Nil by Lynne Matson

Pages: 384

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Henry Holt

Release Date: March 4, 2014

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die.
Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field.
Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly.

Ever since I first heard of Lynne Matson and Nil, I've been absolutely dying to read this story! Teens with only a year to live? To escape? Talk about fascinating!

The number one thing that I have to comment on (besides the hot guys, of course) is the amount of science that Lynne Matson manages to include. The clues that are scattered about the island, that our characters manage to piece together are unbelievably scientific and precise, and it was thrilling to see how they all fit together! The worldbuilding of the island is so thoroughly well built, I'm probably going to be paranoid of all noons and heat waves forever.

I absolutely loved the characters in Nil too! There were so many, but each was so individual, had such a range of personalities, it was hard not to fall in love with them. Each character, main or supporting, managed to wiggle into your heart--all the more heartbreaking for when Matson rips them away from you (and oh, she does this quite a lot.)

Plot wise, Nil is pretty much perfect--it's fast paced and as we learn more and more about this sinister island, things get more and more intense until suddenly twists are thrown at you left and right. I honestly, no matter how often you hear this, put it down. I got home from school, sat down, and read for two hours straight. With little explosions of caps and exclamation marks on twitter.
Especially the end. The ending was absolutely heartbreaking and heartwarming and I could not believe it whatsoever. It's really a perfect ending that I really loved and actually made me tear up!

My only slight complaint was the rushed romance and insta love in the beginning, but once you get used to it, it's a really sweet romance that made me love Thad and Charley all the more. The romance is adorable and in all honesty, sometimes I squealed at certain scenes. Except one in the end. That one made me cry.

Anyways.

Nil is definitely a book to check out when it releases with it's fantastic pacing, gorgeous writing, a cut throat island, and sci-fi elements that'll enrapture you the entire read! And who can forget about all the amazing characters that'll simply make you fall in love with the, no matter how...short...you know them?

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Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Pages: 336

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books 

Release Date: Feb 25, 2014

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer by her backyard pool. Instead, she hides in her closet, counts the slats in the air vent, and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.When Bodee Lennox—"the Kool-Aid Kid"—moves in with the Littrells after a family tragedy, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in this quiet, awkward boy who has secrets of his own. As their friendship grows, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her summon the courage to find her voice and speak up.

Let me be honest--when I first heard about Faking Normal, I wasn't sure if it was my kind of book. I adore emotional stories--they're definitely my favorite. But there's something about the raw stories (and not my toned down definition of raw--I mean that really heartbreaking, heart aching kind of raw about those issues that always manage to tear away at you.) that sort of wards me off. But I couldn't get the synopsis of Faking Normal out of my head. And I realized I needed to read it. And I tweeted for a contest.

And then I won an ARC. And I read it. And I loved it.

I read this at the perfect time, I think, when I was dying for one of those heart wrenching stories, and I got it. But on a much more higher level than expected.
Faking Normal is, if anything, an honest-to-God raw story, a real story, and one that just makes you love it all. There's something beautiful in the way Stevens writes her novel in a blunt style. There's no flowery writing, no random deep ponderings--it's a straight up story about a girl who's blaming herself and a secret she'd rather keep hidden.

Alexi was such a complex character, and I don't mean that lightly. Her personality was...explored, and she had such a strong voice throughout the story. Or, rather, not a strong voice, but a distinct voice. You could tell that Alexi blamed herself more for what happened than who did it to her. You could see the struggle she went through as she lied to everyone, as she pretended to be the same as she'd always been. And it was just...heartbreaking. Alexi is a character I could relate to though, despite what happened to her. Her wanting to tell someone, to get it out, her wanting to fall in love, to be loved, it was all...so...real.

One of my favorite things about this story, though, was the relationship between Bodee and Alexi. It wasn't romantic, it wasn't attraction, it was so much more than that. It was friendship throughout the book. It was love, but not the romantic kind that happens so often so quickly In fact, throughout almost the entire book, their relationship was pretty platonic. And for a girl who's always said that she needed kissing in her books, I loved it. So, so, so much. It was, I think, because that was what Alexi needed the most. A friend. Not a boyfriend, not a date, just a best friend she could trust and someone who would help her, if not understand her.

Bodee was just as intriguing a character as Alexi. He was layered and he was sweet and he was caring. But he was also protective and he got jealous and he was flawed. And so, in my book, he's one of the best literary guys out there. It's hard, I think, to write a character so imperfectly perfect, and even harder to write a supporting character as such. But Courtney C. Stevens pulled it off and I couldn't be more impressed or more in love with a story.

