We'll Always Have Summer

Jenny Han

Summer #3

Summary:

Isabel has only ever loved two boys, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher.

One broke her heart; the other made her happier than she ever thought she’d be. But each brother is keeping a secret, and this summer Isabel must choose between the Fisher boys, once and for all.

Plot:

Like the previous books in this series this book’s story is pretty generic. What makes this series good, however, is the author’s way of making sure the reader never knows what to expect. It never becomes predictable and you’re never sure if the character is going to do what you want or not. The writing is fun and light and very easy to read. I like that these books are all similar enough to make the whole series flow together, but still each unique enough that you still don’t know what exactly is going to happen.

Characters:

The character growth in this instalment is much more than in the previous two in my opinion. Belly is now finished with High-School and attending college and is much more mature than in the previous books, even though she still has a lot to learn. Her character stays very true to herself throughout the series, she grows, but never really changes. I also liked how the boys were more responsible and mature and you see them becoming men.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for language and references to sex. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary series that’s very easy and quick to read and still has some emotional moments this is definitely one you should check out. If you’re looking for a series that’s going to have a profound impact on you this is probably not the one for you. This is definitely aimed towards girls.

My rating:

I enjoyed this book, I also got the ending I wanted (even if it’s not what everyone wanted), but I wasn’t sure of anything until the very end, which is always good. 4/5

Quote:

He didn’t give me flowers or candy. He gave me the moon and the stars. Infinity.

It's Not Summer Without You

Jenny Han

Summer #2

Summary:

When something is perfect, you hope it never ends.

Isabel’s lazy, long hot summers at her family friends’ beach house are over.

Conrad-sexy and unavailable – is the only boy she’s ever loved. He’s left for college, taking her heart with him.

Jeremiah-his gorgeous brother, is still Isabel’s best friend – but maybe friendship isn’t enough for him any more...

Isabel just wants everything to stay the same, because change means moving on. But if she stops looking back, will she find a future she never knew she wanted?

Plot:

I thought this was a very good sequel to ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, it had less of that summery, fun feel to it and was a little darker. The first one didn’t touch me as much as this one did. I really felt for the characters in this installment and I couldn’t put the book down. I also think this love triangle is one of the better ones out there, it never feels forced. Like with the previous book the story is pretty generic, but it’s never predictable. The romance can be a little overly dramatic, but I think it’s very relatable if you’re a teenage girl.

Characters:

In the first one I liked the characters, in this one I didn’t always like them, but I felt more emotionally connected to them, if that makes sense. I’m not the hugest fan of Belly, but the boys develop and grow in this installment and it was great to see. Belly started annoying me a bit in the first couple of chapters, but she too changed and I liked her much more when the book ended.

Who should read this:

13+, the themes in this novel are a bit darker, there are some references to sex as well as alcohol use. The language was also more frequent. If you enjoyed the first one, but thought it was lacking a bit in character depth this is definitely going to surprise you in a good way. If you like easy reads that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you interested without taking up too much of your time, this might just be the one for you. This whole series was definitely written with girls in mind.

My rating:

In my opinion this was a better book that the first in the series, while I really liked the first one I couldn’t put this one down and I really felt for the characters. 5/5

Quote:

“We stood there, looking at each other, saying nothing. But it was the kind of nothing that meant everything.”

Read my review for 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming

Deb Caletti

Summary:

Maybe it was wrong, or maybe impossible, but I wanted the truth to be one thing. One solid thing.

Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. She tries to be an optimist, but when she is abruptly and unceremoniously dumped, she starts to think maybe there really are no good guys out there.

It doesn’t help that Quinn’s father is back in her life. She’s always tried to see the best in him, despite his selfish and eccentric tendencies. But when Quinn discovers he has stolen more than just the hearts of the many women in his life, she joins forces with the half sister she’s never met and the little sister she’ll do anything to protect, and sets out to right her father’s wrongs. In doing so, Quinn begins to uncover what she’s really looking for: the truth.

Plot:

I thought this was an okay book overall. It’s mainly about the dynamics of romantic relationships and how to deal with different types of guys as well as family. The story didn’t really pull me in as much as I would’ve wanted it to. I feel like there could’ve been more to it than what the author gave me. This was pretty well written, and I liked the perspective and the way of writing, which was witty and funny, but not overly so.

Characters:

I did like the characters, I didn’t love any of them, and I didn’t hate any of them either. I enjoyed the main character's way of looking at life and the different perspectives from different women on love, men and relationships. I liked that the characters weren’t typical and that some were pretty strange. I also think Quinn, the main character, is very relatable.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for language and some references to sexual things. I think this might be a good book for someone with divorced parents, since that’s of the main themes, because I think it would be easier for them to relate. Also someone who’s had some pretty bad relationships might find this book interesting. I don’t think I would recommend this to someone who hasn’t been through something like that.

