking forward to getting my greedy little hands. I just have to wait for it to be available for either kindle or physical copy from the library! 

Yes, I know this review is kinda short.  However, it's about as much that I want to give for it because to give away much more will require many more spoilers that I don't intend on giving! 

BotW: July 5-11: Anna and the French Kiss

We all know that I love to read.  Nothing new there.  There had been several books that I'd been recommended through friends, posts on tumblr, and even through goodreads.  Ultimately, I chose this week to make one of those recommendations, and one of my reads from last month, this week's book of the week. 

Anna and the French Kiss

Stephanie Perkins

For one, just look at that cover! I mean really? It is so pretty! So simple! I absolutely adore it.  The story is absolutely delightful as well, and ultimately I want to get my hands on the other two books in this series, and continue the story that was presented in this delightful book.  I literally read this book in 24 hrs, it was that good and kept me hooked. 

The rest of the books:

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Isla and the Happily Ever After

Now, here are some of my favorite quotes from this week's book of the week! 

“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.”

“I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it.”