Between Me and You (Book Review)

Between You and Me

Author: Emma McLaughlin and Kicola Kraus
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Dates: June 12, 2012
Number of Pages: 272

Synoposis of Goodreads

What happens when you are followed by millions . . . and loved by none? Twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade is trying to build a life for herself far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. Until she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant— an offer she can’t refuse.

Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey in person since their parents separated them as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has grown into Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrity. But their reunion is quickly overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her parents as Logan discovers that, beneath the glossy façade, the wounds that caused them to be wrenched apart so many years ago have insidiously warped into a show-stopping family business.

As Kelsey tries desperately to break away and grasp at a “real” life, beyond the influence of her parents and managers, she makes one catastrophic misstep after another, and Logan must question if their childhood has left them both too broken to succeed. Logan risks everything to hold on, but when Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way, Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between rescuing the girl she has always protected . . . and saving herself.

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MY THOUGHTS:

Logan Wade is drifting through life in New York. She has a job she doesn't like, is in a non-relationship with a jerky boy, and is estranged from a portion of her family. When her cousin calls her asking if she wants to visit another of their cousins, the famous Kelsey Wade, for a week, Logan jumps at the chance. She and Kelsey were extremely close as children, but after Logan ended up in the hospital after an 'accident' caused by Kelsey's father, Andy, Logan's parents cut off that side of the family and Michelle, Kelsey's mother, fled with Kelsey to LA.

After a somewhat uncomfortable week in LA where Logan doesn't get to see much of Kelsey, let alone catch up with her, circumstance leads her to become Kelsey's new assistant. Before she knows it she is on a tour bus for Kelsey's European tour along with the dancers, crew, and Michelle and Andy, who have reconciled. Andy is five-years sober and the two are the epitome of 'helicopter parents' (if that term can still be applied when the daughter is in her 20s). Between You and Me follows Logan as she watches first hand the life of her famous cousin as it slowly implodes.

The character of Kelsey is straight-up Briteny Spears--to the point that the reader almost knows exactly what is coming because it isn't even fiction. The changes made not to sued are so minimal, that there wasn't even a moment where I was wondering what was going to happen next or where the story was going to lead. While the writing is fast-paced and I liked Logan's character and her side-story romance with another assistant, (to a famous actor who was a dead-ringer for Matthew Mcconaughey before wife and kids), Finn, it just wasn't enough to really enjoy this book. I never really cared about Britney Spears. I don't like her music, but I think she seems like an ok girl. I do believe that the pressure of going through a divorce after having two babies in quick succession in front of the entire world was enough to put anyone over the edge temporarily, but I don't really care about her life. That said, I know all about it because unless you lived under a rock a few years ago, you know about it. The story of her complete downfall wasn't just on E!, it was on CNN, on every magazine cover, the butt of every late-night talk show host's joke, literally everywhere you looked. So I'm not sure a fictionalized version was necessary.

Sure, it's fiction, Logan is new (probably), the parents are (mostly) different, the family dynamics and Kelsey and Logan's childhood, but it just wasn't fiction enough. If Kelsey would have been a real not-real character, I would have been more interested. Again, the writing is fine, better than the Nanny Diaries, it is a quick read, but from about half-way through to the end, it just mirrored Britney's life too closely to be anything more than a 'fictionalized' account of her life.

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Waiting on Wednesday (22) Better Off Friends

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Better Off Friends

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Point
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Number of Pages: 288

Synopsis from Goodreads:
 
For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

Why I'm Excited:

I really enjoy Elizabeth Eulberg's books. Her writing is light and fun and I'm always excited when I see she has a new one coming out. This sounds very When Harry Met Sally--which is one of my favorites. Better Off Friends looks adorable and charming and I can't wait to read it.

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up! 

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Top Ten Tuesday (22) Books I wish would be made into a movie or TV show

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme/original feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to go to their site to see the original list for today plus links to a whole slew of other blogs. After you read mine, of course.

Today's topic is: Books I wish would be made into a movie or TV show

Movies

 

 

TV

 

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
This crazy satire about a group of beauty queens stranded on a deserted island would make the best movie. With its fake commercials and radio announcements, it would seriously be awesome.
Past Perfect by Leila Sales
This cute novel follows a girl who works at a Revolutionary War reenactment village who wars with the members of the Civil War reenactment village across the street. The setting is perfect for a fun movie.
The List by Siobhan Vivian
This book follows 8 girls in the week leading up to Homecoming. There are two girls from each grade level that have been put on "The List" of hottest or ugliest girl in their grade. This is a slice-of-life novel that would work great for a movie.
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This Gothic prequel to the book Frankenstein would make an amazing atmospheric movie. It follows a young Victor Frankenstein and his very ill twin brother, Konrad.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
It would be hard to do right, but a movie of this fantastic, magical novel would be amazing.
Splintered by AG Howard
How cool would it be to see this re-imagined Wonderland on film?
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
This book is pure genius. For real, if you haven't read this one yet, it is ah-maz-ing. It's one of the best books I've ever read. The novel within a novel would make for a jaw-dropping film. Seriously, how is this one not a movie?
This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
From the meet-cute to the idyllic setting of a Maine beach town in summer, this novel would make an adorable movie. The boy is a movie star. The girl is a regular teen. He has a pet pig. Adorable.
The Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot
The Heather Wells series follows a former pop-star who now works in a New York college dorm that sees more than its fair share of murder mysteries. This would make a great TV show.
The Burn for Burn Series by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han
This series about three girls enacting revenge on those who've done them wrong would make a great Pretty Little Liars-like show.

So those are my choices for books that should be featured on the big or little screen. What books made your list? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Stacking the Shelves (22) 9.7.13

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tyngas Reviews. This meme allows us to share the books we've recently added to our shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! *Clicking the link of a book's title will take you to Goodreads.


So I'm feeling like I hit the jackpot this week. I'm so excited to read all 8 of these. In fact you may not hear from me for awhile because I have some serious reading to do.

E-Book ARCs

   

   

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

I really like The Raven Boys and can't wait to find out what happens next.

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

I don't read a lot of fantasy, but this book about an elemental mage (whatever that is) sounds awesome. 

Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston

About life in future Las Vegas where a new kind of magic is born. I love how the O is a dragon on the cover.

Dead Girls Don't Lie by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

A girl investigates her ex-best friend's murder. Those who know me know I cannot resist YA mystery.

Once We Were by Kat Zhang

The sequel to What's Left of Me (which I'm reading right now).

What I snagged from the library

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas

I'm reading Throne of Glass and am hoping to finish it this weekend so I can dive into this one. 

Cinder by Melissa Meyer

I've been listening to this on audio. I'm probably about 1/2 way through and am really enjoying it so far.

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

The movie rendition has been getting marvelous reviews. I can't wait to find out what all the fuss is about.

So that's it for me this week. I'm pretty excited about what I added to my shelves this week. What did you add to your shelves? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Perks of Being a Wallflower (Book Review)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Publisher: MTV and Pocket Books
Number of Pages: 213
Release Date: February 1, 1999

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

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MY THOUGHTS:

There is something a bit daunting about trying to write a thoughtful review about a book that has become a cult classic. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the type of book that truly speaks to some people. A book that crawls inside them and becomes part of their landscape. I wanted it to be one of those books for me. I first picked this up before the movie came out and really struggled through the first letter or so before putting it aside and then eventually having to return it to the library. Books that are about to become movies always have a billion holds on them, even if the book was released 14 years ago. Certain people just like to read the book first, myself most definitely included. I actually ended up watching the movie a few months ago when it came out on DVD and absolutely loved it, so I decided to give the book another chance, this time snagging an audio version for what is now my much longer commute. 

I loved the audio of this book. I don't know if it was read by the same actor who played Charlie in the movie, but he definitely sounded similar. The audio was also oddly intimate with the letters being read aloud to you. Epistolary writing is one of my favorite genres and Perks is a clear example of the power this type of writing can have. 

Charlie is the type of sensitive boy you don't see a whole lot of. He is sweet and thoughtful and introspective in a way that made me want to wrap my arms around him to protect him from all the hurtful things in his world. Charlie lives with both of his parents and his older sister. His mom rarely speaks and his father is gruff, but caring. His older sister is dating a boy that is abusive towards her, but refuses to stop seeing him, even when their parents forbid it. Charlie's older brother plays football for Penn State--which is a huge deal for him and his family. Charlie is the quiet one.

He meets and becomes friends with a step-brother and sister, Patrick and Sam, seniors who take him under their wings and introduce them to a high school experience he never would have had otherwise. Patrick is gay and carrying on a secret relationship with a popular football player. Sam is in a relationship with a college guy who doesn't treat her very well. Charlie is immediately infatuated with both of them--but with Sam especially. She becomes the ideal woman in his eyes, even though he knows he will probably never have a chance with her as she already has her eyes set on attending college outside of their hometown. 

This slim novel has a lot of bad stuff going on: homophobia, drugs, abuse, molestation, depression, isolation, etc, but it never got too heavy for me...probably because I saw the movie first and so I was prepared for all the bad stuff that was going to go down and knew how it would all end, but WAS too much for me when I tried to pick up the book a year or so ago. It's hard to read about so much hurt, but I promise the story is worth it.

On a side note, I absolutely loved the way the author portrayed the city of Pittsburgh. While not my home town (I'm from Wyoming) it is where I hang my hat now, and I loved he really made the city a part of the novel. There are a couple of times where Charlie talks about coming through the tunnels and I cannot even explain how awesome going through those tunnels really are. On one side, you can't see anything as you come down the fairly steep hill, but once you are spit out the other side the beautiful downtown is right in front of you.

Pittsburgh really is just such a beautiful city. People always think of it as being industrial, but it's really had quite the renaissance after Big Steel went to the wayside. It's always fun to read about the town you live in, especially when the love of that town really shines through the writing.

