Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite YA Contemporary Novels

This week I am sharing my top ten favorite young adult contemporary novels. This was tough, so I cheated and included a few runner-ups. If you want to learn more about these books, click the title and it will take you to my review. This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, so check it out! 

1.  The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - This is my favorite Dessen and one of the best summertime reads. ever.

2.  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares - I devoured this series one summer before I became a book blogger. It's fantastic!

3.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman - Ohhh…all the emotions! This is my favorite of Forman's novels.

4.  Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - I love Matson and it was a tough pick between this one and Second Chance Summer.

5.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - No explanation needed. Simply brilliant.

6.  Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland - I love the setting of this book…one of my favorite beach reads from last year.

7.  Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - This book is very well-written and one of my favorites of 2013. I refuse to categorize it as a historical fiction since it takes place in the 80s. Nope. Sorry. 

8.  Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg - One of my recent favorites. If you love Harry Met Sally or Joey/Pacey, then this book is for you.

9.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - This book is still one of my favorite young adult novels. Parisian boarding school….need I say more?

10.  The Summer series by Jenny Han - This is BY FAR my favorite young adult contemporary series ever written. I worship it.

The Runner Ups:

1.  Looking For Alaska by John Green

2.  Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

3.  Golden by Jessi Kirby

What do you think of my top ten favorite young adult contemporary novels? Do you think I missed any? Let me know what you think!

Book Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Pages: 416

Genre: YA Sci-fi

Pub. Date: February 4, 2014

Series: Shatter Me (#1), Unravel Me (#2)

Source: Personal Copy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong."

If you've read Unravel Me, you know that Juliette almost died, but thanks to Warner, she was rescued.  She wakes up at Warner's base, but at least she is safe. Warner tells her that Omega Point is decimated and that all of her friends are most likely dead.  This obviously shatters Juliette's world.  As Juliette spends more time with Warner, she realizes that he isn't the "bad" guy that everyone thinks he is and he explains why he acted the way he did in the past.  This also blows Juliette's mind and she starts to let her feelings for Warner come back to the forefront.  When Juliette heads back to Omega Point, she finds that there are indeed survivors and they make a plan to take down the Reestablishment.  And even though we have heard that before, Juliette is different in this book. She vows to destroy the Reestablishment and we believe her this time.  In Tahereh Mafi's Ignite Me, the final book in the Shatter Me trilogy, readers will be thoroughly entertained and fans of Warner will be beside themselves with happiness.

I liked Juliette the most in this book as opposed to the other books in the series.  She really is starting to get a handle on who she is, what her powers entail, and what SHE wants out of life.  Her whiny relationship with Adam is over and she starts to allow herself to have feelings for Warner whom she sees in a whole new light, thanks to his recent confessions.  I liked that Juliet was more about Juliet in Ignite Me; she focused more on what she wanted out of life and that I liked.

Which leads me to Warner. I, from the start of the series, always was sort of leaning towards Warner. I found him to be mysterious and the typical bad boy, but in Ignite Me, readers learn more about him and his secrets. He isn't the bad guy we thought he was and has reasons for acting the way he did in book one and two. There were many swoon-worthy moments between him and Juliette.  I was VERY happy about this.

Oh, Adam.  Mafi conveniently made him a dick in Ignite Me. Although Adam's newfound behavior made it easier for readers to see why Juliette was gravitating towards Warner, it also seemed a bit too convenient, if that makes sense. Like all of a sudden he goes straight up crazy and says things to Juliette that I never thought he would.  It seemed a tad out of character, but nonetheless, I wasn't a fan of him in Ignite Me. At all. 

Even though I gave Ignite Me five stars, I did have a few small issues with it.  For starters, Juliette has no real girlfriends in the book.  This annoyed me. She finds herself being "best friends" with Kenji, who teases and flirts with her from time to time, and then also finds herself in a love triangle with two pretty good looking guys.  I wanted some estrogen in Juliette's life or at least a female role model to look up to.  Secondly, I also felt like Juliette sort of had Bella Swan syndrome around Adam in this book. He pretty much tells her off and she sort of hyperventilates and wants Warner to come save her.  I was hoping she would stand up to him and not just crumble into a million pieces and rely on Warner to "fix" it.  However, by the novel's end you do see improvement in this department. Lastly, I felt like there were many events that were too easy in Ignite Me, like things just slid into place.  However, I am happy with the ending, which is a rarity in a trilogy. I thought Mafi wrapped it up nicely and I was smiling by the novel's end, which is why I awarded it five stars.

