Review for This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith 
Publisher: Headline
Release: 4th April 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Received in exchange for an honest review from the publishers



Review 
This is What Happy Looks Like follows the story of Ellie and Graham. For months they have been anonymously corresponding over email after Graham accidently sends Ellie an email about the welfare of his pet pig, Wilbur. Not knowing each other’s identity allows these two teens with secrets to open up to one another and so they form an unlikely friendship. But when Graham decides he wants to meet Ellie, and possibly take their friendship further, their easy natural relationship becomes strained when Graham is revealed to be the latest movie star heartthrob and Ellie is a girl with a past that she would do anything to keep out of the spotlight – even if it means losing Graham.

I was actually really surprised when I started reading this book. I expected it to be a teen version of the movie ‘You’ve Got Mail’ with the couple corresponding, falling for the online version, loathing the real life person, only to find out at the end that the two are one and the same. So I was surprised when things took a different turn and Ellie and Graham figured out who the other was pretty quickly. Instead their budding romance faces other obstacles. Most teenage girls dream of dating the latest teen Hollywood star but Ellie – who loves the Graham away from the camera- needs to keep their involvement hidden due to a buried family secret that can’t come out.

Graham and Ellie were two really great characters. Graham is a young rising star and is finding that the lifestyle of the rich and famous isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Graham was a really down to earth, funny, easy going guy and I could understand his attraction to Ellie - a girl who knows him and fell for him for who he is inside without the celebrity status. Ellie is a girl with a good head on her shoulders. It’s just her and her mom so money is always an issue so Ellie works hard towards a brighter future. Ellie was a really admirable, clever girl who I had a lot of respect for.

Unfortunately despite loving both characters separately the romance was very slow simmering in my opinion. There were some cute scenes like the hunt for a whoopie pie and their funny emails but for me that chemistry wasn’t there, I just couldn’t feel it. I think that’s probably down to the amount of time this couple spent apart and the emails (which I loved) fizzled out as the book went on. I LOVED their emails; they were actually my favourite thing about this book. I loved their conversations about Wilbur the pig and what their happy looks like. All the online chemistry was there but when they were face to face it felt like we lost some of that adorable banter. For a book like this the romance is key so I was disappointed that their chemistry fell flat.

Overall This is What Happy Looks Like was a really cute, fun, summery read. But unfortunately it lacked that sparkle that Smith’s debut ‘The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight’ had. Happy Looks Like is a sweet and satisfying read whilst it lasts but I can’t say there was anything about it that left a lasting impression.

 

Review for The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski 
Publisher: Self Published (has been picked up by Harper)
Release: 28th February 2013
Genre: New Adult, Mature YA, Romance
Source: Bought on my Kindle



Goodreads Summary:

"Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett thought she knew exactly where her life was going. But after a wild night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she shocks everyone-including herself-when she decides to leave the only life she's ever known and set out on her own. Grabbing her purse and her cell phone, Camryn boards a Greyhound bus ready to find herself. Instead, she finds Andrew Parrish. Sexy and exciting, Andrew lives life like there is no tomorrow. He persuades Camryn to do things she never thought she would and shows her how to give in to her deepest, most forbidden desires. Soon he becomes the center of her daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But there is more to Andrew than Camryn realizes. Will his secret push them inseparably together-or destroy them forever?"

Review 
The Edge of Never has recently been picked up for publishing in the UK and that news gave me the extra push I needed to see what all the fuss is about regarding this book. I’d heard nothing but great things about this New Adult sensation and I, like so many others, fell head over heels for this story of finding love where you least expect it.

Our leading lady Camryn hasn’t been interested in dating since her high school sweetheart was killed in a car accident. Now twenty, Camryn has closed herself off from love believing that she’ll never again find a love like her first. As well as the death of her boyfriend Camryn is dealing with her parents’ divorce and a brother in prison. Needless to say that Camryn has a lot to deal with and so when her best friends boyfriend comes on to her and she tries to tell her friend only to be held to blame it’s the final straw. With nothing left to lose Cam ups and leaves her mess of a life behind and hits the road- destination anywhere and this is where the story really begins.

Before reading this book I had no idea how much of this story was set on the road, I wish I knew this sooner because I absolutely love books about roadtrips! For a while the story is told purely from Camryn’s point of view but when she meets Andrew the book splits into an alternating narrative between the two which is another thing I wish I knew before reading because I adore dual narratives. I feel like if I knew these two things I’d have gotten around to this book a lot sooner!

Andrew completely stole the show in my opinion. I loved him from the moment we meet him and that love only grew as the book went on. Andrew is on a journey to visit his dying father for the last time an idea which he is really struggling with and so beautiful mysterious Camryn becomes the ideal distraction as he travels with her. With the majority of this book featuring only two characters on a bus or in a car they needed to be two really strong personalities to carry the plot along and I definitely got that with Andrew and Camryn!

This couple and the chemistry and romance between them – I can’t even. They are one of the most perfect book couples I’ve come across in a long time. They had cute adorable moments where they’d goof around and tease one another, loving tender moments where they’d open up and talk about their hopes and dreams, and they had pure sexual tension that practically sizzled off the pages. I loved how they brought out the best in each other and lived every day to the fullest.

The Edge of Never was certainly not a perfect book, it could have done with some editing and the ending, although shocking, was ever so slightly cheesy. But to be honest it got to the point where I really didn’t care because I was so engrossed in Andrew and Camryn’s story. The Edge of Never is up there as one of my favourite New Adult novels and I’m already dying to get my hands on the sequel!

Win a Copy of Icons by Margaret Stohl! (UK Only)

To celebrate the upcoming publication of Margaret Stohl’s (one of the best-selling authors behind Beautiful Creatures!) Icons the UK publishers are providing me with one copy of the book to giveaway to one of my UK readers (sorry to any international readers this was at the request of the publishers as they are the ones providing the book.) In case this book isn’t on your radar yet here is what it’s about…

 

Goodreads Synopsis

"Your heart beats only with their permission. Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting. Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid. She's different. She survived. Why? When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy. Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths. Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future."

The Trailer

 

Rules 

To enter please fill in the Rafflecopter 

 Open to UK residents only 

 End date: Friday 26th April 2013 

 Winner will be contacted by email and will have 1 week to reply else another winner will be selected. 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review for Fractured by Teri Terry

Series Warning! 
This review is for the second book in the Slated trilogy and so may contain spoilers from the first book.

Fractured by Teri Terry
Publisher: Orchard
Release: 4th April 2013
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Identity
Source: Received in exchange for an honest review from the publishers




Goodreads Summary:

"How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from? Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever. Or so she thought. Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes..."

Review 
I love when the second book in a trilogy is just as strong as the first book. I love it even more when the second book propels the series to a whole other level! Fractured jumps straight into the action and mystery of a slated Britain and whilst I loved Slated, I came to love Fractured even more which is such a rarity for a middle book.

My favourite thing about Fractured is that we get to find out a whole lot more about slating and why Kyla is different. Not only is all of this really cleverly explained but it’s fascinating to read about. The book really tackles the subject of identity and how our memories are essentially the foundation of who we are. I loved reading about Kyla’s layered character and finding out why she’s so unique. I loved that straight away we are provided with some huge answers and that Teri Terry hasn’t kept them all hidden until the big finale which was something I found hugely refreshing.

The plot in Fractured allows us to see a different side to Kyla and we get to find out about her life before she was slated as she unravels memories of her past self. We also get to find out more about Free UK (better known as The Anti-Government Terrorists) as we follow the build-up to Kyla being slated. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book. It was full of action and suspense and never lets up for a moment.

Another thing I love about this series is the complex characters. I’m never quite sure who to trust because all of the characters have both good and bad in them which brings them to life on the page and makes them totally believable. My favourite characters in this book were Kyla’s mum, Tori and Katran whose own stories are just as interesting and developed as Kyla’s.