And then, the thing I loved, possibly the most, about this book: The bad guy...didn't seem like such a bad guy. Bad guys are always the evil ones, the manipulating ones, the one who's so absolutely playing you. But I don't think I've ever really seen a bad guy who wasn't that bad, who was just broken, upset, and alone. A bad guy where their "bad" action was a mistake. And it's just heartbreaking to realize that sometimes the bad guy never meant to be the bad guy.

Faking Normal is a book that'll stick with me for a long time coming and a book I think everyone should read. It's raw and it's heartbreaking and it's something I never thought I would love, but did.  Beautiful and broken and absolutely stunningly real, I don't think I've ever run into a book quite like Faking Normal. It's a read that you won't want to miss, and I mean that with all my heart.

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Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Pages: 304

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Feb 18, 2014

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.
Even when she isn't sure what to say.
Even when Olivia misses months of school.
Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.
The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

Maybe One Day was honestly one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I expected it to be absolutely heartbreaking, which I can confidently say it was. It was a beautiful story, really.

The most prominent thing about this poignant book was Zoe and Olivia's relationship. The story focuses solely on their friendship and it was absolutely beautiful how much they loved each other, depended on each other, and just...seemed to rely on each other all the time. It's rare to see such a strong relationship between friends in YA books where romance dominates and it's honestly one of the best things about this story. Seriously it made me fall in love with the characters even more, knowing how much they loved each other. Is that strange?

While you didn't see much of it, it's evident that Zoe and Olivia were passionate people, especially about dance and in general.
Zoe irritated me a bit, at first. She seemed selfish, bitchy, and just completely annoying, but she grew into a kinder person, but retaining her personality. Watching her evolve into this new person was heartbreaking, knowing she was changing for her best friend who never asked, but it made me hopeful, for a reason I can't really deduce.
Olivia was a sweet person who was nice to everyone, loved everyone, and was really just one of those people who considered others before her, and it was just...terrible, seeing her get weaker and weaker in the story even as Zoe became stronger and stronger.

There was a bit romance in the story, but it only really appeared in the middle of the book and even then, it only made rare occurrences. I loved Calvin, our love interest though, although I did find their relationship a bit random and the fact that the reason Zoe hated him was immature and pretty idiotic, all in all. But dammit, their relationship was adorable and I just adored it!

Kantor did an amazing job with Maybe One Day, a story of a gorgeous friendship rather than a guilty romance, and I'm so fully in love with it. The characters were beautiful, the story wonderful, and their friendship just absolutely heartbreaking, I can't even. I feel like it's absolutely perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars or for everyone who needs a good tearjerker.

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Perfect Lies by Kiersten White

Pages: 232

Genre: Action thriller

Series: Mind Games #2

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Feb 18, 2014

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.
The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.
But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

After reading Mind Games, I was bordering on desperate to read the sequel--with an ending like that, who wouldn't be? So when I was approved for it on Edelweiss (screw my eBook ban) I pretty much dropped everything and READ.
And oh my God. Perfect Lies was amazing. While it did have a bit of Sequel Syndrome, it nevertheless had that perfect Kiersten snark and style that made me fall in love with the story and our characters all over again!

And so, let's start this off with our lovely sisters will we?
Fia's story absolutely broke my heart at times, her voice so completely bitter and raw. Kiersten White does a brilliant job making Fia sound a bit crazy, a bit murderous, dangerous, and desperate, while still making us love her. Fia's a broken character that touched my heart, though I did sometimes want to slap her for being so dependent on James, who I started to...well, not trust. At all. But her brokenness and her inability to trust anyone made me hurt for her. (On another note, despite it all, Fia managed to maintain her wicked and dry humor, but for some reason that just made me hurt more.)
Like Fia seemed to be the main character the book was centered around, I felt like Annie was the star of the show in Perfect Lies. We learn more about our blind Seer and I sympathized with her so much, her ache for her sister, her longing to be stronger, and her wish for a future that wasn't so bleak. All Annie seemed to want was for her and Fia to make it out alive...whatever "it" was.

Their relationship, while we didn't get to see much of them together, was absolutely beautiful. They did whatever they could, destroyed whoever was in their way, just to protect each other and it's one of the best things about the book--the way White can flawlessly create a sister bond between these two characters. Without even letting them be together for more than a few pages!

