Review: Dream Boy

Dream Boy

by Madelyn Rosenberg & Mary Crockett

Pages: 336 - paperback

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: July 1st 2014

ISBN: 1402295839
Received From:  NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire

Summary 

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

Review

Okay, so I wasn't sure on this book going into it. I had originally liked the idea but as I sat down to read it I changed my mind. I'd just read one awful paranormal disaster I really didn't need another one. However, I'm so glad I read Dream Boy because it's a unique and captivating story that's well written and easy to read. Yes, it has some issues but it's one I'd recommend and one I'd be happy to read again. 

The story itself is about Annabelle Manning, a teenager with a rather ordinary teenage life with a kid brother, a bathrobe loving mum and an arse of a dad. All in all though life is pretty damn normal for Annabelle. That is until Martin walks into her classroom. For you see, Martin isn't what he seems. He's one of her dreams and now that he's wandering around in the real world things are about to get all kinds of complicated. Because it's not just her dream boy that's escaped...

Firstly, I adored the idea behind this book. It's really interesting and I loved the way in which the authors grab you from the very first chapter. Annabelle - even though a little clueless at times - is a loveable and relatable character that overcomes the winy teenage girl stereotype. I would have maybe liked her to have questioned what was going on around her a little more but she was stubborn and intriguing and I fell in love with her. Actually, if I'm honest I fell in love with a lot of the character's as they were all completely different, with their own voices and were very easy to picture.

There's a humour in the writing that will put a smile on your face and a book boyfriend that will break your heart. It was touch and go for a little while but Will is defiantly worth swooning over. 

Okay, so I mentioned before there were a couple of little hiccups and they all happened in the middle. Dream Boy has a gripping start and an ending that will make your heart ache. It was funny and creepy and completely mesmerising - that is if you don't read the middle of it. The middle of this book was a big old confused paranormal blob that had me re-reading more than I would have liked. It almost felt like the authors were trying to connect every single character to the paranormal aspect of the book. Which even though it did work (once I figure out what was happening) it may have been a little much of the story. Not everything needed to be linked the way it was. I think by the end Billy was the only one not connected in some way to this dream world!  

And then there was the love triangle... it wasn't over powering or even really problem. I'm just a little unsure how I feel about these thee pointed relationships at the moment. But for the recored I'm totally #TeamWill! 

Overall Dream Boy is a book that has something a lot of books don't - an original and unique concept that will draw you into it's story lines and rich, imaginative characters. It's like no book I've ever read before and I really enjoyed it. Well, the majority of it. The authors are expert scene setters and they create quite a pretty picture with this book. Worth a read for all YA paranormal lovers out there.

**I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

Stupid Girl

Stupid Girl by Cindy Miles

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

 

Synopsis (via Goodreads)

Only fools fall in love...
After her senior year of high school leaves behind nothing but heartache, Olivia Beaumont is sure of this: She’s no stupid girl. She sets out for Winston College, promising herself that she will remain focused on her first and only love – astronomy. But all it takes is cocky sophomore Brax Jenkins and an accidental collision with a football, to throw her entire year off course. 
A quick-tempered Southie who escaped the inner city streets of Boston to pitch for Winston, Brax is known to play way more fields than just the baseball diamond. So, when his name is drawn to take part in his fraternity’s hazing dare, Brax eagerly accepts the mission to take Olivia’s virginity. But he doesn’t plan on falling hard for the sweet and sassy Texas girl who sees right through his bad-boy persona. 
As Olivia and Brax battle their feelings for each other, echoes of the past year begin to surface. A boy who once turned Olivia’s whole world upside down reappears, and “harmless” pranks wreak havoc. Pretty soon the aspiring astronomer is on the verge of revealing her most difficult, heartbreaking secret. All the while, Brax must wrestle with the irrevocable dare, and Olivia struggles against all logic as she does the one thing only a stupid girl would do: fall in love.

Review 

"My heart had begged me to change my mind. But my brain had decided not to ever be stupid again."

Okay, so this book isn't going to change your life. In fact it's stuffed full of NA/YA clichés and the ending was particularly corny. HOWEVER, I honestly couldn't give a fudge! I really enjoyed this book, and it's delinquent Southie, Brax. He's the bad boy with a heart who has a tendency to throw punches first and ask questions later.

Stupid Girl follows Olivia Beaumount as she starts her life over at university. Just before her senior year of high school her boyfriend attacked her, making her last year of high school hell. University is her escape. But it doesn't take two seconds before she's been knocked to the ground by some tattoo's jock and her life gets flipped once again. The story shows Olivia as she tries to come to terms with her growing feelings, as she tries to keep her past in the past and everything else that comes with starting college. All of which is made increasingly harder by the fact her ex - Kelsey - just happens to show up!

One thing I really liked about this was that from the very beginning we knew what Olivia was hiding, what her big secret was. In way too many books you spend half your time trying to figure it out and it just becomes a distraction from the actual book, but with the prologue telling use all we need to know it makes reading the story a lot easier. Like you're living it with Olivia rather that working the with other character's in the story trying to figure her out. 

