Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Summary/Image from Amazon:

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.  

Review:
 
Jekel Loves Hyde was an exciting and suspenseful tale that continued to capture your attention the whole way through.

This novel is told from two teens perspectives- Jill Jekel and Tristen Hyde. Beth crafted Jill in a way that made her easy to like. Simply because of the fact that she was just a sweet and timid girl who I wished I could give a hug and tell her that everything going to be okay. Tristen was the typical bad boy but in reality had a heart made of gold. And talking of them both, I loved how you got to see them build their way up to being friends then something more; since it gave it Jekel Loves Hyde one of those type of reality factors I adore.

The plot of this novel was just a complete wow! I loved how it incorporated not only science but the interesting tale of Jekyl and Hyde. Because of this all, Jekel Loves Hyde was a completely original and fascinating story.

Plus, Beth's writing showed true talent not only because of her well done execution of the story, but because of the fact that she could handle writing from two perspectives so well. I'm truly looking forward to reading more by her.

Overall Jekyl Loves Hyde is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2010, so far, and a novel that you shouldn't miss this year!

Grade: A-
 
Jekyl Loves Hyde is now out! Also be sure to check out the excerpt Beth has posted on her website.

Source/ Disclaimer: Publisher for review. Thanks Harcourt!

Quick Qs and As with Janet Fox!

Janet Fox is the debut author of Faithful, which will be released May 13, 2010!

~~~~

Describe your newest book Faithful in three words.

Romance, mystery, Yellowstone.

Describe your main character Margaret in one sentence.

Maggie is trapped by society’s expectations, but she discovers what she really wants when she is forced to choose between security and love.

If you could give Margaret advice, what would you say?

I would tell Maggie to trust herself. And I’d tell her to examine her heart to discover what truly matters. I’d also tell her that sometimes you have to look inside to find what you think you’ve lost.

If Faithful had a theme song, what would it be?

Can I pick two? Every time I hear “All I Need” (Radiohead) I think about Maggie; and “Swallowed in the Sea” (Coldplay), works, too. I’d love suggestions for more!

What was your favorite aspect of writing Faithful?

Writing about Yellowstone. It’s so beautiful; there’s so much to say. I have a real emotional attachment to the place.

What made you choose to have Faithful’s setting be at Yellowstone National Park?

I thought it would be interesting to take a girl into Yellowstone at a time when girls didn’t have many choices, and when the Park was fresh and new, and see what could happen to my character there.

How did the title Faithful come to be?

First, I wanted to spark a connection with Yellowstone (Old Faithful) and second, my character needs to find faith in herself and in what matters most in life. Maggie has to learn how to be faithful to what’s important. And she has to learn to trust people who care about her, to have faith in them.

I absolutely adore the cover of Faithful, which leaves me to wonder what your reaction was when you saw it for the very first time.

Thank you!! When I saw it, I swooned. Seriously – I absolutely love the cover. It’s gorgeous; it captures the place; it captures the story; it captures Maggie.

How does it feel knowing Faithful is going to be in stores soon?

I’m excited, and nervous (it’s been such a long time coming), and I hope readers love it.

I saw on your website that you’ve also written a book for children titled Getting Organized Without Losing It, which leaves me to wonder if writing Faithful was different in any ways from writing that?

Oh, yes, completely different. I wrote Get Organized for my young son (not young any more!) It’s a guide for middle graders, and its non-fiction. It had to be structured and funny, so kids would “get it.” Faithful also had to be structured, but in terms of crafting – finding the best scene to put my character in so that she could grow through conflict.

What were you like as a teenager? Were you similar to Margaret in any ways?

Hmm. There’s a bit of me in all my characters…but when I’m writing I try to become someone else and inhabit that person. It’s a bit like acting, I think. Maggie cares about different things than I did as a teen, and her mother disappears (mine didn’t), and her grandparents are mean (mine weren’t) and she is being forced into an awful marriage (I wasn’t). So I have to relate to how she feels by putting myself inside of her, so that I can express her emotions throughout the story.

What are some really great books you’ve read recently?

I liked both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins); I liked Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me, the Newbery winner; I thought Carrie Jones’s Need was fun, as was Kristin Cashore’s Fire.

What’s your typical day like?

I try to do a quick email check in the morning and then work on my current project until mid-afternoon. Then I tend to publicity or things I have to get done for my family; and then in the evening I generally write or read. At the moment I’m an MFA student at Vermont College of Fine Arts, so I’m busy with work for that – writing and reading – and preparing for the launch of Faithful.

What’s up next for you book-wise?

I’m working on another book for my editor at Penguin, Jen Bonnell; it’s a follow-up to Faithful but set in 1906 in San Francisco, the time of the great earthquake and fire, and it follows a young girl who is caught up in these events. At the moment the title is Forgiven.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
 
Readers can check my website for more information (http://www.janetsfox.com/) and follow me on my blog (http://www.kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com/) and my son made me a great book trailer that readers can view at http://bit.ly/faithfultrail

~~~

Thanks Janet! I wish you the best of luck with Faithful! :)

The Light: Morpheus Road #1 by D.J. MacHale

Summary/Cover Image from publisher's website:

Marshall Seaver is being haunted.

It begins with mysterious sounds, a fleeting face outside a window, a rogue breeze—all things that can be explained away. That is, until he comes face-to-face with a character who only exists on the pages of a sketchbook—a character Marshall himself created.

Marshall has no idea why he is being tormented by this forbidding creature, but he is quickly convinced it has something to do with his best friend, Cooper, who has gone missing. Together with Cooper’s beautiful but aloof sister, Sydney, Marshall searches for the truth about his friend while ultimately uncovering a nightmare that is bigger and more frightening than he could ever have imagined.

Number one New York Times bestselling author D. J. MacHale launches his eerie new trilogy with a story so packed with chilling suspense, readers will want to sleep with the light on.

Review:

I hadn't heard much about The Light prior to it ending up in my mailbox. Though with one quick look at the summary and cover, I knew I was going to be in for one thrilling and scary rollercoaster of a ride. Luckily, it provided to be just that, and while I did enjoy it overall, there was some aspects of this that I didn't like and some points that could have been done better.

First off, the premise of this was exceedingly intriguing; one that constantly had me on my toes and on the edge of my sit with all the scary things that were occurring. I truly never new what to expect next 97% of the time, something that I really enjoyed about this. Since I love it when a book manages to surprise me in that kind of way. Though, with saying that, the plot was also all over the place, unfortunately. A lot of things in this were touched briefly, then thrown to the waste side, but this is the first in a series, so I guess I should expect loose plot lines because this is setting up the bigger picture up, which will be made better as more books come out. I mean by the end things were starting to come together, so I guess only time will tell how I feel about the plot as the series continues.
 
Adding to this, D.J. MacHale is one fabulous writer! His descriptions were quite well done and always left me feeling like I was right with Sydney and Marsh the whole time. Though, sometimes they did have a bit too much detail, which caused me loose interest in The Light at times.
 
And talking about Sydney and Marsh, I enjoyed reading about both of them! Both were relatable and developed thoroughly. Also I liked the touch of romance between them as the novel progressed because it added a great little spark to this.
 
If you like scary,thrilling novels The Light is the prefect read for you and a series you may just end up loving! Also I'm sure the age group this is urged towards (Middle-grade boys) will end on eating this right up! Lastly, even with my slight problems I had, I'm still going to be reading the next addition because I'm very eager to see how everything turns out!
 
Grade: C+/B-
 
The Light: Morpheus Road #1 is now out!

Souce: Publisher/Publiscist for review. Thanks Venessa!
 
Book Trailer:
 

Waiting On Wednesday: Week 76

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is:

The Blending Time by Michael Kinch

Congratulations on turning age seventeen. You are now ready for placement by the Council government.

For kids in the year 2054, turning seventeen means they’re ripe for Global Alliance work assignments that range from backbreaking drudgery to deadly canal labor. Trying to survive in a desiccated world that’s been ravaged by plagues, AIDS III, and environmental disasters, three “s’teeners” from very different backgrounds think they’ve gotten lucky. Jaym, Reya, and D’Shay are chosen to be among thousands of blenders whose task is to help repopulate Africa after a solar flare left its people sterile.
But the continent itself—roiling with civil war and mercenaries intent on crushing the blending program at any cost—poses the gravest danger of all.

Separated, the three friends struggle to escape horrific situations, somehow reunite, and reach a camp in the mountains that promises salvation from the harsh and threatening world.

(Summary and image from Publisher website)

I always find dystopia books to be completely fascinating, and as a result, when I first heard about The Blending Time, I was immediately intrigued! I love the premise, so let's start hoping the final product is as good as it sounds. :)  Plus, The Blending Time is a debut novel!
 
The Blending Time will be released October 1, 2010 from Flux!

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Summary from publisher:

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

Review:

Even though I haven't read the original Sex and the City and barley watched the T.V. adaptation, I was ecstatic to read The Carrie Diaries when it ended up in my hands. Since, the summary and cover made it be intriguing, and better yet, Harperteen has almost never let me down when it comes to releasing great books!

Luckily, The Carrie Diaries proved to be a whole lot of fun! Since from the scandal to the wittiness to the drama it contained, it allowed Carrie's coming of age tale to not only be a hard one to put down, but also a new series to be on the watch for.

Carrie is a girl whose on hunt to find herself and in that prove to be the great writer she knows she can be. From the start, I instantly liked Carrie. Since she was a sweet narrator whose voice was a fun one to read. Also I could relate to her in the way that she sometimes had doubt in herself to the fact that even though she wouldn't admit it, she was, at times, a hopeless romantic. Further more, I enjoyed reading about the back up characters Candace introduced in this, Mouse and Walt in particular.

While the plot was continuously a bit predictable and clichéd, The Carrie Diaries still proved to be a book that I truly enjoyed. Since the characters and writing really made that negative aspect venial in my eyes. Plus, I loved the little twist Candace threw your way at the end, making you desperate to read the next addition.

In all, The Carrie Diaries was surprisingly an addicting book that will appeal to the people who previously enjoyed Sex and the City to teen girls who loved Gossip Girl and The A-List but want a bit more substance to their reading.

Grade: B

The Carrie Diaries is released today!

Source: Publicist for review. Thanks Laura!

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Summary/Image from Fantastic Fiction:

New sparks will fly in the sequel to Simone Elkeles's breakout book Perfect Chemistry.

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path - just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn't talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos' wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she's too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

With new characters to fall in love with and the same hot romance found in Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles has crafted another sure-fire hit for teens.

Review:

Simone Elkeles has yet to disappoint me with her books, so when Rules of Attraction showed up in my mailbox, it's obvious to say I had high hopes for it. Since not only was I hoping it would carry on the trend of spectacular books from Elkeles, but I was also hoping it would manage to be even better than it's prequel Perfect Chemistry, a book that rocked my world last year.

