Love and Other Foreign Words

Can anyone be truly herself or truly in love in a language that's not her own?

Sixteen year old Josie knows a lot of languages: she speaks High School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language of Beautiful Girls. But none of these is her native tongue-the only people hwo speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister, Kate. So when Kate gets engaged to an insufferable guy, how can Josie see it as anything but the mistake of a lifetime?

As battles are waged over secrets and semantics, Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boy who says he loves her, the sister she loves but doesn't always like, and the best friend who hasn't said a word-at least not in a language Josie understands. - excerpt from book.

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan is about a teenage girl who is very good at languages but  not good at dealing with strangers and love. I did not know what to expect for this book and just hoped that it will be a funny young adult romance story. It was an interesting book as the main character herself is cute and weird. Her conversations and reactions to people and incidents are not what you expect from a teenager. It was also good to read about her thoughts as she interprets words that are said differently from the normal teenager. The other characters of the book are also not bad in supporting the plot. Her family is definitely not a typical family but I guess it's because of how they need to interact with the main character. 

The plot was okay allowing the story to move forward smoothly. Some of the incidents were funny to read about, often making me laugh. When I was reading the book, it made an impression to me about people because the main character has a very unique personality. The whole book was about her life and it captured my attention well. This book was not a fantastic love story, but it was more of a coming-of-age book instead with a little bit of romance included. 

I highly recommend this to readers who always enjoy a good coming-of-age story. I quite love coming-of-age books as it allows me to have a perspective about teens these days as when I was a teenager, my era was totally different. This book is also recommended to readers who enjoys a book about friendship and family. I'm not sure if I would read this book again as it did leave an impression but not a strong one that I would get warm and nice feelings from the book that triggers me to read it again.

  

The White Rose

No one said leaving The Jewel would be easy.

After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But as they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it into the safe haven they were promised-a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there's a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known? - excerpt from book.

The White Rose by Amy Ewing is the second book of the Lone City trilogy. My attention was already captured at the start of the book, it was super exciting and action packed. With a start like this, the book was bound to be good and surely it did not disappoint me at all. It was a book that was hard to put down, you have to keep reading to know their journey. As you can tell, the plot was fantastically good, non stop action and excitement with many incidents in the story. The incidents that happen are very smooth and connects really well to the plot line, everything happens at very good timing. The plot twists were just so good and unexpected.

The main character in this book has the most growth in this second book and mostly it is the circumstances that she's in that needed her to change. I love that we get to learn more about the side characters in this book as the first book just manage to touch the surface of those characters and in this book so much more was revealed about their past. Their actions towards incidents of the book was fantastic and on point to their personality. I loved every character in this book and they truly make the story come alive.

This second book really beat the ball out of the park. It was exciting, capturing, fast-paced and also with a message attached to the story. I couldn't stop reading so I finished it quickly hoping it was a thicker book. I absolutely loved this book more than the first which was a great start but this second book puts so much more perspective into the world that the characters live in. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers, although there might be similarities to other books it's still unique. If you have read the first book, you must read the second, it will not disappoint you. I seriously can't wait for the last one to be out, it's gonna be a one year wait. For those who have not read this trilogy go pick up the first book, my review is here: The Jewel (The Lone City #1)

#scandal

#busted

Lucy's learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart's all-too-public blunders. Avoid the spotlight, don't feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. These policies have served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend, Ellie, gets sick before prom and begs her to take Cole-Ellie's boyfriend-to the dance, Lucy accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she'd rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she's been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after-party with kiss under the stars, it's everything Lucy has ever dreamed of...and the biggest BFF deal breaker ever. Despite Cole's lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they'll have to 'fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy's own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students' party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy's been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy's been battling undead masses online long enough to know there's only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend's trust , and graduate with a clean slate.

There's just one snag-Cole. Turns out Lucy's not the only one who's been harboring unrequited love... - excerpt from book.

#scandal by Sarah Ockler is a story about high school life mainly on the issue of cyber bullying. I find the story cute and also realistic at the same time. I quite enjoy the actions and reactions of the characters because it's real and it happens in the real world. I like the message of the story because this matter does happen often and youth these days need to be reminded and taught how to handle things like these. The main character certainly grew and learn a lot from her experience. The side characters were good too, they supported the main character well. The side characters all had unique personalities and their actions in the story helped carried the story well. I particularly liked one of the male characters because I feel I can connect with him well and it's interesting to read what he does in the book.

The plot of the story was good, everything strings together well. The twists and turns were not bad at all. It certainly did capture my attention for quite a bit. I kept reading to discover how the main character can fix her problem. This book has a simple story but I like how the author make the events interesting and I also like the message that you gain from it. The title for each chapter is also quite well thought of, you can see the author puts a lot of effort and heart into it.

Overall, I think it was not bad of a teenage drama type of story. It wasn't some romantic book or some sad sob story, it was just a typical story that could happen to a typical teenager. I recommend this to young adult book lovers who enjoys this author's writing (this was actually my first time reading her book), also recommending this to readers who enjoy a slice of life type of story.

