This is What Happy Looks Like

One day, Graham stumble upon Ellie's email address because he made a mistake while contacting his pig sitter. They exchanged emails for some time and it was much much fun conversations. Luck was on Graham's side as he is able to visit Ellie's town and he will meet her for the first time. Summer was just starting and Ellie was not really excited like everyone else in town. During this season, many tourist will visit which generates business for the town but this year the town is also involve in filming a movie.

People could not stop looking while the place is being set up for filming and also searching for the movie stars at the same time. Ellie did not bother to stop and went to work as usual as she needed money for a program that she managed to get in Harvard in august. Ellie's friend came in for the next shift at the ice cream shop and had an accident which messed up her uniform. Ellie offered hers since she was wearing a tank top underneath anyway. On her way out, she noticed a boy heading to the place and he had a look in his eyes but she carried on to her mom's store.

Graham was excited and he arrived one day early before the shoot just to see Ellie. He headed to the ice cream shop that Ellie mentioned she worked at. He was being followed by photographers as he enter the shop. He looked at the girl with the Ellie name tag on her shirt and then he asked her out to dinner tonight. The short girl which is Ellie's friend knows that Graham is a movie star and so she accepted the invitation since she liked him too.

This is What Happy Looks Like by  Jennifer E. Smith is about two teenagers meeting for the first time and how they continue from that. When I read the excerpt at the back of the book I was expecting those type of books with plenty email conversations but I was disappointed. I wished those few months that Ellie and Graham were conversing through email was more elaborated.  I do like the writing style where each chapter differs between their perspectives. I love knowing both side of a story instead of focusing on one character's thoughts and experience.

The book was slightly predictable at the start but it was okay and the from then I did not know what to expect which is a good thing. The background and personality of the characters are quite realistic which is another point that I like of this book. The events that occurred in the story line was realistic and the reactions of the characters were good. Overall this is a good book for summer reading since that is the season mentioned in the book. The love story and characters was okay for me because it didn't draw me in to love them. Compared to other contemporary young adult books, I thought this book's romance was just mediocre. The chances of me reading this book again is probably 40% but I didn't think that it's a book not worth buying/keeping in my collection. 

The Beginning of Everything

Ezra is the tennis team captain, dating one of the popular girls in school and he is a popular guys himself too. Life is just perfect as there are in their last week of school before entering summer holidays and after summer he would be a senior in high school. There was a party that night and Ezra went alone as he got in a fight with his girlfriend Charlotte. Ezra was trying to have a good time when one person told him he should head upstairs of the house where he found his girlfriend engrossed in sexual activity. He was upset and Charlotte even asked if he still take her to prom.

Ezra went to get his car and left the place but a car who didn't stop at the stop sign had hit him. Ezra was in a daze and the driver who hit him fled the scene, soon he heard his peers approaching but none had try to help him. Ezra spent his whole summer at home in the guest room recuperating. His knee was shattered and his wrist was badly hurt which resulted that he is not able to do any sports for the rest of his life. That news make Ezra brood most of the time and he was not looking forward to a new year at school. He will be left out from the tennis team since he couldn't play and that would be his fall out from the "populars".

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider is about a boy who falls out from the "popular" group and things just sort of went downhill for him or so it seems. This book is about finding yourself and also coming of age too. The male protagonist has his life turned upside down and he will have to get over it and grow up. He is the character that grows the most and his true personality slowly surfaces. I quite enjoy reading about his story although the timeline is just a short span of 1 year. 

The plot of the book is smooth hence it was not bad. At later parts of the book, I manage to predict a bit about the characters but it did not put me off reading the book. I like that my prediction was true. I often like reading about high school life and people with slight identity crisis. Overall this book is truthful about our society and how high school social life is. I enjoyed every moment of this book , it was a fun read for me and there was a part of the book that got me in tears (guess I'm just sensitive). Teenagers will learn something from this book and I highly recommend for those who love coming of age stories.

Champion

The assassination of Elector Primo had failed and then Day pledged for Anden to calm the citizens from revolting the government. Things manage to calm down but Day's life is numbered and so he broke up with June. Day and his brother moved away to get treatment in San Francisco. Because of their break up, June accepted Anden's offer to become Princeps-Elect and her training starts where much politics are involved.

For a long time Day has not speak to June and then he got a call from her one night asking for his presence at a party. The treaty talk between The republic and the Colonies has turned bad because a virus was spread into the east. The Colonies claim that it's the republic's fault and they cancel the whole thing unless an antidote was provided. Day was requested by Anden to test on his brother Eden as the virus most likely came from him. Day fear for his brother's condition getting worse if he allows them to do testing again and so he refuses. Things are heating up as war might just start again if the Republic does not manage to give the antidote. This time, this war they will be losing for sure as there is a powerful ally assisting the Colonies

Champion by Marie Lu is the last book of the trilogy. When I finished the book, there were tears which were both sad and happy. I absolutely loved the ending with no complains here. Like the first two books the writing style is the same where alternating chapters between the male and female lead retains. In this book, there is also much growth to the characters. I love the female lead the most as she is so smart, strong, and always being able to make good decisions. 

