Just Another Girl (Early ARC Review)

Just Another Girl

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Scholastic 
Date: March 28, 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads:


You resent her. You can't stand her. You might even hate her.

But you don't know her at all.

Hope knows there's only one thing coming between her and her longtime crush: his girlfriend, Parker. She has to sit on the sidelines and watch as the perfect girl gets the perfect boy . . . because that's how the universe works, even though it's so completely wrong.

Parker doesn't feel perfect. She knows if everyone knew the truth about her, they'd never be able to get past it. So she keeps quiet. She focuses on making it through the day with her secret safe . . . even as this becomes harder and harder to do. And Hope isn't making it any easier. . . .

In Just Another Girl, Elizabeth Eulberg astutely and affectingly shows us how battle lines get drawn between girls -- and how difficult it then becomes to see or understand the girl standing on the other side of the divide.

You think you have an enemy. But she's just another girl.

*****************************************************************

MY THOUGHTS:

I really wanted to like this more. While I never adore Eulberg's work, I do consistently enjoy her books. Her writing is fast-paced and her storylines are usually pretty cute. This is about two girls who both like the same boy (a storyline that never gets old). One is his best friend, and the other is his girlfriend. The idea behind this book is that you never really know what somebody else’s life is like. A girl can seem to have it all, but her world might really be falling apart around her.

While I appreciate the thought that you never really know what somebody else's life is like, I really struggled with the narration of this one--it was truly the epitome of tell vs show. Hope is and has been obsessed with her best friend Brady for years. She is a junior and he is a senior. She was convinced that they would finally get together once she started high school, but instead Parker moved to town and, before she knew it, Parker and Brady are a couple and Hope is still just the best friend. Of course she despises Parker for “moving in on her man.” I couldn't get over Hope's constant whining about the boy who has "friendzoned" her (and, yes, she uses that term), and how she needs to lose some weight.  A teenage girl who is obsessed with her weight is one of my biggest turn-offs...or any person, really. Man, woman, boy, girl. I understand body issues; I do, but how tiring to listen to. In person or in books. I love books with dual/multi narration. When it is done well, it is one of my favorite styles, but Hope’s perspective starts this and lasts for the first quarter of the book. I was relieved when the narration switched to Parker. I was honestly about to DNF this book until the narration switched.

*Small spoilers in this paragraph, but this all happens in the first half of the book.* I liked Parker more, but found the drunk mean sister in the trailer park both annoying and unbelievable. I've said this before, and I will say it Every.Time. this stupid trope pops up: Living in a trailer park DOES NOT make you drunk trash who mistreats the people you are supposed to love and take care of. Parker feels guilty she has to depend so much on her best friend and on Brady, but she really doesn’t have a choice. She is counting down the days until she graduates (as a junior, as well, she has a while).

There are things that I liked about this. I love that Hope and Brady are into Rube Goldberg machines (those contraptions where a marble goes into a funnel, which pushes the fan button, which release the needle that pops the balloon...for example). I also really liked Hope’s friend Madelyn, Hope’s mom, and Parker’s best friend (whose name escapes me right now).

Overall, I was just disappointed. Again, I usually enjoy this author's work, and am bummed (especially after skimming the afterward where she said she's been working on this for five years!--I hate disliking a work that is obviously an author's baby). This might work for others more than it worked for me, and I'll definitely continue to be excited for new works from this author.

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Waiting on Wednesday (186) The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore

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.

The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore

Author: Kim Fu
Publisher: HMH
Release Date: February 18, 2018
Goodreads:

A group of young girls descend on Camp Forevermore, a sleepaway camp in the Pacific Northwest, where their days are filled with swimming lessons, friendship bracelets, and camp songs by the fire. Filled with excitement and nervous energy, they set off on an overnight kayaking trip to a nearby island. But before the night is over, they find themselves stranded, with no adults to help them survive or guide them home.

The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore traces these five girls—Nita, Kayla, Isabel, Dina, and Siobhan—through and beyond this fateful trip. We see them through successes and failures, loving relationships and heartbreaks; we see what it means to find, and define, oneself, and the ways in which the same experience is refracted through different people. In diamond-sharp prose, Kim Fu gives us a portrait of friendship and of the families we build for ourselves—and the pasts we can't escape.

Why I'm Excited: I always wanted to go to summer camp. Blame my crazy reading habits, even as a kid, but I idealized this East Coast type of life full of private schools and summer camps. I love books that follow a group of girls/women, so this is right up my alley. I love this cover, too. I'm always drawn to a starry-skied cover. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for this one. 

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

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Waiting on Wednesday (185) The Afterlife of Holly Chase

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.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase

Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: November 7, 2017

Goodreads:

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she'd become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.

She didn't.

And then she died.

Now she's stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge--as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.

Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly's afterlife has been miserable.

But this year, everything's about to change...

Why I'm Excited: What a fun twist on a classic story! This sounds amazing, and I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for this one. 

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

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TTT: Spring TBR

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.

TTT: Spring TBR

I love posting seasonal TBR. I can never keep these at 10. Sorry, not sorry.

   
   
   

Fireworks by Katie Cotungo

This is set in the 90s and is about the boy-and-girl band craze. So excited. 

The Upside of the Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

I really liked Simon vs. the Homospaien Agenda, so I have high hopes for this one. 

Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A.E. Kaplan

This is being billed as Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Revenge of the Nerds, and I. just. can't.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

I don't know how to condense this synopsis down to a sentence, but this sounds amazing. It's an adult novel about seven students at a consevatory that study Shakespeare. It says it's part coming of age story and part confessional. I'm seriously excited for this one. 

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

I'm rereading the first book right now, ando have the second book on deck, and this one already on hold. Curious where this series ends up.

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

I loved Girl on the Train and cannot wait for this one.

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

An organization that cultivates teenage spies plus an unexpected twist on the love triangle trope? So in.

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

Five students have detention, but only four walk out alive. I love a good mystery. 

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen and warm, sunny days go hand-in-hand in my mind. I don't have a clue what this is about, and I don't really care. I just wants it.

Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill

A con artist decides to pretend to be a missing boy, which might be to his peril. 

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

I'm currently reading this one, so this is kind of cheating, but I like it so far. 

Romancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Two sisters are at the same boarding school for the first time in their education, and get embroiled in a love triangle with a prince. I'm not in love with the sisters fall for the same guy, but I love the royal element. 

Well that's it for me. What's topping your spring TBR? Link me up!

Hey lovely readers! I love meeting and connecting with new bloggers. If you decide to follow, my preferred method is Bloglovin'. Let me know if you are a new follower as I like to follow back. Thank you!

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Weekly Rewind 3.11.17

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

My Life and Blog

Life: This is going to be brief this week. I'm fighting off a cold and feel like crap. So happy it's Friday, so I can spend the next couple of days hiding under the covers. 

Blog and reading: A WoW this week. I finally finished reading A Darker Shade of Magic last night. I've owned this book since it first came out last week, and read almost half of it last year. I've really gotten to a point where I'm not starting series until all of the books are out. My book memory is shit, and I hate having to reread all of the books of a series as new ones come out. I enjoyed it, but was surprised by how much the climax fell flat for me. That said, I am excited to continue the series now that the books are out. I'm also currently reading Alex, Approximately, which I'm enjoying. 

New Books: A handful of lovelies this week. So without further ado, I hope you're all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

   

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

A girl moves to her father's California beach town knowing that the boy she has been chatting with online lives there...while also butting heads with the cute jerk at work. This is a well-tread storyline, but it's cute nevertheless.

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs

Every two years a man shows up on a girl's birthday and kills her. She wakes up out of town unharmed. Sounds intriguing. 

The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato

A girl who doesn't believe her brother committed suicide looks into his death. 

Follow Me Down by Sherri Smith

An adult mystery about a girl trying to solve the disappearance of her twin brother which might be linked to the death of one of his students.

What I snagged from the library

  

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
I finished A Darker Shade of Magic last night, and plan to start a Gathering of Shadows this weekend. I'm excited to binge the whole series.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

A girl purposely gets captured by rival pirates to search their ship.
Movie:
Sully
This is one of those movies I wouldn't have any interest in, but I can't ignore the combination of Eastwood and Hanks.

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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Waiting on Wednesday (184) The Ravenous

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.

The Ravenous

Author: Amy Lukavics
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 
Release Date: September 26, 2017

Goodreads:

From the outside, the Cane family looks like they have it all. A successful military father, a loving mother and five beautiful teenage daughters. But on the inside, life isn't quite so idyllic: the Cane sisters can barely stand each other, their father is always away, and their neglectful mother struggles with addiction and depression. 

When their youngest and most beloved sister, Rose, dies in a tragic accident, Mona Cane and her sisters are devastated. And when she is brought back from the dead, they are relieved. But soon they discover that Rose must eat human flesh to survive, and when their mother abandons them, the sisters will find out just how far they'll go to keep their family together.

Why I'm Excited: The title and synopsis first caught my eye because I love this campy movie from awhile back with the same title (and premise, too, kind of). This sounds like it will have the same kind of campy humor. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one. 

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

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Weekly Rewind 3.4.17

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

My Life and Blog

Life: My husband ended up not coming last weekend, so is here now. So this is going to be a quick post. This week felt ridiculously long. I was having the worst time sleeping, and woke up almost everyday with a headache. I'm so happy its the weekend! 

Blog and reading: A WoW this week. I finished The Roanoke Girls last weekend. I kept trying to sit down to write a review, but just didn't. It's definitely coming...maybe this weekend. It's such a dark, disturbing story (and not necessarily a good dark and disturbing. I tend to enjoy some dark-ass stories...and I definitely found it readable, but this pushed my limits). I'm currently finally reading A Darker Shade of Magic now that the whole series is out. I'm enjoying it--and am seeing hints of LotR, which I wasn't expecting. 

New Books: I forgot to feature a few of the books I meant to last week, oops. So without further ado, I hope you're all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

    

   

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

I haven't read Rebel of the Sands, yet, but it is high on my list and I've heard nothing but good things about it, so I couldn't help but snag this one. 

Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse
I adore this cover, and hope this is as cute as it sounds. 
The Other F-Word by Natasha Friend
I'm a fan of this cover, too. This follows two teens who go in search of the man who donated for their in vitro fertilization. 
Hunted  by Megan Spooner
I don't know if I'm really up for yet another Beauty and the Beast retelling, but isn't that cover lovely?
Anybody read this yet? I'm very much on the fence.

Psalm for Lost Girls by Katie Bayerl
A girl whose town is convinced she's an actual saint dies and her little sister tries to figure out who she really was. 
The White Road of the Moon by Rachel Neumeier
This is about a girl who can see and talk to ghosts. I'm not usually drawn to supernatural, but this sounds pretty interesting. 
The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan Perabo 
This is an adult crime thriller about a girl who is left behind after a man kidnaps her rival during a robbery. It sounds intriguing. 

What I snagged from the library

  

To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough

I've been looking forward to this mystery about a girl whose mother's unsolved murder was a national story. 

How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore

I'm always drawn to "mean girl" stories. Their really is just something about the psychology of teen girls that is so fascinating to me. Maybe because I had some terrible friendships in high school. 

Movie:

The Accountant

The reviews I've read about this have been pretty positive. I kind of like Ben Affleck even while believing that he's kind of a douche bag. Lol. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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