Throughout the entire book I felt this abundance of admiration towards Olivia. She's strong and doesn't take any sh*t from anyone. She has strong principles that kept her motivated and enough common sense not to end up being the clique love-sick girlie girl. Saying that, it's about the only cliché Miles didn't hit.

And then there's Brax. Oh Brax! Tattoo's, a motorbike, cocky attitude & a cute accent... SWOON ALERT! He's the quintessential bad boy and I loved him. He scared me at times, with all the fighting but all in all he was just so damn hot. I can't explain it, he's just... I'm just... yeah. 

I did have one or two issues with the story line... I mean out of ALL the universities in America her ex just happens to apply and get into the same one as her? It seemed a little far fetched too me. There was also the fact that we had this weird semi-duel narrative going on. I have no problem with multiple points of view, in fact it seems to be the trend at the moment. But there was only two chapters told from Brax's prospective. If you are going to do this you need to to be closer to 50/50 with the characters otherwise there really isn't much point. The 2 Brax chapters just seemed a tad random. Like the author was bored and wanted to mix it up. 

Also I really don't think we needed for Brax to punch quite so many people. I understood why he needed to hit a couple of these douchebags but at one point I think he knocked out 3 DIFFERENT people in one chapter. 

But saying all that I really liked this story. I honestly think this is one you'll have to make your own mind up on. The character's were enough for me to enjoy it but the clichés may be too off putting for some. But this was only my two cense. I hope you give it a shot though! Brax is one book boyfriend you don't want to miss out on! 

**I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. This is a 100% honest review**

Time for a little something extra! I love the cover of this book so I decided to create a Book Look for it! 

Stupid Girl by emily-bradley-dorman featuring bleached shorts

Between the Lives

Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

Rating: 4 out of 5

Title: Between the Lives

Author: Jessica Shirvington

Publishing Date: August 7th 2014 (first published May 1st 2013)

Publisher: Orchard Books

ISBN: 140833173X

Provided by: Hachette Children's Books & Netgalley

Summary (via Goodreads)

For as long as she can remember, Sabine has lived two lives. Every 24 hours she shifts to her 'other' life - a life where she is exactly the same, but absolutely everything else is different: different family, different friends, different social expectations. In one life she has a sister, in the other she does not. In one life she's a straight-A student with the perfect boyfriend, in the other she's considered a reckless delinquent. Nothing about her situation has ever changed, until the day when she discovers a glitch: the arm she breaks in one life is perfectly fine in the other.

With this new knowledge, Sabine begins a series of increasingly risky experiments that bring her dangerously close to the life she's always wanted. But if she can only have one life, which is the one she'll choose?

Review

Some things are so real you can feel them in your core. It doesn't matter where you go, they go with you.

Sabine has two lives. Two lives that she's learnt to keep separate and every night at the stoke of twelve she switches between them. Expect the rules have changed. In the past the only connection between her two lives had been her body, but when she breaks her arm in one life she's shocked to discovered that it's perfectly fine in the other. Now Sabine's on a mission to find out how far she can take this new 'glitch' and maybe, just maybe, this could mean the start of a new life. The start of one life.

I loved this take on the coming of age story. Having two entirely different worlds to connect and merge so that Sabine can figure out who she wants to be was really interesting. Okay, so it's a bit of a slow burner and in all honesty it took a couple of chapters for me to really get into it but once I did? I fell hard for this book. I had this knot in the base of my stomach the whole way through reading it and even though I found the second half a smidgen predictable it didn't take away from the fact Sabine's story will turn you into an emotional wreck. Seriously, I was a mess!

My main concern when picking this book up was that I'd get stuck with a winy teenage girl complaining about her life when, in fact, there isn't anything wrong with it. But what I actually got was a very determined leading lady who would do anything to be free. She doesn't see her two lives as a second chance, it's more like they cancel each other out.

Sabine has to make some difficult decisions throughout the story which - at times - had me cringing. The beginning of the book had me questioning whether or not she was brave or just plain stupid but it wasn't long before I settled on brave. By the end of the first half all I wanted was for Sabine to find a way to live one full life. But I couldn't shake the feeling it was never going to work out that way and by the time my Kindle read 66% I knew exactly how it was going to end. I read the last third biting the inside of my cheek and hoping I was wrong.

You said you wanted someone to know you. Maybe I just want to have someone know me too. Without you in this world, the memories of every moment we've shared together will be gone.

Ethan... with your mop haired, ocean eyed perfection. His story broke my heart into a thousand little pieces that I'm still struggling to put back together. He is, without a shadow of a doubt, the heart of this story and if anything, the reason I enjoyed it as much as I did. I can't tell you much else about him in fear of spoilers, but this is another guy to add to your fictional crush list.

Overall this is a slow paced story, but I think it's part of it's charm. The tentative introduction makes the ending all the more powerful and I have to say it's probably one of the best endings of a book I've read in a long time. And even though I was able to guess what was coming there were still some shocking moments. Moments that had me holding my breath.

Shirvington doesn't shy away from the gritty reality that Sabine would have gone through in this impossible situation. An emotional YA novel, that will have you reaching of the tissues. I recommend it highly!

You were right. I was lost. But you found me, between the lives.

**I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

Between the Lives by emily-bradley-dorman featuring strappy sandals

Above are looks inspired by the two lives of Sabine at the beginning of the book and bellow is my take on her style at the end of her story.

**Looks created using Polyvore**

Between the Lives #2 by emily-bradley-dorman featuring white tank tops

Tease

Tease by Amanda Maciel

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

About the Book

Title: Tease 

Author: Amanda Meciel

Publishing Date: May 1st 2014

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

ISBN: 9781444918717

Provided by: Hachette Children's Books & Netgalley

Summary (via GoodReads)

Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault.
At least, that's what everyone seems to think when Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, have been criminally charged for bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. But Sara is sure she hasn't done anything wrong, because Emma brought it on herself. Sara is adamant that she was the victim - not Emma.
Inspired by a true story, TEASE is a thought-provoking must-read that will haunt you long after the last page.

Review

"Sometimes it's really hard to admit that you've been bad to someone. That you've said bad things. Been a bully."

I didn't think I was going to like this book, BUT BOY WAS I WRONG! It's an interesting story that -even though a little slow to get started - keeps you turning the page. You want to know more. You want to see the bigger picture. There's a part of you that wants to know why?

Sara and Brielle are best friends. Brielle is the confidant one, the one that's in charge and Sara is just happy not to be ignored. Happy to be somewhat popular, by her outlandish best friends side. But when Emma starts interfering with the boys at their school all hell breaks loose. The biggest question I had throughout the book was, will Sara be able to see past Brielle and create an opinion of her own? Will she finally see what she did wrong?

It took a while for me to feel anything close to empathy towards Sara - I mean, she's a bully. What she did was bullying and there's no justifying that. However much she might try. But as the story develops - I don't want to give anything away - you start too see the ins and outs of the whole situation. What starts as black and white becomes this murky shade of grey, where it's hard to tell exactly who's in the wrong.

The story is well written and compelling, although I would recommend it to a teenage audience rather than older YA readers as the way the girls talk can get a little grating and immature at times. I also found the way in which it switched between the past and present a little confusing, having to take a minute to figure out what month I was in. All though, in general these are just minor things that shouldn't put you off picking this book up when it comes out in May!

I always like to add in a character that I think you should watch out for and with this it has to be Sara's little brothers, Tommy and Alex. They show a kinder side of Sara that makes it easier to like her. They're also completely different from everyone else in the story.

That's not even mentioning the one, and only, Carmichael! SWOON ALERT He's weird and awkward and kind and everything you want for Sara. There's a huge emphasis on peer pressure and the concept that the friends you keep say a lot about who you are in this book, so he's the perfect escape for her. Well, in all honesty? He's just perfect.

After reading Tease I wanted to know more about Emma. I think that a book from her point of view would be really interesting as there are still quite a few questions unanswered. At the end of the book I'd lost track of who was right and what was wrong and knowing Emma's side might help readers come to some kind of conclusion. Even a short story would do it!

Overall though it's a good, solid book that will have you thinking long and hard about the way you treat people and the consequences of the things you say. It costs nothing to be nice after all.

** EXCERPT**

" 'Did you ever have a physical confrontation with Miss Putnam?' 

'Did what?' 

'Did you ever have a-' 

'Oh. Yeah. Um, yeah I guess there was the one time in the locker room.'  

The layer writes this down, even thought the tape recorder is on, has been on the whole time. Also, she already knows the answer to the question. Also, the law firm's intern is taking notes, too. I shouldn't notice how hot he is, but he's the only good thing to look at in here. He's also the only other person anywhere near my age - the lawyers are fortyish and the stenographer lady looks like she's 105 - plus he's new, probably since it's summer now and law school is out for break or whatever. Much be nice. Since the whole--- thing happened, I missed a bunch of junior year, so now I'm in summer school.  

And here.  

'This was the incident of January the twenty-third?' This lawyer is all cold and matter-of-fat and wasting everyone's time. She's the head of the firm or something, I don't know. Usually I just meet with Natalie. Who isn't much better, but at least she looks me in the face when we talk. Except today she's also taking notes, and somehow barely paying attention at the same time. Maybe they're all just writing their grocery lists or something.
Natalie suddenly looks up at me, raising her eyebrows. Like, Answer the question. 

''Yeah. I guess so. Was that a Tuesday? You know, because we have gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I think it was Tuesday.' 

The no-eye-contact lawyer nods and then, of course, writes that down. Or she writes down, toilet paper, orange juice, I don't know. Jesus this is boring. "

These are a few notes I made while reading Tease. All notes where made on my GoodReads page.

**I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**