A Court of Mist and Fury

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Genre: Romance, Action/Adventure
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Summary: Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

Review: Holy cow. I mean . . . HOLY COW!!! This isn't the first time I've said this about Maas' work and it definitely will not be the last time. Sarah J. Maas is literally out of this world AMAZING!! Everything I could have ever wanted in this sequel happened, and perfectly I might add! Maas had me feeling all the feels over and over and over! Such an incredibly magical and breath-taking piece of work!

I should start off by saying that from the first encounter Feyre had with Rhysand in ACOTAR (click on the title for my full review), I knew I was always going to root for him. So I was way more than excited when he made his first, quite dramatic, entrance. The character and relationship development between Feyre and Rhys during this installment was spot on! You get to see a new, and unexpected side to Rhys throughout this novel and learn a lot about his background.

I adored the Night Court! It was like walking into an entire new universe! The new characters that are introduced are amazing, although I am really curious to know more about Amren! She was such an intriguing character and I can't wait to read more about her!

This was such an explosive and other-worldly worthy sequel! As always, I am nothing but pleased with Maas' work, as stated earlier! Definitely one you'll want to pick up!

***PLEASE NOTE: This novel does have some extremely explicit scenes and language. ***

Queen of Shadows

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
Release Date: September 1, 2015

Summary: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . . She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return. Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Review: 

If you have yet to read the first three installments in the Throne of Glass series, please beware that this review INCLUDES SPOILERS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED NOVELS!! Proceed with caution! You've been warned!

Alright! So quick recap on what's happened over the previous novels so far. *click on the title of the book for my full review* In Throne of Glass we meet the absolutely incredible Celaena Sardothien. She's 'rescued' from the slave camp, Endovier, and put in a contest to become the King of Adarlan's champion aka personal assassin. Not surprising, she wins(!!) and makes some new friends along the way including, but not limited to, the crown prince of Adarlan, Dorian, the captain of the king's guard, Chaol, and the princess from a foreign land, Nehemia. Moving on to book 2, Crown of Midnight. So although Throne of Glass hinted towards a lot of things, Crown of Midnight is where those hints are actually solidified into facts . . . and where my mind was blown . . . multiple times! Chaol and Celaena decide to try and have a relationship, Celaena is secretly not assassinating people, and we lose one of our dearest friends! The second book ends with Chaol and Celaena breaking things off, Chaol going back to his homeland, and Celaena decides to go find her aunt and get some answers . . . she is after all, the lost princess of Terrasen, Aelin Ashyrver Galathynius. Moving onto book three! In Heir of Fire  there are now three different points of view, Dorian/Chaol's, the witches, and Celaena's. In the third book, Celaena embraces her fae heritage and trains with the sexy, yet brooding Rowan, an ancient fae warrior with more than enough skill to help Celaena.  Dorian falls in love with a servant girl, Sorscha, and Chaol is trying to keep everything together after finding out Celaena's true identity. And concluding book three, Celaena leaves Rowan to go back to Rifthold (where a rebellion has started) and take care of some unfinished business with the king.

Okay, so I'm going to try my darnedest to keep the rest of this review spoiler free!! 

Queen of Shadows starts with Celaena getting back to Rifthold. Maas did an excellent job of seamlessly connecting her books. I'm always so impressed!

In case you were wondering, Arobynn Hamel FINALLY makes an actual appearance! If you're like me, you have been waiting since the first time he was mentioned in Throne of Glass to actually meet him. I was a tad disappointed with where everything ended up going with him, but as Maas stated herself, he is a total "douche-canoe". Those words couldn't be more fitting! However, a lot of answers surrounding Celaena's time with the King of the Assassins are answered.

Let's talk about Sam. Sam is a fairly minor character, but his importance and the impact he had on Celaena was epic! A lot of things were put to rest when it came to Sam. And there were definitely some tears shed on my end whilst reading about it. Maas did a wonderful job of closing out that part in Celaena's life. But honestly, I looked something similar to this:

Overall, there were a lot of questions that were answered! And many more that arose! Queen of Shadows had me on the edge of my seat! The action was non-stop and engrossing! The hardest part was reading something and then doing a face palm because I hadn't caught on and realized that sooner! This happened too many times to count throughout Queen of Shadows which totally upped it's already awesome-ness to me! Sarah, thank you for being so fantastic! Jimmy says is best:

If you've read the other books in this series and have yet to read Queen of Shadows, I honestly have no idea why you're still here! GO!! READ!!! Then come back and fan-girl with me about how completely amazing Sarah J. Maas is!! Not to mention how sweet!! I had the greatest opportunity to be able to meet her!    *photographic evidence included*