So, if you are looking for an entertaining fantasy series, one that will include adventure, action, superhero strength, plot twists, and hot guys, then pick up the Shatter Me series. Despite my very small issues with it from time to time, it has quickly become one of my favorites.

Stacking the Shelves and Giveaway Winner (41)

Magnolia by Kristi Cook - Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse
Summer of Yesterday by Gaby Triana - Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse
Pulled Under by Michelle Dalton - Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse
A Wedding in Provence by Ellen Sussman - Thanks to NetGalley and Random House

The winner of Erika Robuck's Fallen Beauty is 

#24…..Courtney!

Thanks to Penguin for allowing me to host this giveaway. I hope you enjoy the book!

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.

It's Not You, It's Me (8)

"It's not you, it's me."  I'm sure some of us have heard those dreaded words uttered before and the same saying can be applied to books.  Some books just don't work for me, whereas other readers may have really enjoyed them.  This new feature will be showcasing books that I never finished or reviewed; you know…...the dreaded DNF.

The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry

Goodreads says, "All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction. Kate's dream boyfriend has just broken up with her and she's still reeling from her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Aidan planned on being a lifer in the army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's a disabled young veteran struggling to embrace his new life. When Kate and Aidan find each other neither one wants to get attached. But could they be right for each other after all?"

My thoughts: Ok, so, the premise sounds fantastic, right? You have Kate who deals with type 1 diabetes, which you don't see often in young adult literature. I actually wish there were more of teenagers dealing with medical issues in contemporary reads. Then there's Aidan, a veteran, who lost his arm in Afghanistan and is still adjusting to life after war. 

This I felt would make for a realistic and compelling read; however, the writing style wasn't engaging enough for me. I only read the first fifty pages or so, but I found my mind wandering and not staying focused on the plot. I just wasn't feeling it.  Plus, you know this beach bum was asking herself the all important question: Where's the "summer" and the beach? I know I didn't read the entire story, but I didn't get the vibe that this was a "summer" story much like the cover hints at.  It was all very confusing.

So, have you read this book? Did you love it, hate it, or felt "meh" about it? Let me know your thoughts!

Book Review: Alaska's Dog Heroes by Shelley Gill

Pages: 32

Genre: Children's Book

Pub. Date: February 25, 2014

Source: Publisher for review

Goodreads says, "In Alaska, dogs really are a person’s best friend. These true canine stories from the last frontier describe remarkable acts of intelligence, stamina, loyalty, and heroism by Balto, Togo, Tekla, Stickeen, and more of Alaska’s famous dogs. From traversing mountains in winter with deliveries of life- saving medicine to fighting off bears and finding lost children, each beautifully illustrated and exciting story comes from the pages of Alaska’s history."

Alaska's Dog Heroes: True Stories of Remarkable Canines by Shelley Gill is a children's book that dog lovers will absolutely adore.  There are nineteen dogs depicted in this book complete with a short write-up and beautiful illustration for each dog.  Each write-up is captivating to a dog lover, such as the dog who delivers medicine or another dog who saved his family by leading a rescue team to his home which was on fire.  There is even a police dog that saved a young boy.  All of the stories that Gill shares are heroic in their own right and truly illustrate the loyalty and bravery of man's best friend.  

Also, Gill isn't just a children's author, she was one of the first women to race in and complete the Iditarod Sled dog race, so that should definitely be noted.

Teachers will also enjoy Alaska's Dog Heroes, especially if they are teaching a unit on Alaska or heroic animals.  At the book's end, there's some ideas for group discussion,  group activities, as well as independent activities.  Plus, the activities and questions are aligned to the Common Core state Standards for grades two and three, which is also helpful for a teacher to know.