For the romance, let's talk about Fia and James for a bit. I really really really (like, really) loved their relationship at first, how they acted around each other, but the more we got into the story...well, the less I trusted him. I wasn't so sure of his motives anymore, or his dedication to Fia. Where did his loyalties lie? Who would he die for? I don't think we ever did find out. 
Like I said, Alice takes the spotlight, and that means she finally finds a romance too! I really loved who she ended up with, even if it was a bit rushed, but their romance was so sweet in one of those hate/love ways.

The plot was just as amazing as Mind Games. It's completely thrilling and unbelievably shocking and, with Annie and Fia, I honestly had no clue what the hell would happen next! It's a roller coaster of twists and turns that I never saw coming and that left me hanging for more! I feel like the ending is absolutely perfect, but honestly--I so wish there was a book three!

There's really no end to how amazing Kiersten White's books can be! I've loved every single one so far, and I can't wait for her next one! Perfect Lies is a perfect companion to Mind Games, and I recommend the series to anyone who's loved her stuff before! (But I do recommend reading these two books back to back because of Reasons.)

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Secret for a Song by S.K. Falls

Pages: 206

Genre: Contemporary/Psychological

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Createspace

Release Date: May 31, 2013
UPDATE: The book has been bought by a literary agent so it's no longer available. When it re releases though you guys need to get it and read it!

Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.Then she meets Drew Dean, the leader of a local support group for those with terminal diseases. When he mistakes her for a new member, Saylor knows she should correct him. But she can’t bring herself to, not after she’s welcomed into a new circle of friends. Friends who, like Drew, all have illnesses ready to claim their independence or their lives. For the first time, Saylor finds out what it feels like to be in love, to have friends who genuinely care about her. But secrets have a way of revealing themselves. What will happen when Saylor’s is out?

After seeing this floating around the blogosphere for a while, I caved and asked the author for a review copy. And was it a good idea? Yes.

At first I was a bit wary because I've heard of this type of psychological syndrome before and I've never understood it. I got that people wanted attention sometimes, especially from absent parents, but I could never fathom how people could hurt themselves, make themselves sick, when others who were naturally sick were trying desperately to live their normal life or become better.
So it wasn't really a surprise that I hated Saylor at first. She didn't seem to understand the people around her, and her hurting herself--for attention, no less--irritated me to no ends. She had a sick fascination and all she wanted was attention, bad or not. She wanted to be noticed, and I loathed that, not to mention that she faked a terminal illness just to feel "special".

Saylor also developed as a character throughout the book, but it was so gradual I almost didn't notice. She starts to learn about the people behind the diseases, and how horrible it is, being sick. She starts realizing that maybe there are things more important than attention--much more important. She grew on me, and I honestly didn't realize it until her world fell apart and my heart just started hurting for her.

Falls clearly did a lot of research on not only Munchausen Syndrome, but all the other diseases mentioned, and it definitely seemed like she knew what she was talking about (but I'm no medical professional!) Not only that, she managed to delve into the mind of a teen with Munchausen and create a realistically portrayed character with it. No matter how annoying she was at first.

All the secondary characters were all amazing and I loved each individually, but we have to focus on Drew. He was absolutely sweet and adorable. And it was deja vu all over again with The Fault In Our Stars. Knowing that the YA love interest you're falling in love with has a disease that'll eventually kill him? It's horrible and bittersweet, especially when you feel like you're invested in their romance. The two just seemed to compliment each others' personalities and how they reacted around each other was just too sweet for words.

At the end of this novel, I actually couldn't read the last two pages because tears were rolling down my face and blurring my vision. I'm not even kidding. Secret for a Song is heartbreaking, but hopeful, and it leaves us with an open ending, giving us just a little bit of hope for our characters. Gorgeously written, beautiful, and lyrical, Secret for a Song is one I have to recommend. And will likely shove in your face should you mention standalones or contemporaries.

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My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

Goodreads Blurb

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?
Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.

I'm a contemporary girl and if there's a book that'll make me cry or laugh, I'm going to read it. So when I heard about My Life After Now...well I was intrigued! The synopsis was a bit vague so I was curious--and when Ashley recommended it, I decided to grab a copy. I just didn't know how much I'd fall in love with the story!

The most prominent thing about My Life After Now is that it focuses on HIV, something that hasn't really been done before. Sure, we learn about HIV in health, but it never really stuck. Reading about a character, who we're attached to, go through it? That's a different matter and it was brilliant how Verdi wrote about it, giving us not only a heartbreaking story, but also giving us a warning and a lesson.
You can tell how well researched this is and her portrayal of how quickly everything can change was heartbreaking. Suddenly Lucy isn't just worrying about her absent-no-longer mom, or her tool of a boyfriend--now she's wondering how long she'll live, how she can possibly lead a normal life, and how people will ever love her again knowing her secret.

