DNF Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

1.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

**This is a DID NOT FINISH review. It includes my thought on the book up to 66% of it.**

I am SUPER sad that I couldn't continue with this book. So sad. I loved Kasie's On the Fence, so I was expecting another book I would love. Especially when our hero and heroine are stuck in the library! However, the library is only the location but it seems that our main character, Autumn, is not a book nerd like I hoped.

The book started off strongly but after a while, I couldn't click with Autumn and the story. Once they made it out of the library, and she got back to her life and the consequences of being stuck in a library with no phone appears, I just couldn't with the story for much longer. I read a little more about after she was out and how she was starting to seek Dax out, but I just didn't care about any of it.

I really wanted to love it considering it's Kasie West and I loved her book On the Fence and Nahomi loved The Distance Between Us. But once I realized that I wasn't going to love it and I was beginning to dislike Autumn, I decided to quit. I could have finished it considering I was past the halfway point, but nope. I've gotten better about not finishing books I don't care/love/hate. I know other people have loved the book, so I'm just taking it that this book wasn't for me but it'll work for others.

Reading Challenges Wrap Up

Morning Friends,

As the year get closer to its end, it's time to start wrapping up the year. So with that, I wanted to see how I did in the challenges I signed up for at the beginning of the year.

In the Goodreads Reading Challenge, I pledged myself to read 45 books. 

I actually read 68(!) books this year and I'm still counting. Whoo hoo!

In Falling For YA's NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge, I pledged to myself to read 10 books.

The details for this challenge can be seen here.

These are the levels:

Bronze - 10 Books <----

Silver - 25 Books

Gold - 50 Books

Platinum - 75 Books

Diamond - 100 Books

I did 12 books. Just slightly surpassed the Bronze.

Lastly, in Bookish Lifestyle's TBR Pile Reading Challenge, I pledged to myself to read between 11-20 books off my TBR pile.

The details for this challenge can be seen here. The levels are:

1-10 A Firm Handshake

11-20 A Friendly Hug <----

21-30 First Kiss

31-40 Sweet Summer Fling

41-50 Could This Be Love?

50+ Married with Children

I read 42 books from my TBR pile!

I am so proud of myself at how I did for this year challenges. I really tried to just read what I wanted and not let a reviewing schedule forced me into a rut. It also helped that I stopped requesting and downloading books from NetGalley and Edelweiss. Like, dramatically. I only request/download if I've read the author or it sounds AMAZING.

For the upcoming new year, I will probably only participate in the Goodreads challenge. I haven't seen any other challenges that really has captured my attention and I'm working on some stuff that I'll share with you guys later so I'll be a little busy. BUT, at least 2016 was a good reading year.

Did you participate in any (reading) challenges? How did you do?

Review: The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #2)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Release Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss / HarperTeen
Review by: Jenn

Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

3 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

1- Good story. I like the plot of how a king who married for love and was going to do the same for his kids and had to go back on his word in order to save the kingdom because of beast going around killing people. I was curious to see where Wendy was going to take the story.

2- I liked the characters, to an extent. Aerity is naïve and Paxton is an ass. Paxton is mean and crude to Aerity just because he feels that everyone is kissing up to her. Aerity in turn, dislike how he speaks to her but find him attractive even after the fact. It really doesn’t compute for me, which it explains why I had such a hard time liking either of them. I also really didn’t see the attraction they both shared towards each other so I had a hard time picturing them together.

3- I am looking forward to the next book and learning how the story wraps up. Hopefully Paxton learns to be a bit nicer and Aerity grows more of a backbone and tells Paxton to shove it when he is crude to her.

Our 2016 Reading Challenges

Heya Swooners,

2016 is upon us so it time to decide on reading challenges. Here's what we'll be participating in.

We're participating on the Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Nahomi has pledge to read 50 books and I have pledge to read 45 books. 

We are also participating in Falling For YA's NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge.

The details for this challenge can be seen here.

These are the levels:

Bronze - 10 Books <-----Nahomi & Jenn

Silver - 25 Books

Gold - 50 Books

Platinum - 75 Books

Diamond - 100 Books

We're both are hoping to get the Bronze for this challenge.

Lastly, we are participating in Bookish Lifestyle's TBR Pile Reading Challenge.

The details for this challenge can be seen here. The levels are:

1-10 A Firm Handshake

11-20 A Friendly Hug<-----Nahomi & Jenn

21-30 First Kiss

31-40 Sweet Summer Fling

41-50 Could This Be Love?

50+ Married with Children

We're both hoping to get to that Friendly Hug.

