Book Review: Confessions of an Angry Girl - Louise Rozett

Title: Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions #1)

Author: Louise Rozett

Release Date: January 4th 2012

Publisher: MiraINK

Source: NetGalley 

Goodreads

Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some CONFESSIONS to make... 

#1: I’m livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I’m allowed to be irate, don’t you? 

#2: I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed gorgeous Jamie Forta, boyfriend of the coolest cheerleader in the school. Now she’s out for blood. Mine. 

#3: But most of all high school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien…and now it’s a case of survival of the coolest.

When I read a book, I want to like it. I almost always do, but sometimes, I don’t even try to finish them. Confessions of an Angry Girl was the rare inbetween.

There were a lot of reasons why I didn’t enjoy this as much as I wanted to. First, I didn't like Rose as a character. Aside from that moment when she finally burst, I never thought she was angry (like the title says)—just whiny. I hate it when people complain, but I hate it even more when that's all they do. Also, she kept blaming other people her age for being so childish, when I didn't feel that she was mature enough to even try to handle them. Lastly, I hated her lack of a backbone. If I were her, I wouldn't care if I was up against the meanest cheerleader in the universe; I'd show her what she's up against.

Then there was also the plot that had very little going on. I couldn’t identify the real climax, and in the end, it seemed like the story didn’t progress at all—just like the underdeveloped romance, which had so much potential because of bad-boy Jamie Forta.

I appreciated how the author tackled topics like sex, contraceptives, and even gynecology—which was quite TMI, to be honest, and now I'm dreading even the thought of having to go there in, like, ten years—but isn't fourteen too young to be thinking about those stuff? Or am I just experiencing cultural differences?

Anyway, the ending left much questions unanswered for the sequel, but I doubt I’ll be checking that out—though I do love the title: Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend.

MY FAVORITE PART was when Rose finally showed her anger.

RATING: 

(cover and summary from Goodreads.com)

Book Review: Louder Than Words - Laurie Plissner

Title: Louder Than Words

Author: Laurie Plissner

Release Date: December 18th 2012

Publisher: Merit Press

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

Since the snowy night when her family's car slammed into a tree, killing her parents and little sister, Sasha has been unable to speak except through a computer with a robotic voice. Nothing is wrong with her body; that's healed. But, after four years, Sasha's memory, and her spirit, are still broken. Then one day, she's silently cussing out the heavy book she dropped at the library when a gorgeous, dark-haired boy, the kind of boy who considers Sasha a freak or at least invisible, "answers" Sasha's hidden thoughts - out loud. Yes, Ben can read minds; it's no big deal. He's part of a family with a host of unusual, almost-but-not-quite-supernatural talents. Through Ben's love, Sasha makes greater progress than she has with a host of therapists and a prominent psychiatrist. With him to defend her, bullies keep the world from ever understanding Sasha, he pulls away. Determined to win him and prove her courage by facing her past, Sasha confronts her past - only to learn that her family's death was no accident and that a similar fate may wait for her, in the unlikeliest of disguises.

They say laughter is the best medicine, but what if—aside from a few huffs of air—you couldn’t even laugh?

That’s Sasha’s life, post-accident—the accident that had taken her family and her voice. After four years of psychotherapy, she still suffered from hysterical mutism and retrograde amnesia, and had to choose between pen and paper or her Hawkie Talkie to communicate with others... well, that was until Ben Fisher, cute black-belter and Italian-speaking mind-reader, came complete with nunchucks to save her.

I have to say, I certainly didn’t expect Louder Than Words to be such a fun read. Sure, Sasha was mute and had little memory of her life before the accident, but she wasn’t too down on herself. She was hopeless but positive. I doubt I’m making any sense here, but I really understood her outlook in life because it’s pretty much mine, too.

Now, on to Ben freaking Fisher. I admit, he reminded me of Edward Cullen more than once—probably because of the mind-reading, Roman-god-looks, maturity, and out-of-the-blue chastity—but aside from his special talent, he was very much human. And very much swoon-worthy.

Although it frustrated me (a lot), I liked how Ben prioritized Sasha’s mental health over their relationship, knowing she would never be whole without fully understanding her past, and I liked it even more that, instead of wallowing in grief, Sasha concentrated on getting better.

With the perfect balance of giggles and I’m-suspecting-everyone mystery, Louder Than Words was the complete package, and I would love to pick it up again soon.

MY FAVORITE PART was Sasha and Ben’s date in the city. Swooooooooon.

RATING:

(cover and summary from Goodreads.com)

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Sworn to Raise - Terah Edun

Title: Sworn to Raise (Courtlight #1) 
Author: Terah Edun 
Expected release date: March 15th 2013 
Cover Designer: Kalen O'Donnell Cover Designs 
Goodreads 

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the  kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond  initiations. 

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.  

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down. 

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

About the author:
Terah Edun is an international development professional and author/lover of all things Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She is a native Georgian, adoptive Washingtonian, unrepentant expat currently living in South Sudan, brilliant dreamer, lover of dogs and not-so-closet geek. Her first novel, Red Madrassa, was released on November 8th and her second novel, Sworn to Raise, comes out in March 2013.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

And for the giveaway! Terah is offering a $60 Amazon gift card. Giveaway ends on December 31st.

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Top 10 of 2012 {Day 5}: Most Anticipated 2013 Reads

Top 10 of 2012 will be five days of top ten bookish lists on this last week of 2012!

 

I didn't have a "Best Book Boyfriends of 2012" post because I couldn't narrow down my list to ten! >_< Anyway, I have lots of 2013 books in my to-read shelf in Goodreads, but here are the ten I'm most excited for!

 

 

 

 

Fault Line by Christa Desir

   This sounds like a heartbreaking read, but I can't care less about my heart! XD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Untitled (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

   Yes, I'm excited for a book without a title, a blurb, and a cover yet, but hey, who isn't excited for this?! I'm really hoping Veronica Roth wasn't taking her evil-author-pills while writing this.

 

 

 

 

 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

   Aside from the gorgeous cover, I can't wait to meet River West... even though he could be the devil...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry

   A previously solid friendship is being threatened by a magical musician boy? Sold.

 

 

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

   With that hair-pulling ending in Pandemonium, how could I not be excited for this?! I just hope Alex ends up happy. He deserves it. Lena doesn't. Hmph.

 

 

 

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

   WARNERRRRRRRRR. Umm, yeah. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him with Juliette (she really should be with Adam), but I love him.

 

 

 

Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood

   A girl with a family on the brink of falling apart and a gypsy guy who's a bare-knuckle boxer... yes, please.

 

 

 

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

   I am desperate for more Arry. And Roar. Not looking forward to Soren, though (someone with an ARC mentioned him, grr); I hope Perry will beat him to a pulp again.

 

 

 

 

 

Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

   Burn for Burn's ending was such a cliffhanger, and I need to know more about Mary's power(?).

 

 

 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

   This book sounds like the story of my life, so of course I'm excited! XD

Book Review: Empty - K.M. Walton

Title: Empty

Author: K.M. Walton

Release Date: January 1st 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads

Dell is used to disappointment. Ever since her dad left, it’s been one letdown after another. But no one—not even her best friend—gets all the pain she’s going through. So Dell hides behind self-deprecating jokes and forced smiles.

Then the one person she trusts betrays her. Dell is beyond devastated. Without anyone to turn to for comfort, her depression and self-loathing spin out of control. But just how far will she go to make all of the heartbreak and name-calling stop?

Let me tell you one thing about this book: it is not about hope or enlightening. Not even a tad bit. It aims - at least I think it does - to grab the reader's heart and plug in a wire to connect with it, to unmask Dell's disappointments hidden behind self-deprecation and nonchalance. Unfortunately, it failed to make that connection with me.

But that's not to say Empty was a failure. The prose was good, oozing with darkness and depression, befitting of Dell's emotional and disturbing life. The reason why it didn't affect me as much as I wanted it to was because, thankfully, my life's been very far from that. My parents didn't get a divorce, I didn't realize my dad hadn't really loved me, my mom has never been too wrecked to be a mother, my best friend is not becoming a stranger, and I am not filling any internal void with food. 

So instead of making me sad, Empty served as an eye-opener. It told me to be more appreciative and thankful for what I have, and sorry for even the little name-calling that I did back in high school. But even with Dell's hopelessness, her story fills one with anticipation for better things and strength to work towards those goals.

Anyway, that ending was totally unexpected. I kept eyeing the page number, willing for there to be more, chanting "someone or something stop her" in my head. My wish ended up being unfulfilled, but that way, the story became just so much more real.

MY FAVORITE PART was Dell's talent show performance. Let it all out, girl.

RATING:

(cover and summary from Goodreads.com)

Top 10 of 2012 {Day 3}: Best Couples of 2012

Top 10 of 2012 will be five days of top ten bookish lists on this last week of 2012!

Ah, couples. They are often vomit-inducing in real life, but in fiction... Everything's just better in fiction! XD

Luce and Daniel from Fallen by Lauren Kate

   Fated to meet and then get torn apart, these two are the perfect example of star-crossed lovers. I've yet to read the next books, but I'll get to those soon!

Tris and Four (FOURTRIS!) from Divergent by Veronica Roth

   God I love this couple. They're both bad-ass but are softies for one another. If they don't end up together in Detergent, I'm killing something.

Lena and Alex from Delirium by Lauren Oliver

   Because I've read Pandemonium already, I know Lena doesn't deserve Alex (she doesn't!) anymore, but still. I really loved it when Alex recited poetry to Lena in his trailer home *swoon*

Katy and Daemon from Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

   Oh, these two haters turned lovers. All the sexual tension! I'm nervous when I imagine how much more JLA will torture them >_<

Nora and Patch from Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

    Some say Patch is manipulative, but I've never thought so. Maybe because Nora doesn't really let him manipulate her? Anyway, these two will always be one of my fave YA couples ever. 

Juliette and Adam from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

   I'm Team Warner, but there's no denying that these two are nowhere near breaking up. Steamy!

Aria and Perry from Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

   I like referring to these two as Arry... Anyway, their relationship is one of the best developed I've ever read, and that rooftop scene *w*

Julia and Nick from Once Upon a Second Chance by Marian Vere

   I don't like how Julia broke up with Nick just because her sister told her to, but the way they still loved each other after all those years made my heart flutter ♥

Chelsea and Sam from Speechless by Hannah Harrington
   I love how Sam was wary of Chelsea at first, but he still let her become his friend and more...

Dash and Lily from Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
   I just reviewed this book yesterday, so if you'd like to know why I love this couple, well, check it out! :D

Christmas Giveaway!

I was drafting this post to go up at December 25, 12:01 AM (Philippine time), but was whisked away by my family before I got to finish, but anyway,

Merry Christmas!

Now, Christmas isn't the only reason for this giveaway. Just recently, I reached 100 followers here on the blog (it's actually 146 as I'm typing this up) and, on December 23, I celebrated - no, I didn't, I actually forgot about it :)) - my blog's third-month blogiversary! *happy dance* So for those three reasons, I'm giving away three books.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one, so I'll be giving my copy to a person who, hopefully, will)

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle (I bought this months ago but didn't get to read it, and I'm planning to get the trade paperback soon)

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (I asked my dearest sister to buy me the Iron Fey boxed set but this is what I got -_- Well, she also got me The Iron Legends but this is from the UK pub so their sizes are different >_<)

 And swag! Those are signed bookmarks from Liz Fichera and Abbi Glines ♥


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One winner will get all of these. The giveaway is open to everyone around the world until January 1, so get a-joining, peeps! :D