Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

Goodreads Blurb

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.

2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.

3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.

4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.

5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.

2. He says he has her stuff.

3. What stuff? Her stuff.

4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—

5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—

6. You pick up a pen.

7. You scribble down the address.

8. You get on your bike and go.

9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*

*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

Wild Awake was a...memorable book. It was interesting and I'm not quite sure how to write this review! I had a ton of mixed feelings about it and this book was like a roller coaster--wait. Isn't that how you describe a relationship? But it's an apt description. I would adore it one moment, hate it another, find it disgusting, go back to loving it, then starting to cry. It was weird, and I don't think I've ever felt this many emotions in a book before!

This story deals with a lot of issues and has that gritty feel to it. Kiri is all but abandoned, her sister dead, her dream boyfriend not interested, her brother estranged, and her parents leaving her alone for six whole weeks. There's a sense of loneliness around our character and she was far from perfect--she was flawed and had scars all over (in the metaphorical sense), but she was real and she was hurt. While I enjoyed her sarcasm and her own way of understanding heartbreaking and sorrowful things, she did get annoying whenever she gave up and drank, or did drugs, or anything like that. She was horrible as a person and I hated what she did a lot of times. She was pathetic at times, but other times, she was so...understanding and almost sweet.

I loved the romance in the book. In a lot of ways it reminded me of What Happens Next--so perfectly imperfect and so bittersweet. Kiri and Skunk both had their issues and they were both in desperate need of one another. And I found it so perfect how it was Kiri's dead sister who brought them together in a way. Almost like she was looking after Kiri even then, which is really just me being all Happy-Ever-After, but I'll stick with it.

But as much as it was great and amazing, it was horrible too. What couple, who lost one of their daughters, would let their only other daughter stay home alone for 6 weeks? What girl would visit a virtual stranger at near midnight? There were so many stupid decisions in this, but it was riveting at the same time. There was a lot of drinking and drugs and partying going on that made me want to smack my head--a lot of times, Kiri ended up being stoned in important scenes. The ending was just so awkward and I honestly didn't get it and I felt like there were a ton of questions left unanswered and there were so many abrupt scenes that just ended.

Wild Awake is a gritty book that made my heart race and mouth drop open in shock. But it was also one that made me want to hit something and just shake my head in pity. Wild Awake was unbelievable, in one word. Good or bad, I can't say. Though I'm almost 75% sure it's good.

Pages: 400
Genre: Mature/Contemporary
Series: Stand alone
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Rating: UNKOWN

Waiting on Wednesday

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

EDIT: Hahaha...so I read this after this was scheduled. Review goes up tomorrow. :P

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

Ooooohhhh hell yes. This sounds absolutely amazing and I love the artsy cover! Plus, I like the synopsis format. ;) Plus I like the sound of What Happens #9 and the little asterisk note. ;D

Blog Tour: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

I am SO excited to be on this blog tour! I absolutely loved The Rules for Disappearing and I'm pretty sure everyone should read it!

Interview

Fiction Freak: Why did you decide to write a book about the Witness Protection Program?

Ashley Elston: I was fascinated by the idea of it. There is so much mystery surrounding this program obviously because the people in it can’t talk about it. And then I started thinking about what it would do to a family – would they get stronger or fall apart? And that’s how THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING was born.

FF:What research did you do while writing The Rules for Disappearing?

AE: Mostly Internet research. Again, not many people out there are talking about what it’s like to be in the program. I guess it’s good they won’t be able to correct me if I got it wrong, either.

FF:Have you ever suspected anyone of being in the WPP?

AE: Sadly, no. I’m from a small Louisiana town similar to the one in the book and everyone knows everyone. Nothing that exciting ever happens around here.

FF:What's one of your most embarrassing moments? (That you experienced or witnessed!)

AE: Probably the most embarrassing moments I’ve witnessed come from my days as a wedding photographer. By the end of most receptions, there are many people that later regret I was just off the dance floor with my camera ready.

FF:If you could change your name, what would it be and why?

AE: Having all sons, I never got to use the name I had picked for a girl – Adeline. If I had to change my name, I would choose that.

FF:What's one of your favorite crime shows?

AE: I love The Mentalist. I think that show is so clever. Another favorite of mine is Castle.

FF:Would you have handled things like Meg did in the book?

AE: That’s a hard one. I’d like to say I’m tough, and strong and ready for any challenge but I’m also a chicken that can’t get through a scary movie. So probably not.

FF:What's something you think would've told Meg at the beginning of the book? (without spoilers of course!)

AE: Listen to your gut.

FF:The ending was...shocking, to say the least. Did you plan that? Or did it just happen?

AE: I intended, in the beginning, for it to be a stand-alone but I felt like there was more to this story, especially with some of the characters. 

FF:What's your favorite recent read?

AE: I’ve been reading a lot of ARCs from fellow Lucky 13ers and they are all fabulous. I just finished ALL  OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill and it was amazing.

FF:Favorite Hyperion book?

AE: Cristin’s book I just mentioned makes the list as well as TIME BETWEEN US by Tamara Ireland Stone, NANTUCKET BLUE by Leila Howland and THE NEPTUNE PROJECT by Polly Holyoke. Also, I’m a huge Ally Carter fan and a Rick Riordan fan. And I loved reading Mo Willems’ Pigeon books to my boys.

FF:And finally...Country boy or city boy?

AE: Definitely country boy! I married one and am raising three more.  

The Rules for Disappearing Synopsis

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

Author Bio

Ashley Elston lives is North Louisiana with her husband, three sons and two cats. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full time. Ashley is also a licensed Landscape Horticulturist and helps her husband run a commercial lawn and landscaping business. They also custom harvest pecans and have cows. Yes, cows.

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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

ZOMG.

Ah, so big news. Book Haul next week.

So I bet you're wondering what the big news is. Well. I saw this yesterday.


FEIEODPWPCNSPWKFMDOWPWPDKDMX,ZODPEIDNDIWIENFJSOEIFNREPNDWPWEJD. OH MYGOD, YOU GUYS. I HAVE NO WORDS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH. I CAN NOT EVEN.

This is me

This was me when I saw

It still sort of is.

This was me staring at people who had 1000 followers

I KNOW I KNOW. Followers don't matter. BUT STILL. 1000 is a big number! HONESTLY? I never expected to get more than 10. I even said that I would quit blogging when I reached 100.

Obviously, that never happened.

YOU GUYS I HAVE 1000

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. THIS IS THE BEST. I CAN NOT EXPRESS MY FEELS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. Even if you all came for the giveaways ;)

OH MY GOD. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT. Of course I have to thank EVERY SINGLE PERSON. MAINLY? The Merp Squad. THEY ARE MY LIFE.

EILEEN AT SINGING AND READING IN THE RAIN Oh my God. NO WORDS FOR HOW MUCH I LOVE HER RANDOM AND CRAZY. She's totally my best friend and when I meet her IN AUGUST I shall tackle her and possibly cause concussions. Whoops. BUT OH MY GOD. I have no words. NONE. She is the BESTTTTT. Even if she hates my favorite contemporaries and I hate her favorite contemporaries.

ANNABELLE AT SPARKLES AND LIGHTNING We have discovered that she is an angel. Literally. Have you seen her halo? It's super bright. SHE IS SO SPARKLY IN A GOOD WAY. * shoos away Edward* She's so absolutely nice (buying everyone like 5 books. UGH. She makes me feel miserly. I mean, I am, BUT STILL) and oh my GOD. DO YOU KNOW HOW PRETTY SHE IS? Also, we have almost the same taste in books!

JESSI AT AUNTIE SPINELLI READS YESYESYES to Jessi! TOTALLY FUN AND SO ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. AND SHE TOTALLY UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH AND WHY I LOVE THE YA GUYS I DO. Seriously. MORPHEUS YOU GUYS *glares at the rest of the Merp Squad* SHE IS AMAZING and owns 4 fluffy balls of fur. That's always a plus. SERIOUSLY.

INKY AT BOOK HAVEN EXTRAORDINAIRE Morpheus. THAT IS ALL YOU GET.

Just kidding. I LOVE THIS PERSON. She's totally fun to argue with--and we do that a lot. Because she won't realize how much better Morpheus is. BUT IT'S OKAY. Because she is pure awesome and I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO TACKLE HER WHEN I SEE HER. WHICH BETTER BE SOOONNNNN.  She's so totally hilarious. HILARIOUS.

And I can't forget my other amazing friends!
SHREYA AT CHOCOLATE COATED REVIEWS who was one of my first bloggy friends! TOTAL fangirl of Cassie Clare's stuff! I think she would live on all the TMI memes if she could lol! CHOCOLATE LOVER AND ONE OF THE NICEST AND BESTEST PEOPLE EVER.

LISSETH AT READAHOLICZ GIANT fan of music and bookkksss! She was literally my FIRST bloggy friend when I Goodreads messaged her awkwardly. That is me. AWKWARD. I haven't talked to her much lately which makes me cry D:

KRYSTAL AT  LIVE TO READ A recent friend who I absolutely love to talk to on Facebook almost every day! She LOVES chocolate and ice cream. SO OF COURSE I LOVE HER. We are also both gold medalists of procrastination and probably have schoolwork to do right now. Nahhhh

But I have bad news too. I posted that when I reached 1000 I would have an EPIC EPIC giveaway. But my mom and I are short on money, which she didn't tell meeeee, so it'll have to be postponed. I'M SO SORRY D: It WILL happen, just not now. But I promise you guys will love it!

And so, I leave you with this. I feel like a magical person.

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

Goodreads Blurb

When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he's her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again. 
But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can't stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic... and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea knows a ton about him. She spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she's obsessed. 
Bea tells herself she's got it all under control, but this isn't a choice, it's a compulsion. The truth is, she's breaking down... and she might end up breaking her own heart.

This was, in all honesty, very disappointing to me. I mean, it sounded amazing, but actually reading it...well, it fell flat. 

Even though this is technically a YA book, I honestly don't feel as if many teens will enjoy this novel. It was...I'll be blunt: it was like reading an autobiography and I honestly don't enjoy those. I think my problem with this was the issues that are in this book. I have nothing against people with OCD, but I really don't enjoy reading about it. And...I really didn't think that was what this book would be about. I imagined something emotional and gritty, but this...I don't think it was quite what I was looking for.

Our main character, Bea, is a certified stalker. Of a guy who's 10 years older than her and married. She listens in on his therapy sessions and jots down the entire conversation in a notebook and pretty much drives to his apartment complex he shares with his wife. And stares at his window. She can't drive without driving back to make sure she hasn't run over someone and scared that she might stab someone. What? I absolutely LOATHED this idea. I'm not saying I hate people with this kind of problem...but reading this is really NOT my thing. 

When the synopsis described Beck as "kinda-messed-up" I thought maybe a guy with some family issues. And that's true, in a sense. Beck is addicted to working out. As in, working out for 8 hours straight and OCD in the way that he washes his hands every time he touches someone and does everything in 8's. He washes his hands 8 times, he taps his fingers 8 times, he showers for 8 or 88 minutes, can't send a text without texting 8 times, etc. It was...honestly, ridiculous. But why 8? Well, I guess I won't spoil that right now.

So, yeah, the characters had their issues, but the characters didn't just seem real, they seemed like people who would, quite honestly, freak me out a bit. I feel so bad saying that, but she's a stalker! 

Not only that, but this was so incredibly slow. There really weren't any giant twists or anything, and the only thing interesting that caught my attention was near the end and lasted about 5 pages before fizzling out. I can't really hate this book since this book didn't really evoke any strong feelings from me. I read it...and barely had any emotion, really. 

Other than that, I can't really explain how much I didn't like this, but...you guys. It was bad. And it's possibly one of the worst books I've read, no matter how much I wish I didn't have to say that. I wouldn't recommend it at all, but then again, maybe I was just the wrong person to read it? 

Pages: 352

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Stand alone

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: July 23, 2013

Rating: .5--->1 star