[Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart]

"We Were Liars"
Author: E. Lockhart
Series: None
Pages: 240
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: May 13th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: Hardcover from the library

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Summary:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To We Were Liars,

What can I say about you? I don't think that I should say much. I think this review is going to be small and yet full of thoughts. You were a whirl wind. You took me on a journey and you entranced me with your pretty pretty words. Oh how I loved your words, but even with all the goodness that filled you, I still uncovered the twist far to early on to really get a full experience out of you, which makes me a little sad.

-The White Unicorn

This is one of those reviews where you want to say everything, but nothing at the same time. As a reader who figured out the "all mighty" twist in the novel at around 25% I'm at a loss for what a true spoiler would be regarding this book. I feel like the answer is glaring, even if it is confused by the wonderful storytelling, it's still there. I guess I just knew what to look for. 

I have to admit that I fell in love with Lockhart's writing style. It's so bare and clean and beautiful. We Were Liars is an extremely easy and fast read. Lockhart strings words together in the oddest ways. They're so strange that they're wondrous. You read, not only because you want to see what happens, but also just to see what sentences she chooses to use. I feel like this is something that I could go on and on about, but I won't. Just know what I want to read her other books when I can.

The other thing that I loved so much about this book is the social commentary that Lockhart uses at the forefront of the novel. She calls people on their crap and makes you think about things in a way that's interesting. Of course I can't tell you what actually happens, but I can tell you that I loved the family dynamic that Lockhart picked to use. It's one of the most interesting things about the book.

The characters weren't my favorite separately. I didn't actually find any of them likeable. That being said, as a whole I really liked them. They worked as a team of characters so well that, even though I didn't like any of them, that didn't end up mattering to me as I read. I also found the "love story" to be silly and completely unneeded. I understand why it was there, but I think it would have been better without it. But let's just chalk that up to personal preference.

So, that's all I'm going to tell you about this one. I think it should be read and enjoyed by anyone who is interested. I liked it a lot, but like I said, I figured things out really early and I think that affected how I read the story.

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot but it had it's issues!

[Review: The Here And Now by Ann Brashares]

"The Here and Now"
Author: Ann Brashares
Series: ?
Pages: 288
Genre: YA, Sci Fi, Thriller
Date Published: April 8th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Here And Now,

I honestly don't know how you happened book?  Yes, I finished you and you were a quick read, but I don't like you at all.  You could have been great, but you just fell flat.  You took too much time trying to be a statement book instead of telling a story.  I know some people will like you more then I did and the fact that I'm not a big fan of time travel books most likely got in the way of us being pals, so I hope you find some out there somewhere...

-The White Unicorn

I hate to say it, but I'm extremely disappointed in this book.  I've said on multiple occasions on this blog that I'm a big fan of Brashares' Sisterhood books, so even though I'm not a fan of time travel, I gave this one a shot.  It just didn't work for me at all.  It still had that Ann Brashares thing that made you wanna finish it, but that doesn't mean that I loved it.  I wanted to love it and I was so excited for a new YA title after all these years, but this wasn't what I've been waiting for.  

I think my major issue with this book is that the main goal of the story was to save the world from this terrifying mosquito-borne illness.  That would have been awesome, if the book had actually focused on that, but the main plot got bogged down by the fact that all these other things came into play.  Other ways that we as human's were corrupting our future world.  I think the whole end of the world part of the novel needed a firm direction.  It needed to be one or the other.  Human's ruining the world, or a massive, deadly, bug carried virus.  Too much was going on and it made the virus seem less important and the rest of it seemed like Brashares was making a statement.  I believe that people should make loud statements, but they shouldn't just throw them in on top of their plot for making that statement for statements sake.  It created a lot of frustration for me as a reader.  And I found myself skimming parts of the book that didn't seem to fit in with the main directive of the novel.  

On the other hand Brashares has this unique writing voice that makes you want to find out what happens in the end.  Even though I wanted to quit this book, I kept reading because of the way that Brashares tells a story.  I wanted to see the end result of Prenna and Ethan's choices.  I also really liked the strong emphasis on free will.  It kept me guessing all the way to the end.  Was this book perfectly written?  Not at all.  But it did manage to keep me enthralled enough to finish it.

Rating:

2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something just didn't work for me!

[Review: The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman]

"The Glass Casket"
Author: McCormick Templeman
Series: None
Pages: 337
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Date Published: February 11th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: Hardback from the library

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Summary:

Death hasn't visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders' bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.

Rowan's village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan's door once again.

Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Glass Casket,

First, I'd like to thank you for being the creeptastic freak show that you are.  You know how to make someone's skin crawl, that's for sure.  You also know how to give us gory details without making us want to toss our cookies, so that's a plus.  Really, the thing I liked most about you is that you aren't afraid to be intense.  There is gore, there is blood (lots of it) and there is so many creepy things that you gave me chills.  The freaked out kind.  No, you're not a horror book, but you could be if you wanted to be one and I like that about you...

-The White Unicorn

After reading this book I know that I'm am a forever fan of Templeman's writing.  There is something enchanting and equally disturbing about it.  The way she was able to tell a story with so many different POV's and with such a unique voice proves that she's really something when it comes to being a writer.  She wove her tale of mystery and murder in such a way that it kept me engaged until the very last page, which I thought was actually really beautiful (in this odd, melancholy sort of way).  

The mythology surrounding The Glass Casket is a well thought out one.  It deals with magical elements even though it's grounded in a world that seems pretty normal at first glance.  It has touches of some familiar fairytales (mainly Snow White and Little Red), but then the book takes a completely different path.  I was blown away by the story.  It's really dark.  It's also kind of disturbing.  One of the things I loved the most was that it touches on what makes us truly human.  There are so many secrets and so many odd happenings, but in the end it's about being human.  It was refreshing and bloody.

The main POVs in the story revolve around Rowan (our main main character) and two brothers in her village named Tom and Jude.  There are even more view points throughout, but those are our main ones.  I loved Rowan's voice.  She's a headstrong girl who knows what she wants, even though she finds herself backed into some corners.  The fact is Rowan never stops fighting for what is right and I dig that about her.  Jude and Tom both have distinct roles to play.  One is the best friend and one seems to be an enemy.  I adored Jude and though I understood Tom's part in the whole book, he wasn't my favorite.  Then again I don't think he's supposed to be.  

Honestly this is one of those books that you need to read to understand what I'm talking about.  I'd like to be able to tell you more, but I don't want to spoil any of the awesomeness that is this book.  It's gnarly and the mystery takes so many odd turns that it actually had me second guessing my gut instinct till the very end.  But not surprisingly, my gut was correct in the end.  I back this book on so many levels.  If you like a good creepy story with a delightfully understated romance and lots of death, this is the one for you!

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!        

[Review: Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill]

"Being Sloane Jacobs"
Author: Lauren Morrill
Series: None
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Date Published: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte
Format Read: ARC won from publisher

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Summary:

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Being Sloane Jacobs,

Okay, so first off thanks for being so dang cute.  Seriously, you were one of the cutest books that I've read in a long time.  You gave me these two Sloane's who were totally different and yet both filled to the max with their own versions of snark.  You gave me dreamy boys and interesting skating details.  But most importantly, you gave me a great and warm and fuzzy story about two girls finding themselves and what's not to love about that?  Nothing, the answer is that nothing is not to love about that!

-The White Unicorn

I'll say it right now, I'm a huge fan of Lauren Morrill as an author.  Have I read her other book yet?  Nope, but I feel like I need to get on that in a hurry.  Contemporary books aren't my personal favorite, but every once in awhile one comes along that just makes me laugh and smile and feel all the happy feels!  Being Sloane Jacobs did all of these things while also delivering a really cool message at the same time.  The book is really about finding yourself and Morrill isn't afraid to make the journey amazingly fun along the way.  Plus, she puts so many awesome pop culture references in the pages that you find yourself wanting to high five her when she writes about Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

The novel is one part Parent Trap, one part The Cutting Edge and one huge helping of originality.  Morrill gives us two girls that seem really different at first glance, even if they do have the same name.  It's a genius idea to have both of the girl's names be Sloane Jacobs.  It's creates the perfect, yet predictable mix up that gives the girls a chance to switch places.  They are both running from things and both have a lot resting on their selected summer camps.  And then in a split second they are swapping hockey jerseys for skin tight Lycra and vice versa.

Sloane Devon was a feisty one.  She had so much snark in her bones that she always had me laughing.  Sure she's got a huge chip on her shoulder and a a reason to want to get away from her life, but she's still really likeable.  It was a blast to see her trying to fit into Sloane Emily's high class, figure skating life.  I honestly couldn't stop myself from laughing at most of the things she said.  Morrill created her with some great comedic timing.

Sloane Emily appeared to be the weaker character to me in the beginning, but pretty soon I found myself liking her as much as Sloane Devon.  You'd get to the point where you were just about to write her off and then she'd do or say something that was brilliant and funny and awesome.  She had a sneakier approach to her snark that totally worked for her.  Because her life isn't as peachy as it seems either.  She comes into her own as she teams up with the other hockey players and she builds a thicker skin.  It's awesome to watch.  In the end I ended up totally digging both of them.

There is a bit of romance in the pages, but it doesn't overwhelm the plot line.  Which I thought worked for the book.  I felt like since the romance wasn't the main focus, both seemed a little bit rushed, but overall it worked for me.  Plus, Morrill knows how to pack a swoon punch, so even with the little bits of rom/com she threw in, you still got that "how sweet" feeling in your stomach.

All in all I say give this one a shot.  It's one of the cutest books I've ever read and I'd highly recommend it!

Rating:

    4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: The Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan]

"The Forest of Hands and Teeth"
Author: Carrie Ryan
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1
Pages: 308
Genre: YA, Horror, Thriller, Zombie
Date Published: February 9th, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: Bought paperback

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 Summary:

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth was one of the prettiest scary books I've ever read.  It didn't short itself on gore, or death or intense survivalist adventure and it still managed to be very soothingly written.  In a way, I think this fact adds to what makes this novel so haunting.  There is always something that is just a little off about the characters, or the setting or the action that reminds you that this isn't the type of book that makes you say "and they all lived happily ever after" at the end.  Ryan also plays with your mind.  You know that this book takes place in the future, after The Unconsecrated take over, but there is something about the world she built for Mary that will make you think of The Dark Ages.  The story has hints of "The Village", which is a movie that I adore and Ryan uses that to play with your head!

Can we just take a moment to step back and say what an awesome choice it was for Ryan to call the zombies in this book The Unconsecrated?!  In my humble opinion, that's what I think every zombie should be called for the rest of time.  Zombie is such a funny word when you think about it, but The Unconsecrated sound like something strait out of hell.  I love it!

Right away Ryan introduces us to death and sadness when someone she loves is infected, throwing her world into chaos.  Mary is a tough character.  She's young, there are things that happen in the village were she lives, but she longs for something else.  It's her faith that there is something better beyond the gates that keep them safe that makes her both a character that you want to root for and a character that you want to yell at.  This girl has layers to the extreme and sometimes they make you love her and sometimes they don't.  But I think that's what makes a great MC, someone that is flawed and messed up and brave.  

The love story in this one was a little weird for me.  It worked for the novel, but wasn't my favorite.  Plus, I always root for the underdog, even when I know they're gonna loose.  Travis and Harry are brothers.  They both love Mary.  Mary only loves one, but she engaged to the other and the guy she likes is engaged to her best friend.  Yep, it's a messy love triangle and it's kinda weird.  Parts of it totally worked and others, I felt, got in the way of the story.  This love story was the reason that this book didn't get a full 5 from me, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment either.  

This book is full of adventure and interesting characters.  There are little boys and black puppies and red vests and 100 more little things that make this book wonderful.  Also, Ryan doesn't forget to give us real relationships as Mary and her small group of friends and family run for their lives.  The sibling rivalry is there in a big way and I loved that she kept those real elements.  

I have to say that I'm a big fan of this series already and that I can't wait to get my hands on the other books.  I want to see what happens next!  So, if you like books full of secrets, The Unconsecrated and survivalist adventure with a dose of a creepy Sisterhood, this is the book/series for you!

Rating:

   4 Unicorns = Close to perfect! 

Now, go hop on over to Read My Breath Away to read Jess's review of Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin!