Buddy Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Surprise! Actually, double surprise as 1) we haven't forgotten this buddy review and 2) it's me buddy reviewing with Rowena and not Ames. Poor Ames, she got the reading blues back in July... Lucky for us all, I had read Since You've Been Gone and was only too happy to step in!

Enjoy!

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
published by Simon & Schuster in May 2014

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just...disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night?
Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn?
Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger?
Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she'll find?

Go skinny-dipping?
Wait...what?

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Series: None

Nath: Since You've Been Gone... I really loved Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. That book made me fall in love with Ms Matson's writing. Consequently, I expect to be blown away with every new release. While Second Chance Summer wasn't perfect, there was something to the story, to the writing. It was just so poignant. Unfortunately, with Since You've Been Gone, I feel Ms Matson missed the mark. It wasn't bad per se, but I have to say I struggled a lot with the heroine, Emily, and I guess that affected my overall enjoyment of the book.

Rowena: Aww man, I'm sad to hear that you didn't like this one as much as I did because I did...like this one, a lot. I thought it was cute and I'm not at all ashamed to say that I grinned like a crazy person throughout the entire thing. Her whole romance with Frank and seeing Emily come into her own? I really enjoyed it. This is my second favorite book by Matson, the first being Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. I thought Emily was hard to connect with at first and I wanted to smack her upside her head for relying so much on Sloane to have a life but you see her growth over the course of the book and her journey to having her own life was enjoyable for me.

What didn't work for you?

Nath: Oh I agree, certain parts of the book were great and I did smile. I liked Frank and their entourage and I liked the idea of Emily completing a list of 10 random things. What didn't work for me was Emily. It's exactly as you said... I wanted to smack her for relying so much on Sloane. You were able to overlook this, but I guess I couldn't. Perhaps it's because it hit a bit too close to home... I'm a person who values friendship a lot and it's great to have a best friend who's bigger than life... but it's never okay to me to have no identity. To be happy to be known as 'Sloane's friend', that wasn't okay with me. That was very sad as well as Emily's lack of backbone because of Sloane's absence. For me, Emily was just too dependent on Sloane and the whole "Sloane this, Sloane that" got old very fast :( Yes, she grew throughout the book, but it was a bit too late...

Rowena: I guess because Emily is a teenager, I was okay with letting that stuff slide because in the end, she did learn that it wasn't okay to live in Sloane's shadow and she ended up being her own person so I was glad. The new group of friends that Emily made over the summer was proof that she did learn from her mistakes. They were her friends but she had a personality and a life outside of them. I thought they were really good for her and I thought they were all adorable together.

I loved seeing Frank and Emily grow closer together. I loved the Emily that she was around Frank. She didn't want to be his friend but that didn't stop him from pursuing the friendship anyway. He was so completely different from Emily but so completely perfect for her too. He didn't let her get lost in their new group of friends. She wasn't a sidekick. She was a part of something real and I liked that for her.

Nath: Oh there was definite growth in Emily and it was very well-done. It was good to read about Emily coming into her own person, making her own friends. I also understand that she couldn't just forget/give up on Sloane and in the end, her perseverance really paid off... But at times, she'd think of Sloane and that would annoy me because it would be like almost undoing all her growth ^_^;

I quite liked Frank and the other secondary characters, Dawn and Collins. They were a good group and I enjoyed their interactions... I also thought that some of the things Ms Matson brought up was very realistic such as Collins being a bit jealous of Frank and Emily's friendship and Dawn's reaction to Emily and Frank's kiss. I also really liked Emily's family. Unconventional, but very fun LOL.

Rowena: Yeah but that's only natural when you're trying to build something that you didn't have before. Emily didn't have the confidence to be her own person. She was happy to live in Sloane's shadow so when Sloane up and disappears, she's thrown for a loop. She was forced to build a life for herself and not one that she could share the spotlight with anyone. Everyone slips up every now and again and I thought the slip ups that Emily had were realistic and did show just how much she'd grown over the course of the summer because those slip ups didn't keep her down. It kept her real. She wasn't perfect and I liked that. I liked that she liked the person she was becoming without Sloane and she kept right on fighting the good fight until the very end. And I think my very favorite part of the book (after the romance with Frank, of course) was that even when she built this new life where she was the main show, she didn't forget about Sloane. She needed closure from Sloane's split and she got it.

Overall, I thought Emily proved that she was a lot more than Sloane's best friend and I thought Matson did a fabulous job of showcasing her strengths. I was a grinning machine while reading this entire book. The whole thing just worked for me. I loved the main character, the love interest and the other friends that Emily made along the way. I even loved Emily's family. They were a treat too.

Nath: You're right about Emily not forgetting Sloane. That part, I did like. She changed and grew, but didn't put Sloane in a box labeled "Past" and that was nice. She's definitively loyal :)

I guess I just didn't have your patience. I enjoyed the story and the writing. I really liked the list and how Emily managed to accomplish it :) It's just at times, Emily really got on my nerves and that dimmed my enjoyment of the book a little. As such, I'm giving a B- for Since You've Been Gone.

Rowena: If this had a heroine that was much older than 17 than I probably would have had less patience with the heroine but I just keep the age thing in mind when dealing with YA books. They're young and do dumb things because they're still young where it's still okay to make them. Had they been older, yeah, I'd be right where you were.

I'd give the book a high B. It was very enjoyable for me.

Buddy Review: The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

Rowena: Alright, so March brings our buddy review of The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram. I wanted to read this book because both Nath and Izzy read it and adored it. I thought it was something that Ames and I would enjoy so we decided that this will be our March buddy review book.

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
published by Bluefields in May 2013

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Series: n/a


Rowena: What did you think, Ames? First impressions?

Ames: It lives up to the hype! I was so happy reading this book. I loved Avery and everything she went through. What about you?

Rowena: Oh, it definitely lived up to the hype for me. I completely adored this book. I loved Avery. I loved Grayson. Hell, I even came to love Aidan...but most of all, I loved the geeks from the Science Club. And Avery's best friend. She had me laughing out loud so many times.

Ames: Oh yeah! It was a great cast of characters. I like how Avery and Grayson weren't super friendly at first and how she mistrusted him but how quickly he proved he was there for her. I loved him right from the get go. Avery was great but Grayson is the absolutely awesomest. That scene in the shower? Hahaha

Rowena: I hear you. That shower scene was one of my favorite scenes in the book. There was a lot to love about this book. I liked seeing Grayson's feelings for Avery grow with every nice thing that he did for her. The protective way he was with her. That first day back at school, at lunch when he's so worried about her and how pissed off he is at Aidan? It was all just so great. What I liked most about this book was how one minute I was laughing my ass off and the next minute, something extremely sweet was happening and I was sighing. I loved seeing Avery go through each stage of a broken heart and I loved the way that everyone rallied behind her.

Avery was a strong character. She was also very smart and at her core, she was a really good person. With a big heart. I loved how loyal she was to Aidan too. How worried she was about him and how even though her heart was completely broken, she wanted to support him in whatever he had going on. And then Aidan proves to be a big bonehead. Haha, oh man I wanted to smack Aidan in the head so many times.

Ames: Sometimes the heroines in YAs can get on my nerves with being wishy-washy and Avery was the complete opposite. She may have been socially awkward but when it came to standing up for what she thought was right, she did it with no hesitation. I really liked that about her. And she didn't make a fool of herself over Aidan. Part of that was Grayson. And I agree with you, one minute I was laughing and the next I was falling for him too. haha

Another thing I liked about Grayson was how smart he was about social stuff. Like his friends were cool. And even though they were the popular crowd, they weren't cruel about it. His girl friends welcomed Avery when they saw how cool she was. And her best friend with the cat t-shirts and sexual confidence? Loved her!

