Teen Bibliophile

Beginner reviewer. I love the smell of books. Find me in the Young Adult section of the bookstore. Please feel free to send me any comments or book suggestions/requests via my ask tab. HTML,BODY{cursor: url("http://downloads.totallyfreecursors.com/cursor_files/frogbook.cur"), url("http://downloads.totallyfreecursors.com/thumbnails/frog-book.gif"), auto;}

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Synopsis: "What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?" (via Goodreads) Review: Catching Jordan was really a shot in the dark for me. I'm not really a sports fan, so when I bought this book I was initially a bit skeptical. I'm glad that I took a chance on this one, though. Catching Jordan takes a new perspective on the typical teen romance scene. Jordan's plans are all thrown off course when she gets wrapped up in boy drama, and she ends up questioning her decisions and rethinking what she thought she wanted. What makes this book unique to me is that even though she does get a bit wrapped up in the boy drama, she also has other goals and priorities. Kenneally managed to also include Jordan's experiences with choosing a college, family drama, unhealthy relationships, and of course football. Seeing Jordan grow as a character throughout the book was a good experience. My only issue with this book is that I wish less of it was Jordan complaining about Henry ignoring her and had more of her trying to fix things.

Quotes:

“One thing I learned a long time ago is that even if you think you're meant to be with someone, that doesn't necessarily mean you get to be with them.”

“Love hurts worse than getting slammed by a 250-pound linebacker.” “You don't need anyone's permission to do what you love. You should just do it.” “I’m glad he’s here with me, even if he’s not saying anything. Sometimes friendship is just that, just being with someone.”

Recommended if…:  -You like out-of-the-norm teen romance novels -You want a book that is romantic yet not completely romance-focused -You need something fresh and different from the current young adult crop.

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 5 out of 5 Synopsis: “During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.” (via Goodreads) Review: While perusing Amazon on a search for cheap books (I ended up getting six for only $30), I saw that Divergent was only $6.50. I had heard great things about it and figured, why not give it a try? So I did, and boy am I glad. Divergent starts off simple and builds into its suspense and action. Looking back on certain parts of the novel, you can see subtle hints left by the author, and overall it is an artistic wonder. There's romance (and oh my god it makes you swoon) but there's also other story lines. The romance is not, by any means, the most important part of the book, but it really compliments the other plot lines. Also, badass heroines are awesome, and Tris is a badass female heroine so a++ on that.

Quotes:

“Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.”

“I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.”

“A brave man acknowledges the strength of others.”

"Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up. I've seen it. It's fascinating." He releases me but doesn't pull away, his hand grazing my jaw, my neck. "Sometimes I just want to see it again. Want to see you awake.”

“I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent.”

“Who cares about pretty? I'm going for noticeable.”

“Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.”

“What did you do, memorize a map of the city for fun?” says Christina. “Yes,” says Will, looking puzzled. “Didn’t you?”

Recommended if…:  -You like dystopian novels -You want a book that is romantic yet action-packed -You have time to read the book in one sitting (you WILL want to)

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 Synopsis: “Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's girlfriends and is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of staying under the radar...and that's just how she likes it. Of course, that doesn't help her get noticed by her crush. Hannah's sure that gorgeous, sensitive Josh is her soul mate. But trying to get him to notice her; wondering why she suddenly can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn; and dealing with her parents make Hannah feel like she's going crazy. Yet she's determined to make things work out the way she wants—only what she wants may not be what she needs...” (via Goodreads) Review: I got this book for only 24 cents, so I was very excited and I really hoped that I would enjoy it. Well, I did. Something, Maybe is one of those books that are really quick reads. It was a simple read, yet it also really hit me on a certain level. It's a story of discovering the truth and realizing that sometimes perfection is only a facade. Lust can mask someone's "deal-breakers" and smooth over any slight blemish on their personality, and Elizabeth Scott shows that in a relatable way through this story. Don't worry, the end is still "awww" worthy.

Quotes:

“The sun will rise tomorrow. It always does, and all the wishing in the world for the way things were, or for what they could have been, won't change that. It won't change how things are.”

“I-I don't usually go around throwing rocks at people's windows. Or saying that I've wanted to kiss you since your first day at work, when you wanted to know why we had three codes for fish sandwiches when we only sold one kind.”

“And you… do you know what you are?” “Stupid?” “Beautiful,” he says, his face turning red.”

“I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t think he’d ever really notice me, and in the end, he didn’t."

Recommended if…:  -You liked Getting Over Garrett Delaney -You want a book that is a quick, easy read. -You want to be flipping pages nonstop

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 4 out of 5 Synopsis: “If fate sent you an email, would you answer? When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?” (via Goodreads) Review: Being a fangirl myself, I couldn't resist picking this up. While I personally lean more towards musicians rather than actors, I figured I could still live vicariously through Ellie. Oh my lord, was I in for it. As to be expected, the relationship didn't happen easily. At first, I was pretty frustrated with Ellie's initial hesitation, but as the story unfolded, I learned more about her background and her attitude made more sense. All in all, this was a cute story, and Ellie and Graham we're creative and different when it came to their "dates", if you could call them that. I really enjoyed this book, but I can't say that the end gave me closure. The book ends before Graham even leaves, which bothers me because I would really like to know how things would have played out a few months, or even weeks, down the road. Since this is a standalone book, my heart will feel incomplete for a while and I'll always wonder what would have happened...

Quotes:

"They'd managed to talk about everything without really talking about anything at all, and once again, Ellie had stayed up way too late. But it was worth it."

"Maybe there was something safe in not knowing, something that made it feel like all the mundane questions you were usually required to ask were not all that important after all."

"'Yes,' Mom said, regaining herself. 'It's a terrible shame you only want to be a marine biologist. I suppose it would be much more useful to have been asked out to dinner by a whale.'"

"He'd cast his e-mail out into the world in search of a trout, and what he'd found instead was a salmon."

"Maybe he wondered about them, or maybe not; maybe he missed them sometimes, or maybe the articles were true: maybe they were nothing more than a footnote."

"I couldn't find the rock you were talking about, but I think I'm at the right place. It's pretty much just me and the seagulls, so I should be easy to spot... (I'm the one without feathers.)"

"It was that he'd been happy to eat stale tortilla chips at her house tonight. And that he'd sketched her an entire city when she'd asked. It was the way he joked around, and the look behind this eyes when they met hers. It was all the hundreds of e-mails he'd sent her, the words they'd traded back and forth like precious currency for so many months."

"'I didn't know it was him. Graham Larkin, I mean. I thought it was just some guy.' 'Well that's comforting,' Mom said. ' I suppose we'll save the lecture on internet safety for another day...'"

"Even without words, there was a complicity to the moment that felt louder than all the rest of it."

"Her green eyes were large and her red hair was tangled from the wind, but she looked beautiful, the kind of beautiful that makes your heart fill like a balloon, so light you worry it might carry you away."

"She realized she wasn't ready to say good-bye after all. Not nearly. She was reminded of the words she'd written to him during their very first e-mail exchange: I'm not sure I'm quite finished saying hello yet."

Recommended if…:  -You liked The Distance Between Us -You want a book to live vicariously through. -You’re okay with not knowing a character's whole back-story from page 1.

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 4 out of 5 Synopsis: “Scarlett Hughes is overly involved in the lives of everyone around her, and exceptionally interested in the habits of her neighbors. But Scarlett is thrust solidly into her own life when her sister, Juliet, returns home from school—pregnant and surprisingly married to a sweet, handsome man whom she seems to have no interest in, but who is hopelessly in love with her. Forced to take a look inward for the first time, Scarlett discovers the necessity of dreams, as well as the necessity of facing reality and speaking the truth.” (via Goodreads) Review: There are two very different things in this book that I need to review separately. First off, the writing; Wow. Just, wow. Deb Caletti really nailed it when it came to the articulation of the words. Even if you don't like the plot of the book, some of the quotes in this book could leave you breathless. The wording and decription of setting are leaving me at a loss for words right now, they're that amazing. Reading some parts of this book is like looking out at a really beautiful scene and not knowing how to describe it out of fear that you will understate it's beauty. As for the plot, though, it's not quite what I expected. Honestly, I thought I would see more romance between Scarlet and Hayden than there was. The book in general wasn't really a romance, but a story of self-discovery. Scarlet changes as she becomes less naive to the ways of the real world, and she realizes that being nice doesn't have to mean living for everyone but herself.

Quotes:

"He had the sort of kindness that announces itself."

"How did I get HERE? You tell yourself that what you're doing is good because nice is sort of the reward for your efforts. A limp reward, forever a bronze medal, but still a reward. Helping people becomes what you do. It's your job in the universe, and no one likes their job all the time. Still, you do it."

"Happiness. It was that joy you feeling when someone's suddenly on your team when you were used to playing alone."

"People were often in the greatest crisis just because they couldn't speak the truth -- I don't love you. I'm gay. I don't want to go to that college. I don't really want to be friends with you. I hate the way things are."

"I wondered if maybe we were just meant to love the people who would make us most unhappy."

"His writing looked nothing like Hayden's. It had the childish, blocky innocence of a fourth grader's report on earthquakes or volcanoes or the pony express. But not his words, though. Innocent is not what you'd have called them. Saturday. Five o'clock. You know where. I know you want to."

"I suppose you don't stand much of a chance if you think happiness is the absence of unhappiness. Good luck ever being happy, then."

"I looked down at my feet on the cool cement, curled my toes under so I couldn't see the polish and then out again so that I could. I wanted to be careful. The moment was careful. The night held it's breath."

"Of course, sometimes after isn't long and important. Sometimes it's brief and shattering. After is fate's own personal cinematic moment, the one when you're sure that the movie is over and the bald guy is dead and gone forever but when he pops back up instead, reaching for the knife on the floor beside him."

"You're going to love someone properly, Scarlet. I can tell that."

"I pulled away, met his eyes. He brought me to him again, and I only felt his lips on my forehead. "I will always want the best for you," he said."

"There's that moment before your heart is about to break, when it rushes forward in your chest as if to plead,  please, please, don't. My body felt all heart, so much that I could barely breathe. Please, I wanted to cry, but no sound came out, my heart was in my throat, too. I could be destroyed right there if he were to turn that key and go."

"Nice is shitty self protection, Scarlet. You've got a right to say who you want and don't want in your life. Selfishness isn't always a bad thing, in spite of what you think."

"I had learned that you could be so afraid of loss that you let hope take over, or else, made sure that it never saw the light of day. You had to manage hope."

Recommended if…:  -You like books by Sarah Dessen -You want a book to make you question yourself in a positive way. -You’re okay with a change of heart in the middle of the story.

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Synopsis: “The undead can really screw up your senior year … Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.” (via Goodreads) Review: This was not the first time I’ve read this book and it will not be the last. I really love this book, despite the vampire theme cliche, because it’s just so much more than that. First off, the female lead actually gives a shit about herself. That is such a rare characteristic to come by in the YA romance world, but this book has it. Besides that, this book is just really cute. The relationship doesn’t just happen instantly. There are real struggles and other people that get in the way and effect decisions. Despite the whole vampire concept, there are some realistic issues that arise in this book. I’ve probably read this at least three times, and I’ve owned it for a while now. I tend to recycle books and re-read them once it’s been a while and I don’t remember the little details, and unlike some, this book somehow makes me fall back in love every single time. I really do recommend this to anyone who likes books about romance and vampires. It’s different. I like that.

Quotes:

"The very air in his particular corner seemed murky, the fluorescent light directly above his desk snuffed out. But it was more than that. It was almost like he created the darkness.”

"I am SO not undead!”

"I saw curiosity, not disdain or mockery or raw power, in his eyes. ‘Would it be so repugnant, really, Antanasia? To be with me?’”

“‘Don’t ever again say that you are not valuable, Antanasia. Or not beautiful. Or, for god’s sake fat. When you get the urge to indulge in such ridiculous, misplaced self-criticism, remember yourself at this moment.”

"Lucius drove me insane. He was insane. But no matter. I didn’t want to feel that sense of profound loss again. Never.”

"But enough about the holidays. (Ho-ho-hold my head under water until I drown and am freed from yet another round of ‘Jingle Bells’)"

"Lucius placed his fingers under my chin, tilting my head so that he could see my eyes again. ‘I had no right to barge in like that… but I suppose old habits die hard.’"

"Antanasia may have surprised all of us, Vasile. She really may have. She may have gone down with a hell of a fight. But I will not be the instrument of her inevitable destruction."

"I will always recall the image of you this evening, just as I will always remember the way you wept for me as I lay broken downstairs. Those are two gifts you have given me and I will carry them with me, for as long as I am able."

"I could almost hear her whispering in my ear. ‘Do not give him up for lost yet, Antanasia. That is not our way. your will is as strong as his, and his love as strong as yours.’"

"Lucius made a hungry little sound, slipping his hands up into my dark tangle of curls, and we kissed harder, like we were famished for each other. Like we were devouring each other."

"It was like I’d found my place in the universe, in the chaos, and Lucius and I could go along locked together throughout time without end, like pi, existing infinitely, irrationally, spinning through time."

"Tourists? Pooping in my castle|? I bet nobody pooped, unauthorized, at the Vladescu estate…"

"I heard him murmur, just faintly, "Antanasia…" In that one word, I perceived longing, relief, tenderness, eagerness."

“‘Did you never read Little red Riding Hood, Jessica?’ Lucius asked, still circling slowly, crowding and confinig me. ‘Do you not know what happens to innocents who wader alone in dark forests?’”

Recommended if…:  -You liked Sucks to Be Me -You want a vampire take on The Princess Diaries (with quite a bit more drama and denial) -You’re okay with being horrible embarrassed by the title of the book while reading it in public (I used an e-reader.. nobody needed to know)

[teenbibliophile]

A friend of mine wrote a book and you can check it out and find out where to get it on this site! Thanks a ton!

[teenbibliophile]

Here is my current book selection. With the exception of a few, I am willing to review any, but I want to know which of these YOU want to see reviewed. Let me know!

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Synopsis: “Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide. Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending." (via Goodreads) Review: Well, I've seen a lot of people say that they liked the first book in this series better, but I really love The Elite. While The Selection (book 1) was a lighter, less serious read, The Elite goes into deeper plot lines, like the rebels and Marlee's secret. You see a lot of character development in this book for Kriss, Marlee, Maxon and America. I guess Aspen also develops a bit, but his main purpose in the novel is to aid the love triangle. Also, as the Elite are that much closer to becoming the princess, we're mildly introduced to some of the jobs and responsibilities that the winner will have as princess. As usual, America couldn't make a decision to save her life, but I'm over it. Also, in the second half of the book, Aspen seriously needs to lay off. He gets all manipulative, telling America things that he's misinformed about to try to get her to choose him. Drove me nuts. In the last bit of the book though, there is a huge shocker, and honestly if I hadn't been in a van full of people when reading it, I would have cried. It's intense and really added to the story. I am way too excited for The One to come out... May, WHY MUST YOU BE SO FAR AWAY!

Quotes:

"It turns out I'm absolutely terrible at staying away from you. It's a very serious problem."

"'I just think we'd be a good us.'  He smiled slowly. 'We'd be a wonderful us.'" "'It's the most wonderful and terrible thing that can ever happen to you.' she said simply. 'You know that you've found something amazing, and you want to hold onto it forever; and every second after you have it, you fear the moment you might lose it.'" "Love is a beautiful fear." "In the back of my mind I realized we were in a crowded room, that somewhere my mother was probably fainting at the sight, but I didn't care. For that moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world." "In that touch I knew so many things. I knew that this was real, that it was happening, and that I could let myself believe it." "In that moment, all I could think of was how beautiful she looked. Her golden hair was messy and her dress a disaster, and she'd lost her shoes at some point; but, my God, she looked radiant." "'Stop it! Stop it, please!'  He heard me; I knew he did. I saw him slowly close his eyes and swallow one time, as if he could push the sound out of his head." "'Marlee!' I screamed. 'Marlee, I'm sorry!' But the crowd was so frenzied, and she was crying so much, I didn't think she heard me." "When you ran for the stage, I've never been so proud of you in all my life. You've always been beautiful; you've always been talented. And now I know that your moral compass is perfectly aligned, that you see clearly when things are wrong and you do everything you can to stop it. As a father, I can't ask for more." "Celeste looked over her shoulder just in time to see me lunge at her. She screamed as I landed on her, knocking us both into a coffee table. I heard something, probably a cup of tea, smash onto the floor." "'It's just the way it is. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, and Aspen endlessly loves America.'" "I remembered suddenly that Aspen had always been this way. He sacrificed sleep for me, he risked getting caught out ater curfew for me, he scrounged together pennies for me. Aspen's generosity was harder to see because it wasn't as grand as Maxon's, but the heart behind what he gave was so much bigger." "I saw Maxon's eyes rake over me, and I could have sworn his lips made the shape of a Wow" "I could feel an urgency tonight. Something might go wrong, and this could be our last kiss. He wanted to make it count." "We're Coming. The line was repeated down the wall, sometimes written in mud, other times in paint; and one appeared to be done in blood." "I risked peeking back and saw the king grabbing Maxon by the neck of his suit jacket, pulling him away. I could see the terror in Maxon's eyes as he stared ater me. Another shot was fired." "There, lying in the hospital wing, my heart broke for the first time over Maxon Schreave. And the ache was unthinkable." "You have it in to lead, America. You have a good head on your shoulders; you are willing to learn; and perhaps most importantly, you show compassion. That is something people in this country yearn for more than you know." "A tiny slip of paper was waiting for me. -- Maxon is gone. This changes everything." "I can see it all.. the Sevens who get injured doing their labour heavy jobs, and are suddenly downgraded to Eights because they can't work anymore. The girls who walk the streets on the edge of curfew, wandering into the beds of lonely men for practically anything. The kids who never have enough -- enough food, enough heat, enough love -- because their parents are working themselves to death. I can remember my worst days like they're nothing." "'Maxon Calix Schreave, I am king of Illea and I say--'  'Could you just stop being the king for five minutes and just be my father?' Maxon yelled. 'This is my choice. You got to make yours, and I want to make mine. No one else is leaving without my say so.!'" "I'd thought to myself at the time that only an artist could do that, make someone's body look so beautiful. Maxon's chest was as sculpted as any piece of art I'd ever seen." "And I know that when we talked on halloween, I was thinking about our future. And I was happy. I know if you had asked, I would have said yes." "Please don;t cry darling, I'd spare you tears for the rest of your life if I could." "No one would ever make me feel this way. It wasn't like I made his world better. It was like i was his world. It wasn't some explosion; it wasn't ireworks. It was a fire, burning slowly from the inside out." "Give me a chance to choose you." Recommended if…: -You like The Hunger Games and/or The Bachelor. -You want something that is both an easy read, but has a deeper plot. -You’re okay with having your heart shredded into a million pieces. -You've read The Selection

[teenbibliophile]

could you read and possibly review any ally carter books?

I'll definitely look into it! Do you have any specific suggestions? I actually have a copy of Heist Society that has been in my to-read pile for a while :)

[teenbibliophile]

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Synopsis: “For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined." (via Goodreads) Review: Oh my, where do I even start? I just re-read this book so that it was fresh in my mind for this review, and I really remember why it is one of my all time favourites. This book really gets me going. It's a dystopian romance, and in a time where that genre is way over done, this novel blew my mind. It's more than just a love triangle between Maxon, America and Aspen. There are so many other subplots, such as the rebel attacks and the interactions between America and the other girls in The Selection. Plus, having read the next novel in the series already, (The Elite) I'm able to notice that Kiera Cass includes so many subtle things to foreshadow the events and facts that are uncovered in the second novel. Slow clap for you, girl. While, as far as I know, a large portion of the fanbase are 'Team Maxon' (including myself), it is easy to see why some prefer Aspen. While America and Aspen's relationship has a long and deep history, it seems that Maxon brings out a better version of herself (at most points), and vice versa. Nonetheless, this book is just way too enjoyable for my own good. Seriously, if you can stretch the reading of this over more than a week, you must have some kind of superhuman self-control. The only thing that irritates me about this book was America's indecisiveness. Seriously, one minute she's realizing that she likes Maxon, but then the next she's like, "oh, no, what was I thinking?! Hes this that and the other thing, how dare he actually kiss other girls in the selection even though I'm not even sure if I want to be with him" like girl, please. Either way, I love this book with all my heart so whatever.

Quotes:

"The idea of being entered into a contest for the whole country to watch as this stuck-up little wimp picked the most gorgeous and shallow one of the bunch to be the silent, pretty face that stood beside him on TV... it was enough to make me scream."

"I was determined to do this well. I would be the best of us, the Highest of the Lows. It gave me a sense of purpose. America Singer: the champion of the lower castes."

"'Are you alright, my dear?' he asked me. 'I am not your dear.'"

"Yeah, Mom, I'll just keep telling the prince that he has absolutely no chance with me and offend him as often as I can. Great plan."

"'I hit your thigh!'  'Oh, please. A man doesn't need that long to recover from a knee to the thigh,'"

"This was the man who was going to lead our country: the guy rendered useless by tears."

"'If your life is as upside down as you say it is, then she has to be here somewhere. In my experience, true love is usually the most inconvenient kind.'"

"'And I didn't care that I was a Five and he was a Six. I didn't worry about the future. Because nothing could matter as much as him loving me... and he did, Maxon, he did....'"

"'I hope you find someone you can't live without. I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them.'"

"'Yes, okay, he does have a funny laugh, but it's cute.'  'Sure, if you like the lovable sound of an asthma attack in your ear every time you tell a joke'"

"'I know of a boy who was whipped in the town square for stealing food. Sometimes you do crazy things when you're desperate.'  'A boy? How old?'  'Nine,' I breathed with a shiver. I could still remember the scars on Jemmy's tiny back, and Maxon stretched his own back as if he felt it all himself."

"Maxon Schreave is the epitome of all things good. He is going to be a phenomenal king. He lets girls who are supposed to be wearing dresses wear jeans and doesn't get mad when someone who doesn't know him clearly mislabels him.'  'Whoever he marries will be a lucky girl. And whatever happens to me, I will be honored to be his subject.'"

"'If you don't want me to be in love with you, you're going to have to stop looking so lovely.'"

"'If this were a simpler matter, I'd have eliminated everyone else by now. I know how I feel about you. Maybe it's impulsive of me to think I could be so sure, but I'm certain I would be happy with you.'"

Recommended if…:  -You like The Hunger Games and/or The Bachelor. -You want something that is both an easy read, but has a deeper plot. -You’re okay with having your heart shredded into a million pieces.

Playlist: Enchanted - Taylor Swift (Maxon & America) I Could Get Used To This - The Veronica (Maxon & America) Good To You - Marianas Trench (Maxon & America) Finders Keepers - You Me At Six (Maxon & America) All To Myself - Marianas Trench (Aspen & America) Secret - Crystalyne (America & Aspen) Don't Stop Now - The Maine (Aspen & America before The Selection) Fireworks - You Me At Six (Aspen & America) (For some reason this is blocked in my country, so no link, sorry!) In Another Life - The Veronicas (Aspen & America) About Us - Neverest (America about life in the Palace) Contagious Chemistry - You Me At Six (Maxon about The Selection) Back To The Start - The Summer Set (Aspen about America)

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Rating: 4 out of 5 Synopsis: "Emily Abbott has always been considered the Girl Most Likely to Be Nice -- but lately being nice hasn't done her any good. Her parents have decided to move the family from Chicago back to their hometown of Boston in the middle of Emily's senior year. Only Emily's first real boyfriend, Sean, is in Chicago, and so is her shot at class valedictorian and early admission to the Ivy League. What's a nice girl to do?

Then Sean dumps Emily on moving day and her father announces he's staying behind in Chicago "to tie up loose ends," and Emily decides that what a nice girl needs to do is to stop being nice.

She reconnects with her best friends in Boston, Josie and Lucy, only to discover that they too have been on the receiving end of some glaring Guy Don'ts. So when the girls have to come up with something to put in the senior class time capsule, they know exactly what to do. They'll create a not-so-nice reference guide for future generations of guys -- an instruction book that teaches them the right way to treat girls.

But when her friends draft Emily to test out their tips on Luke Preston -- the hottest, most popular guy in school, who just broke up with Josie by email -- Emily soon finds that Luke is the trickiest of test subjects . . . and that even a nice girl like Emily has a few things to learn about love." (via Goodreads) Review: I'm not sure if I have read this before, but the first half of the book seemed vaguely familiar. Nonetheless, I still read the whole thing. When I began reading this, I found it slightly hard to get myself involved in the story. Approximately a third of the book was just about planning the rest of what would happen. I feel that they dragged on the brainstorming phase of the guide for a little too long, but once everything between Emily and Luke was set, I couldn't put it down. This book puts your brain on a roller coaster. One minute you're rooting for Emily and wishing you could smack Luke, and the next, the roles are reversed. While the plot is fairly shallow, there are truths hidden below the surface. One that is shown prominently is that, especially as a teenage girl, you will be biased by a friend's experiences or opinions. Focusing on the actual story though, this book is a nice, light read, perfect for summertime relaxing. You've got your romance, friendships, and hardships. Overall, it really wasn't a bad book.

Quotes: "'Maybe Emily has a point.' Lucy pushed the lists we'd made aside. 'Besides, it is kind of wrong, pretending to like him and then writing an entire book about what a dick he is.'"

"Figures. Just when I'm ready to finally stop being nice, I still had to pretend to be nice to be mean. Couldn't I ever catch a break?"

"It was different because, with my eyes closed, it didn't feel like I was kissing Luke Preston, Super Prick. It felt like I was just kissing a guy. A guy who was someone I could see calling my boyfriend."

"Only now I had another big problem. And his name was Luke."

"'Is this Pinecone or Ginger?' I asked, rubbing the brush against the horse's neck in the same circular motion as Josie. 'You know what?' she confided, and for the first time since I arrived she cracked a small smile. 'I have no idea.'"

Recommended if...:  -You liked Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) -You want a girly summer read -You're okay with having love-hate relationships with characters

[teenbibliophile]

The chosen book is......

The Book of Luke! I'm going to get started on it right away so that I can get to the reviewing!

[teenbibliophile]

Erin McAdam

Erin McAdam has 93 books on Goodreads, and is currently reading The Carrie Diaries TV Tie-in Edition by Candace Bushnell, and recently added Breathe by A...

Since I won't be posting a review for at least a week, here's my goodreads page. I have some stuff on there!