The Heartbreakers

Author: Ali Novak

Series: The Hearbreaker Chronicles

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick-Lit

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Summary: Stella will do anything for her sister—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD... for three hours. At least she met a cute boy at the Starbucks beforehand. A blue-eyed boy who looks an awful lot like... Oliver Perry. Of course Starbucks guy is the lead singer for her least favorite band. Thanks, universe. But there may be more to Oliver than his world-famous charm, because even after she insults his music—to his face—he still gives her his number. Seriously, what is her life? But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver—dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band—when her sister could be dying of cancer?

Review:

 **WARNING! This review contains some minor spoilers!!**

Isn't that cover the cutest?! I've read Novak's previous novel, My Life With The Walter Boys, and really enjoyed that one so why not pick up her latest release?

The Heartbreakers was such a great read! I was drawn into and devoted to Stella's life from page one. She, Drew, and Cara had such a great relationship! I loved that they were triplets! That is one thing that I wasn't expecting starting out. Their chemistry was so real! They argued, loved, and helped each other the entire novel! I couldn't get enough of their interactions! Family was presented perfectly and realistic which I really enjoyed!

So, The Heartbreakers are like, a boy band, but not because they all actually play instruments and stuff. You have JJ, Oliver, Alec, and Xander. The friendship, bond and overall connection between the band members was on point! The pranks they played on each other, also, were top notch and kept me laughing long after I'd read them. Especially the one involving Stella and Drew. *begins laughing* I can't, I just, I cant!! hahahahaha

I loved that Stella was able to, in a way, find herself and follow her passion of photography throughout the novel. I also enjoyed that *spoiler* Cara didn't die! I honestly was waiting for some "The Fault in Our Stars" or "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl" action and guess what, it never happened! Haha, that alone bumped this read up to 5 stars for me! A happy ending, I mean, it doesn't get better than that!

If you're a fan of YA contemporary romances, I'd highly recommend this one. It;s the perfect blend of sweet, hilarious, adorable, and touching! Definitely one to look into!

End of Days *spoilers included version*

Author: Susan Ee

Series: Penryn & the End of Days

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Horror, Action/Adventure, Romance 

Release Date: May 12, 2015

Summary: After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all. When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Review: This series has got to be my all time favorite series! If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only have one series of books, it's be this one.

I adored Penryn's character from page one of Angelfall and only grew to love her more throughout the series. I'd definitely want her on my side in a fight. Penryn was such a great MC because of her snarky, sarcastic attitude, her realistic view on the life she is currently living, and her overall kick butt-ness! Some of the things she said throughout the series really brought her home for me and kept her character feeling "real". I could honestly believe that she was a 17-year-old girl trapped in an angel infested post-apocalyptic world. Not to mention the status of her relationship. ;)

Raffe! OH RAFFE!! You, my friend, are absolutely fantastic! Seriously though, Raffe was almost as much of a favorite character as Penryn. There is just so much about him I loved. His condescending attitude and feelings towards humans throughout the first novel, and then his eventual love for one! *squeals internally* More on that later! I also really enjoyed getting to meet his Watchers in this final installment and getting to really learn and delve into Raffe's past. It made it a lot easier to understand and comprehend why he is the way he is when it comes to Daughters of Man . . . not to mention the fact that it made me want to re-read the series knowing other important tid-bits of information!

All I really have to say about Raffe and Penryn is:

RAFFE AND PENRYN FOREVER!!

I briefly mentioned the Watchers . . . let's talk more about them! Um, really though, I love love loved them! If Susan decided to write a spin-off series about Raffe and his Watchers, I'd definitely read about them. They were such great comedic relief and brought the best out in Raffe while all Hell was breaking loose. They definitely were the piece I didn't know was missing until they were introduced.

Okay, so there was one thing that I was slightly disappoint with. That would be the whole weird, crazy deal surround Penryn's mother. I felt that it was never really addressed as to what was "wrong" with her. Like, was she really crazy the entire time or was she just seeing things. For example: when the demons are attacking and she starts pelting them with rotten eggs that just happens to remind the demons of Hell and scares them off . . . HOW'D SHE KNOW!?!? A bit more clarification on that subject would have been appreciate, but that really was the only thing keeping this series from being perfect.

So, if you have yet to pick up Penryn & the End of Days and be blown away by her amazing story, you should probably go and pick this series up!!

Saint Anything

Author: Sarah Dessen

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: May 5. 2015

Summary: Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident? Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.
Review: I have been beating myself up constantly for not starting this book sooner. Back in May (when it was released) I managed to get my greedy little hands on a signed copy. Unfortunately, as soon as I had said copy, I stuck it on my bookshelf and forgot about it shortly after. Thankfully, whilst sorting my bookshelves, I came upon this beauty once again and immediately put it on the top of my 'to-read' pile. Now here we are, two days later!

It's no surprise that I'm a huge fan of Sarah Dessen. I fell in love with her many years ago after my sister encouraged me to read The Truth About Forever. *click here for my review*  The voice she gives to her characters is incredible and makes them very relatable to teens. After finishing Saint Anything I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Although it hits on some pretty heavy topics, I really enjoyed it overall. Two thumbs way up!

Sarah manages to turn the boring, everyday conversations, into works of art. It's crazy how so many of those everyday conversations turned into such a heartfelt, emotional piece of work. I'm always impressed with the feelings Dessen can conjure out of me. Not to mention the fact that she can make the love interest(s) seem extremely appealing even though they aren't doing anything miraculous or overly-charming.

The friendship between Sydney and Layla was so on point! In the book Sydney describes it by saying that she and Layla weren't friends one day, and then the next they were. Isn't that how it always is?! The relationship was so fun, sweet, and felt completely down to earth and real.

Let me be honest, I'm a major sucker when it comes to romance. Especially when dealing with YA. With Dessen, she makes it so that the romance isn't the main focus. She explores the many different elements that make up her characters while somehow weaving the romance in there very subtly. My craving was satisfied, but not in the way I thought it would be.

My favorite line was definitely the last one in the book. It totally sealed the deal for me! Watching Sydney grow into a new person slowly throughout the novel and then reading that last line, *sigh* it just made me smile! The compassion and attachment I grew towards these characters was crazy! Dessen definitely worked her magic with this one. She ended the story very strongly, but also in a way that left readers the option to either continue/imagine what might come next, or just be content with that perfect last line.

Although The Truth About Forever will always be my #1 by her, Saint Anything  has definitely claimed my #2 spot! If you're into YA contemporary romance, look no further! This is most likely the book for you!

An Ember in the Ashes

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Summary: Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Review: The first couple of chapters were a little on the slow side (due mainly to story development) but the pace picked up shortly after. It didn't take me long at all to fall in love with the characters, setting, and story. After reading for multiple hours straight, I had to FORCE myself to put An Ember in the Ashes down in order to avoid being late for work.

The novel is written in two alternating POVs, Elias and Laia. Elias's chapters were very fast-paced due to the fact that he was at Blackcliff and a soldier in training. On the other hand, Laia's chapters were more mellow starting out. Having these alternating POVs really helped the overall pacing of the book and character development.

If there was one complaint I had dealing with this book, it'd be that the romance developed extremely slowly! It was easy for me to guess/assume that Elias and Laia would, at some point in time, develop feelings for each other. Little did I know, this would be an incredibly slow burning fire. But since I loved this novel so much . . .

I really enjoyed how much Tahir kept me on my toes while reading her novel. I was in suspense for a majority of the novel and even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, Tahir would pull the rug out from under me and I was left in the dark once again, greedily eating up the pages!

*the popcorn symbolizing me eating up the pages . . . obvs*

Let's not forget that ending though! I honestly need the next book . . . like NOW! Goodreads says that it'll be published in April of 2016 . . . WAIT . . . APRIL . . . of 2016?! *starts sobbing dramatically* I can't wait that long!

If An Ember in the Ashes isn't on your 'to-read' list yet, you'd better go and put it on there right now . . . 

Lastly, one of my favorite quotes from the book:

"There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged, but it's there. Don't let them take it from you, Elias."



The Wrath & the Dawn

Author: Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Retelling
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Summary: Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend. She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.
Review: First of all, I am sorry I haven't posted in a while! I took a short hiatus (due to a reading slump). Thankfully, I overcame that slump by reading, The Wrath and the Dawn. Okay, this book was . . . ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND FASCINATING AND EVERYTHING GRAND!! It makes me feel like this when I think about it.

For the past couple of weeks I have been on a fantasy kick! Needless to say, nothing was satisfying my craving until I got this book in the mail, thanks to Uppercase! I had heard nothing about it, surprisingly, and just decided to sit down and start reading without any expectations or notions. That was probably the best decision I've made. After simply reading the first page I was hooked with the writing style, setting of the story, and uniqueness of it all. Although, this did end up being a little frustrating due to the fact that I had a difficult time pronouncing some of the characters names.

Aside from that slight frustration, this book was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!! I love love loved (!!) everything about it. Shazi was such a kick butt main character! Her attitude and wit had me rooting for her from our first encounter. Shazi was such an impeccable main character and was so well written. I thoroughly enjoyed reading from her perspective

Khalid. OH Khalid. Although you had a very ogre-ish attitude at the beginning, I couldn't help but fall in love with you along with Shazi. You made me swoon, and sigh, and wish that you were real so that I could steal you for my own! I adored you so much and you didn't ever let me down!! *sigh* Khalid was such a great love interest! The mystery surrounding him was irresistible and held my attention for quite some time. Seriously though, I'm basically in love with Khalid.

Overall, this was an incredible read as I have already stated. It may or may not be my favorite book of the year thus far. One that you need to put on your to-read list immediately!! I can almost guarantee that you will not be disappointed with this action-packed, plot twisting, romantic fantasy!! I'm desperately awaiting the debut of book 2, The Rose and the Dagger!!

The Start of Me and You

Author: Emery Lord
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: March 31, 2015

Summary: It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Review: I initially checked this book out because it sounded similar to Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson. Unfortunately, I put off reading it since I was in the middle of two or three books at the time I checked The Start of Me and You out. After finishing my other books and wondering what to read next, I picked this one up (it's due date was right around the corner!) hoping that it would exceed my expectations. And let me tell you, it did just that!

I really enjoyed Paige aka Grammar Girl aka Janie! She felt real to me. Her 'flaws' were refreshing, her voice was realistic, and she was very down to earth. Her sense of humor! *insert chuckle* Let's just say I was laughing a lot more than I expected in this book. Take this quote for instance:

"Okay," he said, leaning closer to me. "I have a proposition for you." 

Dear God, let it be marriage, I thought."

If Paige actually existed, we would be friends. No doubt about it.

Speaking of friends! Paige and her group of besties, Tessa, Morgan, and Kayleigh, were totally awesome! Their dynamic was incredibly written. I feel that often times you have the MC and his/her best friend and the other characters/friends just end up being, well, fluff (?). Not with these girls. They each had their own unique and distinct personality that made them all relate-able in their own way. Who run the world? GIRLS!!!

Okay, the romance in this book is so on point it's not even funny. I looked much like this for a majority of the book:

One of the things I loved most about the romance in The Start of Me and You is that it felt real. It happens over a long period of time. And the fact that Paige and Max started out as friends and grew to love each other is just totally perfect.

Also, this book gets DOWN AND NERDY!! Honestly, the witty/nerdy banter is this book was absolutely HIL-AR-IOUS! I mean, they argue about Pride and Prejudice!! And the whole Quiz Bowl? Oh my goodness, high school flashbacks people!!

All in all, this was a great read! I laughed (a lot), cried, swooned, and was incredibly moved all while reading this book. Perfect for the start of summer. Definitely add this one to your "Must-Read" shelf immediately!

"I may still be stumbling through these steps, but at least I'm stumbling forward." - Paige Hancock

End of Days *spoiler free version*

Author: Susan Ee

Series: Penryn and the End of Days

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Horror, Action/Adventure, Romance

Release Date: May 12, 2015

Summary: After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all. When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Review: Oh gosh . . . where do I even begin! Well, I've definitely had to wait too long for this incredible piece of work! Susan Ee, you're absolutely fabulous! You have managed, once again, to completely blow my mind with your utter amazing-ness! After finishing this, my mind was just, like, ALL OVER THE PLACE!! So, since my thoughts aren't as collected as I'd prefer, the best thing I can do is act out my feelings (through gifs) for this review. I'm also doing this because I'm afraid I may accidentally spoil any future readers who have yet to feast their eyes on this amazing and wonderful piece of literature!

End of Days starts off, literally, the second after World After ends. For those of you that need a slight refresher, they (Penryn, Raffe, Paige, and her Locusts) have all just escaped from the new aerie and are flying into the sunset. Seriously though, if you were to turn to the next non-existent page in World After you'd read this. No time has passed at all and I loved that!

Anyway, enjoy the show (gifs) folks!

IT'S HERE!!!! My copy finally came!!

Raffe and Penryn forever!!

Oh . . . . Oooooohhhhhhh ;)

Wai . . . . WHAT?!?!

OH YES!! I mean it!! OH YES!!!

Nope . . . we're running away now! I repeat!! We. Are. Running. Away.

Hold up . . . say that again??

Crushed it!! Oh yeah!! Go, team, GO!!

Okay, I was not expecting these feels!! One line and I'm in tears . . .

Ya'll knew there'd be a huge, kick-butt fight!

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

But alas!! We have prevailed my dear friends!!

and since I was by myself when I finished this . . . perfect piece of literature, I had to give myself a:

Okay, I'm sorry for the total and complete overload of gifs, but it was the safest way to do the most spoiler free review I could! Honestly though, this series is my absolute favorite. If I were to recommend a series to anyone, it'd be this one! Although I did feel there were some things that could have been expounded upon a little more at the end, overall, I'm glad they weren't because it gives each reader the freedom and ability to come up with their own explanation.

My love for this series knows no bounds!!

The Fill-In Boyfriend

Author: Kasie West
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: May 5, 2015

Summary: When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley. The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.  

Review: If you've read my other review involving Kasie's work, (On The Fence) you know just how much I adore her writing style! I first saw this novel back in February and was completely overjoyed with the premise and cover! I loved everything about it! Then . . .  I saw that it wasn't going to be released until May . . . needless to say, I was then completely devastated!!! I could not believe I was going to have to wait 3-4 months?! WHAT IS THIS?!!

Anyway, when The Fill-In Boyfriend arrived in the mail last Tuesday, I was totally freaking out over it! From page one, I was completely and utterly devoted to this book. I didn't put it down until I read the last page. Yes, it was that good!

Gia's relationship with her friends kind of had that Mean Girls feel to it. Like they're friends and everything, but the first chance they get (well, really the first chance Jules gets) they'll backstab you. Anyway, Gia and Bradley have been dating for the past two months, but since he is in college and Gia is only a senior in high school they don't get to see each other that often. Needless to say that Gia's friends (with some major help from Jules) think he is imaginary.

Within the first few chapters, we learn all of what was previously mentioned and to be the cherry on top, Bradley dumps Gia in the parking lot. Gia improvises and asks the first guy she sees to be her date for prom and miraculously, he agrees!!

I adored the relationship between Fill-In Bradley/FIB and Gia. And the fact that she doesn't find out his name until like 1/3rd of the way through the book was perfect! Since I love his name and want to keep it a secret, I'll keep calling him FIB.

FIB was . . . sigh . . . just wonderful. I loved the relationship between him and his mom and sister. It was sweet, but still realistic. The constant witty banter between him and Gia was so fun to read and is also what kept my eyes glued to the page for hours straight.

One of the last things that totally made this book a home run was the attention it brought to social media. Although I felt bad for what Gia's brother did to her, it was really great that West decided to include and expound upon the fact that you shouldn't be basing your status in life on how many 'likes', 'favorites', or 'retweets' you're getting. I appreciated that aspect a lot and enjoyed that it made Gia question her social activity.

Such a splendid read! Perfect for those planning on relaxing poolside on the hot summer days to come! If you have read any of West's other novels and enjoyed them, this one is such to please!

The Truth About Forever

Author: Sarah Dessen
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: May 11, 2004

Summary: A long, hot summer . . . That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father. But sometimes, unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry?

Review: Besides this being one of my all time favorite books ever, I also wanted to review it because Sarah has a new book coming out on Tuesday, Saint Anything, which I'm super pumped about and can't wait to get my hands on!!

Anyway, I first read The Truth About Forever back in high school. Let me just say that by that point in time, this book had easily been out for about least six or seven years. I sometimes feel that some books become very evidently dated when they've been out for that long (just with the advances in technology and whatnot). However, Sarah's writing has gone full-vampire and stayed immortally awesome!

I absolutely adored everything about this novel, but mostly, WES!! *insert HUGE sigh here* Wes is definitely the most amazing love interest to ever be written about in the history of time. Seriously though, those of you that have read The Truth About Forever are probably totally agreeing with me . . .

And if you didn't agree with me, let me ask, WHO IS BETTER THAT WES?! I would love to read about him. But seriously, tell me!

Now, in all reality, this novel does move slower than many of the novels I'm currently reading . . . BUT there is just so much to love throughout the entire thing that I hardly noticed the pacing. I just loved the environment Sarah had created! Even when Macy was just helping with one of the catering events, I was engrossed. This novel was incredible, and one that I will always have on my bookshelves. If you haven't read this one, (or any of Sarah's work for that matter), SHAME ON YOU!! If you have, let's be friends! :)