Even though my little guy is still too young to appreciate Alaska's Dog Heroes fully, he absolutely loves the illustrations.  Robin James, the illustrator, did a fantastic job capturing the beauty of these animals.  My son is a huge dog fan, so I will be holding onto this book for him to read in the years that come and I'm sure he will enjoy it.

Waiting on Wednesday: Summer of Yesterday

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

Summer of Yesterday by Gaby Triana

Pub. Date: June 17, 2014

Goodreads says, "Back to the Future meets Fast Times at Ridgemont High when Haley’s summer vacation takes a turn for the retro in this totally rad romantic fantasy. Summer officially sucks. Thanks to a stupid seizure she had a few months earlier, Haley’s stuck going on vacation with her dad and his new family to Disney’s Fort Wilderness instead of enjoying the last session of summer camp back home with her friends. Fort Wilderness holds lots of childhood memories for her father, but surely nothing for Haley. But then a new seizure triggers something she’s never before experienced—time travel—and she ends up in River Country, the campground’s long-abandoned water park, during its heyday. The year? 1982. And there—with its amusing fashion, “oldies” music, and primitive technology—she runs into familiar faces: teenage Dad and Mom before they’d even met. Somehow, Haley must find her way back to the twenty-first century before her present-day parents anguish over her disappearance, a difficult feat now that she’s met Jason, one of the park’s summer residents and employees, who takes the strangely dressed stowaway under his wing. Seizures aside, Haley’s used to controlling her life, and she has no idea how to deal with this dilemma. How can she be falling for a boy whose future she can’t share?"

First off, if you mention Back to the Future in a book's synopsis, it immediately will be added to my to-read list. Back to the Future is one of my top five favorite movies of all time.  Also, Disney's Fort Wilderness (River Country!!!) in 1982? I have home videos of myself at River Country in the good-ole 80s.  The main character's parents as teenagers? This sounds awesome! What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Authors I Have Never Read

This week I am sharing my top ten most popular authors I have never read. I share a few confessions and basically how I am a commitment-phobe when it comes to new series.  This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, so check it out! 

1. Jodi Picoult - I just never got around to reading her books probably because they seem so sad and emotional.  I saw the movie My Sister's Keeper and I sobbed for days.

2.  Tamora Pierce- How have I never read her novels? I feel like I need to remedy this situation since high fantasy is one of my favorite genres.

3. Sara Shepard - Ok, this is entirely my fault. I actually met Sara Shepard, she grew up in my neighborhood and I have a few of her (signed!!) novels sitting on my bookshelf.  I plan on reading The Heiresses this spring.

4.  Gillian Flynn- I sort of never got on board when Gone Girl was receiving a lot of attention. I plan on reading this novel though before the movie comes out. I promise!

5.  Rachel Caine- Everyone assumes I have read The Morganville Vampires series and I probably should have. I have even gone to a Rachel Caine book signing and have a few of her signed books on my shelf. I guess one of the main reasons I haven't started this series is the fact that there are 15 books in it.  Daunting!

6.  George R. R. Martin - My husband, my dad, and other friends love The Game of Thrones series. I will admit that I have only ever watched the TV show and I love it. I can't believe that I have watched the show before I read the book, but this is another really lengthy series that I am not sure I have time for right now. I mean the first book has 835 pages in it.

7.  A. S. King - This author has won numerous awards, but sadly enough, I haven't gotten around to her yet. 

8. E. L. James - Sometimes I feel like I am the last person on the universe to have read The Fifty Shades of Grey series, especially with the movie coming out. Is it bad that I don't even have a desire to? I am not being a bookish snob, but it just seems cheesy. 

9.  Marissa Meyer- All of my bookish friends love The Lunar Chronicles series, but I haven't picked it up yet. I think it's because I am, yet again, afraid to commit to another series.

10.  Holly Black- Confession: I have met Holly Black. She's awesome and I have a few of her books sitting on my shelf. Plus, her novel, Doll Bones, won the Newbery Medal Honor this year. What's my problem?

So, are you surprised by any of the authors that I haven't read? Which authors should I read drop everything and read immediately? Let me know what you think!