My rating:

While the book didn’t bore me, I didn’t connect with it, and I don’t think I’ll remember it. I don’t think it’s a bad book, I just don’t think it’s my type of book. 2/5

Quote:

The favorite lecture of some mothers was Don’t Talk to Strangers or, maybe, Look Both Ways. My mother’s favorite was All Men Are Assholes.

South Beach

Aimee Friedman

Alexa & Holly #1

Summary:

HOT SAND. HOT CLUBS. HOT GUYS.

What more could two girls want? Try the same guy.

SPRING BREAK. SOUTH BEACH. 'NUFF SAID.

On a trip to a place where anything can happen (and does) two ex-best friends discover that a chance encounter can lead to the chance of a lifetime.

HOLLY: Dream date or bad fate? She wants true love-and a break from her strict parents. Perhaps a spring fling will do?

ALEXA: Flirting with destiny or flirting with disaster? The guy of her dreams turns out to be her friend's first love. How far is she willing to go?

This year, Spring Break is going to be scandalous!

Plot:

This is a pretty predictable and slightly overly-dramatic story of two teenage girls who decide to go on spring break together, along the way they learn about themselves and each other as they make some pretty stupid mistakes. Of course there are a couple of boys involved along the way too. It’s not an incredibly original storyline, but it has it's moments and might appeal to a certain group of readers.

Characters:

Both main characters start out a bit annoying, although one is slightly more so than the other. One is spoiled, the pretty girl who always gets what she wants, the other is timid, and cannot stand up for herself. Both develop as the story progressed. None of the characters really stand out as unique or even all that interesting, but that may have been the author’s intention, as they’re all relatable in some way.

Who should read this:

(13+) Mainly for sexual content and maybe some mild language. If you’re looking for an easy, quick and light read and you aren’t over twenty you might enjoy this. Don’t expect great literature, this is definitely not a masterpiece.

My rating:

While I didn’t hate this book it really was too dramatic and predictable for me. It’s an easy read that requires very little concentration, and I don’t think I’ll even remember the storyline in 2 weeks’ time...2/5

Gossip Girl

Cecily von Ziegesar

Gossip Girl #1

Summary:

Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep-sometimes with each other.

S is back from boarding school, and if we aren't careful, she's going to win over our teachers, wear that dress we couldn't fit into, steal our boyfriends' hearts, and basically ruin our lives in a major way. I'll be watching closely...

You know you love me,

gossip girl

Plot:

This book is slightly confusing, especially if you haven’t watched the ‘Gossip Girl’ TV series. I have seen a couple of episodes from that, but despite that it was a little hard to follow. This is mainly because you usually don’t know who is narrating, whether it is ‘gossip girl’ or not. The story also seems a little silly, with not much really happening. Mainly it’s just about rich kids fighting with each other about stupid things...I feel like it had a lot of potential, but I would’ve liked a more original or entertaining storyline.

Characters:

I don’t like any of the characters in this book. In the TV series, some of the characters are at least decent people, but none in the book are even remotely likable. All of them are mean to someone else, are trying too hard or are just being a very bad friend. Although they are probably very relatable to some people, with all their problems etc. I would’ve liked at least one character that I could root for.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for language, which there are a lot of, as well as quite a bit of sexual content, as you can see from the summary. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone, honestly, but if you’re looking for a book about teenagers fighting about boyfriends etc, then I suppose you might like this one. This was definitely written with girls in mind.

My rating:

I really don’t like this book, the characters, the storyline, everything. I feel like the setting was a good idea, but it becomes stereotypical, and nothing really interesting seems to happen in the story...1/5

Quote:

“Oh, don't be a spoilsport. Gossip is sexy. Gossip is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should!”

(I'm not agreeing here, I just feel like this sums up the intelligence level of this book pretty well...)

Dairy Queen

Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Diary Queen #1

Summary:

When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D.J. can't help admitting, maybe he's right. When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, isn't so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two jobs and a big secret. Why her college-football-star brothers won't even call home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league. When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D.J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say.

Plot:

This is a very cute, unique story. At first I wasn’t that excited about it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. Murdock’s style of writing is very interesting, and quite humorous. While it probably won’t make favourites, simply because it is such a simple story, it is very enjoyable. The story keeps you interested, but it’s not fascinating. The ending is a bit sudden, but this is a series, so it's understandable.

Characters:

The main character, D.J., who is also the narrator of the story, is very funny. She has a habit of comparing everything that happens to her to the farm where she grows up, and some of her ideas are quite humorous. She is a little childish at times, but grows up as the story progresses. Her friend, Brian, is also likable, but since the whole book is written from D.J.’s perspective, you cannot really tell what he’s thinking. The same goes for all the other characters, we only see them through D.J.’s eyes. Still, they are quirky and interesting.

Who should read this:

13+, there are some references to mature content, including a gay character, which may make younger kids uncomfortable. There is also some language. There is almost no violence, and all in all it’s a very sweet story. If you’re looking for a light read with a bit of a different setting, this is a good one for you. Don’t expect a very deep book, although it does have its moments.

My rating:

I liked this book, but it’s not very memorable. I enjoyed it, but I don’t know if I would read it again. 3/5.

Quote:

‘Then I started thinking that maybe everyone in the whole world was just like a cow, and we all go along doing what we’re supposed to without complaining or even really noticing until we die.’

I'll be reading and reviewing the other books in this series if I can find them...

The Last Song

Nicholas Sparks

Summary: 

Seventeen-year-old Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Miller’s life was turned upside down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York to Wilmington, North Carolina. Since then she has remained angry and alienated from her parents, until her mother decides she should spend the summer with her father.

Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

What unfolds is an unforgettable story about love – first love and the love between parents and children – that demonstrates the many ways that relationships can break our hearts...and heal them.

Plot:

This is a good story, it’s not a new concept, nor is it unique, but it’s beautiful and touching and sweet. It has its funny moments, especially with Ronnie’s younger brother, Jonah, who always has something to say. It is also incredibly sad at times, but it never gets depressing, it only stays realistic. The story asks all the questions many of us struggle with daily, including the question of life and death, how far to go for friendship, how to know when love is real etc.

Characters:

The characters in this book are very relatable. They all have problems they have to face, and how they face them will influence everything around them. You feel like you understand the characters’ motives and thoughts very well. The only character I thought was a bit underplayed is Marcus, a crazy, fire-loving bad boy, who is shown only as an evil person. I’ve said before that I don’t believe in completely bad people, and I feel like Sparks should have at least given a reason for Marcus’s insane behavior.

Who should read this?

13+, there are some references to mature content, some language and the topic of death is also discussed frequently. I would recommend this to younger people, as it is about first love, and teenagers, but I also think that adults will be able to enjoy it. Definitely a must for Sparks’ fans, and if you like sad, romantic stories you might like this one.

My rating:

I’ve read this book a couple of times and it still moves me. So I’m giving it a 4/5, the one point is only because of Marcus’ character and because this book isn’t one of my very favorites, not because there’s anything really wrong with it.

Quote:
“Life, he realize, was much like a song. In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation, but it's in the middle where all the emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile.” 

Will work for Prom Dress

Aimee Ferris            

Summary: 
Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann's Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because - hey - who doesn't want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money - lots of money - and even though the girls could easily have Ann's mom design their dresses (she's only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way.  And that's how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi's fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He's cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can't sketch).  But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who's also kind of a jerk, but won't leave Quigley alone? And Ann - she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it's ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster.

Plot:

This is a cute, heart-warming romantic story. It’s not an entirely unique concept, a girl worried about prom etc. But the author managed to throw in some quirky characters and events in the mix that made it a very entertaining read.

Characters:

Different, entertaining and flawed, the characters in this book are very interesting. All of them are very relatable and realistic, although some are in pretty strange situations, and you truly start to feel for them. I didn't fall in love with any of them, but they're all pretty likable.

Who should read this?

10+, for some mild language and references to mature content. This is essentially a chick lit book for teens and I doubt it’ll appeal to boys. Definitely a fun, quick read if you’re looking for something to do, but don’t have a lot of time. It only took me about 2 and a half hours to read through this book.

My rating:

While this book didn’t make a very lasting impression on me I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 3/5

The Truth about Forever

Sarah Dessen

Summary: 
Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development.

But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or…Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all-so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So…happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before?

Plot:

This is a very likable book, it gives you the ending you wanted. It had me smiling at times, and had me feeling sad at others, but it didn’t make me laugh out loud or cry my eyes out. The ending is quite predictable, although I appreciate the author’s attempt at making it slightly different. It was cute, and fun and nice, but not very memorable.

Characters:

The characters in this book, unlike the story, are quite interesting and quirky. They all have their own weird uniqueness that make you wonder about their stories. And thankfully the author does give us a bit of a backstory on most. I really liked most of the characters, even the ones that were supposed to be less likable. I didn’t fall in love with any of them, but I like them, and they are much more memorable than the story.

Who should read this?

10+, there’s very little mature content, some language, and the topic of death is brought up quite often. I think this is essentially a teen chic lit book, and I don’t think guys will appreciate it. If you like nice, light romantic books, with a slight sad twist, you will probably like this one

My rating:

I liked this book, it's not going to make my favorites any time soon, but it’s one of those relaxing books I enjoy very much when I don’t feel like thinking. It’s just a very likable book overall. I’ll give it a 3/5.

Quote:
“I like flaws. I think they make things interesting.”