Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixth grade was SO much easier for Danielle. All her friends were in the same room and she knew what to expect from her life. But now that she's in seventh grade, she's in a new middle school, her friends are in different classes and forming new cliques, and she is completely lost.

When Danielle inherits a magical sketchbook from her eccentric great aunt Elma, she draws Madison, an ideal best friend that springs to life right off the page! But even when you create a best friend, it's not easy navigating the ups and downs of relationships, and before long Danielle and Madison are not exactly seeing eye-to-eye.

To make matters worse, Danielle has drawn the head of her favorite (and totally misunderstood) cartoon villain, Prince Neptune. He's also come to life and is giving her terrible advice about how to make people like her. When she rejects him and he goes on a rampage during a school pep rally, Danielle and Madison have to set aside their differences to stop him!

Review:

Basically this book was all my geeky teenage dreams coming true. The main character draws her anime crush to life…And then makes the perfect friend for herself. Of course things go wrong, in a fun Sabrina the Teenage Witch kind of way –loaded with embarrassing humor. And then Danielle and her friends “morph” into Sailor Scout versions of themselves to save the school, and kind of the world.

Okay, so forget geeky teenage me dreams. This is like my dream right now. I want to draw fictional characters into existence. And I certainly want a ring that can make me fly, and superpowers. Yes, please. And I’d love to pull in my closest friends to the magic also. The best is when she includes everyone on the magic. It was just amazing.

I love that this book, at its core, is about friendship and the hardships of middle school. Making friends at that age is just the worst. And I related to Danielle on so many levels. I also like that it was kind of a fresh, graphic novel take on bullying. Oh, and the adults in this novel were awful! (Awful and believable) I’m glad they didn’t tell the adults about the magic.

But, the best part of the book is that it’s also this amazing fantasy come to life book. I read it in one sitting, with one, giant, goofy smile on my face the whole time. I could see this as a tv series. I could see this being so many people’s dreams turned reality. Overall, this was just one, goofy, fluffy, middle grade graphic novel. I also loved the colorful art. It was reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm. I can see fans of those authors, jumping to read this. I give it a 10/10.

Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

Summary from Goodreads:

Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding, and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind.

So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism.

And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.

That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way.

Review:

I loved getting to see and love Ireland this way. Stopping at the stops in a guidebook called “Ireland for the Heartbroken” I thought was pretty genius. It was like a self-help book guide to the beautiful setting. I want to see all the things in person. This book definitely hiked up Ireland on my Need-to-See list.

Also, I loved that this was a YA novel that focused more on a sibling relationship than a romantic one. The fight between brother and sister was more the focal point than any heartache seemed to be. I found that kind of refreshing. I liked that the journey here was to bring back this amazingly close brother/sister friendship.

However, I hated not knowing the secret about the main character until the end. I 100% think this was an unnecessary plot device that took away from my overall enjoyment. I couldn’t grow with the main character or watch her learn things because I didn’t know what she was growing from. All the stops that the guidebook took them to, could have been better for me if I new the source of Addie’s heart ache. Sometimes not knowing a big secret could keep me more interested because I’d keep reading to find out what it is. But, sometimes, this has the opposite effect, and with each coming chapter I just get more and more annoyed for not knowing. And unfortunately, this book falls into the annoying category.

 Not knowing took me out of the story. I kept pausing my reading to think, “when will they just tell me?”  And while the secret Addie was keeping was terrible, I was expecting way worse after such a build-up. I can’t help but feel let down by the whole story. And the sibling argument really felt more like a giant misunderstanding than anything that needed to span months…Like, if you’re not going to tell me something for an entire book, I expect that something to be monumental at the end.

This book had a fantastic setting. I loved the focus on brother/sister stuff. I loved the humor in it. I didn’t love the plot device of keeping the reader in the dark. And I really didn’t love what the secret ended up being. I felt a little cheated. I definitely like Love and Gelato more. I still read this pretty quickly. And it did make me want to go to Ireland super badly. I give it a 7/10.

