Review: Dream Boy by Mary Crockett and Madelyn Rosenberg

Dream Boy by Mary Crockett and Madelyn Rosenberg

Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Page Count: 336
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Annabelle Manning feels like she’s doing time at her high school in Chilton, Virginia. She has her friends at her lunchtime table of nobodies. What she doesn’t have are possibilities. Or a date for Homecoming. Things get more interesting at night, when she spends time with the boy of her dreams. But the blue-eyed boy with the fairytale smile is just that—a dream. Until the Friday afternoon he walks into her chemistry class.

One of friends suspects he’s an alien. Another is pretty sure it’s all one big case of deja vu. While Annabelle doesn’t know what to think, she’s willing to believe that the charming Martin Zirkle may just be her dream come true. But as Annabelle discovers the truth behind dreams—where they come from and what they mean—she is forced to face a dark reality she had not expected. More than just Martin has arrived in Chilton. As Annabelle learns, if dreams can come true, so can nightmares.

Dream Boy was a book that I first saw on NetGalley, and the synopsis intrigued me enough that I immediately requested it. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed after reading this book. Not that it was terrible, it's just that all of the elements didn't quite come together in a good way, and that made it a bit boring.

My main problems with this story were that I didn't really like any of the characters, and they weren't very well developed. I thought Annabelle was okay, but she was waaaaaay too accepting of what was happening, almost like she was afraid to question Martin's appearance. Martin, aka Dream Boy, wasn't all that dreamy to me. In fact, he really didn't impress me at all. He was kind of weird and quite clingy and possessive and just too 'perfect'. I think Will was the best of the bunch. He seemed cute and sweet, and I really wish I had gotten to see more of him. Even though I didn't really 'like' her, Talon was probably the most interesting character because she possessed quite an attitude. She was full of spunk and wasn't afraid to speak her mind.

I was really surprised by Annabelle's lack of shock over her dream boy coming to life. This guy straight up walked right out of her dreams and she didn't give it a second thought. I know I would have been more than a little freaked out! After Martin arrived, other weird things started going on, and Annabelle had to figure out the mystery of her disturbing nightmare before it became a reality too!

Dream Boy had such an intriguing premise, but the story just fell short for me. The concept of how Annabelle dreamed Martin into existence wasn't explained well enough, so it left me with more questions than answers. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it wasn't enough to make this more than just an average book. Overall, this was just an okay read for me, and that makes me sad because I had such high hopes going into it.

My rating: 3 stars

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Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Publication Date: March 11, 2014
Page Count: 280
Published by: Soho Teen
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

Immediately after reading Liv, Forever I wanted to say that it was such a cute book. But cute isn't correct. Liv is dead! That alone deserves a big "Awww" because death is just so sad and final. So it's off to the Thesaurus for me. Let's see.... Lovely? Wonderful? I think I'll go with Pleasantly Delightful, with a bit of Touching and Heartbreaking. That seems much more accurate. Any way you say it, Liv, Forever was really, really good!

Wickham Hall is an old style boarding school with traditions that go back 100+ years. Liv is an art student who earns a scholarship to the prestigious school. Being an outsider isn't easy for Liv, but she's just so happy to be there and have her own art studio to pursue her passion. She immediately befriends another scholarship student, Gabe, and he warns her about staying away from the school's "Legacy" students because she is likely to get hurt. But when one of the school's elite students, Malcolm, shows an interest in her and her art, she finds him too difficult (and cute) to resist. This is where insta-love comes into play, but I didn't really mind it because it was a young and innocent love, and I thought it was really sweet. When Liv is suddenly murdered, readers are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery.

Gabe, who just happens to be able to see and speak to ghosts, along with Malcolm, attempt to solve the mystery of who killed Liv. I enjoyed the strong friendship that developed between Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm. Gabe is Liv's connection to the real world, and the only way for her and Malcolm to continue their relationship. I loved how the 3 of them were forced to communicate because of the circumstances. Their conversations were so hilarious at times.

All 3 characters were very likable. Liv has a strong personality, and I enjoyed her immediately. Gabe was a little shy, and a bit of an outcast, but totally the type of guy any girl would want for a BFF. I wasn't sure about Malcolm at first because it was difficult to figure out his intentions toward Liv. He proved himself to be a (swoon)worthy boyfriend and I ended up really liking him.

Overall, Liv, Forever was a fantastic book that was quick and easy to read, with great pacing and terrific writing. I really got caught up in the story and trying to figure out the mystery of who killed Liv and the other girls. I especially loved the characters and the Gothic setting. I found the art references used throughout the book to be interesting. This story was tragic and beautiful, and the ending made my heart hurt a bit. The highlight of this book for me? Malcolm reciting 'Bright Star' by John Keats. Swoon!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Review: School Spirits (School Spirits #1) by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits (School Spirits #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Page Count: 304
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: eARC from publisher for review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

School Spirits is a super cute and fun book that I really enjoyed reading. I found it to be a quick and easy read that was very entertaining. While it's a bit lighter on the supernatural aspect than Hex Hall, it's full of humor and intrigue that kept it interesting until the end.

I loved Izzy when she was first introduced in the last Hex Hall book. I am so glad this story is about her, because I really didn't like her sister, Finley. (If Finley does make an appearance in this series, I hope she has a personality transplant first. Just sayin'.) Izzy is completely likable and has a cute naivety about her that I really enjoyed. She has a really big heart, but she is still fearless and kick-ass when she needs to be.

After Finley goes missing during a mission, Izzy's mother decides she and Izzy should move to a small town while she looks for clues about Finley's disappearance. To keep Izzy busy, she is given a mission by her mother - to find and banish a ghost that is haunting the local high school. This also gives Izzy the opportunity to try and be more like a normal teenager by going to high school, which is something she's never done before. Izzy is so adorable and completely clueless about the goings on in high school. She lucks into finding a trio of friends who run the school's Paranormal Management Society - or PMS for short. Soon after she arrives at the school, the ghostly incidents escalate and become dangerous, so it's a perfect time for PMS to jump into action! Izzy has her new friends unknowingly help out with her investigation.

The secondary cast of characters in School Spirits were fun and extremely likable, even though none of them possessed supernatural powers. Dex is certainly a cutie with a quirky fashion sense, a wonderful attitude, and a touch of vulnerability. He's an all around good guy and just perfect as Izzy's (potential?) love interest. Izzy becomes instant besties with Romy, the other girl in PMS. Romy was full of wit and sarcasm, and has a very fun personality. Anderson is an ex-jock who has a thing for ghost hunting, but is only in PMS to get close to Romy. I really enjoyed the friendships that Izzy develops with the PMS crew, and I really liked the witty banter and easy camaraderie when they were all together.

My review wouldn't be complete without mentioning Torin. How I love that man! He has so much personality and is so dashing and charismatic. I didn't think he had as much attitude and snark this time around, but he does bring a bit of humor and levity to the storyline. I'm still hoping that he'll get out of the mirror soon and become a 'real live boy'. (Yes, I just totally gave a nod to Pinocchio.) As much as I would love to see Torin and Izzy get together, it IS a little creepy that he is 400 years old, AND he's known Izzy all of her life and watched her grow up. A relationship between them may be a bit icky, but I am glad that they are at least friends.

I really loved reading School Spirits. It was cute and funny and a super fast read. The writing is terrific, and the plot progressed at a nice pace. Even though there isn't much in the way of action, I thought there was enough witty dialogue, supernatural elements, mystery, and romance to keep me reading and not want to put the book down. School Spirits is a wonderful start to a new series. This is a spin-off that can be read on it's own, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Hex Hall series. I can only hope that I won't have to wait too long for the next book in this series!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Review: Crash (Visions #1) by Lisa McMann

Crash (Visions #1) by Lisa McMann

Publication Date: January 8, 2013
Page Count: 256
Format: Hardcover
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: Library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

Even though I liked reading Crash, I didn't find it exciting or captivating. I think it would have held my interest better if it had more mystery and suspense. However, I kept reading until the end, so that says something. When Jules starts having visions of a crash everywhere she looks, she realizes that one of the victims is her long-time crush, Sawyer. Unfortunately, Jules and Sawyer are no longer friends because their families are rivals in the restaurant business. The families are also feuding because of a stolen sauce recipe that made one business more successful than the other. Jules has a difficult time deciding what to do about her visions. But when they become more and more disturbing, she finally realizes she must take action to prevent the crash from happening.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Jules was 'in love' with Sawyer like she claimed. She has known him since they were young, but they hadn't been close since 6th grade. It stands to reason that she loves him as a person, but she doesn't know him enough now to be 'in love' with him. I also thought that part of the reason she was (obsessively) drawn to him was because he was off-limits. There's a certain excitement she feels in keeping tabs on him, albeit on the down low. Sadly, we don't learn much about Sawyer as a character. I got the impression that he doesn't have the same sorts of feelings towards Jules. It made me not like him as much because I really wanted him to have been pining over her the same way she did him.

I adored Jules brother, Trey. For me, he was the absolute bright spot in this book. I had a good laugh when Trey and Jules were discussing their mutual 'crush' on Sawyer. Totally hilarious that they have the same taste in guys! I love that Trey didn't come off as a typical gay character. In fact, I never would have guessed that he was gay if he hadn't admitted to having a crush on Sawyer.

The main problem with this book was that the 'vision' scenes were very repetitive. Jules kept seeing the vision replaying over and over, and McMann described every detail again and again. I thought it was a bit of overkill, or maybe just too much of a good thing. It somehow managed to make a really short book feel much longer and drawn out, and not in a good way. For most of the book I was just waiting for Jules to actually DO something about her visions.

I really, really wanted to enjoy reading Crash, but I think it could have been so much better than it was. However, I do want to continue reading this series and learn more about Sawyer, and spend more time with Trey.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Review: Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Page Count: 274
Format: ebook
Published by: St. Martin's Press

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.

High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real? Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones's first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.

This was my first Darynda Jones book, and it was such a quick and entertaining read. I was disappointed that the book ended just when things started getting interesting. It did take a little while for me to really get into the story, and there were times when I was confused about what was going on. But as I continued reading, things starting making more sense. The story moved along so quickly that I felt I was missing key moments, but I don't know if that was due to Jones' writing style, or if the quick pacing of the book didn't allow for more clarification.

I enjoyed the friendship between Lorelei and her 2 best friends, Brooklyn and Glitch. They are a lively and humorous bunch, and I thought they were extremely likable. Cameron's sudden and very apparent stalking of Lorelei - and her acceptance of it - did seem a little weird to me. The appearance of Jared complicated things. And the fact that Cameron seems to already know and hate Jared only added to the intrigue. With both guys showering Lorelei with attention, I am happy to say that there was no love triangle!

Strange things begin happening that involve Lorelei, Jared, and Cameron. Both boys attempt to keep Lorelei in the dark about what is really going on. Somehow, she manages to keep her shit together, even when faced with her own death. It was a bit frustrating at times because I know I would have been freaking out and demanding answers. I wanted Lorelei to pursue getting some answers for herself, but she was very accepting of what was presented to her by these 2 crazy guys. And no matter how BAD Jared clearly is, Lorelei only sees the good in him (and how hot he is). Sadly, I really didn't enjoy their insta-love. Maybe it was just me, or because the story went by so fast, but their relationship felt rushed and not well developed.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was a good beginning to a new series. I can't wait to read the next book and find out more about Lorelei, Cameron, and Jared.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


(While I love this cover, it's not at all how I picture the characters.)

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Review: Forget Me Not by Carolee Dean

Forget Me Not by Carolee Dean

Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Page Count: 384
Format: Hardcover
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: Borrowed from library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

From the author of Take Me There, a fast-paced novel in verse about a girl caught between life and death—and the boy who will do anything to save her. Ally is devastated when a scandalous photo of her is texted around school. With her reputation in shambles and her life essentially over, she hides out in a back hallway, trying to figure out where everything went wrong.

Elijah has spent time in that hallway too. He landed there after taking a whole bottle of sleeping pills. Now he can see ghosts, and he knows what Ally has yet to suspect—that she’s already half dead, and one choice away from never coming back. Elijah has loved Ally for years and would do anything to save her from the in-between place. But if she’s going to live, Ally must face her inner demons and find the will to save herself.

Told in interwoven verse narratives, this crushingly honest and poetic exploration of pain and redemption will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins.

I must admit that as soon as I read the synopsis for Forget Me Not I immediately added it to my tbr. I love novels told in verse, and this one really blew me away. It was so beautiful and creative. I absolutely loved the variety in the forms of poetry that the author used. Different forms were used for each of the characters, which really helped express the mood and feeling in that particular scene.

At first, Forget Me Not seems like a contemporary story, but it quickly turns more towards the paranormal. The dual POV really allows the reader to get to know both main characters, Ally and Elijah, and I think teenagers will be able to identify with them. Since it is written in verse, it is very fast paced. I couldn't read it fast enough. I just had to find out what was happening next!

The synopsis is pretty spot-on, so I won't go into details about the plot. The abandoned hallway that no one goes into anymore is symbolic of the characters feelings of being forgotten or invisible. Ally must uncover the truth about the choices she made that caused her to be stuck in the hallway. It's a painful lesson for her to learn, and it was hard to read about the turmoil she went through. Elijah can help Ally escape the hallway, but she will have to decide if she can truly live with her painful reality or if she will let it defeat her.

This story is difficult to read because it is so very sad. I really felt sorry for Ally after reading about the difficult situations she found herself in. High school was a long time ago for me, but I still remember the angst of trying to be yourself while trying to fit in. I was never a social climber myself, but I can certainly sympathize with Ally's determination to be someone. Ally went about it all wrong, but mistakes are a part of growing up. Ultimately, Ally must decide to accept her mistakes and learn from them. I highly recommend this book, but it's definitely for older or more mature teens (or adults, like me.)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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