I was a bit worried about how things would go down when Aidan realized what a huge mistake he made, but Avery's reaction to his turnaround and her revelation about her true feelings was handled very well. It was a real touching scene and I'm glad it went down the way it did.

Rowena: I'm starting to wonder if there's ever going to be a time when we disagree on a book. Because I completely agree with everything you said. Avery was pretty fantastic and I liked that the popular kids in this book weren't automatically mean people or jealous and petty. I also really liked how the Science Club kind of snubbed Grayson at first because he wasn't smart enough to hang out with them. I thought that was hilarious and the way Grayson just rolls with it and wins them over was just more greatness on top of even more awesome sauce.

For me, this was a great contemporary YA. I feel like I would definitely re-read this over and over again. I liked it that much.

Ames: LOL We do have similar tastes in books. And I will be adding this to my rotation of feel-good re-reads. This book had it all. A nerdy main character, a hot jock, high school cliques, friends to lovers. I liked the journal aspect of it too. Grayson's journal *sigh* haha

Rowena: Oh yeah, Grayson's journal. How awesome was that? I definitely give this one an A. What about you?

Ames: An A from me as well!!



Ok for those of you following along, in April Wena and I have chosen Samantha Young's Out of the Shallows, the second Jake and Charley book. :P

Buddy Review: Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross

The groove has been elusive so far ^_^; However, we're trying :) Enjoy the review!

Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross
self-published in August 2013

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics... I've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And something about Jordan--being around him, talking to him, thinking about him--makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That's something I haven't been able to do lately. He knows what it feels like to be me right now. He knows what it's like to wonder--what now? I think about it constantly. I need answers. I need to know how to get through this. In the gym, if you're struggling, you train harder, you do drills and conditioning. How do I work hard at moving on? At being on my own? And what happens if I might be...maybe...probably falling for Jordan? I mean we live together now. That can't happen, can it? But kissing him...well, let's just say it's not an easy activity to forget.

Genre: Young Adult/New Adult, Contemporary
Series: Letters to Nowhere, Book #1


Ames:  Thank you so much Nath, for bring this book to my attention! I didn’t notice it mentioned anywhere in blogland. And then when I was looking for a book to read and asked you what was the last excellent book you read, you recommended this one and you were right. It was really good!

Nath: LOL, I’d love to take credit for it, but I got lucky as others recommended it to me :) So big thank you to Brie and Li!! Because Letters to Nowhere was really a good book!!

I think what I loved about it is the fact that it wasn’t stereotypical at all. When I first read the blurb and saw that Karen was going to live with her coach, immediately, I thought the worst scenarios possible. Bad coach or bad son… and it wasn’t like that at all. Aside from Karen’s parents’ deaths which is a common theme in New Adult/Young Adult books, Letters to Nowhere was just sooo refreshing!

Ames:  I agree. The whole parental death thing is so overdone, but despite that, Letters to Nowhere definitely stands out among other NA/YA books I’ve read lately.

One aspect I really enjoyed was the gymnastics. She’s an elite gymnast and has to train hours and hours a day. And I found it all interesting, it wasn’t tiring to read about at all. And the dynamic with her teammates and the coaches. I loved it.

Nath: I agree. The gymnastics aspect of the book was well-done and felt real. I think it helps that Ms Cross knew what she was writing about given her experience. I liked seeing the life of an elite athlete - how much of her life is dedicated to gymnastics and how much she had to give up. The fact that she took online classes instead of attending school which actually makes a lot of sense! The fact that her social life was almost non-existent… It is often said that young athletes are very mature… and it’s true. But at the same time, they are very immature, or I should say inexperienced, in some aspects because they are missing out on the regular evolution of growing up and Ms Cross showed it really well in Letters to Nowhere. In addition, I think Ms Cross captured the atmosphere of the gymnastics world very well. I loved seeing Karen’s relationships with her teammates - friends, but rivals at the same time... a fine balance between camaraderie and jealousy. Their interactions with the coaches and the competitions, dealing with the selection committees. This all contributed to make Letters to Nowhere very unique in my opinion :) 

Ames:  Exactly!! Ms. Cross did an excellent job of balancing the story with introducing the reader to an elite athletics world. And showing the maturity with the inexperience. Another thing was Karen’s parents. I like how that affected her in such a visceral way - she was having panic attacks, she couldn’t go back into her house. And how her parents were shown as not being perfect. Her reaction to that revelation made perfect sense to me. I feel like the angst from their deaths really moved the plot forward in a way that I haven’t felt with other YA books I’ve read.

Nath: I think part of it is because Karen had a good and normal relationship with her parents. There weren’t any dirty secrets, any guilt… Karen got along well with her parents even though they had some conflicts. What I loved about Karen’s parents were the fact that they did not push Karen in her gymnastics career, they weren’t obsessive about it. Overall, this was another good aspect of the book that the author handled very well. Even dead, her parents were present in the story :)

What did you think of Jordan and Coach Bentley?

Ames:  I liked the Coach and Jordan. I liked how they had their own problems, as father and son and dealing with a shared loss, that Karen helped them bridge a little bit by her presence and what she was going through. Jordan was the perfect person for Karen at that point in her life. And that made me like him a LOT. A lot a lot. LOL

Nath: At first, when I read the synopsis of the book, I was a bit hesitant. I immediately assumed the story would go in a bad direction, what with Karen going to live with her coach and his son. We’ve all heard about how tough the gymnastics world is and a lot of coaches are portrayed negatively in the media… However, I was so wrong and so happy to be wrong! Letters to Nowhere was a great read because the characters weren’t dark or bad… Instead they were normal and that includes Coach and Jordan   Yes, they had some personal issues, but that only made them more realistic.

I liked that both Coach and Jordan  understood what Karen was going through and wanted to help her. Ames, you say that Jordan  as the perfect person for Karen at this point in her life, but I think so was Coach. And I liked how Coach, Jordan and Karen were all looking for their footings in this new relationship :)

Ames:  I didn’t include Coach because I felt like there was something left unresolved between him and Karen. They did come a long way together and that feeling of unfinished business does not take away my enjoyment at all. I think I just wanted a wee bit more there.

This book, although very enjoyable, had some major emotional stuff going on and I thought that the author handled it very well. Karen went through a major trauma and I thought the author dealt with her grief in a realistic way. She didn’t heal instantaneously, she went through the whole process and it was good to read about that. Nothing was glossed over. I appreciated how down to earth this book was. And a major thing here was that life goes on. Karen lost her parents, but her life, especially gymnastics, went on and she had to learn to cope with that loss and the fact that she had to keep moving forward.

Nath: For sure, the relationship between Coach and Karen is not perfect. I think it’s the newness of it. They haven’t known each other long and suddenly, Coach Bentley is not only coach, but guardian and parent and so both are struggling to find the perfect balance to their weird relationship. Still, I want to see that relationship develop :)

Ames, you nailed it. What I appreciated most is that Ms Cross didn't go with the destructive road for Karen like so many other heroines. Instead, Karen dealt with everything - the tragedy, her grief and the aftermath - the best way she could, relying on the people around her when she could.  I liked that nothing was instantly resolved. I think the most interesting was seeing Karen deal with her future, take decisions that she knew her parents hadn't been 100% in favor for before their deaths… especially in her gymnastics career. Many other heroines would have continued on the path their parents would have wanted, because it was their “last” wishes. It took courage for Karen to make her own decisions and I really admired that about her. 

What did you think of the romance between Karen and Jordan   I thought it was sweet and can’t wait to read more about it!

Ames:  I like that Karen forged her own path too.