The plots were good along with the twists. I would say that Marie Lu's writing is fairly good with how the storyline goes. It's definitely well written with very good timing for the events that happens. Again this book is good movie material as I'm always picturing it like that. The character emotions are so real and capturing. I feel that it's the characters that make the book more interesting because of their actions. Overall this is a very good series which captured me very well. All the books were page turners with much action in it and good emotions too. The female lead really captured my heart and I love her much. I highly recommend this series for dystopian book lovers as well as people who love action. This is now my favourite young adult dystopian compared to The Hunger Games and Divergent. 

Prodigy

June helped Day escape his death sentence but John (Day's brother) was executed instead as replacement. Both of them travel to Vegas after the Patriots to seek for their help in locating Day's younger brother. Vegas is military based city and they had to use signals to draw them out. Kaede showed up and brought them to meet the leader. The leader agreed to help heal Day's leg and find his brother in one condition which was June and Day would have to help assassinate the new Elector Primo.

June was suppose to be a wanted person for assisting the escape of Day but because the Elector Primo Anden favors her, they are seeking for her. The Patriots were to send June to be captured so that she could gain Anden's confidence again and she would be the one who lead him to his death. June was apprehended by Commander Jameson's patrol and then brought to Denver. She was not treated badly like a criminal and was given an apartment as her prison. June starts to feel something is not right and she plans to warn Anden but how can she signal Day of her plan.

Prodigy by Marie Lu is the second book of the Legend trilogy where June managed to help Day escape his death execution day. I have to say that the story gets better as there are more twists again. I love how the characters would have to act base on their beliefs and how the female lead always manage to make good decisions. She is one strong person and I really admire her skills for almost everything yet she does have a weak side. The male lead have many struggles and that in turn made him grow but I still see him as someone weaker than the female lead. Given the circumstances of the male lead, he certainly have the right personalities portrayed in the book. The character developments for the book is just marvelous and I enjoyed reading how characters react and change.

The plots of the book is fantastic for me as I felt yet again as though I'm watching a movie. The writer's style of writing is something that I love with each chapter being perspectives of the male and female lead alternating. The story has many twists and turns, emotions involved and that made it a great book for me. The stories were very smooth and it really climax at the best timing. I loved every part of this book and it was flawless for me. I am so looking forward to the ending. This series have taken over first place of my dystopian favorite. I highly recommend for those who love Divergent and The hunger games series, especially people who love actions, military and conspiracy theory.

Legend

The USA has been divided into two countries where the east and west are at war. Day is a wanted criminal of the Republic because of multiple destructions he has done. Sadly, the republic does not know how he really looks like and so the JumboTrons just display all the information it had on Day. Every week when the police comes to do inspection on whether a household has been infected with the plague, Day will be there watching his family from afar. Things was not well when his house was being marked but it was a different one but still the whole family was quarantined.

The only way that Day could help his family is to break in to the hospital to steal cures for his little brother that was infected. Things went really bad and he had to hurt a captain in patrol where he barely got away. June was up to mischief in university and her brother was upset that she was causing trouble. He picked her up and sent her home to go to work. Unfortunately, it was her brother that was hurt by Day and Metias was found dead. June was escorted to see her brother's body by request of Metias's commander. When she reached the scene, Commander Jameson told her to look at the scene and find out more information. She also made June graduate early to be an agent to track Day down.

Legend by Marie Lu is the first book of the trilogy and it's definitely a great start to it. The story is unique and after reading the author's small biography at the back of the book you can understand where some of the influences come from. The characters are really strong characters which makes reading about them exciting. The female protagonist is such a strong person yet she has a soft side too. Both characters are similar but different and their background really influences their decisions.

The book is written in the two main character's perspective alternating chapters. I love this type of writing as we get to know what both people are thinking for different plots of the story. Readers also get different perspectives when certain things are happening in the story. The story from start to end was really exciting, I felt like I was watching a movie. The plots were smooth, slowly reaching climax and with some twists too. I couldn't stop reading, this book is such a page turner. I'm so amazed that for a debut book it's so good which makes me get excited for the second book. To compare it with other books of the same genre, I think this is quite good and overtakes divergent and hunger games' place in my heart. I highly recommend this to dystopian genres lovers. 

Black Heart

Cassel solved his brother's murder and at the same time manage to cut a deal for his other brother to join the government as an agent. Cassel himself will also be joining them when he finishes his high school. At the of book two, Lila has formally joined her father and made markings that shows she is part of the mob. Even though he has not join as an agent yet, once a week Cassel receive training from his brother. Today they are following Lila and she handed cash to another fellow.

Cassel and Barron followed that guy and waited at a diner across the street. Baron stepped out awhile to make a phone call and Cassel caught the guy in action killing someone. He decided to chase after him and ended up in an alley. Cassel confronted the guy and knocked the gun out of his hand but still lost him as the murderer jumped over the fence. When the feds came to where he was, he quickly hid the gun and details about Lila ordering the hit.