Lucy was such a strong and real character who didn't try to let anyone hurt her, though she did have her moments. She's been hurt again and again, but she rarely lets it get to her. And when she gets HIV, she's determined to keep it a secret from her parents, her friends, and everyone around her. While it wasn't the best decision, you have to admire her for trying to live out a normal life, despite everything that's happened.
All the characters, minor or major, were so well written and they all seemed to build Lucy up, even if they'd wanted to tear her down. It's beautiful how well Jessica Verdi was able to reflect the situation in My Life After Now and I can't deny that I shed a few tears throughout the book.

Romance takes a backseat in this story and instead we focus more on the relationships--before and after HIV. The relationships, like pretty much everything else in the book, are beautifully written, and I couldn't help but love most of the people around her.
Unlike most books, the parents play a big role in this book. Her mom ran away after giving birth to Lucy, leaving her with her dad and, later on, Papa, her other dad. And then right when things are already going downhill, her mom shows up, adding more stress than needed. Her dads were wonderful parents who supported, cared, and loved Lucy to no end and I loved their heartfelt dynamic.
Her relationships with her school friends become strained, though they don't know about HIV yet, and I hurt for Lucy. Then there was Evan, the love interest in this story--I absolutely loved him. He was sweet and cute, and loved Lucy. And, of course for other reasons. But you'll just have to read it for yourself!

Real, beautiful, and hopeful, My Life After Now gives us a story filled with dreams, tears, and a despair that makes you think about how quickly your life can turn around and how you'd respond to such terrifying news. It's a story of how one mistake can break you, but how it could build you up too. My Life After Now is a must read emotional rollercoaster that gives you a story you'll never forget.

Pages: 287

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Rating: 7/5 stars

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Goodreads Blurb

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 
Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 
But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

I was a little bit wary jumping into Crash Into You. Of course I loved Pushing the Limits--I just wasn't the biggest fan of Dare You To. But then I realized I just didn't like it, mainly because I hated Beth for both being bitchy to Echo and hurting Isaiah.

ISAIAH!

I have now decided to start my review with Isaiah. Because he is, quite honestly, my favorite of all the guys in this series. I honestly don't think anyone pulls off that tough-but-secretly-sweet persona as wonderfully as Isaiah because he's just so...absolutely...broken. I've been in love with him since PTL, and after we see him over and over, even more hurt and destroyed than before...it practically killed me. And then I sort of fell in love with him even more throughout this book. How was that even possible?

And Rachel. Rachel! I loved that girl! She made my heart hurt, guys. She tried to be the perfect daughter for her family, she tried to remodel herself after her dead sister for her mom who wants her to be Colleen's replacement, but she was practically smothering herself, trying to be someone who was her opposite. And it hurt that it seemed like everyone in her family just encouraged her to keep a smile on her mom's face, damn the consequences. I can't even imagine how that would feel.
But she was still sweet. And she was strong in a different sort of way. She was perfect for Isaiah and I just loved how they acted around each other.

Yes, the romance was insta lovey. But it worked! Their chemistry was a steady burn that was enchanting and the way they balanced each out was wonderful. Rachel pulled Isaiah from the brink and Isaiah helped Rachel be herself--it was beautiful and their relationship just seemed so heartfelt that I couldn't help but adore.

But the best thing about this book was that it wasn't purely a romance. There was a thrilling feel to it as they raced against a clock to pay back a certain not-so-friendly friend. I didn't really know how it'd play out, but I definitely wasn't expecting the end! (I think I almost died at the end). Also, Katie McGarry is either a genius with cars or she did some hardcore research. Or I'm just an idiot when if comes to cars.

And all our characters are back! Our wily old counselor, Noah, Echo, Beth, Ryan, Logan (and he plays a rather large role too.) all made an appearance and I couldn't help but love it. I may have warmed up to Beth too, which is sort of surprising.
New characters are introduced too though, and I think Abby is my abortive secondary character ever. Do we get a spin off on her too? She's sarcastic and surprisingly kind, despite her tough shell, which I guess isn't surprised since she grew up in an environment possibly worse than Isaiah. But you can't help but love her--pretty much like everything else in the book!

