This is W.A.R. by Lisa & Laura Roecker

This is W.A.R. by Lisa & Laura Roecker
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Soho Teen
Pages: 288
Series: n/a
Review Source: Edelweiss

Synopsis: (from book website)
everyone at hawthorne lake country club saw willa ames-rowan climb into a boat with james gregory, the club's heir apparent. and everyone at hawthorne lake country club watched him return.

alone.
​
no one believes that willa's drowning was an accident. after all, she held the club record for the 1500 meter freestyle. and the gregory family has a history of making troublesome girls disappear.
​
they all know james gregory killed her.
​
but none of them will say a word.
​
enter the w.a.r.--the war to avenge Willa's death. four girls. four very different motives to avenge, and only one rule: destroy
the gregory family at any cost. innocence is lost, battles are won, and the pursuit of the truth ultimately threatens to destroy them all.

My Thoughts:
I was so intrigued by this concept and I had enjoyed the Liar Society books by these authors immensely. To me, though, ‘This is W.A.R.’ felt like it had been written by entirely different people. While Liar Society features an incredibly smart and resourceful heroine, the girls here were way out of their league and were grasping for straws.

The first thing this book requires of its reader is a huge suspension of disbelief. Unfortunately I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t believe that every single person in a community (as insular as it was) would “know” that a boy killed a girl and just wouldn’t say anything about it because of how rich and important the family is. Of course there are people, rich and poor, that would lie for their own, but there are also tons of people with morals who would never corroborate a fake story. In order to enjoy this book you also have to believe that the local police department is so inept that they wouldn't find anything strange with the murder scene. You have to believe that in the drowning of a teenager they wouldn’t check the blood-alcohol levels or do a tox screen to see what caused her death. To me, this just didn’t make sense.

I also had a hard time with the motivations of the girls and what exactly they were trying to do. They want justice for their friend’s death, and instead of trying to gather evidence of what happened and actually get the killer prosecuted, they decide that taking away the inheritance of the culprit and his brother is the way to go. So apparently being poor is a good punishment for murder? They also apparently think that stupid teenage pranks will be enough to cause the grandfather of the boys to disinherit them. Ladies, if their grandfather is paying people off to cover up a murder, do you really think that pictures of a drug deal or having an antique watch go missing will make a difference?

This book is told from four perspectives, and each girl knows a little something different about the night their friend was killed. Unfortunately the voices here really blended together and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. The stakes of this book were just so high, and the immature teenage pranks that would have been fun or witty in another book just came off as ridiculous here. I so wish I could say I liked this one, because the authors are awesome, but I just wasn’t feeling it at all.

The Cover:
Generally like.

Rating:
[2/5]

Find This is W.A.R. by Lisa & Laura Roecker on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 309
Series: n/a
Review Source: finished copy for review from Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
There are a few things Grace Anderson knows for sure. One is that nothing will ever come between her and her best friend, Kya Kessler. They have a pact. Buds Before Studs. Sisters Before Misters. But in the summer before senior year, life throws out challenges they never expected. And suddenly the person who's always been there starts to need the favor returned. Grace and Kya are forced to question how much a best friend can forgive. And the answer is not what they expected.

My Thoughts:
‘How I Lost You’ may be my favourite book of Janet Gurtler’s yet, and if you’ve read my past reviews for her books (If I Tell, I'm Not Her, Who I Kissed) you know that I enjoy them a great deal. One of my favourite parts of this book was something that you would never guess from the cover or the blurb, and that is the fact that Grace is a kickass paintball player. Paintball is a huge part of who Grace is, to the degree that her biggest dream is to be a part of an all-female college team, and she may even want to go pro. I loved learning about the sport and seeing how passionate Grace was about it.

Of course this book mostly focuses on the friendship element, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a very cute boy who shows up in Grace’s life. Levi is just adorable, there’s no other way to describe him. He’s attentive and polite, a little shy. He’s a NICE BOY and I totally dug how well he treated Grace.

As mentioned, this book primarily focuses on friendship. I feel like everyone has probably had a friendship implode at one point or another, so it’s a very relatable story. It was actually scary how relatable I found it, and it was hard to read at certain points because of that fact. I basically felt all mama-bear protective over Grace, because she is such a great girl. She’s a fabulous friend, but she takes that loyalty to the point of being walked all over. Kya is a damaged girl who I definitely felt for, but that feeling gradually faded away as Kya became more and more out of control, ruining things for Grace and taking advantage of their friendship. This relationship was just toxic for Grace, and as the book continued I kept waiting for that moment when Grace would finally stand up for herself.

As you can tell, I absolutely loved Grace and I was cheering for her. Janet Gurtler writes such amazing contemps with family, friends, and romance all intertwined in the perfect way. ‘How I Lost You’ was a very intense friendship story that I think most everyone can relate to in one way or another. I enjoyed this book tremendously and I am eagerly anticipating Janet’s next release.

The Cover:
Like!

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Find How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 304
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

My Thoughts:
‘Nantucket Blue’ is a book about friendship and first love. It’s also really about learning to like, and be comfortable with, yourself and the decisions that you make.

A big part of the book was Cricket wanting to be a good friend. Cricket's friend Jules has lost her mom, and in the aftermath she turns away from Cricket and becomes like a different person. Cricket is also dealing with the loss of someone who was like a mother to her, but on top of that she’s also lost her best friend, someone who she just wants to be there for.

Cricket is a pretty complex character, in that she's not always easy to like. She makes some pretty dumb decisions and is shallow when it comes to certain matters, which was frustrating as a reader. However it’s clear that Cricket has a good heart and eventually I warmed up to her. I like when books can make me think about characters and people: that as individuals we don’t always make the right decisions and we sometimes do and say stupid things, but it doesn’t mean that we’re unlikeable or bad people.

My favourite parts of the book were definitely the scenes between Cricket and Zack. Zack was such a sweetheart and the two of them had such great chemistry. I have to admit that I actually wish the romance had been a bigger part of the book.

I liked where the book ended up, but it definitely felt like an abrupt ending. Overall, though? This was a decent summery beach read.

The Cover:
LOVE. IT. (!!)

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 326
Series: n/a
Review Source: eARC from publisher

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

My Thoughts:
‘The Summer I Became a Nerd’ was such a cute story about being yourself. Overall I really enjoyed it!

Sometimes it felt like Maddie was a bit over the top with how averse she was to anyone knowing the real her, but on the other hand I can understand how sensitive she was to how people viewed her, and how she wanted acceptance. High school can definitely be tough, and it’s a time when you’re discovering yourself and deciding who you want to be. It took Maddie a little longer than I would have liked to realize that being herself was the best way to live, but I still enjoyed reading about her journey.

I liked how the book shows that sometimes people can surprise you, and they aren’t necessarily what you would expect. The popular cheerleader can be into comic books, and the comic nerd just might be the best boy you’ll meet. Speaking of Logan, I just loved his character. It was so great to see the geeky nice guy as the hero who gets the girl he’s been crushing on. Bad boys can be fun, but I'm all about the sweet guys.

Conclusion? This was a cute and fun contemporary that I would definitely recommend.

The Cover:
It's cute, but a more nerdy cover would have been nice.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 304
Series: Hundred Oaks #3 (A companion book that can be read as a standalone)
Review Source: ARC for review from Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

My Thoughts:
I completely adore how Miranda Kenneally is willing to discuss such serious (and touchy, for many people) issues in her books. And because of this I think my review for ‘Things I Can’t Forget’ will be a bit different from my normal ones. I know there will be some very strong reactions to this book, so I thought I would reflect on the issues that the book presents, and especially on the book’s main character.

Kate Kelly is a tricky character. I think for a lot of people she might seem too religious to relate to. However I think if you take a deeper look you can identify with Kate and her situation. Kate has done something which she believes to be immoral, something that she doesn’t believe in, to help a friend. Then because of prejudice (on both sides) that friendship falls apart. I think we’ve all had friendships end, and we’ve probably all been in situations where we have to make a difficult decision based on what we believe, whether that be related to religion, politics, or even just personal morals.

Personally I can relate a lot to Kate’s situation. I also grew up in a relatively strict Christian household, and at one point I think I was in that bubble where it was shocking to realize how other people were living, and what other people thought was right, versus what I grew up believing. Because of this I can really empathize with Kate as a character, even when her beliefs come across as rigid or judgmental.

I think as you read the book you see that Kate is someone who has a belief system and is growing up and learning about herself and her place in the world, just like anyone else. We see Kate try and reconcile her own faith and beliefs both with her own behaviour and with others’ beliefs and behaviours. Kate has never been a position before where she’s had to question her beliefs, and she finally sees how other people might find her judgmental. I love how Kate manages to stick to her fundamental beliefs, and yet also grows as a person, accepting that others might not always believe the same things as her. She realizes that it’s not the end of the world for people to have different beliefs, and that it’s not her place to judge people, especially before getting to know them.

I can't write this review without commenting on how much I adored the romance in this one. I’m pretty sure I would love any romance that Miranda Kenneally writes, but I especially loved Matt and Kate together because of their past connection. I loved how their relationship came out of an easy friendship, and the summer camp setting was a perfect place for them to explore their feelings. I loved the mutual respect that existed in their relationship, and how their feelings made Kate question (for the first time) what boundaries should exist in physical relationships before marriage.

I really can’t say enough about how much I enjoy Miranda Kenneally’s books. I always feel so much for her characters and their relationships. I love the examination of deeper issues that gets mixed in with totally swoony romances. After ‘Stealing Parker’ Miranda rose to the top of my auto-buy list, but this book just confirmed my feelings.