At first, I was worried, since it was only.....okay. Nothing amazing, not overly fun, just...boring, I hate to say, leaving it to take me what seemed like eons to get through the first 50 or so pages. Thankfully, after getting past that amount, give or take a bit, I was hooked because it had taken suddenly a 180 degree to become something amazing; something that I just couldn't for the life me put down for one second; something that proved be to be witty, fun, and romantic (Where can I find my Carlos?!).

Carlos and Kiara were both characters I really enjoyed reading about, even if I kind of preferred Brittany and Alex, since both were realistic. Kiara was a girl who was geeky yet had a heart of gold. Carlos was the typical swoon-worthy bad boy, who had a lot more heart than what appeared at the surface. And together they made one very cute couple that you couldn't help but wish you had something as great as they did.

Adding to this, I adored the side characters such as Kiara's brother Brandon, who always managed to make me laugh with his somewhat fake innocence, Kiara's friend Tucker, Ram, Brittany, and Alex.
 
The plot, as well, as the writing was pretty great and has left me to eager to read the final volume in this trilogy about the youngest Fuentes's brother because I'm sure it'll turn out to be amazing!
 
Overall, Rules of Attraction is a book I can't help but suggest you run out and buy because it's fun, amazing, and filled with a lot of heart, just like all of Elkeles's previous books. Oh, and with saying that, don't me discouraged by the slow beginning, I'm promise it'll get better!

Grade: A-

Rules of Attraction is now out! Also did you hear that this placed #3 on the New York Times Best Selling Chapter Books? Yet another reason why you should pick it up along with Perfect Chemistry, if you haven't read that one.

Source: Around The World Tour

The Book Trailer, which I love:

Quick Qs and As with Kay Cassidy

Kay Cassidy is the author of the inspiring debut novel, The Cinderella Society, which is now available, the host of Living Your Five™, and the founder of Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ reading program for kids and teens! And today I'm lucky enough to have an interview with her to post here on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf.

Though first, here's the offical book blurb and book teaser for The Cinderella Society.

What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.

Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

I opened the card, my hands trembling in dread and the faint remnants of what I used to call hope, as a tiny silver high-heel pin bounced into my hand.

I juggled the pin for a second, barely managing to keep it from falling, and flipped open the note with my other hand. The words inside were not a message but an invitation that sent shivers down my spine:

Your presence is requested at The Grind.
Tonight, 7 p.m.
Wear the pin.
Discretion MANDATORY.

~~

Q and A:

What are the top three reasons why teens everywhere should pick up The Cinderella Society come April?

Well, first… I need to say that I don't think there's any book on the planet that every teen needs to read. What I love about fiction is that there's something for everyone – we don't have to read something just because everyone else is doin' it. ;-)

That said, here are the three things that most people tend to mention in the emails I get: 1) girl power rocks, 2) hot guys and kissing are fun, and 3) having backup like the Cindys is something most people wish they had (I know I do!). :-)

To me The Cinderella Society shows that in being not only your own person, but comfortable in your own skin, you can become the best you can be, which leaves me to wonder why you choose to emphasize this very important message in your writing?

I think it's hugely important and not just to teens either. Most adults I know are still trying to make peace with who they are and get comfortable in their own skin. If you can accomplish that as a teen, WHOA… the sky's the limit!

What were you like as a teen? Were you similar to Jess in any ways?

Jess and I are a lot alike (though she pretty much wipes up the floor with me when it comes to volunteering – she's the queen). We both had our insecurities, we were both cheerleaders who never felt like part of the in crowd, and we have a similar sense of humor.

You’re the mastermind behind The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™, a free reading program for teen and youth librarians, which leaves me to wonder what inspired you to start this up? Also did you ever think in the beginning that it would became as popular as it is today?

It always makes me sad to hear how few kids and teens are reading. It's hard to make reading the cool thing to do in an age where technology rules supreme! But instead of sitting on the sidelines going, "Gee whiz, that's a bummer," I decided to do something about it. I'm a big believer in making a difference by using our own unique skills and interests, and this seemed like a natural way for me to do that. I created a fun, book trivia challenge with prizes for readers and for librarians that I sponsor and fund myself. Local librarians in the US and Canada can register to participate, so it brings kids back to the library again and again – another thing that I love about it!

Honestly? I had no idea it would grow as quickly as it did. I just celebrated the one-year anniversary of The Great Scavenger Hunt ContestTM this month, and there are more than 550 participating libraries in that short time. It amazes me every day. Best of all, kids and teens are having a blast with it and trying new books they might not have tried otherwise. I think that's awesome!

For all those eager to read the sequel to The Cinderella Society can you share with us a bit about what’s to come?

Right now I'm working on the sequel to The Cinderella Society, titled Cindy on a Mission. It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters as the Wickeds launch an offensive that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in Spring 2011.

~~

Oooh, I'm very exicted about Cindy on A Mission! Thanks Kay!

To find out more about Kay, as well as to find out where you can purchase your own snazzy copy of her book, head on over to www.kaycassidy.com!

In My Mailbox: Week 69

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

For Review:

Burning Ambition: A Hottie Novel by Jonathon Bernstein ( A surprise! Thanks G at Penguin!)

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (I really enjoyed this one and my review will be up this week! Actually I already have an ARC of this, so maybe a contest will be coming up for this soon. Though thanks HarperTeen!)

The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek (Not my typical read but it sounds great! Thanks AA!)

The Turning by Helen Ellis (I'm really really looking forward to starting this one soon! It looks amazing and I heart the cover; it's even prettier in person! Thanks Source books!)

The Pack by L.M. Preston (Already have a copy of this so contest soon, perhaps.)

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott (I'll my Elizabeth Scott books but I already read this one (Review here), so contest soon, possibly! Thanks Simon and Schuster!)