Crash Into You was an enthralling read that I managed to finish in a day! It didn't disappoint and it's definitely my favorite of all the books. So all I can say? Read it. 

Pages: 474

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Pushing the Limits #3

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: Nov 26, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

The Program by Suzanne Young

Goodreads Blurb

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Oh. My. Freaking. God. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT. Oh my God. You guys. WHY ARE YOU HERE. LEAVE ME TO MOURN IN PEACE.
Oh. Right.
I have to write a review.
I am in an emotional crisis here, but I'll see what I can whip up. It's nowhere near the amazingness of this book though.

So I just have to point out that I was already tearing up in the first place. Young has a way of writing a beautiful yet completely horrible atmosphere and having us connect to some characters immediately--all the better for when she rips them away from us.  Oh God the feels guys! I can not tell you how absolutely heartbreaking and...and...ugh!

This world was so hopeless too. I was in the depths of despair at times and felt on top of the world at others. I can believe how the US would call suicide an epidemic, but I find it a bit stupid that they never realized that having their friends taken and returned as a blank state was what drove them to depression and that the government never decided to "research" this so called disease. So I guess it was a bit weak, but The Program and how it operated was truly...unbelievable. A third of our book is in The Program (YES, Sloane ends up in The Program!) and it was horrifying watching Sloane's memories slowly slip away...just one by one--and she never noticed.

The plot was the absolute best. We get a few flashbacks and in Sloane's "therapy sessions" she talks about such sweet memories--so when they repeat, it just..Breaks. Your. Heart. I'm not even kidding. I practically died in the last part of The Program.
I think the best about the plot was that we got to see it from before, during, and after The Program--it made everything so much better since there wasn't a typical "Where and who am I?" type of dystopian.
That's not to say there weren't twists though. Because there absolutely were and they absolutely killed me. Every. Damn. Time. Sometimes I was expecting something...but it still gutted me whenever it actually did happen.

And the romance. Oh my God. Too adorable. Too adorable. There was a small love triangle, but it's obvious who Sloane was going to pick--but it added a lot to the story, and I did love our other guy anyways. But James was the absolute best--he tried to always be there for her, but he was also a sarcastic jerk, but unbelievably sweet too. He was so...perfect for Sloane. And their love was just...ugh. THE FEELS. I absolutely adored the romance and how they were never really separated--talk about Romeo and Juliet!

The Program is an absolute to die for dystopian that basically pierced my heart with every sentence. I was completely shell shocked and completely heartbroken. This book actually gave me my first real book hangover and I couldn't read anything at all for 3 days after! (Well, I did, but it all paled in comparison...so forgive me, you poor books.) This is an absolutely, positively must read. Seriously. I will haunt y'all until you read it.

I will be here for you when you sink into despair at the end.

BECAUSE HOLY CRAP, THE END.

Pages: 408
Genre: Dystopian
Series: The Program #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Rating: TEN FREAKING STARS FOREVER

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Goodreads Blurb

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Honestly, going into this, I wasn't really sure I would love this. Yes, it sounded awesome and yes, it sounded like my kind of book. But I was in a giant book slump at the time and wasn't particularly loving anything I'd read. So of course This Song Will Save Your Life managed to break that funk!

The first chapter absolutely broke my heart and I swear there was something in my throat. Not only because I couldn't help but hurt for Elise, but also because...well. There's a scene in which Elise joins a group of friends for lunch and they...well they have all these inside stories, inside jokes and don't really bother to clue Elise in. And at the end of lunch? They do an inside thing and Elise, clueless, ends up being the one that picks up the trash. Literally. And honestly? This can almost perfectly reflect last year--and I was one of those friends. One of those that neglected this girl who sat with us at lunch. (I don't think she was bullied, but I know she was avoided because...well, she was obnoxious and started rumors about herself. I'm not trying to justify myself, but now...I think she just wanted attention. Just. Like. Elise.)

So I can pretty much vouch that the voice in this story is real. Everything that happens? I'm sure it's been played out somewhere. It's heartbreaking, but something that you can't help but relate to.
Because you can relate to the story, or at least Elise. She's alone, she doesn't belong, and she feels outcasted, lost. And I'm sure everyone's felt that way one time or another. I have a core group of friends--but there are so many times when I felt like Elise, like no one understood me and never would. And I'll admit I've thought about suicide once in a while. And now...I'm getting personal. So on with the review!

It was easy to feel for her and easy to understand where she came from. I may not be playing her role in the story of my school, but I can't help but hurt for her and cry for her. She's such a real character and one that just hits close to home. She's annoying at times, you can't help but love her other times, and sometimes it's just a mix of both. And that's the beauty of her. She's so flawed and I'm almost a hundred percent sure that there's a bit of her in everyone.

And we got to see her grow as a character, as a person. We see her on her new adventure, her new life. It's uplifting and, once in a while, hilarious. We meet the people who help her along the way, and the ones who'll try to tear her down. And in the end, we get an ending that's just...perfect.

This Song Will Save Your Life is an absolute must read for anyone and everyone. Even if it doesn't sound like your book--you have to read it. Somehow Leila Sales manages to reach into you and twist your heart. It's just...one of those books everyone has to read.

Pages: 288

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Release Date: Sep 17, 2013

Rating: 10/5 stars

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Goodreads Blurb

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

In all honesty, Fangirl didn't sound like my kind of book. But after reading Eleanor and Park, of course I had to give it a try. I mean, with all the feels I had then...well Fangirl was bound to give those feels too right?

Yes. Yes it was.

Cath was such a real and complicated character. She's, quite possibly, the most relatable character I've read in quite a while. Cath's one of the ultimate fangirls, something we book nerds can definitely relate to. But it's not just that. She, like so many other characters, is trying to find who she is without her sister, her twin. She's trying to figure out her life and watching her grow as a character was so heartwarming. She dealt with familial issues, romantic issues, academic issues, but throughout it all she tried to keep her head up and her shoulders back. She made her mistakes and she tried to fix them without losing herself, something that was way harder than she expected. And she was awkward so many times. She was (as we bloggers so often say) a brilliantly flawed character.

And then. There were our other characters. They were all so well written and so...well I'm going to use that word again. They were so real. And seeing how they helped Cath along their way, how they each showed her different things, it was, well, enlightening. And it was so realistically written and so well done, I couldn't help but fall in love with their story.

Levi was by far my favorite character (I think I love him more than Cass actually!) He was so adorable and so sweet. He made me want to strangle him when he made some...not so smart decisions, but he always redeemed himself in the end. I couldn't help but fall in love with this sweet, unbelievably flawed boy who's lanky and tall and goes out of his way to make everyone, from babies to the elderly, feel special. He's officially made it to my list of Top Ten YA Boyfriends. And my friend, that's something very hard to accomplish.

There's something about the way Rowell writes her stories. They have a simple concept, but the way she writes them makes the story flourish into something that's hilarious and heartbreaking in a way that can only be described as subtly sad. The writing is beautiful and gorgeous and so Rowell.

To sum up the review in one sentence? I fangirled over Fangirl. It's enthralling and it's so raw and it shows how we fanatics are! It's sweet and hilarious, yet heartbreaking at the same time. While it's not a perfect book, the flaws make it as amazing as it's characters and it's a book that you can't stop from falling in love with. It's stunning and endearing and something I absolutely must recommend!

FANGIRL WITH ME.

Pages: 405

Genre: Contemporary/NA

Series: Standalone

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: Sep 10, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Goodreads Blurb
Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.
After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?
In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice.

Oh my God, How to Love definitely surprised me with how much I loved it! I was so excited to start this due to all my friends' love and gushing over this book, that I was a bit afraid it would fall flat--thank God it didn't!

I was definitely pulled in the moment I saw the synopsis. Usually these kinds of books aren't really my thing--but I'm a romantic at heart and I definitely believe in second chances. I was dying to know exactly how everything would turn out and desperate for the happy ending I was praying would happen. But my lips are sealed and you'll just have to suffer through this absolutely beautiful book to find out what happens and what happened "Before".

And I really loved how Katie Cotugno wrote How to Love. With "Before" and "After" sections, we get to compare and contrast how each character has changed, and how they're still changing. It was definitely fascinating seeing these alternating points in time all stemming from a moment where everything started changing. I loved getting the backstory and I loved watching both of them fall in love twice. In different ways, in different times, but still falling in love!

The biggest thing about this was that while it didn't really make me sob like a baby, it brought out so many emotions that literally hurt my heart (or, at least my chest. My chest hurt.) It was just like a buildup of emotions until I could barely breathe--oh, the feels! It's a raw story that Cotugno writes, and a hard one to write to, but she pulled it off with a flourish and just made me fall in love with her story and her characters.

