Alex Assists: Book Recommendations

The title of this post does sound kind of corny, and that's coming from a person who's been reciting it for at least 20 times today. But anywho, today I am going to be assisting you in my top book recommendations of 2014. In a reading slump and looking for just the book to get you up and at'em? You've come to the right place! Warning: These books are not placed in any order whatsoever

    

From Left to Right Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins, Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter, Doomed by Tracy Deebs, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, The Alchemyst by Michael Scott, The Program by Suzanne Young, Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid, The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings, Timebound by Rysa Walker.

Join in on the fun! If you have a book recommendation for me, why not share it? Let's not forget that these aren't all of my recommendations, just a few favorites. Thanks for visiting :D 

Blogish Updates- Laziness & Vampire Craze

I've currently completed Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. Being my first Brandon Sanderson book, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. But unfortunately due to school starting and technological difficulties, I am not going to be posting a review for this book. Sorry about that. All I can say is that I loved it! It was so much fun reading through the eyes of David Charleston, our main character who wanted revenge on a higher society for killing his father. If you're into YA dystopians, I don't think you should miss out on this one! 

It's not even Halloween yet and I'm on a vampire craze. I've been watching reruns of The Vampire Diaries and have been reading the latest vampire books. I posted a review of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown just recently. I'm also reading manga about vampires. Sigh, I'm on a vampire spree. But who doesn't just love vampires? It's a touchy subject for some people, but I love the excitement and thrill of blood and gore. 

In other news, I finally purchased the new Rick Riordan book!! *Yelp* I'm so excited to start this because the Percy Jackson is one of my favorite series ever. Let's not forget how big and bulky this book is. I literally had to haul it out of the bookstore. Look at it in all it's glory! 

Reviews This Week 

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson 

Reviews To Come 

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan 

Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon (Yes I finally purchased it) 

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan 

My laziness has caught up to me, and I no longer have the time (or the strength) to get back into my normal routine of reading. Has anyone ever felt this way? Or is it just me? 

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson: Book Review

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Pages: 449
Published: May 6th, 2014
Genre: Cutesy contemporary, YA contemporary

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just... disappears.. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn?Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unecptected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she'll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait... what? 

Emily is reserved and timid. Sloane is exciting and the life of every party. Without Sloane, Emily is nothing. And it's not until Sloane disappears leaving Emily alone with nothing but a list and a hanging question: Why did Sloane leave this list?  Emily's only hope is that completing this list will lead her back to her best friend. And that's basically all I'm going to reveal for the non-spoiler part of this review!

** Spoiler-filled review beyond this point**  

The character development of the main character Emily was phenomenal. I have read many cases in which the shy character becomes a blossoming and independent character, but none quite like this. Emily ended up being this confident and lively character, no longer dull and pretty much boring. She was pretty much confident enough to kiss a stranger or to go skinny dipping. It just showed how much potential her personality had without Sloane. 

The ending was... satisfying. And I'm not trying to be sarcastic in any way!! I really loved the ending. No cliffhangers, no surprises. The romance, however, was kind of something crazy for me. In the beginning of the story she meets Frank Porter, the (future) valedictorian of her school and, not to mention, priceless hottie. She also meets his best friend Collins and a girl named Dawn. The four become the bestest of friends, only to be split by some predicament. And that brings us into the romance part of this YA contemporary because you can't have a cutesy contemporary without a sparkling romance! 

Emily and Frank. Frank and Emily. I totally ship the new shy girl and smart boy kind of thing going on in here. Now the sizzling realization of love took quite a while, but the book wasn't very generous in getting there either. As Frank helps Emily complete her list of... strange things... he sees the true Emily (fun and beautiful) and evidently falls in love with her at the same time. But a YA contemporary wouldn't be a YA contemporary without some type of love triangle as well. But apparently Frank already has a girlfriend in Princeton for the summer. So things get a little interesting there... And now, it's not my job to spoil it for you guys because I know a lot of you have been looking forward to reading this book.

I thought the plot was AMAAAMZEEBEANS!!! I can't even begin to comprehend how Morgan Matson came up with such compelling storylines. But I'm guessing she just had this well-planned summer in her head while writing the sketches for this story. I'm pretty sure there are more Morgan Matson books in my future... just wait and see! 

All I can really sum up for this book was that it was a perfect summer read, and I don't know why I didn't start it earlier. The plot will have you gripped till the end. And let's not forget that I finished this 449 page book in ONE day. While, on the other hand, it took me quite a while to finish The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, a 419 page book. And I was surprised by how much I liked this book since YA contemporaries lately haven't had me in the shock and awe moment. Without a doubt, this book deserves the highest of ratings. 

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black: Book Review

 

Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author: Holly Black
Pages: 419 pages
Published: September 3rd, 2013
Genre: Paranormal fiction, YA, teenage romance

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling author and acclaimed author Holly Black. 

** THIS REVIEW DOES NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS **

Greetings lovelies. It brings me great pleasure to be writing this review after finally finishing one of my most anticipated reads of 2014. Arggg... I'm so excited to have finally read this book. And now I can totally share my thoughts about it! Okay. So first things first, I had some pretty high expectations for this book. One reason is because Holly Black is the author of the Spiderwick Chronicles, a series I absolutely loved. Secondly is because this is a vampire book, and any vampire YA book these days have to be spot on and just plain fantastic! But let me just say, my little bees, I more than just enjoyed this book. I'm obsessed with this book, and it's my go-to vampire read of the month.

The world is completely aware of vampires and their ability to infect people. There are even Coldtowns set up across the world where vampires stroll and humans mingle. After Tana wakes up hazy at a party with no knowledge of the events that occurred the night before, things really do begin to change for her.  Tana finds out that she, along with her ex-boyfriend and an ancient vampire, were the only survivors of a vampire massacre that occurred on the night of the party. Tana goes on a journey filled with romance and death to save not only herself, but the two friends who came along with her.

I'm really glad this was nothing like Twilight. Twilight, for me, was a bit unrealistic and corny. I think it's safe to say that I compare all my vampire books with Twilight. What I enjoyed most about this book was the pace. I liked how the book started on the morning of the party, which of course led into all the action. The storyline was well put together, along with other things. Holly Black is a master storyteller. As I was reading, I couldn't find the time to put this book down!

Let me just say now, before I get all the comments about how your book boyfriend is better than mine that Gavriel is my new book boyfriend. Gavriel, the smoking hot vampire, had me swooning and grasping for air. But you'll also fall in love with the main character Tana, who had pure intentions. Unlike the other crazy people in the world, she didn't want to become a vampire. And there are some pretty rad scenes where she kicks some vampire ass!!

I'm probably gonna regret saying this, but I think this is the best vampire YA book of the year! I always read vampire books from time to time to get myself off a reading slump, but I'm really glad I ended up picking this book. Now I just have to read the other 157 books on my TBR list... oh jesus. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this review, and I really hope I convinced you to get this book so we can talk about it together!

Favorite Quote:
(said by Gavriel)
"If you're proposing a duel, I believe she get's to pick a weapon. I hope she picks me."