Waiting On Wednesday 23

Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Eric Luper
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Publisher: Balzer + Bray


Summary: "Seth Baumgartner just had the worst day of his life.
His girlfriend dumped him (at Applebee's), he spied his father on a date with a woman who is not his mother (also at Applebee's!), and he lost his fourth job of the year. It's like every relationship he cares about is imploding, and he can't figure out what's going on.
To find answers, Seth decides to start an anonymous podcast called The Love Manifesto, exploring "what love is, why love is, and why we're stupid enough to keep going back for more." Things start looking up when Seth gets a job at a golf club with his hilarious and smut-minded best friend, Dimitri, and Dimitri's sister, Audrey. With their help, Seth tracks down his father's mystery date, hits the most infamous bogey in the history of golf, and discovers that sometimes love means eating the worst chicken-salad sandwich you can ever imagine."


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine 

In My Mailbox 27

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren From School Library:

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park by Steve Kluger (This book is awesome! Reading it also for the GLBT challenge)

On The Road: The Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac (for AP US History, it will also go for my Gilmore Girl Reading Challenge!)

Borrowed:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Won:

Hourglass by Claudia Gray (Thanks Maura!! I haven't read the other books in the series, so I'll have to get those soon!)

From Alea's Romance Giveaway, I got:

Hot Dish by Connie Brockway

Newborn Conspiracy by Delores Fossen

The Sins of Lord Easterbrook by Madeline Hunter

To The Limit by Pamela Britton

Highland Knight by Hannah Howell

No Choice But Seduction by Johanna Lindsey

At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh

The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Simply Love by Mary Balogh

One Man and a Baby by Susan Meier

The Bad Son by Linda Warren (can not find it to link)

Irish Dreams by Nora Roberts

I don't read a lot of hardcore romance (just romance in YA or popular romance books) but I'm excited to read theses.

Sisters Red

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
"Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?"


Jackson Pearce is having her April Sisters Red contest right now! 

Waiting On Wednesday 22

My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares

Release Date: June 1, 2010

"Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short. Interwoven through Sophia and Daniel's unfolding present day relationship are glimpses of their expansive history together. From 552 Asia Minor to 1918 England and 1972 Virginia, the two souls share a long and sometimes torturous path of seeking each other time and time again. But just when young Sophia (now "Lucy" in the present) finally begins to awaken to the secret of their shared past, to understand the true reason for the strength of their attraction, the mysterious force that has always torn them apart reappears. Ultimately, they must come to understand what stands in the way of their love if they are ever to spend a lifetime together."

I saw this book over the weekend and I love Ann Brashares other books! Then, I read the summary. Oh my! This sounds fantastic! I can't even describe how much I want to read this book. And the cover is wonderful!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine

Honest Scrap Award

I have no idea how long ago it was that I got this award or who it was the gave me this wonderful blog award (if it was you, please let me know, so I can link your blog up!)

Rules: List ten things about yourself that not a lot of people know and then pass it along to seven other bloggers. 10 Things About Me..