Ok, the romance. I loved it. Karen’s never had a boyfriend before and I like how at first she didn’t care for Jordan but then they got to know each other and things grew from there. Jordan was so great. He was very empathetic with Karen’s situation and he helped her so much. He was just so cute. I could go on and on about all the things I liked about him but I think readers should find out for themselves how cute he can be. :P

Nath: Me too, I loved the romance. It just simply worked and felt natural :) I liked how Karen didn’t just see Jordan  nd started crushing on him. They got to know each other and be friends. I think in the end, they were both there for each other and that’s the sign of a good relationship. Also, I liked that they are taking their time, that Karen doesn’t feel pressure to take the next step right away… and I liked their honesty to each other. Also, there was a lot more to Jordan than simply being a 17 years old boy and that was interesting :)

Letters to Nowhere was an excellent book :) In the sea of YA and NA books, it definitively stands out for the writing and the characters. I’m giving it an A- :) I loved it, but thought there was still some loose ends… I’m so glad that there’ll be a sequel soon!!

Ames:  I know! I’m excited for the sequel. :P I’m giving Letters to Nowhere a B+. A really enjoyable read and I totally agree that it stands out.

***

Because we enjoyed this book so much and want to support the author, we're doing something we haven't done in a long time, a....

GIVEAWAY!!

You have till next Saturday, November 2 11:59pm EST to leave a comment to be eligible for the giveaway. The lucky winner will get an electronic copy of Letters to Nowhere :) However, if you already own a copy of Letters to Nowhere, it'll be our pleasure to gift a copy of the sequel, Return to Sender!!

Buddy Review: The Distance Between Us

All right, it has been a while since Nath and I did a buddy review.  But hopefully we're back into a groove.


The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
published by Harper Teen in July 2013

Money can't buy a good first impression.

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers learned early that the rich are not to be trusted. And after years of studying them from behind the cash register of her mom's porcelain-doll shop, she has seen nothing to prove otherwise. Enter Xander Spence—he's tall, handsome, and oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and the fact that he seems to be one of the first people who actually gets her, she's smart enough to know his interest won't last. Because if there's one thing she's learned from her mother's warnings, it's that the rich have a short attention span. But just when Xander's loyalty and attentiveness are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn't a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she'd ever realized. With so many obstacles standing in their way, can she close the distance between them?

Genre:  Young Adult
Series:  n/a

Nath: So, so, so Ames! What did you think of The Distance Between Us? :P For me, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but in the end, I did enjoy this book :)

Ames: I know what you mean. I was kind of thinking it would be a bit of a miss for me because of the wealthy/not wealthy aspects of the story. But luckily, I enjoyed it. I mean, I had some issues, but overall I enjoyed it.

Nath: Nod nod, I had a few niggles as well, but more on that later! Why don’t we start with the good aspects of The Distance Between Us? :) One of them for me was the characters. There was a nice cast of characters although I have to say, Cayman and Xander made the book for me :) I liked that they were flawed which made them feel more realistic.

Ames: Yes, I really enjoyed the characters as well. Cayman has that sarcastic sense of humour that I get so well. And Xander. He was a good character as well. He was not what Cayman was expecting and I liked that. He wasn’t a stuck up rich kid. He was genuinely nice and definitely yummy. I also liked Cayman’s friend and the band members.

Nath: That’s actually what was so interesting between the two! Xander was genuinely a nice and yummy young man... but he’s had a privileged upbringing. And while he didn’t lord it over Cayman, there were still instances where it showed. Like not knowing where stuff were in his own kitchen, the beckoning movement, etc. It doesn’t make Xander a bad guy because his family is rich and I’m glad that’s how Ms West portrayed it. I’m also glad that Cayman wasn’t embarrassed by her own lifestyle. That she wasn’t over-conscious about being poor. In a way, Cayman and Xander saw each other as equals and that was very refreshing. That’s why the book worked so well and made their romance believable :)

Between, I also liked Cayman’s friend and the band members :) Although they didn’t have such a big presence, Ms West was able to show that there is more underneath the surface, that there is depth :)

Ames: The other thing I liked about Cayman and Xander were the ‘non-dates’ they had. Their excuse to hang out with each, by finding out what potential careers they could have, I thought that was cute and something that could happen in reality.

And now the good stuff, what didn’t you like? LOL

Nath: LOL, okay. This is not a real big issue, more like a niggle, but I thought Cayman and Xander should have been college-age instead of high schoolers. The whole emphasis on their career was actually quite interesting and I think, something real that people really face… but the way Cayman and Xander behaved, some of the stuff they actually did, it seemed a bit too mature for 16-17 years old. Just one or two years older would have made it better in my opinion… especially in Xander’s case since his father is pushing him into the family business. By the way, I liked that the parents were present in The Distance Between Us and that Cayman and Xander actually had interactions with them.

Ames: I agree. I thought Xander acted way older than his age. For Cayman, she was very mature, I felt like she tried to put a lot on her shoulders, trying to help her mom out. I liked that the parents were present in the story as well. But that was one of the things that frustrated me - Cayman’s mom. She had some big secrets and it bothered me that she was trying to hide stuff from Cayman.

Another thing was the grandparents that showed up at the end of the story. I felt like things were left unsaid between them and Cayman and with her mom too. There needed to be a heart-to-heart somewhere in the ending and we didn’t get one.

Nath: I kind of understand why Cayman’s mom kept some secrets - at least, the business ones - from Cayman. Cayman already shouldered a lot of the responsibilities, knowing how badly the business was doing… In a way, she was just trying to protect her daughter. The secret concerning her background though, she definitely shouldn’t have hidden it. I think there’s just so much you should do because of pride… Depriving your daughter from good grandparents and a better lifestyle, I don’t think it was worth it.

I agree with you about a heart-to-heart talk. I think there should have been an epilogue or something more. Perhaps there will be a sequel? Otherwise, my only other complaint about The Distance Between Us was Tic… not the character, but his relationship with Cayman. It was just too vague… He was like the third party, but without really being one because I don’t think Cayman was really interested in him… I think Ms West should have either left it out or really make him into a love rival for Xander, not the in-between stage that it was.

Ames: Tic was interested, but he could see which way the wind was blowing. I’m glad that he wasn’t a rival. I know Tic’s presence made Xander realize that there were other people interested in Cayman. I was ok with that. There are enough love triangles in YA. LOL

Any final thoughts?

Nath: So true. It’s not that I really wanted a love triangle, it’s just that I would have liked Cayman to be more assertive where Tic was concerned, with her feelings.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Distance Between Us. It wasn’t without flaws, but the writing style and voice, as well as the characters made up for them :) And I think the not knowing, the fumbling feeling just made what Cayman and Xander were going through more real, because it was new for the both of them. I’m giving this book a B :)

Your final thoughts, Ames?

Ames: I’m giving it a B as well. I enjoyed it but some things bothered me. In the end though, I really liked Cayman and Xander. :P

Buddy Review: Between the Lines by Tammara Webber

Wena and I were doing so well posting a review once a month.  Whoops!  But things have a way of falling by the wayside when summer rolls around.  That's our excuse.  LOL

But now we're back!

Between the Lines by Tammara Webber
self-published in 2011

Reid Alexander is used to getting what he wants – and what he wants next is his newest costar, Emma Pierce. The universe is lining up nicely to grant his wish, until he’s confronted with two unexpected obstacles on location: a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for Emma’s affections.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after years of filming commercials and made-for-TV movies. Winning the lead role in a wide-release film – opposite the very hot Reid Alexander – should be a dream come true. But Emma’s heart is hiding a secret fantasy: she wants to be a normal girl.

Genre: Young Adult
Series: Between the Lines #1

Ames: Ok Wena. You reading this book inspired me to re-read it, something I had wanted to do to review it. So thank you. And I'm glad you read it. Wasn't it cute?

Rowena: It really was. I’m kind of mad that it took me so long to read this book. I enjoyed getting to know the different characters and even though I spent a good deal of the book confused over who the love interest was…in the end, I LOVED the guy that Emma ended up falling for and I had high hopes for the other guy. This was such a good read. What did you think?

