Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Review:

Sarah's sophomore novel, Fixing Delilah, was one of my favorite books back in 2011. Therefore, when The Book of Broken Hearts ended up in mailbox, I was beyond excited. For one, I adore the cover (it's even prettier in person), and the summary made it sound like the kind of contemporary I live for. Unfortunately, The Book of Broken Hearts and I didn't mesh nearly as well as I had hoped.

My main problem with this book laid with Jude, the main character. I wanted to like Jude, I really did. I mean, it was awesome to see how instead of having the "perfect, carefree summer" she dedicated her time to helping her dad fix up his old bike. Plus it was heartbreaking to see her and her family deal with the pain of her father's early set Alzheimer's. However, at the same time, she got on my nerves. She seemed a lot younger than a recent high school graduate. Plus I couldn't really understand her never ending fear of befriending a Vargas...it was just a little too much for me, and I couldn't stand how she would continually walk all over Emilio because of it.  Basically, while I admired Jude in most areas and rooted for her and her family, I just didn't particularly like her. I did, however, adore Emilio Vargas. He reminded me of one of the boy's from Simone Elkes's Perfect Chemistry trilogy, which instantly earned him points with me. I loved his humor, and how he never failed to get Jude going but at the same time be there for her as well as her family. He was just such a sweet guy. I also enjoyed reading about Emilio's family as well as Jude's....both contained some pretty awesome people, and a big shout goes out to Jude's dad.

I give major props to Sarah Ockler for tackling the topic of Alzheimer's in The Book of Broken Hearts. I felt she did a great job of making this aspect of the plot believable as well as relatable for people who had had family members or friends go through the same ordeal. It constantly pulled on my heartstrings to see Jude's dad deteriorate right before my eyes, and even though I knew it wasn't possibly, I still wanted a miracle to happen for him. I also enjoyed the addition of Jude and Emilio's friendship. It was fun to see it bloom. Plus it made Jude a little bit more likable, in my opinion. The ending, though, was my favorite part. I'll admit I had a hard time getting through some of this book based on my feelings towards Jude, but the last chapter made me just adore this book a whole lot more, weirdly enough. There was just something magical and uplifting about it but at the same time just a wee bit heartbreaking.

In all, while The Book of Broken Hearts and I had had our ups and downs, I still suggest it to fans of the contemporary genre. It does have some really great little parts to it, and if you like Jude more than I did, I'm pretty sure you'll end up loving it.

Grade: B 

The Book of Broken Hearts (Amazon, BN, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: ARC provided by Publisher

Waiting on Wednesday (141)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My picks for this week are...

The Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's east coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: this could be one very long night.

They have no idea just how right they are.

Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.

I have to admit, I love a good YA thriller. So when this one first landed on my radar, I immeaditely added it to my wish list. It looks creepy as well as full of twits and turns. Basically, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

The Girl in the Wall comes out December 2012.

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath — with candles and a contract and everything — to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle. No one wants to end up with a toaster on wheels, so they hire a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away — no way would she fall for them. But old warnings fade fast, because Emilio turns out to be the first guy in forever she likes. Really likes. Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…

But what if her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

I'm a HUGE fan of Sarah Ockler so as soon as I saw the adorable cover that screamed "I'M A YA CONTEMP!" I added to my wish list as well. I love the sound of this one, and I can't wait to find out more about the Vargas boys.  

The Book of Broken Hearts comes out May 2012.

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

Review:

Ever since Sarah's promising YA debut with Twenty Boy Summer, I have been eager to read more of her books. Therefore, when Fixing Delilah landed in my hands a few weeks ago, I was excited beyond words. Thankfully enough it was everything I wished it would be and more. Because not only did I find the characters to be lovable and the writing and world building tight and well done, but its story was one that truly hit a chord in me.

Fixing Delilah tells the story of Delilah Hannaford, a girl who used to have it all together: perfect grades, friends she liked, and more. However, as of lately, everything has begun to fall apart. Her mom's lost trust her, her boyfriend is more of a hook-up friend than anything else, and her plans for the future are looking quite bleak. After a family tragedy, Delilah and her mother are off to Vermont to pick up the pieces, and while Delilah's mother thinks this will be a brand new beginning for Delilah, Delilah thinks it will be nothing more than a bore of a summer. Nevertheless, when Delilah arrives in Vermont she is pleasantly surprised because not only does she reunite with her childhood friend Patrick but also she falls into some family secrets like no other. Now with an old diary and new found friends, Violet is off to figure out what happened to her family all those years ago, but will she find out more than she expected? Moreover, what happens when a friendship turns into something more? Only time and more pages can tell in this story of one crazy summer like no other.

Delilah was simply the perfect lead character for this. Witty, confused, and full of spunk, she is one girl you cannot help but root for as she comes to peace with the past and makes her way to the future. However, best of all she always felt real to me so to say because while she was one girl who made mistakes, she still managed to not only learn from them (even if it did take a while) but she always remains this compassionate and full of heart girl.