What reading challenges are you participating in?

Mini Review: Better than Perfect by Melissa Kantor

Better than Perfect
Author: Melissa Kantor
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn

Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early decision, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either.

3 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher but it does not influence this review in any way.*

Having read Melissa's previous title, Maybe One Day, I was extremely excited about getting my hands on this book. To be honest, I was expecting to have my heart ripped out and have a good cry. That was not the case, however. I did still enjoy the story and it left me thinking about it for the days after I finished it.

I enjoyed seeing Juliet's growth. I'm proud of her for sticking up for what she really wanted instead of going along with something that would make her unhappy. I like how Melissa Kantor writes about teens and the angst of family, friends, and expectations.  She does such a wonderful job of making her books so realistic and relatable. Because of this, I look forward to reading more from her work.

Blog Tour Stop: Review + Giveaway: The Remedy by Suzanne Young

The Remedy
(The Program #0.5)
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn

Can one girl take on so many identities without losing her own? Find out in this riveting companion to The Program and the New York Times bestselling The Treatment.
In a world before The Program…
Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.
Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty. She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.
Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher for this blog tour. However, it did not influence this review in any way.*

I'm not sure how Suzanne Young does this but she managed to create another story that absolutely tore at my emotions. Every time I finish one of her stories, I always end up crying, conflicted, and in an absolute daze. I can't help but continue thinking about the story long after I finish it. The same happened with The Remedy. 

The Remedy follows Quinlan McKee as a closer. What it means is that she provides closure to grieving families playing the role of the deceased. The Remedy is the prequel to Suzanne's The Program which is also one of my favorite books.  So knowing what The Program is about, I was very curious to see how this story would play out. I wanted to know how we get to The Program. And like always, Suzanne did not disappoint.

From the first page until the last, I was hooked. If I wasn't reading, I was thinking about when I would get the chance to read. When I was reading, I couldn't help but think about what was going to happen next. Basically, I couldn't help but think about this book nonstop because it was so good and you couldn't be anything but sucked into the story. There were so many times I felt like I was in Quinlan's shoes so I felt her confusion and her need to connect with someone to feel tethered to this world. I do admit that there were some instances that I didn't agree with her actions, specifically when she starting blurring the lines of reality with her job as a closer. Of course, that would be because I know my own reality and that is something Quinn doesn't have the luxury of knowing. I loved how everything came to fruition and even knowing that it would end up in heartbreak for Quinn.

There were so many twists and turns and unanswered questions that weren't addressed and I'm extremely excited that we're getting another book in this series. I can only imagine what is going to happen next. I mean, I know what happens "next" because of The Program, but I'm curious to see how we get there. I'll admit that even though I know the story of The Program and The Treatment, I can't help but hope for a happy ending for Quinn.

If you loved The Program and The Treatment, you won't want to miss out on this story. It has new characters but you'll get attached to them and the story. And if you haven't read this series? What are you waiting for? Get on it. You'll love it, I promise.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program series. Originally from Utica, New York, Suzanne moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She is a novelist and an English teacher, but not always in that order.
Suzanne is the author of THE PROGRAM, THE TREATMENT, THE REMEDY, and HOTEL RUBY. She was also on an episode of House Hunters where she talked about her love of grass and trees (while living in the desert).

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Blog Schedule:

Week One:

4/13/2015‐ Once Upon a Twilight ‐ Interview 

4/14/2015‐ Books and Swoons‐ Review 

4/15/2015‐ Fictitious Delicious‐ Guest Post 

4/16/2015‐ My Reading Room‐ Review 

4/17/2015‐ Fiktshun‐ Interview

Week Two:

4/20/2015‐ Me, My Shelf and I‐ Review 

4/21/2015‐ Bad Bird Reads‐ Guest Post

4/22/2015‐ Novel Novice‐ Review

4/23/2015‐ Adventures of a Book Junkie‐ Interview 

4/24/2015‐Magical Urban Fantasy Reads‐Review 

Blog Tour hosted by: Rockstar Book Tours

Blog Tour Stop: Review + Giveaway: Rebound by Noelle August

Rebound
(Boomerang #2)
Author: Noelle August
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn

Noelle August has taken the New Adult genre by storm, and readers can’t wait to see what chaos, confusion, and connections arise at the Boomerang offices next.

Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-three, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of his game in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and threatens to knock the tech wunderkind down and throw his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. After nearly flunking out in her senior year of college, she has one chance to redeem herself to her father by proving that she deserves a place in his corporate empire. That means spearheading her father’s plan to sink big money into Adam’s company and launch it into the stratosphere—provided Adam has no skeletons in his closet.