This Is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee + 4 bookmarks + a note from Barbara (This sounds ADORABLE! I can't wait to read it. Thanks BD!)

From Contest:

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith audio book (Looks interesting! Thanks Jenni!)

The Sweethearts' Knitting Club by Lori Wilde (Not my typical read but after reading Cindy's (aka Princess Bookie)  review of it, I was sold. So I was so happy when I won a copy! Thanks Cindy/Lori!

Around The World/ Other Shelf Tours:

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (I'm reading this one now...and it's only okay so far. I hope it gets better.)

Not Shown: Stalker Girl by Rosemary Grant (Really liked this one. My review will be up this week!)

Not Shown: The Espressologist by Kristina Springer (Very cute. Scroll down for my review!)

Overall, I had a great week book-wise! Though, enough about me. What did you get? Anything similar to me? Let me know! :)

Winners of Airhead and Being Nikki, Two New Trailers, and more!

Hi everyone!

First off, the winners of Airhead and Being Nikki are:

Kelsey Tobias
Helen Keeler

Congrats you two!! I just sent you both emails, so be sure to reply in the next 72 hours or I'll have to pick new winners. Didn't win? Well, be sure to check out the other three contests I have going on right now above!

~~~

Also, have you seen the new trailers for Shade and Claire De Lune? I actually like both a lot!

Here's the one for Shade (LOVED this book. Review/Giveaway coming soon!):



And here's the one for Claire De Lune (Really liked this one as well! Review/Giveaway coming soon!):



(Thanks to V at S&S for sending me the links to these!)

~~

Lastly, I recently posted about Jennifer Weiner's upcoming signing in New York. Though the event's location has been changed from Borders Columbus Circle to BORDERS PARK AVE. (461 Park Avenue at 57th street). To find out all the other details (time and date) head over here.

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Summary/Image from Barnes and Noble:

What's your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you're lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it's a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it's not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane's Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She's the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

With overtones of Jane Austen's Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers.

Review:

I have to admit, I was a wee bit hesitant to start The Espressologist because of it's short length. Since short novels and I usually don't mix well. Though The Espressologist ended up being a pleasantly surprising me because while it definitely isn't best of the year material, it still is one yummy, cute, and humorous read that I'm sure will have many readers asking for more...and going to their local coffee shop to get one of the delicious looking drinks mentioned in the book. Well, I know at least I'll be. ;)

Jane Turner is witty and smart. And even though she wasn't that greatly developed, there are still many points that teens can relate to such as the fact that she's worried about her future because of her lack of college founds, loves her friends to death, has embarrassing run-ins with her school's ex-ice princess, and can't seem to get the guy she likes...and even though her true soul-mate may be closer than she thinks; leaving her to be one character I couldn’t help but love as she went through the holiday season with not only these problems but being The Espressologist of her local coffee shop. Main goal of said job? To find love for her customers even thoughshe can't seem to get her own love life worked out. I also loved the added characters of Derek, Em, and Cam since they also added to the funny side of the story and constantly had me smiling to myself at their one-liners.

The plot of this was something that was addicting and original but lacking in development. I especially loved reading about Jane's match-ups but I would have loved to seen more of her matches as well as what happened to her matches after their first date. Also her relationship with Cam often left something to be desired since their wasn't much substance to it, much like the rest of the relationships/friendships in the book.

Though with that all being said The Espressologist is still a book I highly suggest you pick up when it comes out in paperback (or at your library if you can't wait) since what it misses in plot holes and character development, it makes up in adorableness and humor.

Grade: B

The Espressologist is now out!

Souce: One Shelf Tour

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Summary/ cover image from publisher's website:

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. Do good things and you'll be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what you deserve. But when Maddy’s boyfriend cheats on her, nothing bad comes his way. That’s why Maddy starts the Karma Club, to clean up the messes that the universe has left behind. Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. It turns out Karma often has plans of its own.

Review:

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that I'm a huge fan of Jessica Brody's books, so when I heard she would be making the switch to YA for her next novel I was beyond ecstatic, and when I received a copy of said book, I was even more so. Though, I have to admit that I did have a tiny nagging voice in my head that kept saying what if it isn't as great and well done as her adult novels.

And at first that nagging voice proved to be true, I wasn't exceedingly impressed with The Karma Club, but as plot points and characters became more developed and drama, along with inspiring messages, came pouring in, my worries were thrown to the waste basket as I rushed through this novel eager to find out what was going to happen next.

The plot of this was fun and something that fans of Suzanne Young's The Naughty List series and Elizabeth Eulberg's The Lonely Hearts Club are going to eat right up. I loved seeing the girls get revenge on people who did them wrong since not only did it prove humor but life lessons, I guess you would say, about Karma and how revenge isn't always the best choice.

And I think it goes without saying that I adored the characters in The Karma Club. Since all three girls- Angie, Maddy, and Jade- were smart, witty, and honest. My favorite out of the three would probably have to be Maddy, the protagonist. Since I loved seeing her relationship with a certain swoon-worthy boy develop, as well as getting closer look into her quandary about what was right and wrong when it came to Karma and life. Also she was a great friend even if she did lie at times to protect people.

Though, I did have one tiny problem with The Karma Club. What was that problem? Well I felt that some aspects that occurred in this occasionally fell too nicely into place, allowing the girls to quickly get by the trouble they faced. But this wasn't the biggest of problems, so I'm not going to let it get me down about The Karma Club.

