Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Pages: 304

Genre: Contemporary/Romance

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Walkers Childrens

Release Date: Feb 18, 2014

When Jonah is forced to move from Hamilton to Cross Pointe for the second half of his senior year, "miserable" doesn't even begin to cover it. He feels like the doggy-bag from his mother's first marriage and everything else about her new life—with a new husband, new home and a new baby—is an upgrade. The people at Cross Pointe High School are pretentious and privileged—and worst of all is Brighton Waterford, the embodiment of all things superficial and popular. Jonah’s girlfriend, Carly, is his last tie to what feels real... until she breaks up with him. 
For Brighton, every day is a gauntlet of demands and expectations. Since her father died, she’s relied on one coping method: smile big and pretend to be fine. It may have kept her family together, but she has no clue how to handle how she's really feeling. Today is the anniversary of his death and cracks are beginning to show. The last thing she needs is the new kid telling her how much he dislikes her for no reason she can understand. She's determined to change his mind, and when they're stuck together for the night, she finally gets her chance. 
Jonah hates her at 3p.m., but how will he feel at 3 a.m.? 
One night can change how you see the world. One night can change how you see yourself.

*Caution: Review is slightly blather because.*

After naming SEND ME A SIGN by Tiffany Schmidt one of my favorites of 2012, I was absolutely aching for her next contemporary and when I heard of Bright Before Sunrise, I almost died. After all, writing two people falling in love in a night was hard, never mind the fact that Jonah practically hated Brighton.

Almost 20 pages in, I already started to sympathize with the characters, especially Brighton. I've never seen a character who was so desperate to look fine or a character who was so...perfect. Or as perfect a heroine could get without being too annoying. She honest-to-God felt bad whenever she even slightly ignored someone or didn't please them or make them happy. She wasn't just pretending to be perfect--it was just in her nature, to make everyone feel as happy as she wasn't. But her flaw was that she kept doing what she thought her father wanted to do and Jonah was right--she repressed herself to be the perfect daughter, though I'm still not sure if she realized she was doing that until Jonah mentioned it.

Jonah wasn't exactly my favorite character at first, especially because he seemed so prejudiced towards everyone in Cross Pointe, but I could see how easy it was to mistake their kindness for snobbier tendencies, but still. Of course, as the story goes on, you start to understand him and his prejudices and you start to love him. He doesn't necessarily go through character development, but his eyes are certainly opened when he realizes the people at Cross Pointe aren't all mean or snobbish or as terrible as he thought. And we readers get to see what he's really like as he comes to Brighton's rescue several times, and in more ways than one.

The side characters were also pretty brilliant, and I loved Carly. While, when we first meet her, she seemed like a bitch. Clingy, possessive, and insecure. The typical mean girl. But through her few scenes, we see that she's more than just that stereotype. She seemed like that sweet misunderstood girl in the story, and I feel like I'd love to see things from her point of view.
Amelia seemed like an awesome friend, and protective of Brighton, but beyond that I can't really say. In the 24 hours of this book, she doesn't really show up much past the introduction, but she did seem like a supportive friend that I would love to have!

While the romance was a tad rushed (after all, they fall in love withing the span of about 5 hours) I did love that they didn't just immediately kiss, and that their love story started out pretty rocky with Jonah using her, then realizing how wrong he was about her. And, perhaps my favorite thing about it, they didn't claim they loved each other or anything and their relationship felt pretty open. We didn't have much resolution, and for once I loved that kind of ending. It just worked with the story! 

So yeah, I absolutely adored Bright Before Sunrise and it feels like the perfect summer read (or reread!) It's a book I'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for a cute fluff or a love story where you fall in love with the characters as they fall for each other. 

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Winter Formal: Lynne Matson

Hey guys! WELCOME TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE WINTER FORMAL where I ask the Winter Formal authors (Jen McConnel, Lynne Matson, Sara B. Larson, and Bethany Hagen) one question and then ask my spotlighted author five questions. AND READ THROUGH FOR INFORMATION ON THE TWITTER PARTY!

Lynne Matson Interview

FF:  How did you come up with the science of Nil? (Because it is unbelievably complex and amazing!) 