1. I want to go to Boston University more than anything. Sadly, I am terrible at math and sciences and I don't have straight A's (I know that's not all what matters, but...) I'm afraid to even apply to the school once I become a senior (I'm currently a sophomore.) Some of the other school's I want to apply to are: U of Chicago, U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Mizzou, KU, Washington University-St. Louis. I have a good chance at making it to KU and Mizzou but the rest are a stretch. 2. I make an extreme amount of lists. I plan out everything or I'm just writing down things I have to do. I might write what I need to eat in the morning or just write a list of books I need to read. 3. I run cross country, swim in the winter and play soccer during the spring at school. My passion is running, but I'm not very good at it. HOWEVER. I am currently planning out my running schedule for the summer (see, I told ya I liked lists) and so help me God, I will run a mile somewhere in the 7s and 5ks under 25 minutes. Truth is, I would love to go to State in all the sports I'm in, but if I only go for Cross Country, that will make my high school career. If you would like to read more about this, you can visit my sports blog!! No one really knows about it, but I've had it since last year. I haven't updated in a while, but I have lots of stuff that I need to finish typing up/organizing. CLICK HERE! Warning: I have a potty mouth and my cross country entries are way out there! 4. Speaking of running. I plan on qualifying for the Boston Marathon while I'm in my 20's! I also really want to go to Athens, Greece by myself and run the marathon. I am so fascinated with the Greek legendary marathon story about how Pheidippides ran 26.2 miles to spread the word about the Athens battle. I just have to do it. My life will just not be complete until I do. 5. It's no secret that Barnes & Nobel is one of my favorite stores, since I love books. But, I am also in love with Office Max! Seriously. If I had the money, I would definitely buy a zillion things from there. I love office/school supplies. Being an elementary teacher is one of the things I'll looking at doing after school and I'll definitely need a lot of supplies! ;) 6. I am an EXTREME baseball fan. Especially of the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox. If you follow me on Twitter, you know this! I can't explain why and I know this is bizarre but I can not stand it if I see someone wearing a hat of said teams and they're not fans! I live in KC so when I see people wearing 'KC' hats, I can tolerate that because this is where they live. Oh. And I hate bandwagon fans with a passion. 7. So, I'm 15 years old. I turn 16 on May 12. I STILL have not gotten my permit. I am so angry at my mother for not taking me to get it. I mean, I think if I keep getting on her case about it, I can get it before June. But. I have no idea how I'm going to get her to teach me how to drive. She's very overprotective and I only do school-related things. Once I learn how to drive and get a car, I believe I'll have more freedom. Hopefully. I don't know the first thing about driving, except from what my drivers book says. I hope I'll be good driver! 8. Well. Once I do start driving, I do hope I can get a GPS system. I have NO sense of direction. It is ridiculous. I've have been lost for 2+ hours on a cross country run. When I first came to my high school (not a lot of students, but it's pretty big) I got lost all the time for the first few weeks. Now, when I remember that, I laugh at myself. 9. I have never been to camp. We don't have a lot of money. But I really, really want to go to this cross country camp. It's $405 and I have to have it by June 1st. I believe with my training I'll be doing in the summer + this, it would really help me. I have no idea how to raise the money. Any suggestions? I'll be getting a job this summer at, like, McD's or something, but that's not going to help me now. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE! 10. I am addicted to....Harry Potter fanfiction. Particularly, Draco and Hermione base. I know, I know. I'm pathetic, but I just can't help it. PLEASE DON'T JUDGE ME! This was a sucky 10 things about me. Clearly, I don't really know how to do this. Sorry for all the running stuff! And I'm pretty sure some of them aren't exactly truths? Just go with it, please. And HOLY! I type too much. TOO LONG. Bloggers I am passing this award on to: • Maura at Monster of Books • Lea at YA Book Queen • Cecelia at Cecelia Bedelia • Nina at J'adore Happy Endings • Amanda at The Zen Leaf • Katie at Sophistikatied Reviews • Escape in a Book

In My Mailbox 26

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren! After I did last week's IMM, I noticed that I completely forgot to include these two books!

Bought:

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli LOVE, STARGIRL picks up a year after Stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of Stargirl. The novel takes the form of "the world's longest letter," in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a year's time. In her writing, Stargirl mixes memories of her bittersweet time in Mica, Arizona, with involvements with new people in her life. In Love, Stargirl, we hear the voice of Stargirl herself as she reflects on time, life, Leo, and - of course - love.

The Girls by Lori Lansens Rarely has the experience of being a sister been so poignantly and memorably captured as in Lori Lansens's triumphant novel. The Girls celebrates life's fundamental joys and trials as it presents Rose and Ruby, sisters destined to live inseparably but blessed with distinct sensibilities that enrich and complicate their shared experiences-of growing up, of finding their way in the world, of saying good-bye.Readers who encounter the girls will find it hard to resist falling under their spell. Okay. Moving on to to the book I got this week, which I won!

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

All her world’s a stage

Enter Stage Right

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith (Bertie): Our heroine. Nate: A dashing pirate who will do anything to protect Bertie. Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom: Four tiny, mischievous fairies, and Bertie’s loyal sidekicks. Ariel: A seductive air spirit. Disaster follows in his wake, but Bertie simply cannot resist him.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Théâtre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Théâtre. It’s the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, there’s the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth. . . .

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

Publisher: Dial

Release Date: March 13, 2008

Age Group: Young Adult

Hardcover: 403 pages 

 Best friends and unofficial brothers since they were six, ninth-graders T.C. and Augie have got the world figured out. But that all changes when both friends fall in love for the first time. Enter Alé. She's pretty, sassy, and on her way to Harvard. T.C. falls hard, but Alé is playing hard to get. Meanwhile, Augie realizes that he's got a crush on a boy. It's not so clear to him, but to his family and friends, it's totally obvious! Told in alternating perspectives, this is the hilarious and touching story of their most excellent year, where these three friends discover love, themselves, and how a little magic and Mary Poppins can go a long way.

