Book in Review: Don't Call Me Kit Kat by K.J Farnham

2015 books
Summary (via Goodreads)

Junior high is where things really start to happen. Cliques form and break apart. Couples are made and destroyed. And a reputation is solidified that you won’t ever be able to escape. Everything you do and say, and everyone you spend your time with, matters.

Katie Mills knows that. She gets it. That’s why she tried so hard to get in with the cool girls at school. And why she was so devastated when those efforts found her detained for shoplifting and laughed out of cheer squad tryouts.

But Katie has more to worry about than just fitting in. Her parents are divorced and always fighting. Her sister never has time for her. And her friends all seem to be drifting apart. Even worse? The boy she has a crush on is dating the mean girl at school.

Everything is a mess, and Katie doesn’t feel like she has control over any of it. Certainly not over her weight, which has always topped out at slightly pudgier than normal—at least, according to her mother.

So when she happens to catch one of the popular girls throwing up in the bathroom one day, it sparks an idea. A match that quickly engulfs her life in flames.

Is there any going back once she gets started down this path?

And would she even want to if she could?

At first, I thought this would just be an easy read containing some of the typical problems that teens undergo, but I was wrong. Don't Call Me Kit Kat is much more and much deeper . It tackles several difficult issues like smoking, drinking, bullying and eating disorders .

Katie, the main character struggles with the divorce of her parents and with trying to fit in. Like, what would it be like if she was part of the Orchard Hills clique? What would it be like if she just had the "perfect" body like her sister? These are some of the things she always thinks about and asks to herself, and I honestly can't blame her. 

Through the first person point of view, I was able to clearly understand what's going on and what Katie is undergoing. Most of the time, her reasons to binge are the small problems that when they're all together becomes a huge one. I was able to empathize with the main character simply because of K.J Farnham's writing style. It was just very smooth and uncomplicated  yet there's something in it that grasps you in every word.

I loved how the plot really focused on Katie, and how every character was there for a purpose. I also loved how organized and flawless the development was. When I was nearing the end of the book, I felt so relieved that Katie was able to speak out. Finally she was able to tell the people around what she was feeling all along. The beginning, the middle, and the ending worked great for me. It made me feel all kinds of emotions, but in the end, I was just happy that everything turned out that way.

I would definitely recommend this to all the teens out there. Especially if they're undergoing a similar thing with Katie. 

BOOK DETAILS:

Don't Call Me Kit Kat by K.J Farnham
Publication Date: May 15th, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Format: ARC



Book in Review: Aspen by Rebekah Crane

2014 books
Title: Aspen
Author: Rebekah Crane
Publishing Date: June 5th, 2014
Publisher: In This Together Media
Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary:

One quiet night in Boulder, Colorado, Aspen Yellow-Sunrise Taylor made a mistake.

In the next instant, her life changed forever.

Aspen doesn't want to remember the car accident that killed Katelyn Ryan, a sleek-haired popular soccer player. But forgetting is hard-- because Katelyn may have died -- but she didn't leave. Her ghost is following Aspen around, and heading into senior year, it's kind of a problem. Especially when Katelyn's former boyfriend Ben appears to be the only person at school with a clue as to how Aspen feels. 

Popularity, Homecoming Court, hot guys - none of these things ever mattered to Aspen. She's been busy trying to keep her stoner mother Ninny in line and out of unemployment. But with Ben sitting next to her in Physics and her therapist begging her to remember all the things she wants to forget, Aspen is thrust into a vivid, challenging world she can't control ... and doesn't want to. 

A darkly funny, emotionally gripping story of opening up, letting go, and moving on, Aspen is about the best-worst accident of your life ... and what comes next.
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did, but wow, it was just phenomenal. Too beautiful for words. There are only few books that leave me speechless after reading it, and Aspen is one of them. This book gave me a lot of feelings, and I was engrossed with the story since page one.

Aspen is such a well-crafted and endearing character. I loved getting into her head and thought she is an incredible narrator. I loved her honesty and her sense of humor. I loved how she has giant curly hair, and I loved her habit of memorizing dictionary definitions. She is a character that I'm pretty sure a lot of teenagers can relate to, because she is just so effortlessly genuine.

Aspen's mother, Ninny, is also pretty unique, in her own weird way. She's not your typical parent in any other young adult book. She's what you say, a bit irresponsible with her drug intake, and her promiscuous escapades. And so, Aspen is the one who has to take care of Ninny all the time, making Aspen so mature beyond her years. What I loved about Ninny though is that even though she may be a tad bit irresponsible, she sincerely cares about Aspen a lot and wants her to be happy.

Aspen's love interest, Ben, is to die for! He is one of my favorite book boyfriends, EVER and I just love how he is so naturally kind and gentle, and just plain beautiful. He's the kind of guy who always has good intentions and would do anything for you, even lie down with you on the street for no reason! I really wanted to hug him for that.

The secondary characters are also well fleshed out. Kim and Cass, Aspen's two best friends, are both so interesting and unique, and I loved their witty exchanges. Suzy, the popular girl, also took me by surprise when she approaches Aspen. I thought she is being all fake and plastic, but she really just wants a new friend.

I really adored all the characters in this book, which is something that I tend to look for in books for me to decide whether or not I like it. The story is also well-paced and I never found a dull moment reading it. It spoke to me in ways unimaginable and I really connected with it. The execution is just perfect, and the best parts of it all were the excellent characters and the lovely writing.

This book is a breath of fresh air, and I wish to read more YA books like this!


Feature Follow Friday: What We Read When We're Happy/Sad/Angry

angry

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work?

The goal is to increase blog followers and make friends. First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you! What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed. All features are chosen randomly to be the feature. They are not chosen by content or name.
Do you have a go to genre when you're happy, sad, or angry?

So we don't really have any particular genre that we always go to when we're in a particular mood, but we can say that we have a go to genre. It's not only for a particular mood but for whenever we need something to read. The first genre that we check out if contemporary YA. For Beryl, maybe feel-good YA, since she doesn't really like being sad when she reads books. We don't really know the reason why it's like this, but we're so used to this genre and that may be the reason why. Although Kimi, sometimes, when she's feeling sad, she tends to read a book that is also quite sad. She kinda just wallows in her sadness. As for Audrey, she's usually feels more like reading happy books, whether she's happy, sad, or angry.




Fever by Melissa Pearl Cover Reveal

author
Fever ( A Songbird Novel )


Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 15th

Designer: Mae I Design



Ella Simmons does not want to move across the country. But she is, because her boyfriend has persuaded her to join him at UChicago to finish out her college education. Never able to tell him no, she hops on a plane and makes the trek from LA expecting to adjust to life like she's often forced to, but things are not that simple when she hears a luscious voice singing over her shower wall. His deep, sexy tenor makes her weak in the knees, spreading fire through her limbs and making her question everything about her life and relationship.

Can one voice really have that much of an impact?

Cole Reynolds is on his way out. In his final year at UChicao, the only this he wants to do is finish school and get on with this life. But the sweet voice that interrupts his morning shower turns his world upside down. Compelled to find his shower songbird, he begins a search across campus. The only thing to distract him from this goal is his roommate's gorgeous girlfriend who's just arrived from LA - Ella Simmons.

Relationships are put to the ultimate test as future dreams are questioned and friendships are thrown on the line for love.


Excerpt

My voice grew stronger as I sang through the first verse of Cheek to Cheek. Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald sang my favorite version of the song. I was so in love with those two. Probably because my mother was a jazz/swing freak. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong…they were always filling our house with music. But Ella, she was my mom’s favorite and she’d quickly became mine. The woman had a voice like an angel…the supreme songbird. That’s what Mom used to say.
I ended the verse strong on the high note and was about to dip low for the last line when a deep, masculine voice joined me from the other side of the wall.
My breath hitched, my heart rate tripling. Man, that was a sexy voice. My insides flooded with heat and it wasn’t because of the shower. I bit my lip, wondering how to respond. My mind was flashing with images of a naked man beneath his own shower head. What did he look like? If the person matched the voice, he must be built like a greek god. My insides coiled tight as I touched the tiles in front of me.
I’d never had such a physical reaction to someone’s voice before. I mean, yeah David was sexy in his own way, but whoever was on the other side of this wall was making my knees weak.
The man chuckled, a low gruff sound from his throat…at least I think that’s what it was. It was kind of hard to hear through the wall, but then he started singing again and it was crystal clear.
He finished the next line.
He paused.
Waiting.
For me.
Pressing my lips together, I blinked a couple of times and then grinned.

About the Author
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Author Blog / Book Blog / Pinterest

About the Author
Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press andher first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.
"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."

Guest Post: Marie Landry's Top 5 Contemporary YA Reads

anna and the french kiss


My Top 5 Contemporary YA Reads
A Guest post by Marie Landry

Since the first two books in the Angel Island series are YA (here’s a secret: the third book will be New Adult), and since I absolutely adore contemporary YA, I thought I’d share five of my favourite books with you. These are the books I recommend most when someone asks me for must-read YA contemporary. 

Displaying Marie-Landry-Top-5-Fave-Contemporary-YA.jpg

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I love this book so much. Anna is such an easy character to relate to, and Etienne is one of my favourite book boyfriends. Plus the story is set in Paris - what could be better than that? I reread this book last April and was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it as much the second time around, but I loved it even more than the first time. I think I’m just about due for another reread. ;-)

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
I adore road trip books, and this one is my favourite. It’s funny, emotional, sweet, romantic, and just basically perfect.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
This book has the perfect mixture of emotion, humour, drama, and romance. It’s sweet, funny, heartbreaking, and sexy. I would love to be part of the Garrett family.

If Only We by Jessica Sankiewicz
This is a contemporary story with a hint of wibbly wobbly timey wimey goodness. It’s a very relatable coming-of-age story with some great life lessons. It’s perfect for anyone who loves stories about second chances.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
This is a book that packs an emotional punch. It deals with a lot of heavy issues, but it has a really beautiful romance, and moments of humour to balance it all out. There are also great aspects of family and friendship in the book, which I love.

This list easily could have had a dozen books or more, but those are five of my very favourite contemporary reads. What are some of your favourites?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Will Make You Swoon

audrey

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish, where bloggers get together and list the top ten things related to that week's topic.
Oh we so love this week's topic! This week's topic is top ten books that made you swoon. There are definitely a lot of swoon worthy books that each of us have read but we have narrowed it down to just 10 books! Here's our list! :)


1. Eleanor & Park

 "Holding Eleanor's hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive."

2. The Fault in Our Stars

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.

3. This Lullaby
"I just thought to my self, all of a sudden, that we had something in common. A natural chemistry, if you will. And I had a feeling that something big was going to happen. To both of us. That we were, in fact, meant to be together."

4. Anna & the French Kiss

"I'm saying I'm in love with you! I've been in love with you this whole bleeding year!"

5. Catching Jordan
"But what happens when you don't find that right person? Do you just spend the rest of your life in a relationship where the conversation isn't great, everything isn't perfect, but it is nice and sweet?"