Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Pages: 336

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Mar 18, 2014

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you? 
When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.
Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most? 

(Review is marked with the slight snark stamp)

Let me be totally honest here--I was unbelievably excited for Side Effects May Vary. I was ecstatic when I got a review copy. I was practically in love with the synopsis before I ever saw the cover. And then it went ahead and, well, disappointed me.

Side Effects went off with a bang, I'll give it that, but things slowly started to go downhill from there.

The absolute first thing that irritated me was Alice. She was, frankly, a huge bitch and I couldn't see why anyone would like her. Sympathize, yes. But like? That was sort of a stretch for me.
She was a bitch to everyone around her and I'm not surprised she didn't have friends. I mean, I guess you could call her "flawed", but that didn't really excuse her for all the terrible things she did. (Yes, I know Luke was terrible and that Celeste and Mindi were terrible to you, but seriously? Then again they did some pretty extreme stuff too.) I think Harvey and his friends were the only decent teen characters in this book, in all honesty, and his friends didn't even really seem that well written.

Harvey, I'm not sure if I loved or what, though I'm leaning towards love. He was sweet, adorable, caring, and undeniably real. I loved that he actually tried to get past his love for Alice instead of pining after her like some lovesick puppy, but the thing is...he sort of just let her walk all over him and just sort of adored her for it. He would never stay angry at her, and while that was sweet, it just felt so weak of him to do that, but can you argue with a man in (puppy) love?

Another thing I wasn't really happy with, but didn't mind so much, was the way the story was told with alternating "Then" and "Now" chapters. Typically, I'm okay with that. In fact, I love it. But there was not set rhythm to them and we'd have maybe five "Then" chapters and two "Now" chapters or something, along with two POVs.

But, you know, as bad as I think I make it sound, Side Effects May Vary wasn't a completely terrible book, and I actually liked some of it. Alice did have her good and kind moments, though they were rare, but those parts redeemed her, if only a little. The story itself though was amazing and heartwarming and there were so many bits of it that just sort of stuck with  me--I just couldn't really get over Alice herself and the way Harvey just let himself be used.

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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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Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Pages: 240

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Life. Death. And...Love?
Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.
But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.
Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.
Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

I've been dying for Heartbeat since about June last year. It sounded sweet, it sounded heartbreaking, and I'm always one for a good girl/bad boy romance and contemporary standalone. And I tried to love the book, I really did. But I couldn't get past the hypocrisy and annoying character and thoughtless actions, no matter how much I wanted to love this story.

My main problem with the story was Emma. I just felt like she was so hypocritical when she kept going on and on about how Dan (her stepfather) didn't know what her mom would want while, at the same time, saying how her mother wouldn't have wanted this then going to "Well she can't do/say anything now. She's dead." It just made me want to slap her because how could she not realize how much pain Dan was going through? What made me want to slap her even more was that she hurt Dan as much as she could. Of course she couldn't just ignore him right? She had to give him even more grief about keeping his own son alive. 

I didn't really get her side. I did sort of understand how painful it must've been, but I just didn't understand why the hell she would think her mom would want the baby she sacrificed herself for to die? How could she think her mother would want the child to die and how could she think it was selfish of Dan to want to keep his son, her brother, alive. It made me so angry that she wanted the baby to die (at a certain point) and then suddenly contradict herself. Or at least, that's how it seemed to me.
There were times Emma seemed like an okay character, but that wasn't very often and she really just annoyed me.

The romance was...interesting. So I wasn't quite the biggest fan of it because I felt like it was really rushed--but I do think that for such a short story that it was pretty well paced, though I still wasn't wholly satisfied by it.

Despite all my misgivings though, Heartbeat seems to be a pretty well loved novel and the feel of the novel is actually pretty New Adult, so if you're a fan of NA, I definitely think this could be one of your next favorites!

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Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Pages: 320

Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller

Series: Fire & Flood #1

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: Feb 25, 2014

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Fire and Flood was one of my more anticipated reads of 2014, so getting a review copy was a dream come true. And after loving The Collector so much, well, my expectations were pretty high (especially after hearing how amazing Pandoras were.)