Another thing that troubles Cassel is that his mother was no where to be found since her act of con was exposed by the victim. She is now a wanted criminal by the feds. Lila called Cassel to meet with her and she drove him to her father's place. His mother has gotten herself in another pinch where years ago she tricked Lila's father and stole his gem. Now Cassel have to find the gem as the one his mother has is fake or else her life will be taken. Cassel is working against time to find the gem and also secretly as he can't let the feds know of his situation.

Black Heart by Holly Black is the final book to the curse workers trilogy. I really love the ending for this book and to the series. All the plots and twist in the book is just unexpected and wonderful. The main character is a indeed a smart guy pulling a con that you would have not thought of. The many turns of events in the book is truly exciting which grasp your attention well. Out of the trilogy this is my favorite book as there is more action and lots of emotions from the characters.The relationships for the characters in this book is well portrayed and it really makes you feel for them because of their situations that is so messed up. There is much character development for everyone in the book.

The writing is just as good as the other two books with smooth plots that slowly builds up tension for you and then the climax just gets you unexpectedly. Holly Black can really write a good fantasy that is not of the norm paired with  much human emotions and behaviors. I also love that she included an element that is not used much which is cons. This book is so well written that I believe there are no flaws and I wouldn't change anything at all. A fantastic trilogy to read and it definitely satisfies readers who love books on con and fantasy. I highly recommend the series as Holly Black's writing is quite enchanting and capturing.

Vicious

Victor and Eli are roommates in college and they both study in the medical line. This year they are in a class that needed them to work on their own thesis. Victor chose on a topic about adrenaline and Eli being ambitious decide upon discovering more about EOs (ExtraOrdinary).  Victor was slightly jealous that Eli would go for a topic like that. He was also not happy that Eli was dating the girl that he had his eye on. In order to make people realize Eli's true nature, Victor encouraged him to try the theory that he came up with.

In order to be EOs one must first die and then come back to life to obtain it. Victor went first but failed and then provoked Eli to do the same as well. Eli did succeed which made Victor mad inside and giving it a second go. Victor did succeed but things got really bad. Ten years later, Victor broke out of jail with an accomplice and begins to seek Eli for revenge. 

Vicious by V.E Schwab is a fantasy book and a very unique one for me. I was blown away from the start till the end and I loved every part of it. The story is about the dark and evil nature that humans can become when given power.  The characters totally made the story fantastic as their personalities gives life to the plots. The main characters are bad people and I love that the author does much background for them. I love to read about characters which covers their past and present where it gives you more grasp on their personality. They are certainly very unique and even their powers are unique. 

The concept of the story is really fresh and new not like a typical fantasy book at all. It's not a complicated world/future in the book but definitely with complicated characters which are quite realistic in behavior. I love how the author arranged the chapters which makes all the plots really smooth and suspenseful at the same time. I could not help but keep reading the book wanting more of the story. It's hard for me to put my feelings into words but to generalize I felt hungry for more from this writer and wished that this could be a series instead. I'm definitely gonna keep my eyes open for this author's works. This book is fast pace, unique filled with realistic behaviors of human. If this is your cup of tea then you won't disappointed and it's the type of book that can be reread many times.

Red Glove

Cassel's mother was released from jail in the previous book and then use her touch on Lila to make her love him. Cassel was devastated with it and so he avoided Lila the whole summer. He followed his mother to Atlantic City where he helped her run cons and they lived in a 5 star hotel without paying a cent. It was a crazy summer and his mother asked for one last scam before he returned to school. Cassel was to snatch her handbag in front of their target (loves to save damsels) will help his mother. While he did what his mother asked, he injured himself in the process but his mother was able to use her curse on the target.

Cassel's mother was really happy and she wanted to celebrate with the son until there was a ring at their hotel room. It was the target and he recognize Cassel very well and their scam failed. His mother was very upset on the drive back home where he complained about her and resulted in Cassel being slapped. Cassel was dropped off at school and the term was about to start.

Later, he was shocked that Lila enrolled into his school to be with him even though she was cursed. Lila told him that it was hard for her to stay away from him. Things were not going well for Cassel as he was whisked away on the first day by FBI agents to find out that his eldest brother Philip was murdered. The agents insisted that Cassel investigate and find the killer by threatening him. At his brother's funeral, Lila and her father attended where Lila's father tries to recruit him to help the mob. Cassel does not want to join either side and so he has to work out a way to save himself.

Red Glove by Holly Black is the second book to the curse worker trilogy and it continues after Cassel found out that he is a transformation worker which is one of the rarest. Though the ending of the first book seems quite conclusive but the second book was wonderfully written with a new adventure. The side characters for the first book gets more development in this book and I really enjoyed that. Of course, our main character is also growing up. I also love the relationships in the book which is quite realistic because of the situations faced and behaviors of the characters.

I love that this book's story challenges our main character and he reacts really well to it. The plots again are surprising, exciting and very smooth. This book really captured my attention from start till end. Every action and plan has a purpose which is fruitful to the plots. This author can write a story that pretty much has no flaws at all. The second book also contains con elements in it and much human behaviors along with morals. It's a book that is smart as the main character can really think well. If you love the first book, this book is just as good. It has a really good con and I believe it is a book worth reading.