Review: UM. I believe this book is now going on my 'favorite books of all time list!' It was just that wicked good. I feel as if this book could've have been written for me. I swear. There is not a thing that I didn't like about this book, except, of course, I wished it could have been longer. 


In a school english project, the three main characters tell their stories through letters, emails, instant messaging, and regular format. I loved the three POVs! T.C. Keller, born Anthony Conigliaro Keller and Augie Hwong are not blood related but might as well be. When TC's mom died when he was 6 years old and Augie was there for him and ever since they have been brothers. I LOVE, LOVED reading about the relationship between the two. They called TC father, Pop and Augies parents Mom and Dad. It was really cute. Even, TC's aunts became surrogate aunts for Augie; they were that close.

There is a way to my heart and is easy to accomplish; talk about the Red Sox with me and you're in. In a matter of seconds, T.C. introduces the us to the wonderful world of Boston and The Red Sox. (Yes, I am obsessed.) I say that this book could've been written for me because not only do they live in Boston, there is the Broadway musicals and theatre elements.

Augie was SO fun to read about! From the start of the book, TC and their parents know that he is gay but . I'm so glad to read a LGBT book! Definitely a great addition. Augie was a Broadway junkie! And I absolutely loved it (sorry, that I'm being repetitive with the 'love it's'!) He would write letters to people like Liza Minnelli. He was also did many sports, which I found awesome. 2 more of my favorite things! Alejandra is the other main character. Her father is an Ambassador and so she knows many people with power. When she gets to the high school, TC knows he wants her. I thought all of the romance was really cute!

If you are looking for a humorous, diverse (of the 3 POV, one of them is Asian and one is Hispanic,) romantic, or if you like any of the different things I talked about, you will LOVE this book! I am now in love with Steve Kluger's writing and I love that he is a Boston fan. I am sad that he doesn't have a lot of YA books but I'll be checking out Almost Like Being In Love!

Rating:

Characters: 5/5

Originality: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Voice: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Favorite character(s): As I said, I enjoyed all the characters in this book. Which is very rare. But I LOVED the voices of each of the 3 main characters! And Pop & Dad.

Cover: B+ Loved the baseball bat and umbrella, which I'm assuming represents Mary Poppins.

Thoughts: A great, fun read! Not angsty at all, but may make you tear up. I need to buy my own copy of this very soon! AMAZING! 5 Stars

I also read this book for the GLBT April Mini Challenge! & because 2 of the main characters where POC, it will be going under that challenge, too!

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Release Date: December 23, 2008

Age Group: Young Adult

Paperback: 368 pages

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

Review: Everyone's heard of of the forbidden love between Romeo & Juliet and in the modern and urban twist, the two main characters are paired up in chemistry class.

First off, I absolutely loved how Simone Elkeles alternates between Alex's POV and Brittany's POV. Sometimes I might get annoyed at alternating chapters (I used to dislike books like that!) but I think it makes this book even better. Brittany is captain of cheerleading and to everyone, she is viewed as perfect, however that is not the case. Alex is in a gang but there is more to him than meets the eye, whose POV I especially liked reading.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did but luckily I was wrong! This has been one of my favorites books I've read this year (not that I've read a lot..will get on that!) because there were just so many things I loved about it! The writing, the romance, the forced partnership (LOVE THAT IN BOOKS!) and I haven't read a lot of books that deal with gangs and I thought it was a interesting change from the other books I read.

Epilogue = Win!

Rating:

Characters: 5/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Voice: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Favorite character(s): Isabel, Paque, Mrs. Peterson were all great characters!

Cover: A- I found myself looking at the cover numerous times while reading the book. Typically, I don't care for covers with people on them but jeez the cover is HOT! I can't even describe how much I love the people and their pose! The only thing I didn't like was the pink text for the authors name and how the back is a pink background.

Thoughts: FANTASTIC book! I want need to read Rules of Attractions ASAP! 5 Stars

Waiting On Wednesday 21

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Wiliams Release Date: June 22, 2010 Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books Summary: It’s the story of a girl whose older sister tries to kill herself. The main character wants to find out why

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine

Princess Bookie's WICKED Contest Craze!

In case somehow, someway you've missed the awesome Contest Craze event at Princess Bookie, click the button above!

There are DOZENS of books you can win! There are prize packages, tons of arcs, and single books being given away! Hurry because some of them end at midnight tonight!!

In My Mailbox 25

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley Little, Brown - 2009

"As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face? It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper. She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?"

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Walker Books - 2008

"When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more."

A Certain Age by Rebecca Ray Penguin Books - 1997

"'I lost my virginity to a twenty-five year-old man. And on a schoolnight, too.' Sex with an older man, parents who don't understand, politics in the playground, blowjobs behind the bike-sheds, skinning up in the schoolyard. It's what happens when you reach a certain age. Just the hormones kicking in. We've all been there...haven't we? "A Certain Age" is a reality behind the problem pages. It's what a just 17 never told you about growing up." All of these books were bought from Amazon! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren!

A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross

A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross

Fantagraphics Books (April 30, 2009)

Age Group: Young Adult

Paperback: 232 pages

Summary: "Melissa is now in high school, where the stakes are higher as she copes with an anxiety-induced drug habit and an anorexic best friend. Melissa finds herself negotiating the kinds of everyday problems facing young adults today—such as alienating her friends with her uncomfortable honesty and accidentally breaking her best guy friend's heart. Eventually, her woes cause her to nearly flunk out of school, and by the end of the book Melissa faces the choice that we all do at some point: to take the risk and pursue her dreams or settle for a safer, more secure routine."

Review: At the end of the day, my friend gave me this graphic novel to read. I wasn't actually planning on reading it, but since I had some free time in the class, and there was a sub in AP US History I figured I'd go ahead and read it.

A Mess of Everything is actually the 2nd book in Miss Lasko-Gross graphic novel autobiography but since it's a stand alone, you can go ahead and read it without reading the first. The comic deals with Melissa's struggle of fitting in, anorexia, friendships and so many other things. I enjoyed it and thought it was a pretty good comic!

On a random note, the book doesn't say where it takes place, but as I noticed in one of the pictures there was a building with "123 Beacon St" or something and my first thought was that it took place in Boston and then there was another picture. I checked the author's site and what do you know, she was born in Boston. Although the drawings were subtle, I'm glad there were details like that!

Graphics: I thought the drawings were well done and I really liked the saturation to them! I would give the cover a 3/5.

3 stars.

Review of Steady Beat, Volume 2 by Rivkah

Steady Beat, Volume 2 by Rivkah

Tokyopop (October 10, 2006)

Age Group: Young Adult

Paperback: 192 pages

Summary: "Steady Beat burns down the closet when family is outed -- old enemies are made into friends and friends into enemies. How do you find a way to keep your feet in the middle and accept people solely for the quality of their character?"

Review: I'm still getting used to the fact that comics, especially volumes, are usually very short. You finish the comic in an hour and you have to read the next one in order to really get to the main part of the story!

This is a continuation of Volume 1 and Leah Winters is trying to uncover the mystery behind her sister's love letter from another girl.

I did like reading more about Eli, a guy Leah meets in the Vol. 1. We learn more about his family and helps Leah accept that her sister might me gay.

(sorry the review is wicked short. don't know what else to say about it)

Graphics: The drawings were good and I definitely like the cover better than the first volume's!

2.5 stars. It was better than the first! There is a 3rd volume out there, but I can't find it anywhere! So, I'm most likely not going to read it.

Waiting On Wednesday 20

Alice in Charge by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Release Date: June 15, 2010

Publisher: Atheneum

I could only find this very short summary:

"At last, it's Alice in Charge--of her life, of her future...but, is it too much?"

WHY I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS: I have been reading the Alice series since 5th grade. I love these books so much! Phyllis Naylor is a fantastic writer who captures teens emotions so well!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine!

Emily Horner's Awesome Giveaway!

Emily Horner, author of A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend is giving away 3 ARCS of her debut book! Also the winners will get a cool thing from Japan, as Emily is taking a trip there!

Hurry! The giveaway ends April 9th! ENTER HERE!

In My Mailbox 24

Bought:

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

Thanks to Alex Bracken's contest (author of Brightly Woven) I won all of these awesome ARCS:

Frozen In Time by Ali Sparkes

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

The Boy Who Could Fly by James Norcliffe

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

- I also got some Brightly Woven bookmarks! Thanks Alex!!

Borrowed:

The Best Little Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron

A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross (my friend let me read this yesterday in school -I finished it since it was a graphic novel and really fast to read)

*In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren