Hey, guys! This is where you can find reviews on books I have read! I read all different genres, but I love fantasy the most! So you’ll have a wide variety of reviews! I hope you enjoy!
So this record is, once I figured that out, once I was like ‘oh, these are the best parts of me. The parts that are motivated by instinct and impulse and thinking with my heart.’ And, so, after that I learnt that I could forgive her. This is, I think, the first record of mine where when you finish listening to it, it’s arguably the most self-deprecating but also when you play the last song and the whole thing is done and you get on track 16 you’re like this is not a person who hates themselves.
Halsey talking about the actual meaning of the word ‘Manic’ | Apple Music
*A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.*
SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT
I broke this down and wrote a review for the three separate stories, and then a small overview of them all collectively.
The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson
This was a very touching story. Johnson captures the emotions of an inevitable breakup perfectly.
Jubilee had the perfect boyfriend. They were to spend Christmas Eve together until her parents were arrested. They were part of the Flobie Five, a group of few people who broke out into a fight over the last piece of a Flobie Santa Village collectible. Jubilee was sent to spend Christmas with her grandparents in Florida when she heard the news about her parents. On the train, she met someone named Jeb, a teen her age traveling to Gracetown to win back his girlfriend. The storm that soon hit caused the train to crash into a snowbank. Jubilee was now stranded in Gracetown with everyone else. Once they cut the heat off to conserve energy, Jubilee made the trek across the interstate to the Waffle House across the street where she met a young man named Stuart who was her age as well clearly worked at Target (so his work shirt says). Stuart knew that Jubilee had no place to go except on the train, so he invited her to stay at his house for the night. She cautiously agreed, desperately wanting a warm and dry place to sleep. Together they walked in the cold to Stuart’s house where they were both greeted by Stuarts mother and little sister.
All this time Jubilee had been trying to call her boyfriend Noah, and every time she did, Noah found some excuse to not talk to her in those moments on Christmas Eve, and well into Christmas Day. Stuart finally gave it to her straight, making her realize the entirety of the past year she had been living in a boring daze and in Noah’s shadow. Stuart helped her realize that with the way Noah was treating her, that the break up was inevitable. Once Jubilee finally accepted that Stuart was right, she did was she knew she had to do and broke up with Noah before things got worse. She realized that she deserved someone who valued her for who she was, not what she brought to the others reputation. Someone like Stuart.
I felt everything Jubilee felt throughout this story because I have dealt with it first hand. Having a romantic partner who never communicated and just didn’t seem to care is not something one would like to have to be involved with. I was really hoping Jubilee would break up with Noah before he could. And I was glad to see that she did. I’ve never really read short stories such as this one so it was a delight to read. I am hoping just a little that Maureen Johnson will write another story soon about what happens with Jubilee and Stuart after Christmas.
The Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green
This was a super cute story!! Three friends set out on an adventure to get to the Waffle House where a group of cheerleaders are stranded and waiting for their train to be repaired. Yes, the same train Jubilee was on. Along the way, Tobin, JP, and The Duke (her real name is Angie) run into some car trouble when they hydroplane on ice, causing the car to crash into a snowbank and lose a tire.They decided to ditch the car and hike the rest of the way to the Waffle House while trying to out run some brutish teenage twins they went to school with. And just to add to the fact, Tobin finally comes to the realization that he is in love with his best friend, The Duke. The Duke made it clear to Tobin that she was in love with him as well when she complained about the cheerleaders. Tobin finally steps up to the plate and kisses her, proving to her that he felt the same.
I think all of these characters were very well written. I’ve never read a story by John Green that I did not enjoy. The characters that he writes has a lot to do with it. I am also a huge sucker for the “life long friends falling in love” kind of romances. I found the dynamic between Tobin, JP, and The Duke really great. They got along really well and they all played off each other. It was just a perfect blend of people. And of course, the romance between Tobin and The Duke was even better.
The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle
This story was not my favorite of the three, however, I still really enjoyed it. Addie had recently broke up with her boyfriend Jeb (yes! the Jeb from the train!) after she had cheated on him at a part with the schools playboy. She feels awful about it and Jeb understood to a certain extent and most definitely did not want to break up. But Addie felt like that’s what needed to be done because of what she did. The next week was like torture for Addie, not having Jeb by her side and seeing him with Brenna, Addie’s. . . Nemesis if you will. Addie wanted to meet with Jeb on Christmas Eve to make things right. When he never showed, Addie thought that was answer enough. However, Jeb was on the train that plowed into a snowbank and was delayed because of it. He had full intention of coming and wanted to be with her just as much as she wanted to be with him.
Addie soon learns some of the reason for her fallout with Jeb had to do with her. Which is exactly true because she is known by most to be self absorbed and making everything about her. Her friends Dorrie and Tegan finally give it to her straight and tell her how she acts and how it affects others. In an attempt of redemption, she sets out on a journey to collect a teacup pig named Gabriel that just so happens to be the present that Addie and Dorrie bought Tegan for Christmas.
Things don’t go as planned and the pet store that Addie was supposed to pick Gabriel up at ended up adopting him out to someone before Addie could get to him. She was trying very hard to get there before anyone else did and then a rush at work happened, delaying her as well as a mishap with the sink. Once she got to the pet store, she found who adopted Gabriel, come to find it was one of her regular clients at Starbucks, Mayzie. Mayzie had been trying a hand at being someones guardian angel and bought Gabriel on purpose to test Addie. Addie wasn’t amused but it soon proved that she could do something for someone other than herself.
Thankfully all went well and she was able to give Gabriel to Tegan as well as reuniting with Jeb and getting back the love of her life.
I felt for Addie because I could sense how hard she was trying. However, no one really believed it because she had been self absorbed for so long. She was able to get the task at hand completed and it gave her some non-self absorbed credit.
Overall Summary and Review
The last story was a little slow for me at first. It all just kind of picked up right at the end and flew by really quick when it brought together all the characters. It definitely captured the craziness of a moment like the one written. It took a minute for me to grasp what was actually happening. I loved this story overall, though. Even though it went a little fast at the end, I loved how all the characters from each story met at the end. I have never read something by Maureen Johnson or Lauren Myracle before, but I have to say that these short stories id a good job at showing these authors talented skills in writing. I look forward to picking up a read by them the next time I am at the bookstore.
I’ve recently read Someone Like you by Sarah Dessen. I have always been a huge fan of her books. And I managed to finish this one in a day. Here’s a little synopsis
“Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break—because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.” (synopsis from Goodreads)
As mentioned before, I managed to finish this book in day, and while I can read a book fairly quickly, I almost never do it in a day. That is why I found this book so intriguing.
I love the friendship between Halley and Scarlett. It is the perfect depiction of what true friendship should be; what it should be like to have that special person in your life. When Scarlett became pregnant, Halley indeed stepped up to the plate and became the person Scarlett needed. Scarlett may not have made it through sanely if it wasn’t for Halley.
Macon, however... well I was rooting for Halley and Macon from the beginning until he started showing signs of being unfaithful. It reminded me of an ex boyfriend - going off to God knows where at random times and doing whatever it was that he was doing. He claimed he wasn’t able to tell Halley where he was. I think he just didn’t want her to find out the truth. I was glad when she decided to stop seeing him.
Another bit that irritated me, but also think gave great background to the story was Halley’s mother. She did see the signs of Macon’s actions way before Halley did, I will giver her that. However, she never EVER gave Halley a chance to explain herself or give detail on what she was doing. She never gave Halley the chance to learn something on her own, and scolded her any chance she got. She always assumed she knew what was best for her daughter, when in reality, I don’t think she knew her daughter at all. I’ve noticed this is a trend with Dessen’s books. There is always some type of strain on the parent/child relationship. Some of the relationships are solid, but still have something between them that creates a conflict. I feel that is what gives the story some structure. Someone’s home life and their relationship with their parents can be what shapes them into the person that they are.
Overall, I loved this book, just as I love any of Sarah Dessen’s books. I see this as an important book of life lessons and why it is crucial to learn certain mistakes on your own. It also teaches the true value of friendship and how you would do anything for your best friend, no matter what.
You are my heart and soul. You are everything I could have asked for. Literally everything. Just when I thought I couldn’t find it, just when I thought I couldn’t be loved; when every relationship failed. Just when I had given up. . . you came along and showed me what loving someone actually means. You came along and gave me something that I had lost forever: Hope.
Thank you for being my light-my realization that failure is a necessary step to success. Thank you for loving me, and appreciating me, and caring about me, and worrying about me, and making me feel like I am something special.
I have an indigo soul, where light and darkness meet and into one another bleed; at the the edge of the horizon where the sky and earth fuse, my indigo soul, full of dusk and dawn.
Let the cold winter air hit your skin,
And embellish in the moment you’re in.
Take in the scent of the air,
Just as if you don’t have a care.
Hear the gentle silence of the snow,
And watch it as it gives off a gentle glow.
See the bright sun shinning down,
Upon the trees and leaves of Downtown.
“i could write you a paragraph about how the way you smile gives me butterflies. i could write you a page about how my skin tingles after you touch it. i could write you an essay on how often i get lost in your ocean blue eyes. i could write you a novel about how much i love you… but you wouldn’t read it.”
— you wouldn’t care
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