Tella was quirky. That's the best way to describe her at first. She had that certain quality to her that reminded me of Scott's former heroine, Charlie, something that made you love her and all her awkward faults--which slowly start to fade the longer she's in the Brimstone Bleed. Tella hardens, strengthens, but still manages to maintain that compassion and kindness that made you love her throughout the race. Her sheer will made her even more endearing.

I got completely attached to all the characters--Victoria Scott just somehow manages to make us fall in love with them (every single one of them), despite their sheer numbers. All of them had their own personalities and quirks (though none quite like Tella) and I adored all of them. In the end, they were all there, risking their lives to save someone they loved. Even the antagonist who was amazingly well written in the most evil, disgusting, and twisted way was fighting for someone (I'm assuming) and it made me a bit more sympathetic towards them. A bit.

There was romance in Fire and Flood but it was pretty slight and a bit rushed in my opinion--or, not rushed, but pretty sudden. I loved it though, especially because I had no idea that our love interest was the love interest and because, well, he was pretty badass. He was pretty awesome and swoony, if not hardened and a little...aloof.

The storyline was absolutely thrilling and exciting and I was always wincing whenever I felt like our characters were in trouble. Or, you know, were going to die. The author is pretty ruthless with readers' feelings and I felt like I died several deaths. There were a lot of unexpected twists that broke my heart or made me cheer and what I found amazing was that the Brimstone Bleed...well, it wasn't over. And now I can't say anything or else I'm going to squeal all over this review and spoil everything.

The Brimstone Bleed was a seriously original plot line/setting and I loved the story and the history behind it that made everything all the more interesting and cutthroat. It was a bit predictable, I guess, but it's truly original.
My favorite part of the whole story was definitely the Pandoras and I have an unnatural love of foxes now. The Pandoras were as diverse as the characters and I loved how all their talents pushed the plot along. Talk about creativity!

Fire and Flood was a brilliant read that was exciting, amazing, and is definitely one of a kind. It's, dare I say, a better version of The Hunger Games and I absolutely adored it. So the question of "Is it worth the read?" Answer: Yes. 

P.S. THE PANDORAS!!!

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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

Broken by CJ Lyons

Pages: 336

Genre: Contemporary/Thriller

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: Nov 5, 2013

The only thing fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has ever wanted is a chance at a normal life. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, she has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. So when her parents offer her three days to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now... or never. Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But this high school is far from normal. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does.

Short review since it's a DNF (Did Not Finish)

Oh God, when I first heard about this I was so unbelievably excited! I love these kind of stories that always seem to be a tearjerker and a thriller all in one, the ones that have that bit of mystery that just enthralls you. And I was so very curious about her disease.
Yet, this fell flat for me. I'm not sure whether it was because I was in a book slump or what, but this book just disappointed me.

I got about 50% in before I gave up and marked it DNF. Maybe I should've gone a little farther, but I wasn't the biggest fan of what I'd read so far. While the premise and the storyline was decent and probably thrilling, the way it was executed just didn't live up to its potential. Instead of having us gather clue by clue to piece the puzzle together, we were given giant pieces of obvious information that ruined the plot twist at the end. It came out as predictable and note very well written like I was so desperately hoping.

Another thing was the cliche of it. There were so many things that started to get on my nerves. On the first day of school, she happens to meet two sweet guys, make two friends, become a target of the most popular people in school, and gets this private information that no one seems to want to remember. Beginner's luck? Not to mention there was a love triangle--can you even call it that? I felt like our character was so desperate for some high school action she was instantly attracted to the guys who treated her normally. Which I guess I can understand, but not something I really wanted to see in this book since I categorize it as insta-love.

I really couldn't get into this book. The characters were a bit inconsistent for me and I was a bit annoyed by the giant hints sprinkled everywhere like cacti in a cacti farm (don't know why I picked cacti.) That's not to say that Broken didn't have its good points either though!