Nevertheless, what I liked most of this book was not Delilah directly but the relationships that were present. There was the one between Delilah and Patrick, which was as sweet as candy, but also full of problems and issues that always had me to curious to see what would happen between them. Then there was the one between Delilah and her mother. While it was rocky and full of angst, it worked perfectly in the way both came to understand and appreciate the other as time went on. Lastly there was the one general one between family and like most one's it was complicated beyond relief but how Sarah allowed Delilah to put all the pieces back together so to say truly made this book the amazing thing it was.

Adding to this all, I loved Sarah Ockler's writing. Because not only did it paint such a vivid scene in my head with the characters and setting, but it truly was the backbone of the novel, carrying it and making it full of twists and turns that constantly left me eager to read more, more, more.

In all, Sarah Ockler truly has something special in Fixing Delilah, which gives me even more reason to suggest that YOU should pick it up ASAP.

Grade: A+

Fixing Delilah is now out! You can read a short excerpt here.

Source: Library

Traveling To Teens Tour for Twenty Boy Summer

Traveling To Teens Tours are a way for us bloggers to get the word out about fantastic upcoming novels, that may be a great add to what you are currently reading. You can find out more about this all here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler!!!

Author Bio:

Sarah Ockler wrote and illustrated her first book at age six—an adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. Still recovering from her own adolescence, she now writes books for young adults. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of New York at Buffalo and also studied creative writing through Denver’s Lighthouse Writers Workshop.

While nomadic at heart, Sarah and her husband Alex currently live in Upstate New York with an ever-expanding collection of sea glass (hers) and dinosaurs (his).

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is her first novel.


Summary:

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

For Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, the ingredients for the Absolute Best Summer Ever are simple: Two girls. Two bikinis. And twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, California. The best part? According to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a good chance Anna will find her first summer romance.

Anna lightheartedly agrees to the fun, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie… she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death last year.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.


Review:

Twenty Boy Summer was a fantastic book with a cover of the same quality.

Sarah Ockler perfectly captured what it meant to be left behind by a person who you loved. Since, Anna was a mix of awkwardness and sadness which you expect with a book like Twenty Boy Summer. The whole time all I wanted to do was reach out and give her a hug, telling her it would be all good in the end. Though, with saying that sometimes she got on my nerves with her ever abundant amount of sadness.

The plot was well written and planned out. It constantly had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. Also, I loved, as I think you will to, the chatter between Frankie and Anna. Since, it cause for several LOL moments.

Overall, Twenty Boy Summer is another great work by a new amazing voice in YA. I look forward to reading more by Sarah in the future.

Grade: A-

Guest Blog:

I was inspired to write Twenty Boy Summer by my previous work with the National Donor Family Council (www.donorfamily.org), an organization that supports families whose loved ones have died and donated organs or tissues. The cause of donation and transplantation has always been very close to my heart, as my youngest brother Scott (aka "Scotty O") in Twenty Boy Summer - yes, he makes a cameo appearance!) had a lifesaving liver transplant when he was four years old. He's now 25, and he wouldn't be alive if not for the generosity of a donor family who made the decision to donate life in the midst of their worst pain.

So later in my life, when I had the opportunity to work with donor families, it was one of my greatest honors. I met so many wonderful people -- transplant recipients, donor families, living donors, those still waiting for an organ transplant, and people who worked in the field -- all brought together by one cause. Now, several years later, I still think of those families often -- especially of the donor family teens I met who'd suffered the death of a brother, sister, or friend. Their stories and struggles always stayed with me, and when I set out to write Twenty Boy Summer, I knew that I wanted to share a small part of that. I wanted to write about loss and grief and the darkest moments of life, and ultimately, of love and healing and renewed hope. But I also wanted to write about just being a teen, because as Anna and Frankie learn in the story, life doesn't stop after a tragedy. It moves on all around us, whether we want it to or not. So although a devastating loss defines Anna and Frankie for so long and is ever-present in Twenty Boy Summer, there are also elements of summer fun and crushes and best friend fights and parties and swimming and kissing and many of the things teens experience every day.

I'm just so grateful that I had the opportunity to know so many amazing families through the Council, and I truly hope that by writing the story of Twenty Boy Summer, I've honored and remembered them and their loved ones.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much Sarah! Everyone else make sure to check out the other stops on the tours!

Waiting On Wednesday: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

This has been going around the blogging world for the last couple of weeks. So, I have decided to borrow this and start this as a weekly post here. So, without further ado:

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."

"Okay."

"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"

"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

I first found out about this book here. The premise sounds so good! It has mystery to it and secretes. Plus, I love the cover and how the heart is made of a bunch or broken pieces. I wish I could get my hands on an ARC. Though, I guess I'll just have to wait until June for this one to come out.

So, do you guys have any books coming out soon that you are dying to read?