LM: Thank you Nikki! :) I gave the science of Nil a great deal of thought. I didn't want everything to be explained…because I wanted a bit of the supernatural mystique of LOST, and to infuse the story with the vibe that there are some things in the universe beyond our grasp. And yet, I wanted there to be some sort of scientific basis--at least a plausible explanation--for the island's existence, and something concrete the teens (and readers) could grasp. AND I CAN'T SAY ANYMORE BECAUSE I'LL SPILL ALL THE SEKRITS!!! :) *shares island shaped cookies as a distraction* 

FF: If you were stuck on Nil, you'd most likely…

LM: Completely freak out, at least at first. After the initial panic, I'd like to think I could get it together enough to find people and figure it out, but sheesh--let's face is Nil is a freaky Twilight Zone moment with no end in sight.

FF:  What three things would you miss the most if you were thrown onto Nil?

LM: The first thing that popped into my head was family. I'd miss my boys and husband terribly. But you said "things" so hmmmm…

Okay, here goes. (1) My bed. I love snuggling into a comfy bed at night, with soft sheets and thick, fluffy covers. Not so easy to come by on Nil. (2) My iPod. I LOVE MUSIC AND WOULD MISS IT TERRIBLY. (3) Chocolate.

*honorable mention to sunglasses, because they would come in handy on Nil.:)

FF:  If you saw a heat shimmer, you would…

LM: Think of Nil.:) And possibly run the other way.Oh who am I kidding, I'd totally run AWAY. :)

FF:  What about your writing career has surprised you the most so far? 

LM: The incredible support of the YA community. It's AMAZING. Authors and bloggers have been so welcoming and thoughtful and generous. The YA Valentines have been my rock, and bloggers have helped get the word out about NIL more enthusiastically than I ever could have dreamed. Honestly, sometimes all the author/blogger kindness makes me teary, because the writing road can be lonely at times. But the YA community is tight--and AWESOME.:)

AND NOW by mini interview with all the Winter Formal authors:

Here's what I asked:

If you were one character in your book, who would you (want to) be?

Sara B Larson: Well, even though her life has been hard, I would definitely pick Alexa. She's such an example of strength to me. She's imperfect, but she's strong and determined, and she never gives up. I admire that so much. She's also incredibly loyal and cares so deeply for the ones she loves. She's willing to do whatever it takes to protect them, to help them.

Lynne Matson: Hmmmm…good one. I should pick a character that lives, right? Or not, because I don't want to be spoilery. *wails* I CAN'T PICK, Nikki, because otherwise I'll spill ALL THE SEKRITS. Nil is a creepy place. 

Bethany Hagen: Ooh, tough question.  Maybe Cara Westoff.  She is the complete opposite of me in temperament--loud, assertive and confident.  I think it would be fun to be her for like a day, but then the shopping bills would start to get out of hand...

Jen McConnel: That's actually a tough question; definitely not Darlena, because I don't want that kind of crazy power.  There's a character in the second book I would LOVE to be, but you haven't met her yet. ;)

Twitter Party

The twitter party will be held on Feb 12 with the hashtag #YAValsFormal and will start from 6:30 PM EST to maybe 7:30—8:00 PM EST. There will be prizes donated by the spotlighted YA Valentines and the four Winter Formal authors will also be attending! Chat about books, embarrassing Valentine moments, and other fun (preferably embarrassing, though not required) things! We will also be serving virtual snacks.

Nil Synopsis

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. 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 lying 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 to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.

Lynne Matson

Lynne Matson grew up in Georgia in a house full of books and a backyard full of gnarly pines. She attended the University of Florida, where she met and married her husband, the cutest boy she’s ever seen. Now, Lynne is mother to four amazing boys. After a career as an attorney, Lynne is thrilled to be making her debut in YA fiction.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Winter Formal Tour

Feb 10 Mon: Lynne Matson @ ME

Feb 11 Tues: Bethany Hagen @ Book Haven Extraordinaire

Feb 12 Wed: Sara. B Larson @ Eater of Books 

Feb 13 Thurs: Jen McConnel @ YA Reads

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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Click to Subscribe L.M. Augustine

Pages: 214
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Indie
Release Date: May 9, 2014

135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them. As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on.To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

So, after Eileen ranted about this, of course I had to read it. (First of, you must know how I thought that Eileen was just advertising her YouTube thing because she had the words "Click to Subscribe" as her profile pic. What?)

So this was an adorable read that was just so cute! (And sort of highlights how guys can be so stupid when it comes to girls. No offense, guys.) I loved Cat and West's relationship because of how hilarious they were together and how perfect they were! L.M. Augustine did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life and their humor was definitely contagious! They acted so realistically and I loved the awkward moments! Because, honestly, those were sort of hilarious.