The premise really was amazing and just because it wasn't for me doesn't necessarily mean it isn't for you! While the plot twist was rather predictable, it does have a unique spin on it that makes you question yourself once in a while too, so maybe you will love it!

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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

Revelations by J.A. Souders

Goodreads Blurb

Six weeks ago, Evelyn Winters was locked away in Elysium, a city hidden miles beneath the sea, brainwashed into submission. With the help of Gavin, she fought free of her captors and the fog in her own mind. He took her back with him to the Surface, a world she's never known. Now she will begin a new life. 
But her past is closer than she thinks...

Revelations was one of my more anticipated books of 2013, since I loved Renegade so much! And with the ending of Renegade? Hell yes I wanted to get my hands on this.

Diving right into the review, I found that while I did miss the world of Elysium, Mother always chasing at our characters' heels, Revelations was intriguing and chilling in it's own way--just in a different way than Renegade's. We're introduced to the Surface which we now know for sure is a futuristic world and seeing Souders perform her worldbuilding magic here too was stunning. There are certain bits of Renegade and Revelations you can see sort of reflect each other and it was unbelievably fun figuring it out as you went along.

The number one thing I loved about Revelations was how bits and pieces of Renegade, of Elysium, would sneak into Evie's brain. She would say something that we could recognize immediately or she would do something that she'd done before. I always did love amnesia stories--but knowing everything our character's forgotten? I never realized how much the anticipation can kill you! You just keep hoping, waiting, for her to remember everything. And does she?

Evie is a rather fascinating character, even with her memories gone. In some ways, she's more innocent before, without her memories of bloodshed and escape, but we can clearly see the wear on tear on her with not remembering anything. (At times, I just wanted to shove Renegade in her hands and tell her to read anything--but of course I couldn't do that.) Evie is still a fabulous character though. While she could be called a damsel in distress character, her personality just drew her as a strong and independent character--not quite the DID after all.

We are introduced to a new character--Asher. I'll admit, I was completely worried about a love triangle at first. After all, two hot guys? And Evie's traveling with both of them while having a ton of alone time with Asher? Oh yes, I was wary. But REST ASSURED. There's no love triangle here--instead we get a brother like figure who would do anything for Evie--just not quite the same way as Gavin.
Speaking of Gavin, we would get little bits and pieces from his POV and it was rather fascinating putting it all together. His relationship with Evie was absolutely adorable and you could see how fiercely they loved each other, and how desperate Gavin was to keep Evie safe.

The plot was absolutely thrilling. I was always anxious to find out what would happen next and there are some undeniably creepy things that go on. It turns out the world of Elysium hasn't changed much--and Mother? She's still as psychotic as ever, and still the perfect villain. We learn more about Evie's past, and just a bit more about Mother. And the ending? Oh God.
J.A. Souders writes a heart pounding plot in Revelations, making it almost as action packed as Renegade while also introducing us to the new addition to Evie and Gavin's little duo.

Not suffering from Sequel Syndrome at all, Revelations is a brilliant book to continue the series! I'm dying to read the third one and anxious to find out what's next for our characters in their world. A seriously amazing series, I can't stop recommending this to everyone!

Pages: 352

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Renegade #2

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: Nov 5, 2013
Rating: 4.5 stars

The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

Goodreads Blurb

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.
At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.
The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.
If they play it right, then they'll be safe.
But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

Woah, guys, woah. I'm definitely impressed with The Dollhouse Asylum and my mind is kind of blown.

The Dollhouse Asylum got off to a pretty rocky start because Cheyenne just irritated me so much. She created all these excuses for Teo when everyone kept telling her, warning her, about him. She was so lovesick and naive I wanted to slap her out of her love induced stupor, but I have to hand it to Mary Gray--she sure knew how to write a character infatuated. Thankfully Cheyenne wised up pretty early on though. She drove the story on and was clever enough to dissuade Teo from...well you'll see. She grew on me as a character, though she was still moldable and pretty easily distracted.

Teo was definitely my favorite character, as psycho as he is. He's a complex character with layers upon layers, and it was fascinating watching him come undone. He loved in a sick and creepy way, but he didn't know any different. He did what he did for Cheyenne and it was a sort of a twisted sweetness. And in the end...well he broke my heart and I sort of cried for him. In the end, he just wanted to love and be loved by Cheyenne, build a perfect world for her--with his own dark desires mixed in.

I didn't really understand Cleo's part in all this though. Her personality, the "slut" of the story, didn't really drive the plot on in any way, except to be that typical mean girl with the gorgeous face. She made Cheyenne jealous when she flirted with Marc...but that was about it.
And speaking of Marc, the romance between him and Cheyenne was a bit ridiculous and I feel like the story would've been so much better if they'd stayed friends without the underdeveloped chemistry between them.

But the plot was...wow. My favorite part of the entire book, it was unexpected, shocking, and wonderfully horrible. The story just hooks you in and traps you in it's web of deaths, realizations, and revelations. It was fast paced and didn't let you breathe at all until the book finished and, like I said, I sort of teared up at the end. Stop looking at me like that! I honestly didn't expect it at all and it hurts every time I think about it.

While a bit awkward in the beginning, The Dollhouse Asylum gets better and better until it's full-blown amazing and a book I have to recommend for fans of psychological thrillers, dystopians, and basically anything that'll break your brain. It's one you should definitely read and one I can't stop recommending!

Pages: 296

Genre: Contemporary/Romance

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: Oct 22, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Blackout by Robison Wells

Goodreads Blurb

Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.
Jack and Aubrey are high school students.
There was no reason for them to ever meet.
But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all.

Blackout was a bit disappointing, I'll admit, but it was still a good read! 

A couple of chapters into the book, all teens are being collected by the army and tested for the Erebus virus, a virus that seems to alter a teen's brain growth and give them supernatural powers, some useless, some dangerous, but each with the risk of other disease-like symptoms such as fatigue, kidney failure, brittle bones, etc. And...that's really all we learn about the virus. The basics. As a person who holds worldbuilding above pretty much anything else, I was disappointed by the fact that we don't learn much more about this virus. I suspect we'll learn more in the sequel, but this first book felt more like an introduction most of the book until the halfway point.

Because that's where things get kickass. This book made me think "Crap" way too many times and there were so many times I wanted to crush something. And I mean that in a good way. Wells definitely built the suspense, but the subplots were so quickly resolved that it got a bit annoying and there were definitely a lot of filler chapters that didn't seem to add anything, though that may just be because this book seemed to flash by in 2 seconds! It was definitely an intriguing plot, though, that neatly sets the scene for the sequel which is definitely going to be amazing. I can just feel it.

I'm not a giant fan of the 2+ switching POV kind of books, and I'm afraid this was no exception. While each character clearly had a distinct personality, but we never really got to know the characters that well because of the switching POV and the third person view. It was one of the better 2+ POV books I've read, though, and I loved to read from Aubrey's view the best! Plus? Her power was super cool.

The romance was also a bit..quick considering Aubrey had "betrayed" Jack before and the fact that they fell back into their old rhythm in only a day wasn't very...believable. 

But Blackout sounds perfect for people who've read and loved Robison Wells's Variant series! It wasn't a favorite of mine, but it was definitely an entertaining read that was a fun adventure! 

Pages: 352

Genre: Apocalyptic/Sci-fi

Series: Blackout #1

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: Oct. 1, 2013

Rating: 3.5 

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Goodreads Blurb

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 
When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 
As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

Oh my holy freaking crap you guys. You guys.

This is a beyond amazing sequel for The Darkest Minds! While The Darkest Minds wasn't my favorite (but still really good!) Never Fade completely blew away every expectation my puny and uncreative brain had. I never could've imagined (or guessed) any freaking thing that happened in this book. My mind has been blown. Utterly shattered.