In all, The Karma Club is everything a debut should be- witty, original, and inspirational along with well written! I can't even began to say just how much I'm looking forward to reading Jessica's next novel!

Grade: A+

The Karma Club will be released April 27, 2010!

Souce: Publisher for review. Thanks Farrar Straus Giroux!

And have you seen the book trailer for this one yet? It's definitely one of my favorites of the year.

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day

Summary/ Image from Fantastic Fiction:

Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motorcycle-riding, poetry reading bad boy. *swoon* Heidi's friends are so impressed they start emailing Heidi's fake boyfriend with their problems . . . including their problems with Heidi.

As if that weren't bad enough, a delicious and possibly single person called "A Real Boy" emails Heidi to say he knows the truth. Can Heidi escape from her world wide web of lies? Or will her chance at romance disappear faster than you can type gtg?

Review:

I have to admit that when I first started this I didn't like it very much, but as the story went on and the characters, as well as the writing, became clearer and more developed, I was hooked, quite simply. Since when you take out the slow moving beginning, My Invisible Boyfriend is one darlin' book that I simply couldn't get enough up, and I hope the same goes for you if you take the leap and read it too!

Heidi was a charming, yet naive (Though who isn't at some point or another?) main character that you couldn't help but like as you went along with her on this hilarious tale of one invisible boyfriend gone wrong. While some may take her overzealous imagination as her being immature, I liked that part of her character. Since it was funny and added a unique twist to My Invisible Boyfriend. Also I liked how she truly cared about her friends, even if she did do some dumb things at times. Adding to this, I really liked the secondary characters such as Teddy (AH-dorable, loved him!) and all her crazy yet funny friends. Oh, and I liked Ed, too. Though, I don't know if you could really count him as character since he was imaginary, but whatever.

The premise was fun and reminiscent of Kate Brian's Fake Boyfriend but way better! I enjoyed how Susie incorporated different methods of technology in it because it added a fun aspect to the plot, as well as the different twists that kept you guessing of how exactly My Invisible Boyfriend would end. Would the truth about Ed ever come out? What is up with Fili? Or better yet Eric? Would Heidi ever find her prince charming?! Only time and future pages would tell!

Though as with most books even if they are good have problems and I have to say that My Invisible Boyfriend had some, unfortunately. Such as the fact that instead of writing out words normally even once in a while you would get something like this from Heidi:

OUTS.
TAN.
DING.

While this was okay with me at first, the more it occurred the more annoyed I became. Though, other than that small point there wasn't much else that bothered me about this book. Well, except for the lackluster beginning but I've already addressed that.

In all, My Invisible Boyfriend is a book that I enjoyed and I think you will too if you're on the lookout for a fun and quick read to add to your TBR pile! I'm really looking forward to reading more by Ms. Day!
 
Grade: B+

My Invisible Boyfriend is now out!

Souce: Around The World Tours

Something Like Fate Blog Tour: Guest blog, contest, and more!

Today I have the honor of hosting day three on Susane Colasnti's blog tour for her fourth book, Something Like Fate!

If you haven't heard about Something Like Fate, you're seriously are missing out. Since while this isn't my favorite book by her, it's still one addicting and fast paced fun of a novel that I can't help but suggest as one of your May must buys!

Something Like Fate will be released May 4th. To see more about my thoughts about it look at the post below, which is my review.

And before I move on to Susane's guest post, the Q&A, and CONTEST, I wanted to mention that if you would like to follow the rest of the tour click here or on the tour button above!

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Susane's Guest post on Buddhism:

New Year’s Eve can be painful if you’re alone. I’ve had my share of loud parties in bars where you can’t even hear what the person in front of you is saying. I am not a fan of those. There have been a few times when New Year’s Eve rolled around and I didn’t feel like going to another loud party or my friends who I like to play board games with were doing something else or I just felt kind of blah. At times like those, my yoga center saved me. Every year on New Year’s Eve, they host a silent mauna. You exist in absolute silence from 9:00 until midnight. You can’t make eye contact with anyone else or communicate in any way. And of course no devices like cell phones or laptops are allowed. It’s a time to listen inward and rejuvenate for the new year. You can write in your journal or do yoga or meditate. At midnight, the silence is broken with a chant for world peace. I always left that event feeling so charged. I was filled with this sense of endless possibility, like everything I wanted to achieve would be possible. That’s a feeling I try to hold on to every day.

I agree with much of the Buddhist way. A major example is my belief in karma. The basic premise of karma is that if you put positive energy out into the world, the Universe will return that positive energy to you. So when you generate positive energy while working towards your goals, those goals will become more accessible. Karma is a fundamental theory in Buddhism. Yoga is also an important part of this lifestyle because it creates a physical/mental balance. Buddhists believe that if we are quiet with ourselves, we can hear our heart’s desires more clearly. It’s only by listening inward that we may eventually achieve inner peace. Buddhists are also vegetarians. Their philosophy is that every living thing on this Earth is connected and that violence is never the answer. I totally agree – I’ve been a vegetarian since college. And I don’t know what happens after we die, but I like to think that our souls go somewhere. In Buddhism, this means reincarnation. The idea is that if we help to make the world a better place in this life, we will enjoy more happiness in the next. Sign me up.

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Q & A with Susane:

1. I love the title for Something Like Fate, so I'm curious of how it came to be. Was it always the title or did it come later on?

Something Like Fate has been the only title that’s come to me quickly. I just knew it was the best title for this book right from the start. Usually, it’s easier for me to write an entire book than to think of a good title. When It Happens and Take Me There originally had different titles. And it took a while to decide on Waiting for You.

2. Since Something Like Fate’s release date is fast approaching, do you have any big plans for how you’re going to celebrate that day?

Yes! I’ll actually be on my book tour when Something Like Fate comes out on May 4. On my previous pub dates, I’ve celebrated by going out to dinner and then documenting the floor display at Barnes & Noble. For the When It Happens release, I had a joint party with a friend. Her birthday was the same as my pub date (which was also May 4 – I love it when things come full circle!) and my birthday is May Day (May 1), so much celebration was in order. This time I’ll be in Los Angeles reading at Borders, which is an awesome way to celebrate with my readers.

3. Everyone has guilty pleasures (T.V. shows, movies, books, etc.), so what are some of yours?

Let me confess: I’m having an affair with Netflix. Since I’ve never owned a TV, I’ve missed out on a lot of shows that Netflix lets me catch up on. This is how I was able to confirm that My So-Called Life and Freaks and Geeks are two of the best shows ever. I’m a serious fan of The Office. Waiting for it to come out on DVD is never easy, especially when the whole world was talking about Jim and Pam’s wedding. Then again, I get to anticipate fresh eps that everyone else has already seen, which, in a strange way, can be even more exciting than watching the actual eps. I own movies that I love and watch them over and over. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve seen Garden State or Office Space. Of course I love reading, but I don’t consider reading to be a guilty pleasure. Reading is a necessity, much like breathing.

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Contest:

Thanks to Penguin and Susane I have ONE SIGNED copy of Something Like Fate to giveaway to one of my US based readers ages 13 or older (As always if you international but have someone who can send it to you from the US, feel free to enter!). To enter please fill out the form. The winner will be chosen on May 7, 2010!

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Still not sure about reading it? Check out the 3 chapter sampler below!

Susane Colasanti Sampler

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Further Links:

Website: http://www.susanecolasanti.com/
Blog: http://windowlight.livejournal.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susanecolasanti
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/susanecolasanti
Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanecolasanti
Dates of Susane's "offline" tour: http://windowlight.livejournal.com/2010/04/02/

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Thanks for reading the post! I hope you enjoyed it! :)

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Summary from Amazon:

Best friends Lani and Erin couldn’t be more different. Lani’s reserved and thoughtful; Erin’s bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There’s no possible way they could be interested in the same guy.

So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can’t believe she feels such a deep connection with him—and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it’s her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can’t have?

Review:

Ever since reading When It Happens, Susane's first novel, I've been a big Colasanti fan. And when her third novel Waiting For You came out last year, I was awed yet again. So, by the time I received Something Like Fate for review my exceptions were huge for this one. Sadly enough, Something Like Fate barely meet them, leaving this to be some-what of a disappointment to me.

Lani was certainly an interesting character; I loved her obsession with all things fate related and her love for the environment. Also, she almost always had good intentions, even if they didn't sometimes go the way she wanted them to go. Though, the main and basically only thing that ticked me off about her is the fact that she not only let people walk over her, but she also walked all over other people herself. In turn, this become a big failing point for me with this book, because, at most times, Lani wasn't a strong character, far from it actually, since she hid instead. When things with Jason got hard she hid and didn't follow her heart, when things with Erin got tough she hid and didn't explain herself, exc. And that just bugged me. All through the novel, I wanted her to just tell everyone "Screw It!" and go after what she wanted, and not what others, mainly Erin, wanted. Though, even though I wasn't always a big fan of Lani, I did like her somewhat, but I just had a really hard time relating to her. Some of the other characters, on the other hand, I did like a lot. Blake, for instance, was awesome, and I was always rooting for him to overcome his big problem in Something Like Fate. Also, Connor, the Canadian friend, was so sweet and adorable! Erin and Jason are a different matter completely. I never liked Erin from the beginning because she was just way too into her own little world and never saw the big picture, which was one of the failing points of her character throughout. Jason I liked for the most part, because like Lani he had good, pure intentions, even if they didn't always go the way he wanted them too.

Unlike with the characters, I had absolutely no problems with the plot and writing, and that in turn brought up my liking of the book quite a bit. Since both flew by easily and worked perfectly together. Plus, even if Lani did annoy me 50% of the time, her voice was one that was an easy one to get lost in, which left you not to even realize you were on page 150 and so on.

Overall, I'm undecided on Something Like Fate. Since, when you factor the writing and plot I liked it a lot, but when talk about the characters exclusively it was kind of a dud. So, while I do suggest it as a fun light summery type book, don't get your hopes too high, because this certainly isn't Susane's best work yet, in my opinion.

Grade: B-/C+

Something Like Fate will be released May 5, 2010!

Source: Publisher for review. Thanks Penguin Viking Division!

Waiting on Wednesday: Week 75

My pick this week is:

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

 (Tempary cover image and summary from author's website)

"I think I’ve proven to everyone by now, even myself, that I’m incapable of making good decisions. That my judgment is epically flawed. So I say, it’s time to stop making decisions all together. From now on, the world is my guide. The people are my leaders. I will do whatever they tell me to do. No questions asked."

When notorious screw-up, Brooklyn Pierce finally realizes that her decision-making abilities are epically flawed, she enlists the help of the world’s blog-reading population, by posting every decision she comes across in an online poll, vowing to adhere to whatever the outcome might be.

But when her blog readers make a choice that Brooklyn is certain will do more harm than good, she’s faced with a entirely new kind of decision: Keep her promise to herself and the blog reading population of the world, or set out on her own….regardless of the consequences.

I recently read Jessica's YA Debut The Karma Club (Review will be up Friday!) this past weekend and loved it a ton. So when I saw on her website that she had a second YA coming out in 2011, I knew it had to be my WOW pick, even if it isn't wasn't a sequel to Karma, which I would love but I don't think it's going to happen. Anyway, My Life Undecided sounds great! I love the idea of it. Having people choose what you do by an online poll? Well, it's sure to cause chaos, so I'm definitely there! :)

My Life Undecided will be released Spring 2011. No definite date has been released yet.

Got Questions for D. J. MacHale, author of Morpheus Road? Well, look no further!

Hi everyone!

I was recentely alreated that D.J. Machale, author of Morpheus Road among many other books, will be answering questions provided by YOU over at Ustream today at 6:00 PM.

Here's all the info straight from the people at Simon and Schuster:

Not able to meet D. J. MacHale while he’s on tour? Not to worry! You can still ask him all your questions about Morpheus Road on publication day!

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to: http://www.ustream.tv/simonandschuster
2.  Login on the right side via Twitter or Facebook to post questions for me.
3.  D. J. will be answering the questions LIVE on pub day, 4/20 at 6:00 PM Eastern time, and you can watch it there then!

I hope you will be able to make it! Also feel free to pass the news on! :)

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Summary from Amazon:

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This lovely and memorable debut by Alyssa B. Sheinmel contains many of the hallmark themes found in young adult literature—friendship, coming of age, finding a place to belong, and overcoming the death of a loved one. Emotionally moving from start to finish, The Beautiful Between introduces a strong new voice to the genre, a voice with a long future ahead of it.

Review:

The Beautiful Between ended up surprising me in more ways than one.

First off, it's one of the of the most beautifully written books I've read in a long time, which leaves me to think Alyssa B. Shenimel is an author you're going to be hearing a lot about as the years go on and her book total rises.

And number two. This book had no romance, something that I always find kind of necessary in the books I read, but with this it worked perfectly, much to my surprise. Since when it comes down to it The Beautiful Between is about friendships and how important they can be in making you who you are; giving this an overall aura that I adored.

Connelly is a girl who seems to be average at first look, but once you get to know her she's one extraordinary girl simply because she's smart, supportive, loving, and just a person that I would simply love to have in my life, and you probably will too once you read this. She has her quirks. Such as her love for books, something that I can relate to, and imagining her high school as fairy tale kingdom, a trait about this book I liked, even if it seemed a bit immature at times. And while she can be a bit hard of on herself, in end she's someone who has all these different characteristics that make her likable and relatable.

Adding to this, I loved reading about her friendship with Jeremy, her school's prince charming who is not nearly as perfect as he looks. It was a relationship built on convince but soon enough Alyssa created it in being something amazing, yet so simple.

Lastly, while the plot was one that never truly had you on the edge of your sit, The Beautiful Between was still a fantastic book because of two big things- the characters and Alyssa's lyrical writing. This book actually reminded me a bit of something Jillian Cantor would write, so if you heart her books like I do be sure to check this one out!

Overall, The Beautiful Between was one spectacular debut that I'm sure will be bought up like ice cream on a hot, sunny day in summer once it's released! So check it out! :)

Grade: A-

The Beautiful Between will be released May 11, 2010.

Source: Around the World Tour

The Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen

Summary:

No one at Kayla’s school knows she’s the famous Oracle of Dating—the anonymous queen of dating advice, given through her own Web site. Kayla doesn’t even have a boyfriend. Two relationship disasters were enough to make her focus on everyone else’s love life. But then her advice backfires on her own best friend. And Kayla starts to seriously obsess about Jared Stewart—the very cute, very mysterious new guy in school. Suddenly, the teen queen of advice needs her own oracle of dating--and she knows just where to find one...

Review:

It's no secret that I adore Harlequin Teen books, so as you can imagine I was ecstatic when I got the chance to read this. Thankfully enough, The Oracle of Dating was, without a doubt, the cutest book I've read so far this year, and a fantastic start to a new series!

You know those type of characters that you would love to have as friend in real life because they’re chic, smart, and fun? Well Kayla along with all her funny friends were that type. I loved how real they were and how the problems they faced were ones all teens go through; it was definitely high point. Plus, I really enjoyed seeing a real type of relationship between Kayla and Jared. Since unlike half the teen books out there, they became friends first and gradually worked their way up to being more.

The plot and the writing worked perfectly together, producing an awesome product, if I do say so myself. I loved reading Kayla/The Oracle’s dating advice and blog posts along with all the drama that occurred. And while the plot was a bit predictable, it never truly detracted from the overall story.

In all, The Oracle of Dating has a bit of everything that leads to gretness including relatable characters, laugh out loud funny scenes, a sweet romance, and dating advice, of course, which leaves this to be a book I'll definitely be suggesting come May. Great job yet again Harlequin Teen!

Grade: A

The Oracle of Dating will be released May 1, 2010!

Source: Netgalley for review.

In My Mailbox: Week 68

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

Library:

Blue is For Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Amazing Grace by Megan Shull

Around The World Tours/ Traveling ARC Tours:

My Double Life by Janette Rallison (Cut so far)

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (Not shown; already mailed out. But it was very, very good. My review will be posted this week!)

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (Not shown; already mailed out. You can see my thoughts on it here)

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day (Not shown; already mailed out. Though it was adorable and my review shall be up soon!)

For Review AKA the many surprises:

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood (Such a great surprise! I can't wait to read it!!!)

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (!!!!)

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody (!!!!!)

The Harry Potter paperback box set by J.K. Rowling

(Thanks HarperCollins/Penguin/Farrar Straus Giroux/Scholastic & P)

What a fantastic week in books! All of the ones I've read so far have been really great so I hope the rest prove to be the same! :)

Though enough about me, what did YOU get? Anything similar to me? Let me know in the comments! :)

Cool Young Adult Related Information: Take 5!

Cool Young Adult Related Information is a feature I do occasionally in which I share different info that have been forwarded to me by bloggers, authors, publicists, exc. about different happenings in the YA world. And since I have a couple of things to share, I decided to do a 5th eddition of this! :)

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You've seen all the fun promotions for Runaway (Check out my contest for the first two books HERE!), but have you heard about the amazing Runaway Twitter Party that Meg Cabot and Thea and Ana of The Book Smugglers are throwing on Thursday, April 22, between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. EST? Well if you haven't, the time is now to get all the info straight from Chelsy:

Join Runaway author Meg Cabot and Thea and Ana of The Book Smugglers for a Twitter party Thursday, April 22, between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. EST!

• Be sure to follow Meg@MegCabot , Point at @ThisIsPoint, and Thea and Ana @BookSmugglers before the party!
•  Join the fun! No one expects you or your tweets to be perfect; we’re just happy you made it to the party!
• Anyone who tweets during the party using #MegCabot is entered to win a limited edition Runaway t-shirt – featuring the winning design voted for by fans!
•  Watch for questions from @BookSmugglers and win awesome prizes including an iPad, $50 Sephora gift cards or $25 VISA gift cards!
• To join the party, you can use our official party tweetgrid or just search #MegCabot on Twitter.
• Ask Meg questions or chat with other partygoers—just use the tag #MegCabot in all of your party tweets! (This is added automatically in TweetGrid.)
• Please don’t post any spoilers and don’t forget to pay attention to the time zones, the party starts at 8:30pm EST.

I hope that all of you get the chance to attend! :)

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Also, here's yet another reason why I wish I lived in NYC:

On Thursday, May 13th, best-selling author Jennifer Weiner will be speaking, answering questions, and signing books at BORDERS (10 Columbus Circle) at 7:00PM.

WHO: Best-selling author Jennifer Weiner
WHAT: Jennifer Weiner will be speaking, answering questions and signing books from her New York Times #1 bestselling novel - Best Friends Forever
WHERE: BORDERS # 592 – 10 Columbus Circle – NYC BORDERS Park Ave–461 Park Avenue at 57th street – NYC
WHEN: Thursday, May 13th at 7:00PM (Thanks to AA for the details!)

I loved this book (By the way, yes, I do realize this is an adult book, but it does have a teenish appeal to it because there's flashback scenes to the MC's teen years) so it would have been amazing to meet Jen. Maybe another time for me, but I hope all you lucky New Yorkers will get the chance to see her! :)

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And if you're girl, Egmont is asking for you to enter there THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY "BE EXTRAORDINARY" SWEEPSTAKES! Here's all the info:

To celebrate the publication of THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY by Kay Cassidy, Egmont USA is launching today the “Be Extraordinary” sweepstakes, where young fans will have the chance to win a pair of designer shoes. Similar to THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, a story about a secret society that encourages its members to be and do their very best, the “Be Extraordinary” sweepstakes aims to help promote girl empowerment and self-esteem.

“We loved and wanted to support the book’s inspirational storyline with a fun promotional campaign,” said Mary Albi, Marketing Director at Egmont USA. “The “Be Extraordinary” sweepstakes highlights and encompasses some of the book’s key themes. Besides, what girl doesn’t want a fabulous pair of shoes?!

Girls are invited to become a fan of The Cinderella Society Facebook fan page and post how they plan to be extraordinary for the day. By becoming a fan and posting a plan for being extraordinary, one will be automatically entered to win a pair of designer shoes. Two lucky winners will be selected randomly from the group on May 1st.

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Ands that all for this CYARI!

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

Summary/cover photo from Author's website:

What did you do on your summer vacation?

Jack found a 300-year-old princess!

A Kiss in Time, a modern Sleeping Beauty (HarperCollins, April, 2009)

Talia fell under a spell…

Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger’s soft kiss.

I couldn’t help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn’t know this would happen.

Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I’m stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?

Review:

After finishing A Kiss In Time only one word really comes to mind. What is that word? Well, average. Nothing too amazing nor too dreadful, basically just cute and average, a good and bad thing mixed together.


Going into this, I truly wasn't sure what to except. I had seen so many mixed reviews of this that it made my head spin. My own opinion tends to fall in between because while I won't be declaring my love for it anytime soon, I also won't be declaring my hate for it either.

Though, enough about that, let's talk about characters, Taila and Jack, mainly. I truly did like both of them. Taila was innocent yet so sweet and honest in a way that girls today aren't, while Jack was the typical slacker with a heart of gold hidden beneath the surface. I enjoyed seeing how there cultures mixed together and how they helped one another understand the other better. Though, I wasn't a huge fan of their romance. I felt that it was severely underdeveloped, one minute somewhat of a friend, the next proclaiming their love for one another, and unrealistic, but this is a fairytale retelling so I guess I should've have been ready to accept that.

The premise was interesting and one of the main reasons why I wanted to read A Kiss in Time, but the execution was half hearted. Good but not rock-my-socks amazing like I hoped. Though, I did enjoy the writing and I felt that Alex did a great job of developing the characters as well as switching between narrators, a task that some never do quite right.

So while I'm not the biggest fan of A Kiss In Time, I do suggest you possible pick it up in paperback or at the library, because while it is lacking somewhat, it still is cute and summery enough to be a perfect beach read.


Grade: C+

A Kiss in Time is now out!

Source: Publisher