Oh, the characters. There are no words that could really describe them or why I loved them. They were just such perfectly, beautifully flawed characters that I could find myself in in so many little gestures. They were so real and so fleshed out, I feel as if thousands of people are going to be able to see themselves in this book. We can't help but fall in love with each of them and we can't help but wish we could hide them from any harm. But we can't because in every page, there's some kind of raw pain there, some kind of little kink that makes everything fall just a little more apart.
I absolutely loved Reena's voice, the mistakes she made, the hurt she tried to keep buried, and the facade she tried to maintain until it finally burst. It was...heart wrenching.
Sawyer was just someone I felt like I should hate but couldn't help love. He tries to do the best he can, but sometimes it just isn't...enough, and I hated whenever he got hurt. I really just wanted to cuddle them both and never let go.

How to Love is an absolutely tragic, compelling story of what it's like to let go, and what it's like to hold on. It's brilliant and wonderful, something everyone should read. It's a perfect book about not-so-perfect people with a not-so-perfect relationship that's definitely going to hit home with most readers. Gorgeous writing, lush characters, and a heartbreakingly beautiful romance, what else can you do but read it and love it?

Pages: 320

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Oct 1, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Goodreads Blurb

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 
Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.
In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

I had absolutely no idea how much I absolutely loved this. Seriously. Look at my tweets.
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345205363882196994
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345204604650283008
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345200520987828227
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345197273782816768
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345190705213362176
And there were a ton more actually. But they're all pretty much the same.

Walking in, I was a bit skeptical since there were more than enough mixed reviews to make me a bit anxious. But I really shouldn't have worried! Mind Games absolutely blew my mind--and that's a complete understatement.

For a Sci-fi/Supernatural book, Mind Games definitely has some of the most broken characters I've met. They were all so fleshed out--though I do wish we met more "students" besides are heartbreaking sisters and Eden (Annie's friend).
Fia was by far my favorite of the two sisters. She was loyal, smart, and she didn't have to depend on her perfect instinct all the time. She knew what she had to do, when she had to do it, and knew what was unreasonable. I loved her stubborn nature, but her bitterness just broke my heart clean in two. She sacrificed so much for Annie and it definitely wasn't without consequences. She was the broken one, the one that needed saving--but how do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?
Annie, while not a bad character, just didn't click with me as well as Fia. She was so much more...rude, I guess, and I don't think she fully understood exactly how much Fia was sacrificing and exactly what she needed.

As for the romance, we don't really focus on it, but I adored James so much. He cared so much about Fia and knew exactly what to do and say to comfort her. He may have been an asshole, but he's a sweet one who has all the traits of an arrogant, swoony, love interest.
There's no romance for Annie yet, but I'm pretty sure Adam is her guy. We don't really learn much about him, but he's a very...interesting character.
Kiersten  White did a brilliant job creating characters who matched our heroines personality perfectly. Fia had someone who she could find comfort in, but could understand her pain, while I feel like Adam's cheery personality would definitely help Annie start accepting the fact that she couldn't protect her sister 24/7 and that her little sister's already so much more grown up than herself.

The plot was wonderfully paced and while, I realized suddenly, nothing much happens, you just can't help but get addicted to the pages, and just keep on reading. There's something about the way White writes that just pulls you straight in until the end--where you're still going to be begging for more. What does happen keeps me on my toes though and it definitely sets up the sequel wonderfully! I can absolutely NOT wait!

I absolutely loved how Kiersten White chose to tell this story too. We alternate between the past and the present so that we get to fall in love with our characters from the beginning as well as understand them a bit more. It really is heartbreaking how they evolved into the people they were now.

My only complaint is that I would've loved more plot and more focus on their gifts and how they got them, but that's really about it--it didn't affect my reading enjoyment at all!

Stunning, beautiful, and absolutely breathtaking, Kiersten White lives up to her expectations with Mind Games! Heartbreaking characters, a kickass plot, and enchanting writing, I'm not quite sure how this book isn't loved by everyone!

Pages: 237
Genre: Sci-fi/Supernatural
Series: Mind Games #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: Feb 19, 2013
Rating: 7/5 Stars

Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider

Goodreads Blurb

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes? 

***THE TITLE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING AND THE COVER HAS CHANGED AS WELL.***

Oh my gosh. I have absolutely no words for this. Like, none. At all.

...

Okay, so maybe I have many a few words. 

"I still think that everyone’s life, no matter how unremarkable, has a singular tragic encounter after which everything that really matters will happen."

I absolutely adored The Beginning of Everything (though I did love it's old title so much more). I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading, but it certainly wasn't this. There were a lot of tragedies that we faced in this novel and this book hurt. Not in the way that makes me sob, or the one that makes me feel like I just got stabbed. The words just flowed under my skin and it was a dull ache, the kind that hangs in the back of your mind. There's a lot of philosophical thought in this and I could instantly relate to the sayings. It shows how each event can all be traced to a turning point, how everyone ends up linked in one way or another, and how different the world can look when you just change your perspective. 

"That moment is the catalyst—the first step in the equation. But knowing the first step will get you nowhere—it’s what comes after that determines the result."

The story itself was beyond beautiful too. And yet, so incredibly tragic! I did expect part of the big twist--but the other? It completely broke my heart. I didn't expect it at all and it...oh my gosh. Cassidy...I couldn't blame her for much really. As much as I sometimes wanted to shake her, she had good reasons, undeniably sad ones, but still reasons. I adored Cassidy though. She had a lot on her shoulders, and she bore it, until she just couldn't. But she was a quirky, fun type of girl who had that sarcastic wit we love. At the same time, though, she understood things that people usually don't. She was a complex character who was just perfect. Or, perfectly flawed, rather. 

Ezra was a flawed character too, in a different way. He had a habit of running away, something I don't think he really noticed until it was pointed out. But he had a snarky attitude that matched Cassidy's perfectly, and I loved that!

"I leaned over and placed the crown of flowers onto her head, letting my hands linger in her hair just a moment more than was necessary."

The romance was so sweet and so deep. You could immediately tell the difference between their slow burn compared to the quick flare of high school romances. But theirs was, from the start, a tragedy. It was a heartfelt kind of love and one that made me smile at every scene. It was clear they understood each other on a different level. Things were real with these two and you just hoped that it would work itself out! 

"We move through each other’s lives like ghosts, leaving behind haunting memories of people who never existed."

Here are two things I agree with regarding the book-

1) This story truly is about the Beginning of Everything. Can't elaborate on that without spoilers though!

And

2) There've been comparisons of this book to John Green's book--and I can agree with that in full confidence. The Beginning of Everything was sad and comical, touching and funny, and all around stunning. Fans of his will definitely love this book. Because, in the end, it's a book about loss and how to deal with it.

P.s. My only complaint was that what the epilogue hinted at was a bit far fetched to me and I didn't like it. Also, the beginning was a tad slow.

P.p.s. Sorry if you had to suffer through all the philosophical stuff. But, I had to. The only way to write a review of a book like that is to write a review like this.  

Pages: 368
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Rating: 5 stars

White Lines by Jennifer Banash

Goodreads Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream: she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control. 

I never am good with gritty books, really. I honestly find it completely ridiculous how characters in these books run run away, do drugs, or just become antisocial because of their troubles. But then, I'm so young I barely know anything about real problems. I think this book made me rethink my stand on this. My thoughts on the ridiculousness, that is.

White Lines...it's one of those books that, while isn't literary-perfect, it still manages to pull on you somewhat. Cat's hasn't had the easiest life. Her mother abused her, her father doesn't seem to care, and she's practically alone in the world. All she knows now is partying, but how far is she willing to go for a little thrill that only holds empty promises?

I'll definitely give it to Banash, she knows how to capture the gritty world of downtown. Almost everything is messed up and throughout the book, things are just slowly, slowly, spiraling down for Cat. She's not a smart character and she copes with her problems in the worst ways possible. She's completely f*cked up, and she has her ups and downs. She's so shockingly real. She tries to cope, and tries to escape, and that's a bit familiar, isn't it? Giovanni, Alexa, everyone. They may not be model characters, but they were fleshed out well enough.

I almost never talk about the writing style, but I have to. It was just gorgeous. The prose told the story beautifully and it was easy to understand. It was stunning writing and I definitely love Jennifer Banash's style. There's just a certain feel to it that makes you fall in love.

The plot was slow at times, though, and I almost put it down maybe halfway in? It definitely got more interesting later on for me, and I was aching to know how this sad story would end. And...wow, did it end. It almost felt too...not fitting. How (SPOILER. SORT OF) everything just fell into a sort of happy ever after. (END)

The romance also seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't seem to really...advance the plot as much as I thought it should've. So there was that.

All in all, I'd recommend it for fans of historical fiction, especially Out of the Easy by Ruta Septys, or Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith if you've had the luck of reading that early!

Pages: 304
Genre: Historical/Contemporary
Series: Stand alone
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: April 4, 2013
Rating: 3.5 -->4 stars