Ames: I honestly forgot how much I enjoyed it. I really liked the set up - young actors doing a modern interpretation of Pride and Prejudice...which also kind of acted out in their personal lives too! What makes it great is Emma and the other characters. You feel like you're right there with them, on set and then in their hotel rooms, getting to know each other. A book that can immerse you into it like that is always a fun time.

Rowena: I totally agree with that, I was so immersed in this story that I continued right on with the second book right after I finished this one. I loved getting to know Emma and Reid, even though Reid’s character left much to be desired. He was such a prick and I had no idea how Webber was going to turn that shit around, considering I didn’t like him very much. But in the end, I decided that he wasn’t completely irredeemable so I came to like him in the end….and want more from him. Though to be honest, it wasn’t until the second book that I absolutely, irrevocably fell in love with Emma’s love interest. Love, love, love that guy.

Ames: I loved Emma's love interest right from the get-go. Even before he was a possible love interest. LOL I really liked his character and that scene on her bed, when they kiss? Wowzers. haha

Reid's character...I felt like his internal dialog was very true to a young man his age, with his experience. Like he just wanted to get into girls' pants. But I definitely felt there was some character growth with him and a lot of that had to do with Emma. This book is such a winner because she's such a good character. She had a good head on her shoulders and that always makes a difference for me.

Rowena: Yeah, I know what you mean about the character growth in Reid. You could tell that there was a lot of room for him to grow and with Emma’s influence on him, I just knew he was going to make it. With me, I was so confused on who the love interest was because I was so sure that it was one persons since we were inside his head but what I thought was completely different from what actually was and I thought that was very clever of Webber.

Can you tell if a person is drunk through emails? I wonder.

The one character that I couldn’t bring myself to like in this book was Brooke. For some reason, she really rubbed me the wrong way, even when the shit hits the fan at the end and her story comes pouring out. I just didn’t like her.

Ames: I think you can tell someone is drunk through email. One doesn't pay too close attention to spelling. LOL

Brooke, I was ambivalent about her and then I felt a bit of sympathy for her once some of her backstory came to light. She seemed ok to me because she hung out with the girls and even with the stuff that went on between her and Reid, she didn't outright tell Emma to back off. Not until later, when she was drunk. And she didn't stop being Emma's friend when Emma and Reid started dating.

Rowena: I wanted to be ambivalent but I knew that I probably wasn’t going to like her much as her story progressed and even finding out the full story didn’t help her cause in my book. I shook my head because that was handled so badly but both parties and them being young wasn’t a good enough excuse for their actions.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters (even the characters that I didn’t like all that much) and I really, really got into Emma’s story. I didn’t blame Emma for getting caught up in the dazzling world Reid introduced her to and I really loved that she tried to stay true to who she was and who she wanted to be. She was a good influence on Reid and she gave me hope that Reid will be redeemed. I also adored the hell out of Graham and wanted more from him. If anything, that was what I thought was missing from this book. More Graham. I’m glad to see that it was fixed in the next book in this series. Love, love, love me some Graham. Brooke? Meh.

Ames: I agree, this book needed more Graham. He was a good character and I'm glad we get some of his POV in the next book.

Another thing I thought was handled well was Emma's relationship with her father. She had so much anger towards him and she kept it bottled up inside. I thought her whole story arc was handled in a realistic way and that even pertains to her relationship with her father. She didn't want to be a mega movie star the way her step-mother was kind of forcing her to be. She wanted to do indie movies and be somewhat regular. Her experience with Reid really strengthened that conviction. And then the stuff with her dad, that was good. She was such a well-rounded character and that's why I loved this book so much.

Rowena: I agree. This book was written in a way that stayed true to each character and their backgrounds. I thought Webber did a great job of portraying each character in a light that was true to what she was trying to portray. She did that really well with both Emma and Reid. It was an all around great read and I’m glad you brought it to my attention. I really enjoyed it.

I’d give this book a very high B….but mostly because there wasn’t enough Graham in this one. What about you?

Ames: This one gets a B+ from me. I enjoyed it tremendously both times I read it. :P

Buddy Review: You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

All right you lucky people!  Wena and I have another buddy review for the month of April.  At the end of this review I've posted what book we're going to read for May, in the hopes that you'll read it too.  :P

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith
Published by Simon & Schuster in April 2012

Emma and her neighbor Peter are both lonely in a way that only bothers them on occasion. They both come from families they don’t quite understand. They both feel like something big is missing from their lives—and they’re both about to search for answers. When Emma makes a discovery that shakes the foundations of her identity, she convinces Peter to join her for a road trip. Each of them has something to find: For Emma, it is a grave—a grave that may be her only connection to her family. Peter is seeking something harder to define, but perhaps easier to navigate—a freedom, a sense of something more than what he has. Together, they take to the open road, engaging in a universal quest to make sense of who they are and where they come from…and learning a thing or two about love along the way.

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Series: n/a

Ames: I was pleasantly surprised by You Are Here. I enjoy road trip novels and I thought this one was cute. What did you think?

Wena: Like you, I love road trip books and while I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t my favorite road trip book. For me, it was hard to connect with Emma. I kept reading through the book and wanting to come to like her but I just couldn’t. Now, Peter? I connected the hell out of him. This story moved because of Peter’s story. He was such an interesting character.

Ames: I know what you're saying about Emma...but I felt like there was enough growth with her character at the end that I was pleased with the story. When she realized how bad of a friend she was to Peter? I like that she saw that and changed it.

Peter I liked too. He was an interesting character. I liked his love of maps and geography and civil war battlefields.

Both Peter and Emma had to deal with the loss of a family member. Peter's mom from when he was born and Emma just figuring out that she was a twin. But it was an interesting set up because of the parallels in their families. For Peter it was just him and his dad and his dad refused to talk about stuff. For Emma, she had her parents and 3 older siblings who never even mentioned the twin. I could see how hard it was for them to try and get their family to open up. But I do have to say that Peter's situation broke my heart. And I cried when Emma finally talked to her mom. I loved her brother for asking her to get that salad bowl. Awww.

Wena: That was my exact problem with Emma. She was really selfish in the way that she thought, the way that she acted and Peter deserved so much more than the kind of friendship that Emma gave him. I don’t know, after that kiss attempt when they were camping, my heart completely broke for Peter (I cried) because it really sucks to like someone that doesn’t like you back and Peter, for as great a guy that he was, I wanted more for him then…Emma. And that’s not the usual reaction that I have for the main character of the book.

I do agree with you that over the course of the book, Emma starts to change for the better and it was good to see it but I guess, for me anyway, that I spent so much time being annoyed with her that a part of that annoyance never went away. It’s stupid but there it is.

What were your favorite parts of the book?

Ames: Oh I wanted to shake both of them when he kissed her! LOL Peter for just going along with Emma's reaction and then Emma for not doing anything. Just a complete shutdown. (But hey, she comes by that naturally, with her family.)

I did like how Emma brought her family together at the end. I felt bad for her, the way she felt like the odd duck out with all the intellectuals around her and then having older siblings who were off living their own lives already.

My favorite parts were with the hitchhiker they picked up. I wasn't expecting that and I thought he was a cute character. When Peter fell asleep at that battlefield in Tennessee and the cops were there when he woke up. The way Emma got them out of that other interaction with the cop and then at the end, when I cried when Emma found that box and photo album.

What about you?

Wena: I really liked when they first got to Gettysburg and the way that Peter was when they got there. The way that he knew the timeline and history of the entire place, the way that he was so happy to be there. How in awe he was to be there. I really liked that.

I also liked that scene at the end when Nate sends Emma down to the basement to get that damn salad bowl and she finds the photo albums. I thought it was a sweet scene and it was good to see Emma’s family be the kind of family that she’s always wanted.

I also liked the scene when Annie and Emma have it out when Emma finally gets to Annie’s house and the boys find them in the kitchen are unsure how to handle the situation.

There were a lot of scenes that I liked and my only complaint was that misconnect with Emma. I just couldn’t get there with her and I wanted to. Oh, well.

Ames: Those are all good scenes. I liked the one with Annie in the kitchen too.

That's too bad you didn't connect with Emma.

Wena: I mean, this was a solid story but because of my disconnect with Emma, I didn’t enjoy the book nearly as much as I’ve liked our other books. Peter’s journey through this book was more interesting to me and I was bummed that we didn’t get enough of it, at least for me. So, I’d give this book a C.

Ames: I'm going to give this book a B. I liked the growth I saw in Emma's character and there was so much going for this book, the cute hitchhiker, Peter's whole gig and then it made me cry. I liked it. :)

~~

And Wena and I had an idea to tell you what our next book is going to be.  So if you want to discuss it with us, you'll be prepared.  :P Our pick for May is going to be Abbi Glines' Fallen Too Far.

Buddy Review: Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

After Wena and I had so much fun reviewing The Reece Malcolm List together, we decided to do a buddy review once a month. And so here is our March buddy review!

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
Published by Point in March 2013

Don't mess with a girl with a great personality!

Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it.

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Series: n/a

The Story: Lexi is the girl with the great personality. She’s not ugly, but she’s definitely not one of the girls in the popular clique that are made up to the nines and goes out with a football player. She’s funny and smart and she’s also getting tired of overlooked. Her mom is living vicariously through her 7 year old sister Mackenzie, who does beauty pageants. Lexi helps out each weekend at the pageant and gets no recognition for it. Pageants are her mom’s life, and there’s no room for anything else. But when Lexi starts to dress like a girl (as opposed to a shapeless lump) it definitely has some repercussions at school and home.

There may be some minor spoilers.

Ames: All right sweet cheeks, what did you think of Revenge of the Girl?

I liked it but my beef is that I read it way too fast!!

Wena: I hear you, I was so mad at myself when I finished it last night. But I’m so glad that we chose to read this one. Eulberg always provides those delightful contemporary YA reads that always put me in a good mood…even when it’s 2am and I should be sleeping for work the next day. =)

What did you think about Lexi?

Ames: I liked Lexi but I also got annoyed with her too. I can understand why she puts so much emphasis on looks but her transformation annoyed me a bit. Even though it wasn't her choice, she really ran with it once she got going! LOL I did think this was balanced out by her toning it down in the end though. And I felt bad for her, with a mom like that, who needs bullies?

What did you think of her?

Wena: Yeah, she definitely annoyed me too but what annoyed me more was her treatment of Taylor. Her insistence that he only wanted her because of her transformation and the way that she thought what she thought and that was that. I mean, hell I thought that Taylor was going to punk her over too but I didn’t think that he deserved that instant brush off from Lexi. He was nothing but nice to her right from the jump and the way that she treated him was not cool.

Her mother got on my hot damn nerves too. When Lexi finally loses her shit (sorry) with her Mom while her Mom was at work, I couldn’t be mad at her for putting her Mom on blast like that because damn, that’s a lot of money and Moms are not supposed to do shit like that to their kids.

What did you think about Mac?

Ames: I agree with you over her treatment of Taylor. I loved how they were joking around and having fun when she was helping him shop. She wouldn't even listen to him at the end when he told her that's when he noticed her, not after her makeover. Stubborn wench! But remember when they started dating and she went gaga over Logan on their double date but went to chase Taylor down and they had their little moment alone? I liked that scene.

I'm sorry but when her mom pulled that stunt I wanted Lexi's dad to freaking call someone and have that woman committed!! Also, Lexi's dad should have opened an account up with her so that her mom wouldn't be able to pull that kind of stunt again. Her mom seriously needed some help.

But the people who kept Lexi sane in all of this were her great friends. I loved her friends and that's a great strength of Eulberg's writing - the way she can write friendships like that.

Mac was a spoiled brat but I like how her and Lexi opened up at the end. Have you ever watched Toddlers and Tiaras? I used to watch it and Mac was written perfectly. She definitely could have been on that show. LOL

Wena: You’re talking about the moment with Taylor, right? The one at the pizza place? I loved that scene, where he got jealous and she finally noticed him. He was such a cutie patootie, I swear.

Lexi sure did have a sucky parental unit. They were both such selfish pricks that now that I think about it, it makes sense that Lexi would react the way that she did. Most of the time. You’re right, she had a great support system in her friends. Both Cam and Benny were so good for Lexi and after the crap hits the fan with Lexi’s Mom, I was so glad when Benny and Cam came to be with her when she faces her Mom. Cam was the best friend of all. She’s the kind of friend that all girls should have in their lives. She’s a ride or die chick and how can you not love someone like that? She was always looking out for Lexi and the way that she had Benny’s back in the mall that one time? I loved it. Benny was pretty great too. I was so glad when him and Chris got together. I liked to see him find happiness before they went to New York.

I really liked the way that Lexi’s relationship with Mac evolved. They came a long way from that first part where Mac calls her ugly and Lexi responds back.

I kind of hoped that there would be more to the ending, more with Taylor but overall, I really liked this book.

Ames: Cam was a great friend! I also cracked up at the scene when she hit on Grant so Lexi would have a friendly face at that varsity dinner thing. She's definitely ride or die. And I thought Bennie was so cute.

I thought Mac was really cute and I'm glad Lexi stepped up as a big sister and helped her out the way she did. I kinda wish we had a picture of Lexi in her get-up at the end because it sounds hilarious too!

I wish there had been more with Taylor as well. But yes, overall I really enjoyed Revenge of the Girl. Eulberg always keeps it fresh! LOL

Wena: So I guess that was it with the Mom, huh? Things weren’t really resolved with her but Lexi was moving on from it, anyway. I mean, she had her friends and she had Mac so she wasn’t really worried much about how things ended up with her Mom, right? I kind of hoped there would be more resolved by the end of the book but I can’t say that I’m all that surprised. I just couldn’t believe how selfish and irresponsible the mother was with her money and with her kids. It really surprises me that there are women out there who are just like Lexi’s Mom. That makes me so sad for those kids.

Alright, be honest...who did you think was going to be the love interest at the beginning of the book?

Ames: I think that was it on the mom-front. I wish we had a more firm resolve in regards to their mom but I think it's safe to say that Mac and Lexi working together means no more crazy from their mom. And yes, watching Toddlers and Tiaras, with a lot of the parents, moms especially, it was like they were living through their kids, in an unhealthy way.

I honestly thought Logan was going to be the love interest. I mean, how often does the girl end up with her guy friend?

Wena: I’ve never been interested in watching Toddlers and Tiara’s but now? I’m curious. I mean, I’ve heard of Honey Boo Boo but I refused to watch that show because, well…it looks really dumb. I’m more of a Duck Dynasty kind of gal, anyway.

Same here, I thought that Logan was the love interest too because well…she didn’t immediately get with him the way that she did with Taylor. That was what threw me off and then the whole thing with him being there for her when all of that stuff went down with her Mom at the store? I was all kinds of confused.

Ames: I just wish that there was some way that her and Logan could have remained good friends, because he was there for her.

I like Duck Dynasty too. Was never into Honey Booboo. Lol.

Wena: You're right. I do wish that Logan and Lexi could have remained friends. I liked them in the beginning even if I didn't want them to end up together.

What grade would you give it? My grade would be a B.

Ames: I would give it the same, a B. A good quick read.

Buddy Review: The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding

I was minding my own business one day when Wena asked me if I wanted to review something with her. Knowing it had been a while since we've posted reviews here at Breezing Through and me and Wena are best buds, I jumped on her offer and suggested this novel. I had noticed it getting some positive buzz around blogland and was curious.  Luckily, it lived up to the hype!  And thanks to Wena for the buddy review.  :P

The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding
Published by Entangled Teen in February 2013

Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

1. She graduated from New York University.
2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.
3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.
4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.
5. She’s my mother.