My other favorite part of the story was the way in which his English teacher, Bill, really understands Charlie and sees the brilliance in him. Bill begins giving Charlie extra reading assignments, giving him great works of fiction to read outside of the normal curriculum. As most of you know, I'm currently doing my own semester of student teaching to become a high school English teacher, so I always love it when teachers are shown in a positive light. So often, we are shown as these uncaring automatons who not only don't care about our students, but who are blind to them. It has been my experience that those who decide to go into teaching very much care about their students and will do anything to teach and protect them.

Overall, I have to say that I ended up loving The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I loved Patrick and Sam and the rest of their friends. I loved Bill and appreciate that his parents seemed real without being perfect, but without being horrible. But most of all, I loved Charlie. I loved how smart and caring and thoughtful and romantic and just plain wonderful Charlie was. If you haven't read this yet, I'd highly recommend it. If you don't think you could stomach all the unpleasantness, the movie is wonderful, too (because the author wrote the screenplay). Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller are all spectacular in the film. I won't do a separate review for the movie since it really does stay so close to the book, but I would highly recommend it as well. 

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Waiting on Wednesday (21) Since You've Been Gone

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.



Since You've Been Gone

Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Number of Pages: 352

Synopsis from Goodreads:
 
The Pre-Sloane Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend.Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um…

Why I'm Excited:

I love books that focus on female friendship and this one sounds intriguing to boot. Where did Sloane go? I love that it follows her trying to complete a list of things out of her comfort zone. That cover is super charming, too.

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up! 

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Jessica Darling's It List (Early Book Review)

Jessica Darling's It List

Author: Megan McCafferty
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Number of Pages: 240

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Move over, Dork Diaries! Jessica Darling, star of Megan McCafferty's bestselling Jessica Darling series for adults, is back in a hilarious new series perfect for tween (10 to 14) girls.

I hadn't even gotten to homeroom yet and I'd already discovered five hard truths about junior high:

1. My best friend had turned pretty.
2. She didn't know it yet.
3. It wouldn't be long before she did.
4. That knowledge would change everything between us.
5. And there wasn't a thing I could do about it.

It's the first day of seventh grade. Is Jessica Darling doomed for dorkdom?

New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty's hilarious series opener will have you laughing, cringing, and cheering for Jessica Darling as she learns that being herself beats being popular, pretty & perfect any day.

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 MY THOUGHTS:

I was both excited and a bit weary to start this prequel to my favorite series of all-time. If you follow me at all, you know that I absolutely adore Jessica Darling and the original five books in her series (yes all five, even though the first two are definitely the best). I debated whether or not I should even read this one, afraid that it might ruin my love for JD. The Hit List is a fun MG novel starring my favorite character and while I didn't need to worry about it harming my love for the series, I still definitely prefer high school Jess to junior high Jess. 

The It List starts at the beginning of her 7th grade year. Jessica is still best friends with Bridget who is just starting to realize how beautiful she is. Jess is worried about starting jr. high and is thrilled when her big sister, Bethany, gives her a list of items to ensure her place with the popular crowd: the It List. Not knowing why exactly, Jessica decides to keep the list a secret from Bridget which becomes the first chink in their friendship as the two usually share everything. Jess is shocked when Bridget shows up at her house on the first day of school with her braces off, with a new haircut, and clad in an adorable outfit. Jessica is decked out in a Who concert tee after misunderstanding rule number 1: dress differently everyday as wearing something different from everyone else...not as not repeating outfits like Bethany intended. So Jessica gets on the bus to school--where Bridget immediately starts receiving attention from the upperclassman. 

From the very first day Jessica gets swept up in a new group of girls who are friends from their elementary school. Jessica goes along with this, since they seem to be the popular crowd and she knows it is what Bethany would do. The whole group, sans Hope, decides to try out for the cheerleading squad. After a while, Jessica begins to question her motives. She's not sure if she really likes her new friends and deep down she knows she's not cheerleading material. She's also distraught as the rift between her and her best friend continues to get wider and wider. 

What I absolutely loved was the humor that is infused throughout the novel. I'm not going to go into specifics because the scenes are best discovered, but Jessica is still hilarious to read about. 

While I really did enjoy this book, Jessica is Jessica, and I'll always be up to spending time with my favorite character, it isn't a perfect book in the way Sloppy Firsts was. My biggest complaint is that it felt like the first book in the series, in a way that Sloppy Firsts never did. It felt like its purpose was to set up the story. We are introduced to all the old favs: Manda and Sarah, Hope, Scotty, and, yes, even Marcus to a smaller degree. I was wondering how Ms. McCafferty was going to handle Marcus, if she did at all, in this series as the two really don't know each other in Sloppy Firsts. 

Despite the set-up, The It List is a fun book and is the perfect way to introduce Jessica to the MG crowd. I would have eaten this book up if I was still the age for whom this book was intended. I LOVED series when I was in that late elementary/early jr high age group (Babysitters Club, Sweet Vally High, the Fabulous Five) and a series full of Jessica Darling would have been awesome. I'll definitely continue reading this series, but I have to admit I'd be more interesting in knowing where Jessica is now than I am in her past.

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