The plot is definitely the book's strongest point. Starting off with a bang (literally) Never Fade is 500 pages of nonstop action that had me absolutely glued to the book, dying to find out what happened next. There are innumerable plot twists that absolutely made me die inside. (Also, at a certain plot twist, I choked on my chips. During class. And made a totally attractive gagging sound.)
There's action on every page and there's really no way anyone could ever be bored! So much happens in so little time that I actually couldn't keep track of it all! So I got a bit confused. But that's just me.

Ruby is still one kickass heroine and I loved her even though we can't really connect to her. She comes off as a bit cold and emotionless (more than in Darkest Minds) but it's heartbreaking because we know that she still got bothered by things and that she sometimes felt so weak. She starts to warm up quickly though, and soon, she's the strong and fearless heroine we all know and love!
Chubs was the added humor.
Liam was the added sweetness.
Jude was the added adorableness.
Vida was the added kickass.
Seriously, could our characters get more perfect?

Old characters come crawling back from the dumps, new characters are introduced, but either way, you have to love them! Whether it's the evilness, their madness, their kindness, or whatnot, every character ends up touching you (no matter how fast they're ripped away. Trust me. A lot are ripped away.)

Never Fade was an absolutely amazing adventure that let us explore our characters and the world they're stuck in. More stunning than the first, the Darkest Minds sequel is definitely one to pick up--even if you weren't to sure about the first one! Explosive (seriously. EXPLOSIONS!) and heartwrenching, Never Fade is the perfect sequel with a killer ending!

Pages: 512
Genre: Dystopian/Supernatural
Series: The Darkest Minds #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Rating: 7/5 stars

PODs by Michelle K. Pickett

Goodreads Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul. 
After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters. 
Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

PODs REALLY surprised me! I'm not quite sure why, but I just didn't expect much out of it. Maybe it was the "Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one" part, maybe it was because it sounded a bit typical. But PODs was actually a pretty wonderful read! It was entertaining and sweet and such a fun read!

The only things I didn't really like was how insta-lovey it seemed at first. They fell in love rather quickly, even though they both knew how falling in love in the PODs was a bad idea--but they barely resisted. Maybe this was because there were so many time skips. (More on that later) It was just so annoying to me. And the things they said! They sometimes made me cringe with the cheesiness. David said something along the lines of "I've wanted to do that since I first saw you" after they kissed. It was...hmm.

And to the writing. We actually start our story before the virus is announced, so it was weird. I honestly think it would've been better if we flashed back to the first 4 chapters. Somehow, though, Pickett managed to fit maybe 2 years into the story--which is pretty impressive! But it made the book a bit rocky because everything was rushed. Not to mention that there were so many time skips. We would go from day to day at first, then skip month by month, then to two months, then back to a day or something. 

There weren't many twists, but that wasn't to say the plot was kickass! It was. Just not as much as it could've been.

But ooooh it was still wonderful! Eva had so many adventures outside the "villages" (explained if you read the book" and I loved learning about her life in the PODs! It was, by far, my favorite part. Learning about our characters (though we have to say goodbye to some of them) was amazing and they each had such distinct personalities--though we didn't get to learn about some of our minor characters. Eva wasn't the easiest character to relate to but I loved her voice! She was such an adorable (headstrong) character!

But while each character had their own personality, we had to say goodbye to them too quickly. Eva meets and says goodbye to so many people, so it was a bit hard keeping straight who was who! 

This book actually reminded me a lot of End Games. It sometimes had that bleak feel to it that I loved and sometimes it seemed like such a fruitless race against time. PODs was definitely a great book that I recommend to apocalyptic fans! 

The ending was perfect, by the way.

Pages: 288

Genre: Post Apocalyptic/Sci-fi

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Rating: 3.5 CAN'T DECIDE BETWEEN 3 and 4

Reboot by Amy Tintera

Goodreads Blurb

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).
Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

I've been absolutely aching over this title and I was beyond excited to get this from Edelweiss! Kickass assassin heroines and a dystopian society? Oh my gosh, yes. And Reboot didn't really disappoint!

The world first line immediately grabs your attention and the first chapter just hooks you right in. It was impressive and I loved seeing how the society worked and what it was like for Reboots. It was strange though, that they were supposed to be less human which I take to mean more emotionless, but they definitely felt annoyance and hatred and all. Though if we're just calling them monsters, then that was definitely a sort of accurate description. I sort of wish we'd learned more about the virus though!

I loved Wren's character. She was so kickbutt and independent and I loved that! I enjoyed seeing her character evolve and have her gain some more emotion along the way, though it was a bit annoying having this amazing, strong character become a lovesick one within pages. Thankfully, she got back on her feet after a few chapters!

Callum was an interesting character who, at first irritated me. I get that killing humans didn't seem right to him, but he had to have understood that it was either his (and Wren's) life or the criminal's. I did eventually warm up to him, but it definitely took a while. Though it was definitely amusing reading his little quips!

For a book like this, it's no surprise that the action was completely unbelievable. It was quick paced and left you absolutely breathless! There weren't many twists, but for a book like this, it honestly didn't need any! I loved seeing their *spoiler* escape and how resourceful they could be. The action scenes were vivid and absolutely grasping!

The only thing I didn't like at all, was the romance. Like I said, Wren was such a strong character, but fell so quickly. It was pretty much insta love. She couldn't get him out of her mind, and he was suddenly everywhere. Then she breaks her routine and trains him instead of her usual higher numbers. It was irritating and it may have something to do with why Callum annoyed me at first. 

This was definitely a thrilling read that captured my attention immediately. It was fun and definitely one I'd recommend! The ending leaves you aching for more, though it doesn't immediately cut you off. It shows us what humanity is and that we can believe any lies if given just a small amount of proof. It has a faint underlying sense of emotion and, mixing that with the thrill and the anticipation of the plot, this book is definitely a great debut that dystopian fans should prepare themselves for! 

Pages: 352
Genre: Dystopian/Sci-fi
Series: Reboot #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Rating: 4 stars

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Goodreads Blurb

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?
Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

I went into this having absolutely no idea how amazing it would be! Also, blackbirds? They're now terrifying.

So, oh gosh, I love how amazingly (and creepily) real this world was. When they say a book is a time machine...they weren't kidding. I was automatically transported to 1918 and I could see the hopelessness everywhere, smothering everyone in America. The fear of dying everywhere, the paranoia, and the unease when anyone so much as sniffled. It was heartbreaking to read this sometimes, but it had a great atmosphere that haunted you with it's hopelessness.

Mary Shelley, despite being a skeptic at first, didn't annoy me. And you guys, when our character is a skeptic at first, that usually really annoys me. But our main character was so independent and so compassionate towards everyone! She understood what was wrong and did what she could to make the world just a little less bleak. She had such a distinct personality too and she was just someone you admired for still being (sort of) sane after all that's happened to her.
Stephen was our love interest and even though we only get a few glimpses of him, it was enough to make me fall in love. He was such an understanding character and, like Mary, seemed so compassionate. He was pretty much the opposite of his brother, Julian, who I really wanted to strangle. Really.

The romance was so bittersweet like most of the novel. Childhood sweethearts--except one's already died. It was really heartbreaking and I really (I'M SORRY!) sort of wanted Mary to die and be with him. Romeo and Juliet FTW! Except, not really! Well, actually...

The mystery in this was also pretty unpredictable! I. Had. No. Suspicions. Whatsoever. The ending nearly killed me! I had no idea what was going to happen and I'm pretty sure I teared up a bit at a certain part.
The paranormal aspect of this was definitely something to love too since it was done so well and so wonderfully creepy! It still fit the 1918's fashion though with seances and spirit photographers that really never got old!

Haunting and breathtaking, In the Shadow of Blackbirds is one I'd definitely recommend, especially if you've read Born of Illusion early! This book was so beautiful and so raw sometimes, which I loved especially since it was a historical fiction! And while it does have that sense of hopelessness, it also has that one spark of hope in it that I just loved.

Pages: 400

Genre: Historical Fiction/Paranormal

Series: Stand alone

Publisher: Amulet Books

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Rating: 7 stars