Slated was about slated Kyla. Fractured is about Kyla’s life just before she is slated and the way this book ends leads me to believe the final book to be about Kyla’s life and family from when she was Lucy. I love that each book explores a new part of Kyla’s memories and personality and how they shape and develop her as our heroine. I can’t wait for the third and final book to find out what happens next! Fractured is one of the strongest sequels I’ve ever read, this series just gets better and better!

 

Letterbox Love (24) An Excellent Book Week!

Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey @ Narratively Speaking for UK based book bloggers to showcase the books that they’ve received each week.

 For Review (Proof Copies)

 
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
I LOVED The Immortal Rules so I'm really excited to read this one!
Angelfall by Susan Ee
This book arrived so beautifully packaged and is another e-book self published sensation that's been picked up for publishing. This moulds two of my favourite genre's together Angels and Dystopian. It's taking everything I have not to dive into it right this second!
Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman
I believe this is a new dystopian series from Malorie Blackman. I don't know too much about it, but from what I have heard I'm pretty excited.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
I did a happy dance or two when this one arrived this week. The 5th Wave has been getting some phenomenal praise already and I'll definitely be getting around to it very soon. I believe this is about an alien apocalypse.
Two for Joy by Helen Chandler
Another one I haven't heard too much about, but the synopsis sounds good so I'm looking forward to reading it.
Love is a Thief by Claire Garber
Another book I'm HUGELY excited about. This sounds like nothing I've ever read before. It's about the girl who doesn't get the big love, the family, the happy ending. It's a book about self discovery and taking back the opportunities love has stolen from you. I really urge you all to check out this one. I can't wait to read it!

 For Review (Finished Copies)

 
Because of Low by Abbi Glines
While it Lasts by Abbi Glines
Just for Now by Abbi Glines
Really excited that this series is being published in the UK! I have yet to read anything by Abbi Glines but I'm a huge fan of the New Adult genre and can't wait to get started on these.
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
This book has been on my wishlist for such a long time so I was thrilled to find out it's being published in the UK. It sounds like a cute contemporary about a girl trying to get over her crush on her best friend.
ACID by Emma Pass
So many bloggers seem to be reading and loving this right now that it's making me really eager to start it soon. This sounds like a brilliant British dystopian, and is another one I can't wait to read.
The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan
I believe this is based on Gargoyle mythology. It sounds very different and I'm looking forward to reading it.

 Bought

 
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
This sounds like a really good coming of age contemporary about a girl coming to terms with her sexuality in a conservative old fashioned family. One I look forward to reading this summer!
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
I have heard incredible things about this book so I finally caved and bought myself a copy. It sounds incredibly creepy and there are photographs! Hugely excited to get to this one.
The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel
Foodie chick-lit set in Paris with family history. This sounds like such a 'Jess book'!
A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews
I have yet to read anything by Carole Matthews despite her being really big on the chick-lit scene. This looks like a gorgeous summery read which'll provide some much needed escapism from the rubbish spring we're having in the UK!
The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
I really love this series and this is the last book! I'm looking forward to seeing how it all ends.

 On My Kindle 

Netgalley 

Ink by Amanda Sun 

Icons by Margaret Stohl 

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins 

Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn 

Bought 

Wait for You by J. Lynn 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover 

Needless to say I'm excited about all of these but Ink, Another Little Piece and Wait for You in particular! If they're not on your radar you really need to check them out! 

That’s it from me for another week! If any of these books have caught your eye and you’d like to find out more about them simply click on the title and the link will take you to Goodreads for a full synopsis, reviews, and to add them to your wishlists. As always thank you to the lovely publishing folk for the review copies. If you’re looking forward to a certain book in particular and want to request a review feel free to in the comments and I’ll do my best to get around to the book sooner rather than later. And if you decided to do a Letterbox Love, Book Haul, IMM, Showcase Sunday, Mailbox Monday or whatever else featuring the books you got this week leave me a link as I’d love to check out your books too! ^_^

 Happy reading till next time!