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much.

L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love.

But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?

Genre:  Contemporary Young Adult
Series:  n/a

The Reece Malcolm List opens up with our main character, Devan, on a flight to LA with her mother's lawyer.  Devan's father had passed away 3 months earlier and it took all this time for things to get settled on where Devan would live.  You see, she had a step-mother.  But she was less than keen to keep Devan.  So Devan is under the assumption that Reece had to take her in. This is compounded by the fact that she couldn't even be bothered to pick Devan up herself.  She sends her lawyer.  And so begins the tale of Devan and Reece.  Reece is an uber-cool author and Devan almost thinks of herself as a drama geek.  But Devan is no geek.  She's an incredibly talented singer and despite not feeling settled with her mother, she fits in very well at her new school, even becoming friends with the other new student, an incredibly hot guy.  LOL  More than anything, TRML is about daughters and mothers.  Devan thought her mother didn't want her, so this is her journey to the truth.  And it doesn't come easily, but it's an interesting story.  And there's some cute guys.  :P

Ames: What did you think of the Reece Malcolm List? For myself, I thought it was a bit slow to begin. However, I got over that feeling quickly enough and couldn't put the book down until I'd finished!

Wena: You know, I don’t recall ever being bored by the book and while it didn’t start off with a bang, I was still very interested in Devan and her mother right from the jump. I really enjoyed the book and I really, really enjoyed getting to know Devan. I thought as a main character, Devan was well written. I connected with her in a way that I haven’t connected with any main character in a while.

Did you think that the love interest was who it turned out to be? I’ll admit, I was tossed on who exactly the love interest was even though I knew who I wanted it to be.

Ames: I think part of it was that the last YA I read annoyed me and then there was the death of a parental unit...which kind of put me off because I feel like it’s overused in YA...so I think the book had to overcome my feelings over those things at the beginning. Which it definitely did! But yeah, Devan and her mom were something else and I was intrigued by them that I got over that relatively quickly. If that makes sense. LOL

Devan was very well written! I definitely related to her feelings surrounding her mom and thinking her mom didn't want her and that she was imposing. That's such a big piece to Devan's feelings about her mom. I liked how that relationship grew over time.

As for the boys. I thought that it would play out differently from the way it did but I liked how it all worked out in the end. I thought it was very mature of her to break things off with who she did because of how she felt about the other dude. Don't you think? That made me cheer. And I like who she ended up with.

Aside from the boys, I liked her new group of friends. I did not expect Mira's situation though. LOL

Wena: Yeah, I guess I know what you mean. Death is a popular thing to have in YA’s these days. Is it because kids that don’t deal with death aren’t interesting? I wonder.

It was amazing to me that Reece Malcolm said things that were so insensitive to the daughter that she gave up so many years ago. I mean, I got that, that was the kind of person she was but, still. She didn’t know Devan at all and Devan’s father (the only parent she’s ever known outside of her evil stepmother) just died. She was an adult and for her to say the things that she did and do the things that she did, got on my nerves in the beginning.

I so agree! I mean, the list that Devan had running wasn’t something she started in L.A. She started that long before she moved in with Reece Malcolm. I really like how their relationship grew and how it was written. It wasn’t a perfect relationship by any means but I liked seeing how they came together.

I was happy with who she ended up with too. I can usually spot the love interest from a mile away but in this book, it was hard to tell at first because the first guy was so …love interest material that I kept thinking, “Oh man, I like him but not for her…” and when she broke up with him, I was happy too. I mean, he was a great guy but he wasn’t for her. I really liked when she let the other guy have it though. The way that she finally stood up for herself with him and the way that she called him out on his crap. It was great.

I really liked her new set of friends too. I really liked that even though they were all great, things between them weren’t always perfect. They had their issues, we saw them fight and then make up. The way friends should be. I thought Mira would be the one that she ends up being closest too and I was glad that they came around with each other. And like you, Mira’s situation caught me off guard too. I wasn’t expecting that one.

Ames: Oh Devan's mom got on my nerves in the beginning too! It would have been interesting to know how things had gone for her mom after Devan was born. I mean she has to be prickly for a reason right? Even her best friends said that she pushed away the people she cared for the most. Her mom was an interesting and imperfect character all on her own. I cried when they had their words at the end. I was floored by how invested I was in these characters emotionally and the way Reece talked to Devan after their fight made me tear up. I love books that make me cry like that.

And how screwed up was it the way Devan found out about her mom? I was furious at her dad at that point. I was mad at him for being so distant, but when I read how she found out?

I love how Devan stood up for herself and called dude out on his crap. Girls need to do that to boys more often so they quit playing games like that! And to realize that things will be awkward with the other guy after they broke up but that they could still be friends. I found the romantic aspects to this book very refreshing and just wish all characters could communicate like that.

Who know who else I liked? Brad. Remember when she was at the club for Elijah's show with a beer and he showed up. LMAO! I thought that was funny. Such quirky characters.

Wena: Oh, I know! I was a total Brad fan. I thought he was good for Reece but he was also good for Devan.

I would have liked to see Reece’s background a bit more (through talks with Devan) too. When they finally have that talk at the end, I was so happy and like you, I teared up. I was so happy to finally be getting some answers for Devan. Devan’s character was so likable, even when she wasn’t speaking up for herself. She was one of those characters that as an adult, I wanted to cuddle close and protect her from those that would harm her. She was smart, she was capable and yet there was a vulnerability about her that endeared her to me. I wanted to be her mother and I wanted to beat her step-mom and then smack her Mom around for 1) not flying out to meet Devan and 2) not sitting Devan down to talk about her father’s death and why she’d given her up in the first place. I get that Reece didn’t know anything about the relationship between Devan and Devan’s father but she should have at least asked if Devan wanted to talk about it. I was disappointed that she didn’t.

The way that Devan found out about Reece was totally messed up. I can’t even imagine finding out who my mother was the way that Devan found out…and even with the way that she was brought up, the card that she was dealt….I never once thought that Devan was a total snot. She had every reason to be a snot but she wasn’t. Which made me like her even more.

So I’m taking it, you would recommend this book? Right?

Ames: I like to think that Devan and her mom, after the conclusion of the book, had that sit-down. Because they definitely needed it. But they broke the ice with their big fight and they needed to do that too, so it's a step in the right direction. Devan needed to know she didn't have to be perfect and that she could get in trouble. I think her bitch of a step mom really did a number on her making her keep all her emotions and feelings inside. I hated that woman!

Overall, I liked this YA. It was smart and mature but it definitely took me back to those good old days when liking a guy gave you butterflies in your stomach. Yes, I highly recommend this one. :P

Wena: She really did, that stupid step mom. The Dad had a hand in that as well. He couldn’t have not known that his wife was mistreating his daughter. But you’re right about Reece and Devan. That big fight did break the ice and did a lot to repair the relationship that wasn’t all there when Devan first gets to L.A.

I highly recommend this book too. On top of great characters and a charming main character, this book introduced some fantabulous relationships that weren’t perfect but so interesting. I really liked this book and will definitely be reading more from this author.

Ames: I'm giving this book an A-. And I look forward to more by this author as well. :P

Wena: I’d give it an A. Great read!

Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

A few years back, Ames read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson and loved it so much that I had to pick up this book :) It turns out that I really enjoyed it too and I can confidently say it's one of the best YA contemporary I've read. Ever since then, we've both been really looking forward to Ms Matson's next release... and it finally came out in May of this year! Yay! So here are our thoughts on Second Chance Summer :)


Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

published by Simon & Schuster in May 2012

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

Genre: YA, Contemporary
Series: None

Ames: I was really looking forward to Morgan’s sophomore effort. A lot. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour was epic and I usually try to go into books without any expectations but I couldn’t help it this time. I really wish I hadn’t had any expectations because Second Chance Summer was a bit of a disappointment for me.

Nath: Well I think it had to do with the subject matter that Ms Maston decided to explore... I think she tried to make it a balanced book, but in my opinion, it was always going to be about Taylor’s father and the journey the family was about to undertake. As a result, it really overshadowed whatever development there could be of Taylor.

Ames: I think if there had been more about the family and less about the drama surrounding her past summers, I would not have been disappointed. The family stuff was meaty enough. But I felt like all the teenage angst and drama detracted from the story. Taylor, to me, did not come across as a good character in that part of the story. She was stuck as a 12 year old (it felt like) and I wanted to tell her to get over it already, grow a pair. So I was less interested in her friendships and love life and definitely more invested in her father’s health.

Nath: I agree with you, Ames. I was not interested in the teenage angst and drama... especially since it happened to 12 year old kids and well, everything seems so much bigger, more dramatic at that age. I know you were very frustrated with Taylor’s character and as a heroine, I too do feel she did not shine. Seriously, nobody likes a heroine who’s a coward and runs from her problems ^_^;

What I thought was interesting though is that Ms Matson chose to feature such a character as a heroine. I think it took guts and overall, it did work with the story. In this case, no matter where Taylor wanted to run, she did not have a choice than to confront the truth... even though she wanted to avoid it. And so she learns and I think it will make her much stronger. It was nice to see a different kind of heroine and probably one that is more realistic...

Also, Second Chance Summer shows that no matter how wrong things are, real life still continues and still has drama. I liked that their lives did not stop, did not get suspend... Taylor reconnected with her friends, Gelsey made a new friend and Warren fell in love. I think this is a good message that Ms Matson is trying to convey. Obviously, Second Chance Summer was a very sad book, but it’s not all bleak and depressing. There is light at the end :)

While I did like that real life continued, I didn’t care much when Taylor broke up with Henry. I know she had a lot on her plate and from that standpoint, it can make sense... but I wanted to shake her so badly. There you have the guy whom you’ve pined for for years and he’s perfect! And instead of having his support, you drive him away. She’s lucky that Henry was so understanding ^_^;

Ames: That’s a good point about how life goes on. It does go on. And part of it that rung true for me was the guilt that Taylor felt over the good things happening to her (Henry basically) while her father got worse and worse.

I hated that Taylor broke up with Henry. I honestly almost stopped reading it right there. I cannot get past how much she frustrated me. And for Henry to just be like “Hey, it’s ok, I understand” when she realizes she was a dumb ass? GRRRRR. I mean, it shows he’s a nice guy, but she’s going to walk all over him and he’s going to take her back everytime. I felt like the growth in her character came too little too late. Would she have thought about going back to Henry if her father hadn’t told her to?

Also, I know 12 year olds make stupid mistakes, but the whole set up between Taylor, her best friend Lucy and Henry from that summer just did not make ANY sense. If Taylor told Lucy how she felt towards Henry, Lucy probably would have backed off. Taylor should have stood up for herself, she wanted to avoid losing her friend but that’s what happened anyway. And I hated how the whole thing was teased about until we’re finally told what happened halfway through the book. I mean, I could see that scenario coming a mile away, very predictable.

And that’s my overall problem with Second Chance Summer. It was predictable.

Nath: Well the thing is, from the start, Second Chance Summer was never going to be an unpredictable book. Not with the storyline Ms Matson went for. Taylor’s father having pancreatic cancer, that’s unfortunately a death sentence T_T There was was never going to be any miracle cure to change the outcome. And that’s not fiction, it’s real life. I recently had a talk about pancreatic cancer and when you look at the prognostic and survival rates, it’s abysmal! :( So to me, the fact that Taylor’s storyline with Lucy and Henry was also predictable, well that didn’t bother me that much... because I think Ms Matson took the right decision to focus on the emotional journey.

It’s true what you said about what happened between Taylor and Lucy. Had Taylor stood up for herself and told Lucy, none of this would have happened. But when you’re 12 years old, things aren’t as obvious. The way Taylor acted was very immature, but from a 12 years old kid? I guess I can let it go. I do wish there’s been more groveling from Taylor, but she did apologize... and after 5 years, I guess there’s a bit of water under the bridge.

I’m actually not as convinced as you that Henry will take her back if Taylor screws up again. I guess it depends on how she screws up. In this case, it was obvious why she pushed him away and being a mature guy, Henry got it. If you look at the beginning of the book, he was still angry with Taylor. It does seem he let go of his anger easily though... and once again, I feel it has to do with her father’s situation. In the end, I wish Taylor had come back to the lakehouse under different circumstances. I think that would have made this aspect of the book more interesting... but really, that’s wishful thinking ^_^;

What made the book for me and the reason I could overlook all the other flaws was the whole emotional journey involving Taylor’s father. You know how parents are often absent in YA books, well obviously, it wasn’t the case in Second Chance Summer. I enjoyed every scene with her father, but also her family in it... Not only because the writing was good, but because it felt so very real. Every character’s emotions and the dynamics of the Edward family rang true. It wasn’t idealized or made worse for the sake of the story... The parts where the kids were in the father’s way in the first few days, afraid to let him out of their sight and him being exasperated with it. The moment when Taylor asked him if he was afraid... and her father just nodded, but didn’t elaborate. The way they tried to act normally, the moments they realized this might be his “last”... All those scenes were precious and bittersweet.

Ames: Ok, I need to clarify what I meant by predictable - I was referring to Taylor’s relationship drama. In no way am I trying to take away from what happened with her father. I love that aspect of SCS. But the stuff going on with Taylor’s relationships with Lucy and Henry was too much for me and it really detracted from my liking of the book. It took focus away from the emotional stuff going on with her dad.

And yes, it’s understandable that a 12 year old would react immaturely. But I’m saying going back to the lake as a 17 year old, Taylor was still acting 12. That was annoying. I just can’t give Taylor a pass the way you have. LOL

I think the big thing why I don’t like Taylor so much is the way she treated that stray dog. I mean, yeah I can see her chasing it off a first time, but the second time? That’s when you do something...not after the fourth or fifth time. Poor baby. At least her brother, her dad and Henry’s little brother took care of it.

Nath: Ahhhh. LOL, knowing that you were going to read this book, I immediately thought of you when I saw Taylor chasing the dog ^_^; It’s kind of weird because for readers, it was pretty obvious why Murphy kept going back to the door... and I wished the lightbulb would have gone on earlier in Taylor’s mind. Poor doggie indeed, but in the end, he got a good home :)

And I’ll give it to you, at times, Taylor was indeed still acting as a 12 years old. I guess that event really marked her life, she didn’t seem to get beyond that. I’m just happy that in the end, everything was resolved and Taylor and Lucy were friends again.

By the way, I realized we haven’t touched on one big subject of this book: the family. What did you think of it? I really liked that Taylor’s father’s illness brought the family together. I actually liked both Taylor’s siblings a lot and to see them come together, it means something. This closeness, being there for each other at this particular moment, it strengthens their bonds and I’m sure they will have each other’s back in the future. However, I liked that Ms Matson didn’t overdo it. Like they don’t act chummy like friends, but like siblings :)

Ames: I liked that aspect of the book too. Her sister acted age appropriate and I like how her brother was a nerd that sprouted out random facts. Ok, one thing I think that maybe should have been pointed out to Taylor was the thing she was good at. Like her sister was the prima ballerina, her brother was the super smart guy. Taylor’s strength, oddly enough, was human connection. She got her brother to see people in a different way and she acted as a role model for her sister to open up as well. Despite what Taylor did to her friends, she was good for her family that way.

Nath: It’s true, I wished that Taylor hadn’t felt like she was the “medium” one among the three siblings. At the same time, I don’t think Taylor’s strength was obvious nor conscious. I mean, if you read between the lines, it doesn’t seem like Taylor had any good friends at school. Also, I guess they didn’t hang out with Taylor enough to know that side of her. I mean, it’s not as obvious as being a nerd or a good at dancing. Anyway, I just want to add that I liked Taylor’s siblings. They were good secondary characters with surprisingly good depth, but without stealing the show :)

One thing that I found weird though is that they didn’t include Taylor’s grandfather - her father’s father - earlier on this trip. Don’t you think he’d like to spend more time with his son before he died? Which actually bring me to the scene that touched me most in Second Chance Summer... When Taylor’s father takes a turn for the worst and they call the grandfather. That moment where he sees his son sick for the first time - the shock and the sadness, Taylor commenting that her grandfather appeared to age in front of her. It’s so cruel for a parent to see his/her child sick, no matter the age. Just thinking about that scene brings tears to my eyes T_T

What about you, Ames? Is there a scene that really touched you?

Ames: The scenes with Taylor’s dad when they’d go for breakfast. I really liked those. But my ultimate favorite was the part when he told her that he watched her sleep as a baby. That was really touching and the reason why, it choked me up a little bit!

Nath: Nod nod,those were great moments as well and good memories for Taylor :)

I know Second Chance Summer was flawed, but even now, this book simply echoes so much for me. I loved the writing, loved the interactions of the characters and the story. It’s very sad, but at the end of it, I think there’s hope and future... And because Second Chance Summer made me feel so much, I’m going to overlook all the flaws we discussed and give this book an A-.

Ames: I didn’t feel sad either afterwards! I thought it was a good book that dealt with death in a very respectful way that didn’t totally drag you down. Unfortunately, I am docking points for Taylor. LOL Overall, I’m giving Second Chance Summer a B.

Buddy Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

It's been a while since there's been a buddy review up here at Breezing Through. But we haven't forgotten why we started this blog and so here it is, our first review of 2011!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
published by Knopf in October 2010

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Genre: Young Adult
Series: n/a

Ames: First of all Nath, I want to say thank you for bringing this book to my attention. Thank you! LOL I don't know why, but I just kept overlooking this book. Besides the fact that I'm a gooberhead, maybe something in the blurb turned me off. Anyway, I'm glad you told me you liked it - because I did too!

Nath: LOL, don't thank me, Ames. Thank the people who brought this book to my attention... which would be Leslie and Christine. Thanks ladies!!

I like these books with alternative POV, especially when each POV is written by a different author :) I think it makes it more interactive and realistic.

Ames: Yes, thank you ladies! LOL

I enjoy those kinds of books too. And with a writing duo like Rachel and David, the results are fun! Really, I don't know why, when I enjoyed Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List so much I wouldn't have picked this up right away. Like I said, gooberhead. LOL

And Dash? I loved Dash. I had my own Dash in high school. I still re-read the emails he sent me after he moved away. Of course I wasn't his Lily, but he was my Dash.

Nath: Oh, lucky you!! I really liked Dash as well, he was a great character and made the book :) I liked his personality - the fact that he enjoyed solitude and him being snarly. There was definitively something charming in a sarcastic/cynical way :) In contrast, Lily was very upbeat... but at some times, I thought she was very spoiled and bratty ^_^;

Ames: I definitely feel like Lily was less mature than Dash. I mean, she had this almost-perfect family situation going on and he comes from a divorced family. He knows how to work that to his advantage but it still leaves a mark. I like that he was snarly and I like how these two characters balanced out.

At the beginning of the book, it was like Dash was kind of hopeless - he just wanted the Christmas season to be over. But Lily was full of good cheer and optimism and hope. And through the events of the book, you can see how that switched for each character. Lily lost her hope and optimism and Dash lightened up. It worked.

Nath: I think you've actually pinpointed it - the almost-perfect family. She's surrounded by people who love and care for her, so in that sense, her life is quite idyllic. I don't think she's ever experienced her family letting her down before this Christmas, and so her lack of maturity stems from not being independent enough. In a way, she's extremely lucky ^_^;

The difference in personality definitively worked well in this book :) The reversal in personality was also well done and with a lot of subtlety.

I have to say, I really liked the premise of the book, how Dash and Lily met through that red notebook. I'm a tad disappointed though that the idea came from Lily's brother.

Ames: I like the concept too. But listen you - Lily kept it going! That's the important thing. I like how the other characters were incorporated into the story. Lily's family and Dash's friends. I really liked Boomer. He reminded me of a puppy, always underfoot but you can't get mad because he's just so cute. LOL

And Lily's great-aunt. She was the best. One of my favorite scenes is with her and Dash.

"Is Lily home?" I asked.
The woman settled down across from me and laughed.
"Who's to say I'm not Lily?" she asked back.
"Well," I said, "a few friends have actually met Lily, and I like to think they would've mentioned if she were eighty."
"Eighty!" The old woman feigned shock. "I'll have you know I'm not a year over forty-three."
"With all due respect," I said, "if you're forty-three, then I'm a fetus."
~
"Seriously," I said. "Where's Lily?"
"I need to gauge your intentions," she said, "before I can allow you to dillydally with my niece."
"I assure you I have neither dillying nor dallying on my mind," I replied. "I simply want to meet her. In person. You see, we've been-"
She raised her hand to cut me off. "I am aware of your epistolary flirtation. Which is all well and good - as long as it's well and good. ..."

LOL! Epistolary flirtation!

Nath: LOL, great passage. I just truly love Dash and his dry wit! LOL.

Okay, you're right, she continued and that what matters... but still...

I liked Boomer as well! A bit over-excited, but very loyal... indeed, a puppy LOL. I think in this case, the secondary characters were very important especially since it takes a long while before Lily and Dash meet. They are the ones that really show us who Lily and Dash are.

Ames: True, true. Also, I liked the places where they made the other go.

Did you recognize the band at the club from the one in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist? The band belonging to Norah's ex-boyfriend?

Also, the boots. :)

Nath: The places were awesome. I think it really captured New York City during the holidays well :) I could kind of imagine it and how crowded everywhere must be!

And no, I didn't recognize the band, because I read Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist afterwards.

I thought the first 2/3 of the book was really great... and then, it started losing steam a little bit after Dash and Lily met. It felt the first 2/3 were fun and then, it suddenly took a more serious tone.

Ames: I agree it got a little serious, but I don't think that meant it lost steam. That's where the changes start to happen for Lily. She gets some bad news and she's reacting to that. But also, the baby snatching plot was towards the end and I loved that!

Nath: For me, it did, because it started out all fun and that's what I wanted it to be :) Also, I was as disappointed as Dash about their meeting :( It's the romance reader side of me that wished for something more idyllic.

The baby snatching plot was hilarious, but at the same time, so absurd ^_^;

Ames: I think it was silly fun, not so much absurd. :P  And yeah everything would be great if life were idyllic but I liked their first meeting.  Dash needed a reality check when it came to Lily and teenager's make stupid decisions sometimes.  It shows you how they've both grown that they can get past that less-than-perfect first meeting.

Also, as book lovers, I really like where they were at the end of the book.

Nath: Oh definitively, Ames! I think the ending fit given everything they went through :) Although, me personally, I'm not sure I'd be happy being locked with the Oxfort English Dictionary, but a couple boxes of romance or fantasy novels... and yes baby! :)

So, what grade would you give Dash & Lily's Book of Dares? It's a B+ for me. A good and solid read with engaging characters. I wished the book would've been longer though!

Ames: B+ for me as well. I think it might have lost steam if it were longer.

Nath: Perhaps. I noticed that most of their books are short. Ah well, still looking forward to their next books :)