Royal Wedding

Princess Mia's life in New York City is one glamorous whirlwind. Not only does she have to deal with nosy gossip columnists on a daily basis and the paparazzi following her every move, she's also expected to enchant wealthy strangers at royal engagements. Speaking of engagements...Mia's gorgeous long-term boyfriend Michael has popped The Question on an exotic Carribbean island. Finally they're ready to settle down...or so she thought.

When Mia and Michael return from their romantic hideaway, they discover that they are embroiled in a scandal of majestic proportions! A scandal that could turn the normally calm Michael into a runaway groom...Worse still, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne. 

Mia may be ready to wed, but is she ready to rule as well? - excerpt from book.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot is about Princess Mia after she's all grown up now in her mid twenties. From what I read around the internet this is the last book for the series, which makes me kinda sad as I started loving Meg Cabot's books from her The Princess Diaries series. I read this series when I was in high school through college so it's about more than 10 years since I've read this series. I was so excited about this last book, so naturally I bought it immediately when it's out. This book really brings back such good memories of my younger days, how much I loved it, laughed with it and smiled about it.

I can gladly say that this book is still funny and witty like the previous books and I absolutely enjoyed reading it. I totally love reading about Princess Mia's daily life especially her reactions to events happening. The interactions of the characters are all so entertaining too, it was so fun reading about all her friends again. It's just so nice that the characters all feel familiar but then because they have grown up there's a slight difference in personality for everyone too.

The plot is very smooth with really good twists which I could not expect at all. I think the timing of events happening in the storyline was perfect. I have nothing to complain about the story and the only thing that makes me sad is I wished there was more in the series. Because I love the series so much, it's only normal that it was a hard book to put down, so I kept flipping the pages quickly.

Reading Meg Cabot's books are such joy to me and it has always been funny. After writing this review, I feel I must take out her other books and read them again. I highly recommend this to all Princess Diaries series lovers because we must read the ending for Mia's story (hopefully Meg Cabot changes her mind and writes more). I also recommend this to readers who enjoys reading romance books that are funny. Without a doubt I would reread this book in the near future.

The Darkest Part of the Forest

In the woods is a glass coffin. 

It rests right on the ground, and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives...

Hazel and her brother, Ben, live in Fairfold, where humans and the Folk exist side by side. Tourists drive in to see the lush wonders of Faerie and, most wonderful of all, the horned boy. But visitors fail to see the danger.

Since they were children, Hazel and Ben have been telling each other stories about the boy in the glass coffin, that he is a prince and they are valiant knights, pretending their prince would be different from the other faeries, the ones who made cruel bargains, lurked in the shadows of trees, and doomed tourist. But as Hazel grows up, she puts aside those stories. Hazel knows the horned boy will never wake.

Until one day, he does....

As the world turns upside down, Hazel has to become the knight she once pretended to be. But as she's swept up in new love, with shifting loyalties and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough? - excerpt from book cover.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black is a standalone story for young adults in the paranormal/fantasy genre. At first the story starts off introducing a little bit here and there and then very quickly things starts to get all mysterious, I was easily hooked. I couldn't put down the book because the mysteriousness was capturing my attention. The plots was smooth with many twists and turns that were wonderfully exciting. I really really loved how the events unfold in the book.

The characters were interesting people, both main and supporting characters. Their reactions and interactions were quite entertaining. It was exciting to read about what they were doing presently and their pasts as well. I totally anticipated the romance that was happening in the book but even if it was predictable, it was satisfying.  I'm so impressed with the author's writing, she never disappoints me.  Her writing style for the book was good too being in the third person view. The book was not really long so it was a fast read for me.

Holly Black really writes well, I can't compare her books with each other as they have all impressed me and I'm really fond of her work. It is without a doubt that she continues to be one of my favourite authors. Her books are all unique and I could not think of any other books similar to hers currently. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoys stories about abnormal things happening that is shrouded with mysteries. This also will be an enjoyable book for readers who loves this author.  After reading this book, the story is not easily forgotten.

Red Queen

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood- those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army, she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own- an ability she didn't know she had.

Except ... her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard - the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince and Mare against her own heart. - excerpt from book

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is a debut book of said author. For a first book I think it's was quite good for me. I really liked the setting of the world, it's similar to other fantasy books that is themed around oppression, "super powers", rebellion and many more. Although there are many similar stories, this book is unique in the world that is built and not to forget the characters as well. Speaking of characters, I felt that the main heroine did not get much character growth instead the side characters were the ones who were more interesting for me to read about. I wished more were revealed about them but I guess it fits the plot.

The plot of the book was smooth and good, with some wonderful twists which I managed to predict a little bit. It was super exciting at the end, leaving a cliffhanger for the readers. I liked the direction of the story, it was quite good. One thing that would have made the book fantastic for me would be more action happening, of course there was action but more would be better.

In conclusion, this book was good with an ending that keeps you on your toes as you will have high expectations for the second book. I'm quite excited to read the next book in the trilogy as I have no idea what is coming. I have seen the book cover and title for the second book and I have to say I'm impressed and eagerly waiting for it. I would highly recommend this book to young adult fantasy lovers who like a society where citizens are oppressed and a rebellion is present.