Royals by Rachel Hawkins

Summary from Goodreads:

Meet Daisy Winters. She’s an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who’s nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her to join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince’s roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown–and the intriguing Miles–might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

Review:

I don’t know why I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I kind of love all of Rachel Hawkins’ books. I guess maybe I’m that one weirdo that’s not into the whole royal thing. Like I did not get up early and watch the wedding. I did watch “The Crown” on Netflix, but it was a total learning experience for me because I did not have the context and knowhow that people obsessed with this stuff do. I did really love The Princess Diaries books when I was younger, and I guess this book falls more into that category. It’s silly, fluffy, and full of bantering-type entertainment. What’s not to love?

This book reminded me a lot of the movie, “What a Girl Wants,” with Amanda Bynes. But instead of it being about an ignorant. MIA father, it’s about a girl whose sister is having a royal wedding. It has all the comedic timing of the Bynes movie, and all the romcom moments too. I loved Daisy. Though, it took me a surprisingly long time to understand that Dais, was short for Daisy….I was literally like what’s a dais?

I loved her best friend. I loved all the drama with the “royal wreckers.” I loved the love interest and shipped them from the beginning. I loved the family of the sisters. Every time the dad spoke, I could kind of hear John Goodman from Coyote Ugly playing the good dad card. Sorry for all the 90’s references in this review. To be fair, I’m writing this in the morning without my caffeine yet….so bear with me.

The only character that felt super under-developed to me was the sister. There was a ton of sibling rivalry/angst, but I never really felt anything for the sister and I kind of wanted to understand her more. They had this important sisterly moment together and I was kind of confused. I didn’t get their connection because this whole book followed Daisy’s loathing of her…

I also kind of wish it was longer. I kind of wanted to be there at the wedding. I felt a little gypped only getting the pre-wedding things. And this is coming from a girl not obsessed with royal weddings. I can imagine those reading this book who are obsessed with weddings feeling much worse about it. Maybe there will be a sequel?

All in all, this was a fun, quick, fluffy read. I read it very quickly. I loved the setting, the characters (minus the under-developed sister), and the idea of it. It gave me some serious 90’s nostalgia, and definitely left me with a big smile. I hope there is at least one more book to follow because I want to see the wedding. I give this an 8/10.

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

Summary from Goodreads:

Belly has only ever been in love with two boys, both with the last name Fisher. And after being with Jeremiah for the last two years, she's almost positive he is her soul mate. Almost. Conrad has not gotten over the mistake he made when he let Belly go even as Jeremiah has always known that Belly is the girl for him. So when Belly and Jeremiah decide to make things forever, Conrad realizes that it's now or never--tell Belly he loves her, or lose her for good. Belly will have to confront her feelings for Jeremiah and Conrad and face a truth she has possibly always known: she will have to break one of their hearts.

Review:

I read this in one sitting (like I did book 2). But, I did not love it as much as I did the second one. For starters, I hate YA books with teenage weddings….Ick. I’m not really sure that was necessary. Though, I get that a big plot device had to happen to spur the actions of everyone involved.

I also kind of hated Jeremiah in this one. And stuff about his character just seemed so wrong. It felt like the author was really trying so hard to make one boy come off better than the other. And I kind of liked the previous books because there wasn’t one true better guy (there was the social butterfly and the moody one). I liked that it had to be up to Belly. One guy isn’t always going to be a cheating jerk, who drinks too much and doesn’t listen to his partner’s needs. My image of Jeremiah is ruined. Couldn’t Belly have figured out her heart without all the bad stuff in Jeremiah’s corner?

I did love the family dynamics in this one. I found the arguments between mother and daughter to be so true and believable. I loved seeing Belly in college. I loved finally getting Conrad’s point of view. I loved his relationship with Belly’s mom. They have this sentimental moment the day before the wedding that had me practically dry sobbing.

I liked how much further Belly had grown up. I liked her relationship with her best friend and her new friendships she made at school. And I’m not going to lie: I lived for all the moments Belly and Conrad had alone at the beach house. My heart melted at the letters at the end. My heart melted when Conrad laid it all on the table like he did. And my heart melted for Belly, when she finally figured herself out.

This installment was probably the most dramatic. And it certainly focused more on the love triangle than on anything else. I have to say that I love this love triangle. I just wish the author had more faith in her fans for understanding Belly’s final choice. She didn’t have to make one brother as bad as she did.  I give this an 8/10.

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Summary from Goodreads:

Last year, all of Belly’s dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change-- just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting him go.

Review:

It’s a rarity when the second book in a series is my favorite, but that happened here. I love book 2! I read it so quickly (probably in a few hours). And that’s not because this was as fluffy a book as book 1 was. It wasn’t. This one had me crying, frequently… There’s death, grief, and heartbreak. But, oh, have I come to love these characters. I love them all for different reasons.

I truly got to know the characters in this installment. The character development was just right. I loved seeing the ups and downs of Belly and Conrad. I loved getting Jeremiah’s perspective. I came to care for him in a way I wasn’t expecting to. And oh my goodness, did my heart break for everyone when I read about the funeral. I know what losing a parent is like, and there’s so much I related to here. And it was hard watching the characters I have come to love, go through this.

I also like that Conrad had a good reason for leaving school and going to the beach. I remember feeling so relieved that there was a logical reason to his behavior. The one thing that bothered me a little was that so much was so clear to me about Conrad, and I hated that Belly didn’t see it. Or I guess I hated that she was so quick to believe him when he pushed her away.

Belly has grown up a lot in this book. She’s smarter. She sees what she deserves and doesn’t deserve. She still will do anything for her boys, but she knows herself in a way she did not before. However, there’s still so much she doesn’t see. And I guess that makes her all the more believable.

There were moments when I gasped out loud at events that happened. I was shocked by a drunken phone call. I was shocked by what Belly yelled at Conrad at the funeral. I was shocked at prom. I was shocked at a moment in the car. I was shocked in a motel room. And I guess that’s the power of a good book. It shocks you. It makes you cry. It has you laughing. And it really just has you feeling. I had all the feelings. This book did all of that and more. I’m so glad I decided to read this series.  I give this one a 10/10.

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

Summary from Goodreads:

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing.

Review:

This is my least favorite book by this author, so far.

To put my cards on the table, I was an early fan of Throne of Glass, and I have come to really enjoy that series. I’m beyond looking forward to the last installment that is due to come out this fall. On the other hand, I really did not like her other series that started with A Court of Thorns and Roses, and with each installment of it, I’ve liked it less and less –I don’t think I even read her latest one in that series…

So, I knew going into this one that there was a 50/50 chance. I happen to really like the character of Selina Kyle. And I kind of have a soft spot for all the ladies of the DC universe. They’re all so fierce, independent, and powerful, and since I was a kid, I craved girl superheroes (and villans).  I know Maas can write a fierce, independent, and powerful main character, so I thought I’d give this a chance –despite some negative reviews that were popping up.

To be fair, I loved the beginning of the book. I got super into Selina’s fighting lifestyle. I even thought her sister brought into the story, something new and interesting. I liked that Selina had something to fight for, besides herself. I let it slide that she was not so independent as she’s supposed to be. The whole thing with the League of Assassins was surprising for me. Again, Selina Kyle, is not known for teaming up with anyone –she is the most independent of female comic book characters…But, I thought this brought an interesting new viewpoint to her, and I guess I wanted to see what the League would inevitably bring out of her.

And that’s kind of when it all went downhill for me. The majority of the book was one heist after another with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. Selina comes back after 2 years with the Assassins (of which readers don’t get to see except in a few flashbacks), with a secret agenda that she doesn’t share with the rest of the gang (or the reader).  And I guess this is what led me to making all of my Throne of Glass connections. There’s the obvious: the names Selina/ Celaena, the fact that both main characters are trained assassins, and both strong ladies have close to the same personality... Then there’s the not-quite-as-obvious connections: Both Selina and Celaena had hidden agendas from their squads of friends and the reader, both had torturous flashbacks to bad times they survived, both had convenient weapons that could do almost anything at their disposal (magic for Celaena and a helmet that could do just too much for Selina), both had strong friendships with people who forgave them too fast, both seemed to learn an extraordinary amount in a short period of time, and both fall for the wrong guy.

There’s actually even more similarities, but I was getting exasperated thinking of them all and had to stop. I get that some similarities were inevitable and possibly out of Maas’s hands, like the name. But, this was just too much. Like, was she really writing about Selina Kyle, or was this just an extra side project to spend more time with Celaena, who she still can’t get out of her head?

My other problem with this book is probably my connection to the women of the DC universe. If I didn’t know what I did about Catwoman, Ivy, and Harley, I’d probably have enjoyed this a whole lot more. Like if I didn’t know Poison Ivy would rather die a slow, painful death than embarrassingly run away from Batwing for no apparent reason….Like she could have taken him so, so easily. Or that Harley would suggest blowing up a kids beauty pageant….and it’s Ivy that says that’s too far? It just felt like this author did not know these characters well….

Weirdly, I ended up liking Ivy more than I ever have. Maas made her so much more redeemable, and I guess that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s just strange…And again, maybe I would have loved this book, if I wasn’t so attached to these existing characters already.

I was hoping to get something totally different from Maas. I liked the idea of a stand-alone from her. And I gave her a fair chance going in. This just was too repetitive; too similar to her other books, and my beloved characters of the DC Universe were stretched out in ways that didn’t really make sense. All in all, this was a major disappointment. It was a good idea and the beginning was interesting, but I don’t recommend this to fans of Catwoman or to people who know the DC universe much at all. I give it a 4/10.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Summary from Goodreads:

When each summer begins, Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but her favorite people are there: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember, and more than anything, she hopes this summer will be different. Despite distractions from a new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother, Jeremiah, Belly's heart belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything?

Review:

This was just the summer read I was looking for. Technically, I have a bunch of other books I’m supposed to be reading because they are due back to my library soon, and I own this one, so there’s no timeline…but I wanted a paperback to take with me to comic con, and this was perfect. I started it while waiting in line for the Weasley twins photo. And I finished it this morning (the next day). I just love Jenny Han.

Jenny Han just captures the essence of being a teen girl better than most. The insecurities, the fear, the attraction, the bravery, and the acceptance. All of her main characters feel so real. I loved Belly. I understood her feeling left out from the boys. I was the youngest sibling to two big brothers, and I routinely felt like I was missing out on things. I loved her relationship with the boys. And I loved it even more with Susannah. I have family/friends like her. I also know what it’s like to live for the summer time and always go to the beach.

This was a light, coming of age, summer book. But there were a few deeper/darker elements in the background. The one thing I really didn’t like about this book was that I caught on to the deeper/darker elements, but Belly didn’t. She did not see what was coming, even though it was so clear to me. I kept wanting to slap some sense into her a bit. On the other hand, I’m not sure I would have noticed things if I were in her position either. She was in teenage brain denial. And aren’t we all, at 15?

I loved watching her figure out her heart too. Just because she’s had this everlasting crush, doesn’t mean she’s un-open to other love and other possibilities. I love how brave she is. I love how she stands up for herself. And I love how deeply she cares for her family (blood or no blood). I’m seriously considering blowing off my library books for another week, and just binging the whole series. I need to know what the next summer brings. I need to know how things resolve.

I really enjoyed this book, more than I was even expecting to. I did wish to slap the main character a couple of times. And I also am a little tired of the tall, dark, and brooding love interest trope. I wished Conrad was nicer and less into the girl with the baseball cap. And I wished Belly was less naïve. Maybe that happens in book 2. All in all, I give this one an 8/10.