Book Review: If Only - A.J. Pine

Title: If Only

Author: A.J. Pine

Release Date: March 24th 2014

Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Age Group: New Adult

Source: eARC from publisher

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Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.

A year abroad in Aberdeen, a new school, new people – I really wanted to like If Only, but after reading this roller coaster of confusion and aggravation, I now know that I can’t handle too much drama. Or, more specifically, too much boy drama.

See, this book had a lot to work with: the European setting, two equally-gorgeous love interests, and the smattering of entertaining secondary characters. So why didn’t it work for me? After hours of contemplating, I’m now pretty sure that that’s because the entire book only seemed to revolve around the main character Jordan’s boy problems. It’s been two years since she broke up with her first and only boyfriend so, according to her best friend, that time has practically given her virginity back. And now she’s determined to let go of her inhibitions and her newly-issued v-card to someone she meets in her year in Aberdeen.

Jordan had no idea, though, that her search for, as she called him, Mr. Right Now is going to begin as early as her train ride to Aberdeen. There she meets Griffin whom I fell for at first read. Hot and smart? Sold. Griffin is an unapologizing womanizer who admits that he doesn’t do long-term relationships, and that’s exactly why Jordan thinks he’s exactly who she needs: someone she can have fun with on her year abroad but can break up with a year later, no tears involved. But then, literally minutes later, she gets stuck outside the toilet with Noah.

His grin widens, and I struggle for air at the sight of it, not just because of its beauty but because of what put it there in the first place—a book.

No, I didn’t think Noah was gorgeous enough, but he’s a freaking bibliophile so I might have swooned a bit. Both guys had their setbacks – Noah’s being his freaking girlfriend – but I personally liked Griffin more because he’s honest, if nothing else, so I didn’t appreciate Jordan pining for Noah just because he, what, kissed better than Griffin? Because he had a worn-out copy of The Great Gatsby ready to be read in his backpocket? Sorry, but I just didn’t get it. I couldn’t see Noah’s appeal the way Jordan did; I hate cheaters and cowards, and the way he didn’t break up with his girlfriend but obviously wanted something with Jordan was simply cheating and cowardice. I’d take the serial monogamist any day.

But despite all my rants, I put up with all the boy drama in Jordan's life for the entirety of this book so that's saying something, right? I actually enjoyed it at first, but it got old fast and soon I just wanted to get it over with. The ending also didn't do it for me because I don't think the guy she ended up with was worth all the trouble, but maybe that's just me and my cynicism. Anyway, If Only had an easy humor that made me laugh more times than I could count, and classic literature lovers will surely love the numerous references made in this book.

MY FAVORITE PART was Jordan getting a tattoo if only (lol see what I did there? ;D) because I want one too.

RATING:

Book Review: Skulk - Rosie Best

Title: Skulk

Author: Rosie Best

Release Date: October 1st 2013

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: eARC from NetGalley

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To some, Meg Banks’ life might look perfect – she lives in a huge house in West London, goes to a prestigious school, and has famous parents. Only Meg knows the truth: her tyrannical mother rules the house and her shallow friends can talk about nothing but boys and drinking. Meg’s only escape is her secret life as a graffiti artist.

While out tagging one night, Meg witnesses the dying moments of a fox… a fox that shapeshifts into a man. As he dies, he gives Meg a beautiful and mysterious gemstone. It isn’t long before Meg realises that she’s also inherited his power to shift and finds an incredible new freedom in fox form.

She is plunged into the shadowy underworld of London, the territory of the five warring groups of shapeshifters – the Skulk, the Rabble, the Conspiracy, the Horde, and the Cluster. Someone is after her gemstone, however, someone who can twist nature to his will. Meg must discover the secret of the stone and unite the shapeshifters before her dream of freedom turns into a nightmare.

Skulk went straight to my to-read list the moment I learned what it was about. Graffiti, shapeshifters, magical stones, and London? Talk about original. Unfortunately, originality was all the book had going on and despite my best efforts to love Skulk, I didn't.

This book had a great start. The writing was very descriptive and Meg's voice was captivating, and even though she's the narrator, there was still this mystery to her, particularly her relationship with her horrific mother and just why an insanely rich girl like her would sneak out of her mansion at night and vandalize walls all over the city. Meg's character felt even more real with the mention of her weight struggle and lack of direction, and I'd be damned if I say I never rooted for her to get away from her miserable life.

The shapeshifting did give Meg a way out of her wretched home, but the story also went downhill from there—and that was pretty early on. It was unrealistic how easily Meg got used to shifting; I would have liked that to be harder for her because that's one of the main points of the story, right? For the most part, Skulk was predictable and it had spurts of unputdownable every once in a while but then it would go down emotional lane that distracted from the action and, frankly, just made me roll my eyes. With how gritty and roguish the atmosphere of the story was, I certainly didn't want heavy drama; I wanted death and blood and gore, and the book had those, but the crying just—ugh.

Skulk didn't lack in the complexity department, I have to give it that. There was a whole menagerie of characters, each distinct on their own, each equally suspicious. The main antagonist wasn't quite as rounded as I'd have liked, but defeating her honestly didn't feel as important as getting the shapeshifters to grow the hell up and unite against their common enemy. Complex, like I said, because they had varied ages, races, sexualities, beliefs, etc.

Although the romance was one of the predictable parts, I liked it because it was young, innocent, and artsy. Sadly, that came pretty late into the story, and by then I just wanted to finish reading. Skulk failed to keep my attention in its hold, making it a struggle to get through. The ending definitely left room for a sequel and despite my lack of love for this book, I still want one because there's just so much potential.

MY FAVORITE PART was

"Well, this is going to sound kind of weird, but do you mind if I sketch you?"

There's leftfield, and then there's "can I sketch you?" I blinked, while my brain went over its response options:

Yes.

No.

Me?

Why?

Like one of your French girls? Oh, my God, Meg don't you dare say that.

=)) 

RATING:

Mini-Review: Gameboard of the Gods; Outcast

Title: Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)

Author: Richelle Mead

Release Date: June 4th 2013

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Source: eARC from NetGalley

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In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

I've heard nothing but great things about Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series, and while this new Adult series of hers sounds nothing like her YA series, I think it's natural for me to expect a lot from Gameboard of the Gods. Unfortunately, this convolution of plot ideas has left me disappointed.

It started out well, I suppose, what with immediate action thanks to Mae, the heroine of the story in every sense of the word, already kicking ass within the first few pages. But when the plot really set in, the whole thing just went downhill. The first reason for that was the romance, which felt unnecessary and actually distracted from the suspense and slowed down the pace. It wasn't quite insta-love so much as insta-lust, and I don't know what this says about the characters, but if their ages weren't specified, I would've thought them to be teens.

Another problem I had with this book was the lack of world-building. Up until the end of the third quarter, I didn't fully understand how this futuristic world worked, and even now I can't tell you how exactly it came to be. But anyway, the last ten percent of the book certainly set up well for the sequel which I will watch out for.

MY FAVORITE PART was when Mae and Justin finally got to the bottom of the murders.

RATING:

Title: Outcast

Author: Adrienne Kress

Release Date: June 4th 2013

Publisher: Diversion Books

Source: eARC from NetGalley

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After six years of “angels” coming out of the sky and taking people from her town, 16-year-old Riley Carver has just about had it living with the constant fear. When one decides to terrorize her in her own backyard, it’s the final straw. She takes her mother’s shotgun and shoots the thing. So it’s dead. Or... not? In place of the creature she shot, is a guy. A really hot guy. A really hot alive and breathing guy. Oh, and he’s totally naked.

Not sure what to do, she drags his unconscious body to the tool shed and ties him up. After all, he’s an angel and they have tricks. When he regains consciousness she’s all set to interrogate him about why the angels come to her town, and how to get back her best friend (and almost boyfriend) Chris, who was taken the year before. But it turns out the naked guy in her shed is just as confused about everything as she is.

He thinks it’s 1956.

Set in the deep south, OUTCAST is a story of love, trust, and coming of age. It’s also a story about the supernatural, a girl with a strange sense of humor who’s got wicked aim, a greaser from the 50’s, and an army of misfits coming together for one purpose: To kick some serious angel ass.

Ah, this book. I shall remember all the feels it gave me until the next time I read it, because Outcast is one of those books I'll never get tired of. And thinking about it now, it's really similar to Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, not because of the angel aspect that both books have, but because of the addictive quality that will make me remember the stories for a long time.

Riley's voice was captivatingly entertaining. Hers was the brand of sarcasm and wit that I've always enjoyed, and she felt like a real teenager with insecurities and a hidden want for attention. Meanwhile, to say that I loved Gabe would be an understatement. He had the typical bad boy thing going on, condescending and womanizing, but then he also enjoyed putting up Christmas decorations and singing old songs.

I admit, what kept me turning the pages was my curiosity and concern for what would happen with Gabe rather than the angels and whatnot, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. The mystery was nice, actually, and the story took a lot of totally unforeseeable turns—the most predictable of which might have been the ending. It was bittersweet—well, more bitter than sweet, as I could tell with my tears—but inevitable and realistic.

MY FAVORITE PARTS were the last lines. *cue tears again*

RATING:

 

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)