The Cover:
Cute!! I like it.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Sourcebooks Summer

I've really enjoyed all the books I've read from Sourcebooks. They're such a great smaller publisher, and I find that their YA releases are always smart and thoughtful. I was really excited when I went into Chapters the other day and saw Janet Gurtler and Miranda Kenneally's books on the shelves there.

On May 1st two Sourcebooks titles were released that look PERFECT for summer. They are:

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond

This was the summer that would change my life.

No more being what everyone expected. No more doing what everyone else wanted.

So when Luke came into my life, I decided to keep him a secret. Maybe he as a dead-ringer for notorious Hollywood bad boy Trent Yves. And it was possible that everything he told me was a lie. And yes, I was probably asking for trouble. But all I saw was Luke--sweet, funny, caring--someone who would let me be the real me.

But which was the real him?

&

While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

One year--he'll be gone for one year and then we'll be together again and everything will be back to the way it should be.

The day David left, I felt like my heart was breaking. Sure, any long-distance relationship is tough, but David was going to war--to fight, to protect, to put his life in danger. We can get through this, though. We'll talk, we'll email, we won't let anything come between us.

I can be on army girlfriend for one year. But will my sweet, soulful, funny David be the same person when he comes home? Will I? And what if he doesn't come home at all...?

Have you read either of these books? Which one should I read first?

I remember putting them on my TBR list MONTHS ago, first because of the fabulous covers, and second because of the interesting sounding plots... yut I haven't had a chance to pick them up yet!

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 240
Series: n/a
Review Source: Bought

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.

Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.

Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

My Thoughts:
You know how some books are just the perfect read at the perfect time? Well, ‘Unbreak My Heart’ was one of those reads for me. I loved how it was about romance, about friendship, and about family and it never felt like too much. It combined those aspects seamlessly, making them each a part of Clementine’s life, just as we experience those different relationships in real life.

At the heart of the story is Clementine’s relationship with her (now ex)best friend Amanda, and Clem’s growing realization of how much the break up of a friendship can hurt. I loved how the story went back and forth between Clem’s summer with her family on a boat and the past year when the whole situation unfurled. It didn’t feel like a gimmick to tell the story that way; it felt like a natural unfolding as Clem grieves for her broken relationships and starts to heal and have revelations as the summer continues.

I can’t write this review without mentioning two fabulous characters. First is Clem’s sister Olive, who is just adorable and funny and sweet, and is basically the perfect little sister. She’s brutally honest and just the right amount of clingy-bratty to seem like a real little sister, but she is also Clem’s biggest fan. The second amazing character is James, who Clem and her family meet on their boating trip. James is one of the most adorable YA guys I’ve read about in a long time. I love how upbeat and cheerful he is, despite the things going on in his own life, and I loved how much he rooted for Clem and how well he treated her and her family.

This book made me sad and nostalgic for lost friendships, but it also filled my heart back up with the sweet romance and the moments between Clementine’s fabulous family. ‘Unbreak My Heart’ was so emotionally satisfying. I absolutely love Melissa Walker’s writing, and this may just be my new favourite of hers. Recommended to those who love contemporary romance and to Sarah Dessen fans.

The Cover:
Prettttty, and it's even nicer in person.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Moving Neutral by Katy Atlas

Release Date: November 14, 2011
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: 211
Series: n/a
Review Source: eBook from author for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Casey Snow is grounded for life... or at least until she leaves for college.

After driving her car into the side of her parents’ garage, Casey is stuck filing papers in her mom’s office during the day, and confined to her house on the weekends. Worst of all, she’s not allowed to see her favorite band, Moving Neutral—whose lead guitarist, Blake Parker, just might be the love of Casey’s life.

But with her best friend’s help, Casey comes up with a plan to sneak out of her house for the concert. And as she’s standing in line at a coffee shop near the show, everything changes. Because behind her is Blake Parker, ready to sweep her away for the best summer of her life.

My Thoughts:
To be honest, when I think of this book I think of it like a wish fulfillment or fantasy situation. I mean, the whole randomly bumping in your favourite singer and falling in love and going on tour with him? It’s the plot of a zillion fanfics out there. It’s incredibly unlikely to happen, and yet... so much fun to read about. ‘Moving Neutral’ was predictable at times, but it definitely kept me reading.

I would have liked to have gotten more scenes of Casey and Blake falling for each other -- more getting to know Blake instead of just hearing second hand about how awesome he is. That’s my only real complaint about the book, though. I think this is one of those books that speak for themselves. You know what you're getting when you choose to read the book, and it delivers on those expectations. It’s a book that isn’t at all realistic, yet it’s completely fun. It’s like candy in a book form, if that makes sense. If you’re looking for that fun, frothy type of contemporary read then this is definitely a great book for you.

The Cover:
Pretty good; I think it's nice that it's simple, and I like the B&W.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find Moving Neutral by Katy Atlas on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, & iBooks.