The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin: Review

 

RATING: 5/5 I don't even know what just happened stars!!

 

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Library

Release date: October 23, 2012

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

 

REVIEW:

 

Wait.

 

It can't end like this.

 

IT JUST CAN'T!!!!!!

 

I don't even know anymore. I just don't know.

 

I honestly don't know what just happened. I cannot wrap my mind enough about the events that happened to even write a coherent review. So I will leave you with this:

 

This book was so flipping amazing. It is thrilling, intriguing, and emotionally exhausting. I cannot recommend this series enough!!!

 

CONTENT: Some steamy kissing, lots of f-bombs dropped, and lots of violence.



Asylum (Asylum #1) by Madeleine Roux: Review

RATING: 5/5 I don't even know what just happened stars!

 

Author: Madeline Roux

Publisher: Harper Teen

Source: Library

Release date: August 20, 2013

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Asylum is a thrilling and creepy photo-novel perfect for fans of the New York Times bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

 

REVIEW:

 

This book was absolutely insane. So insane, that I read it in one 4-hour sitting.

 

I can't even form a proper, coherent thought about what exactly I liked about this book. I did not see anything coming, and the ENDING OMG THAT IS NOT EVEN FUNNY IT IS SO CREEPY! I can't even handle it.

 

If you do decide to read it, DO NOT read it at night. I made that mistake, and it's safe to say that I will be reading the sequel in the daytime.
 

Overall, ASYLUM is a fantastic, thrilling novel. I highly recommend it!

CONTENT: Kissing, I honestly don't remember a lot of swearing, but I may be wrong. As for violence, this book is plenty scary, and I would not suggest you read it if you have a weak stomach.

Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1) by Stephanie Perkins: Review

RATING: 4/5 adorable stars!

 



Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Source: Library

Release date: December 2, 2010

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

 

REVIEW:

 

This book was absolutely ADORABLE. Seriously, though, Anna and St. Clair are one of the cutest couples ever. They had their ups and downs like every couple, but even when they fought, they were SO CUTE!

 

The only thing I didn't like was how everything got so emotional near the end. I won't say much, because I don't want to give anything away, but it seemed like every other page had someone crying or fighting. It got so annoying that I could barely stand it. But the ending more than enough made up for it.

 

Overall, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS was a fun, light read. I highly recommend it!

 

CONTENT: Some steamy kissing, several uses of the f-word, little to no violence, and several instances of teens getting drunk.

 



The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin: Review

RATING: 5/5 stars!

 



Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Library

Release date: September 27, 2011

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed.
There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

 

REVIEW:

 

This is the second book in a row where my mind has been blown. First with WE WERE LIARS, and now with the UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER.

 

Guy. GUYS. This book was crazy. There were hallucinations, and hot boys, and murders, and SO MUCH CRAZINESS. I loved it so much. Mara was snarky, Noah was completely swoon-worthy, and the whole story was fantastic. I highly recommend starting this series!

 

Now onto THE EVOLUTION!!

 

CONTENT: Kissing, several uses of the f-word, and some pretty good violence (heads exploding, people choking, fistfights, etc.)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart: Review

 

RATING: 5/5 mind-blowing stars!

 

Author: E. Lockhart

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Source: Library

Release date: May 13, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

 

REVIEW:

 

For most of the book, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. No idea whatsoever. But even though I didn't know what was happening...I loved it. I loved it so much, it is now tied for my favorite book of the year.

 

The writing was so unique; I've never read anything quite like it. It was lyrical, but it was to the point E. Lockhart didn't waste any words in this book. 

 

There was also so much intrigue I could barely stand it. I just had to know what happened! E. Lockhart keeps you in suspense until the very end. And once I finally got to the end, my jaw was on the floor. I DID NOT SEE IT COMING!!

 

I don't want to say much more, because I don't want to spoil anything, so I am going to end this review with this:

 

This book absolutely blew my mind. And you should read it, so yours can be blown too.

 

CONTENT: Kissing, some use of the f-word, and mild violence.

 

Top Ten Books I Want to Read but Don't Own Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

This week, in no particular order, I'm talking about my top ten books I want to read but don't own yet!

 

1. In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

 

I really liked NOT A DROP TO DRINK, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Release date: September 23, 2014

 

2. Undivided by Neal Shusterman

UNWIND is one of my favorite books of all time, and I can't wait to see how the series ends!

Release date: October 14, 2014

 

3. Talon by Julie Kagawa

 

Julie Kagawa + dragons = awesomeness

Release date: October 28, 2014

 

4. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Gansey and Blue > life

Release date: October 28, 2014

 

5. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

 

That last cliffhanger was not kind. CHAOLINA IS LIFE <3 align="center" div="">Release date: September 2, 2014

 

6. In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

 

No words for how excited I am.

Release date: October 28, 2014

 

7. The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

 

 

Cinda Williams Chima is the best.

Release date: October 21, 2014

 

8. Oblivion by Kelly Creagh

3 years is WAY too long to wait between books in a series. I NEEDED THIS BOOK IN, LIKE, 2013!

Release date: July 2015

 

9. Winter by Marissa Meyer

 

No cover for this one yet, but I am beyond excited to read this book, but I'll be in college before this one gets released. :(

Release date: November 10, 2015

10. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

 

 

ALIENS

Release date: September 16, 2014



 

Mid-year Book Freakout!!

Welcome to my Mid-year Book Freakout survey!! This is hosted by Chami and Ely at A Book So Fathomless, and I really liked it, so I'm going to do it!

 

 

Without further ado...

 

1. Best book you've read so far in 2014:

It's definitely a tie between RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo and WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart.

 

2. Best Sequel you've read so far in 2014:

RUIN AND RISING OMG THE FEELS!!

 

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to:

BETWEEN THE SPARK AND THE BURN by April Genevieve Tucholke. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA was fantastic, and I can't wait to read the next one!

 

4. Most anticipated release for the second part of the year:

IN THE AFTERLIGHT by Alexandra Bracken. I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS ENDS. RIAM IS LIFE.

 

5. Biggest disappointment:

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman. I was expecting to love it, but I hated it. WHERE SHE WENT was much better, though.

 

6. Biggest Surprise:

WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart. I was not expecting to like this book at all, and it is definitely one of my favorite books EVER now.

 

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Melissa Landers with ALIENATED. I ADORED that book!

 

8. Newest fictional crush:

Ry from THE CHAOS OF STARS by Kiersten White. An attractive, Greek poet. *swoon*

 

9. Newest favorite character:

Tristan from THE VICIOUS DEEP. He's so sassy.

 

10. Book that made you cry:

. Hands down, RUIN AND RISING. SO MANY FEELINGS!

 

11. Book that made you happy:

CRESS by Marissa Meyer. They were happy tears.

 

12. Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year:

CATCHING FIRE, of course!

 

13. Favorite review you've written this year:

I'm pretty proud of my ALIENATED review.

 

14. Most beautiful book you've bought/received this year:

Again, RUIN AND RISING. It's so pretty! The colors! The phoenix! The fire!

 

15. What book do you need to read by the end of the year:

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER. I've sat on this one way too long.

 

What was on your list?