Now, I haven't had the best experience with Indie books, but Click to Subscribe was one of the few I really liked! It was a rather short read, but definitely enjoyable! And this book definitely made my eyes wet. Surprisingly, there was a subject that was touched in this book, and it made me want to cry. It was horrible, but I also kind of felt bad for his father. I also hated it when West would push Cat away, just because he was her best friend.

Speaking of, I felt like West was just an idiot when it came to his relationships. Maybe this is because I'm a girl or because I sort of could understand how Cat felt, but I really wanted to slap him sometimes. He kept giving her hope, then pushing her away, giving him hope, then pushing her away. I really wanted to cry for Cat sometimes, but I got why he didn't want to risk it. She was his best friend and if their dating didn't go well...he'd be basically alone. But Cat loved him so much, and I just wanted to shove him and give her a chance. He was in love with Harper--he's already in love with Cat.

Cat was my favorite character. She was fiery and hilarious! She made me laugh and I loved how she was okay to accept not being a couple with the guy she loved per his request. I loved how she said she'd never give up on him, and I loved how sweet she could be! Not to mention she was entirely snarky and I'd love to have her as one of my close friends!

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Waiting on Wednesday

Free To Fall by Lauren Miller

What if there was an app that told you what song to listen to, what coffee to order, who to date, even what to do with your life—an app that could ensure your complete and utter happiness? What if you never had to fail or make a wrong choice?

What if you never had to fall?

YES YES YES YES YES. THAT IS ALL. JUST YES. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS OMG! It sounds so cool and I absolutely ADORED Parallel last year and OH GOD CAN WE JUST. CAN WE. I CAN'T EVEN. ADKSJF;SLKD J;KSDJF;LSDKHF;LSDHFCLDSHF GIVE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

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Burn Bright by Bethany Frenette

Pages: 304
Genre: Supernatural
Series: Dark Star #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: Feb 25, 2014

Audrey Whitticomb saved her entire city.Well, kind of. The superhero Morning Star (who just happens to be Audrey's mom) might have played a small part, and her sidekick, Leon—Audrey's sort-of boyfriend, who is gorgeous... and frustrating—maybe helped, too.But after two peaceful months, there is a vicious new threat in Minneapolis. Her name is Susannah, and she's a Harrower, a demon hell-bent on destroying people like Morning Star, Leon, and Audrey—the Kin. Like others before her, she seeks the Remnant, a Kin girl who has the power to unleash the inhabitants of the Beneath. But to what end?Audrey already has a ton on her plate: dealing with her best friend Tink's boy drama, helping her other best friend Gideon figure out his nightmares, and exploring the highs and lows of "dating" Leon. But when she develops a powerful new ability, Audrey seizes on the chance to fight, despite her mother's protests and Leon's pleas.As Audrey gets closer to figuring out Susannah's motives and tracking down the Remnant, she'll uncover more than she bargained for. The terrible truth is staring Audrey in the face. But knowing the truth and accepting it are very different things.

So, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I've been dying for a book where the main character isn't the prophetic savior or bringer of doom. I mean, they're fun, but so typical nowadays. But this series definitely doesn't follow that road! While Dark Star was a fun read, it didn't really make an impression, but Burn Bright? It definitely did. I adored it and just loved reading it!

I was a bit fuzzy on what happened in Dark Star, but Burn Bright craftily weaves in the storyline from book one into this sequel. Soon enough I was traveling with Audrey on her wild adventures (and getting almost killed too. Well, that's not good) and getting into the Harrower-version of a catfight.

Yeah. It was fun!

The plot is unbelievably action-packed, filled with so many fights, new powers, new problems, and twists that just made me gape at the pages. I mean, seriously? It twisted my head around, and the twists were just so...wow. 

And there was Audrey. Oh Audrey...Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. She was one stubborn character and I loved her all the more for it! While she did irritate me sometimes for keeping some very important things secret, she won me over with her obvious loyalty for her friends and anyone she loved. She was so headstrong and I just loved her determination and her snark! I also loved her best friend type of relationship with her mom--it was so sweet.

Leon was just an adorable character who I loved! Sure, he was uptight sometimes, but Audrey loosened him up when he need to stop being so stiff, and they were just such a cute couple. I loved their steady romance and their relationship was so fun! At first I didn't like him, but he grew on me. Sort of like moss. (I'm pretty sure it was that way in Dark Star too! It just says more that Leon was able to get into my good graces--again. *wink*)

This is pretty much the best sequel you could ask for! It doesn't disappoint and I just loved it! It was so amazing and I was pretty much gushing about it the days that followed after I finished! Also, you guys. Have you seen the gorgeous covers?

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