When the two meet, their sizzling chemistry makes it tough to keep things strictly professional. But when Alison discovers Adam’s secret, she knows she should bring it right to her father, who’ll leverage it for his own gain and use it to ruin Adam. The only problem: she’s falling for Adam—hard.

Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? Or can Adam and Alison leave behind past mistakes and conquer the world—together?

4 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher but it did not influenced this review in any way.*

I think that Rebound is absolute perfection. It had me hooked from page one and I couldn't read fast enough. I adore it and I want/need everyone to read it so I can flail and swoon over Adam. I originally started the book with the intention to read a few pages but before I knew it, I was obsessed with it and couldn't focus on my classes until I finished it. Which I did in an afternoon when I should have been studying for finals.

Rebound was such a quick and fun read and I wish I had the time to reread it because I really enjoyed it. Adam and Alison were so fun in getting to know, both together and individually and their UST were off the charts. Noelle August did UST sooooo good and for that, I will forever love them. I legit felt Adam and Alison's attraction and chemistry through the pages and I think that says something for the way Noelle August writes.

Noelle August truly impressed me with this book. I knew I was going enjoy the book after hearing about it but after reading it? LOVE. While it was a little predictable at certain scenes, I just adored it so much that I just overlook it and enjoy it for it is: a fun, quick, and enjoyable read.

I  can't WAIT until Bounce. But in the meantime, go out and buy this book so we can talk and flail and just plain TALK about this book. Trust me, you'll kick yourself for not reading it sooner.

About the author: 

Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes? Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind the Boomerang series.

Author's link: Website / Twitter / Facebook

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour schedule:

http://kimbelryfayereads.com                                       2/23/2015

http://www.lulofangirl.com                                            2/23/2015

http://www.fiktshun.com                                               2/23/2015

http://booksbymigs.com                                                 2/23/2015

http://bujoijoi22.com                                                       2/23/2015

www.thecovercontessa.com                                          2/23/2015

http://www.libraryofabookwitch.com                        2/24/2015

www.fictionfare.blogspot.com                                      2/24/2015

http://desertdivasbookaddiction.wordpress.com   2/24/2015

http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com             2/24/2015

http://www.supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com         2/24/2015

http://www.booksandswoons.com                              2/24/2015

http://sheheartsbooks7.blogspot.com/                     2/24/2015

http://bookcrush.in/                                                           2/24/2015

https://fandomlybookish.blogspot.com                    2/24/2015

http://www.mereadalot.net                                           2/25/2015

http://www.bookwormbetties.com/                          2/25/2015

http://www.owlalwaysbereading.com                       2/25/2015

literaryetc.com                                                                      2/25/2015

http://lostineverafter.blogspot.ca                                2/25/2015

Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye
Author: Cynthia Hand
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn and Nahomi

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

Jenn's Rating: 5 stars out of 4 stars

Nahomi's Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

*We received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Nahomi:
The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a beautifully told story of a family dealing loss of their loved one. I was emotionally exhausted by the time I finished this book. Cynthia Hand does a beautiful job of depicting the grief and emotional turmoil that accompanies the death of a loved one.

From the beginning I was invested in Lexi's Journey through the healing process. The writing was flawless as always with Ms. Hand. Throughout the novel there was this sense of mystery which kept me turning pages. There were several points in the book where I found myself sobbing like a baby.  Although I was depressed for a few days after I read this book I absolutely loved The Last Time We Say Goodbye.

Jenn:
There is just something about Cynthia Hand and her story telling that just manage to sucks me and lets me forget the world. The Last Time We Say Goodbye is another work of Ms. Hand that I will forever remember. There were so many times throughout the book where I had to stop and finish crying because I just couldn't see through my tears.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye follows the story of Lex as she deals with the aftermath her brother's death. I won't say much in regards to the plot but I will say that once I started reading, I just couldn't put it down. I just had to know what happened next and I wanted for Lex to get some closure. Ms. Hand managed to create such emotions in me that I felt Lex's pain and sadness and I, too, couldn't see through the fog of Lex's grief.

It is because of this, this intense reaction of emotions that I will forever be a fan of Cynthia Hand and her work. And reading her acknowledgement? I was a blubbering mess. I started crying all over again and it made this reading experience that more profound. So I want to thank Cynthia Hand for creating this book and for creating such emotions in me. But I especially want to say thank you for sharing this story. It must not have been easy to do so.

So go out and read this book. Just make sure to grab some tissues before sitting down.