Sean Griswold's Head

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10
In Sean Griswold's Head, The tragic hero takes the form of Payton, a witty freshman girl with a knack for over-analyzing every situation.
Payton was living the life until she came home from school one day only to hear that her dad was suffering from MS...and that the whole family had known for months known except for her. Crushed by the news, and feeling betrayed, Payton lets her life spiral into ruins. She quits the basketball team, pushes her best friend, Jac, away, and gives her family the ultimate silent treatment. It seems as if all is lost...that is, until Payton's guidance counselor steps in and decides to give her a project: choose a focus object, observe it, analyze it, and, well, focus on it. It'll take Payton's mind off of the mess that has become her life, and maybe even help her open up about her problems. Payton embraces the project with enthusiasm, and chooses the most stable focus object she knows of: Sean Griswold's head. The head that she is forever destined to look at every morning during homeroom (due to very similar last names). Payton's focus object soons turns into a full-blown crush, and soon life gets messier than ever.
One of the reasons I primarily enjoyed this book was Payton's character. She was funny, witty, and the ultimate heroine.  An excerpt from her focus object blog captures it all:
Feb 9
Topic: Cold Hard Facts learned based upon five questions experiment.
1. Sean is an only child. So we do not know who answered the phone when Jac called.
2. He pops pills because he gets headaches.
3. He wants to be the next Ironman.
4. He likes to feel in control.
5. I still don't know where the scar came from. Although, I wasn't focusing on it much once his jacket came off.* Hello, arm muscles.

*Sorry, I'm dehydrated and the searing pain in my buns is causing me to not think straight. I shouldn't objectify Sean like that, although he is a Focus OBJECT so maybe...).
Sorry again, fatigue driven delirium is setting in.

But besides her witty voice, the book also contains a deep plot. There's romance, friendship, first love, growing up, and dealing with her father's illness. There's catfights, underwear shopping, and seventy-five mile long bike marathon.
This book's got it all. However, some questions are left unresolved, which does leave the reader unsatisfied. Also, the plot does have some slow points where you have to grit your teeth and pull through                                                                                                               ,but those are few and far between.
In general, a good read. Not too crazy. Not too out of this world. But good, nonetheless.
For those who enjoy Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls novels, or Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales.

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

4 out of 10
Slightly superficial. Predictable. Bland characters.
These are the words used to describe The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy.
Jess Parker, a girl who ordinarily blends into the masses of her high school, moves to Mt. Sterling High and is suddenly recruited by the most popular girls in the school to be part of a secret society: The Cinderella Society. The purpose of this exclusive group is to build confidence and be the best person you can be. Oh, and to fight their evil counterparts The Wickeds.
A little romance, a little friendship, and a LOT of girl power. These are the ingredients that make up The Cinderella Society.
Cassidy's story wasn't exactly a page turner. There was tons, and I mean tons of pages that were dedicated solely to the "Cinderella Society" and their mission to help the regular people in the world, "Reggies", stand up to the "Wickeds" and trump their attempts for world domination.
I really don't care.
And then there were the characters. No characters were consistent, and Cassidy refused to delve underneath the surface of some major players in the game. For example, the other "Cindys", as Jess refers to her fellow society members, take the roles of her best friends, like Sarah Jane for example. But, even by the end of the book, I don't know anything more about Sarah Jane than I did when I was first introduced. She's still the perfect all-american girl that is super nice and perfect perfect perfect.
How original.
Cassidy fleetingly mentions SJ's problems with her parents divorce, but never returns to the subject. I couldn't connect to any characters at all, nor could I differentiate between any of them. The names were muddled up in my mind because Cassidy refused to give them distinct personalities.
Not only that, this book was cheesy. Girl Power. Go for the gold. Good defeats evil. Be yourself.
I've heard it all before.
The only good thing about this book was the romance part. Cassidy constructed a interesting relationship between Jess and her love interest Ryan Steele, that basically carried the book.

For those who enjoyed Oh.My.Gods by Tera Lynn Childs or Private novels by Kate Brian.

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Overall Rating: 5 out of 10
Okay, so I realized my posts were a bit lengthy and not really that fun to read. So I'm going to keep it short and sweet from now on.
Summary:
Phoebe, resident goth girl at Oakvale high school, lives in a world where dead American teenagers can come back to life. Soon, Phoebe realizes she's falling for one, Tommy Williams, and also befriending the other "zombies" that roam Oakvale's halls, including her old best friend, Colette. However, Phoebe's current best friends aren't exactly sure how they feel about this, especially Adam, the popular football player who harbors feelings for Phoebe that surpass the normal friendship. Not only are her best friends hesitant about this newfound relationship, but so are the "Pain Crew", Adam's old football buddies whose title is pretty much self-explanatory.
I did enjoy this book. At first, I admit it, the plot was slow, but it picked up speed and at the end I couldn't put it down. So many sub-plots, and a surprising twist in the plot that completely threw me. Also, the interesting slew of characters helped make Generation Dead a little more interesting. Rarely do we view the world through the eyes of a goth girl, and some chapters also take the point of view of Adam, or the Pain Crew's leader, Pete Martinsburg. With dead people, goth chicks, popular football players, bullies, and even a scrawny sweetheart named Thorny, it's hard to resist not connecting with at least some of the emotions and characters in this novel.

One last thing: the story might have focused on dead people, but it was really about acceptance. So if you think you're not into the dark scene, don't rule out this story. It really applies to life for everyone.

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Overall Rating: 6 out of 10
I thought Becky's charm was fading. I thought that her and Luke's relationship was getting a little boring. Suze rarely appears in the novels anymore. Jess is leaving.
I was not excited for this last book, let me tell you. I thought it would be a chore to read, and I would be yawning as I flipped the pages reluctantly. You can only drag the adventures on for so long, until it dries up.
But Kinsella managed to turn this book into a true Shopaholic novel. It's exciting, keeps you turning the page, and even brings back some characters and introduces a few new ones as well.
Like Venetia Carter. Becky's obstetrician. This woman is a celebrity obstetrician - she hosts tea parties for her famous clients, paparazzi stalk the door of her office, aaaandd she was Luke's ex-girlfriend.
Surprise!
Becky, on the verge of collapse (literally, she's waddling around pregnant), must now handle her shopping craze, pregnancy, job, oh, and she thinks that Luke is having an affair.
Kinsella spins a tale that reminds me once again why I like the books so much. Becky brings a little something extra to reality. She takes an ordinary life and turns it into an exciting (and very funny) adventure.
Readers fall in love with our heroine, Becky, turned the victim of a cheating husband and an evil obstetrician, as she deals with the problems in her own special way. I thought she couldn't surprise me, but yet she manages to. From hiring a private eye, to faking a birth, to using a woman's house for a Vogue shoot (titled Yummy Mummys).
Whether we are either laughing at her ideas, or hating Venetia with such a passion, Kinsella's story is a great closure to the series. Even though I wish it wouldn't end.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10 

Shopaholic has been in debt up to her Gucci-glasses-covered-eyeballs. She has been to London, New York, and is now living with her millionaire of a boyfriend, Luke Brandon. She has been on TV, wrote a story that appeared in a major magazine, and has also hosted her own auction, raising thousands of dollars. 

She has not yet been married. 

So that's what's next for the shopaholic as she plans her future with Luke. Only one problem: his (super-uptight) stepmom demands that there be an extravagant wedding in New York. Her family wants to hold a quaint backyard wedding in London. 

So what does Becky do? 

She accepts both...without them knowing, of course. 

Kinsella spins yet another tale of Becky's loony adventures through shopping, and now, wedding planning. It's still the same fun story as the other books, and we must applaud Kinsella for coming up with the fresh twist, but there is a problem with this story. 

One: Becky's antics spiral into the realm of downright frustrating. JUST TELL THE TRUTH! We want to scream at her. But, we can't. We have to suffer through pages of her agonizing purchases and lies until she manages to resolve everything in the end. 

Fortunately, Kinsella saves us from putting the book down and revives the story with humor, romance, and subplots that keep it moving. Additionally, the solution and problems Becky manages are realistic. At the start of the novel, I must admit, I was a little worried. I was thinking the solution to the double-wedding crisis would involve some sort of robot clone or even time travel. 

Luckily, that's not what happened. 

Although the heroine tends to get a little frustrating in this book, readers cant help but to still love her and wanting more. The story is new and fresh and keeps us entertained with our favorite group of characters. 

Stay posted for a review on the next novel, Shopaholic and Sister! 

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! I took an awesome trip to Europe for three weeks and there was no wi-fi anywhere. But, back to Shopaholic.

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10
Usually, the sequels to books just don't compare to the original story. But Kinsella managed to take me by surprise. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan was just as good as the first book in the series, if it did not surpass it.
Some similarities: like the first novel, Becky and the other characters and fun and original. They have fresh but realistic personalities. Each person I could imagine in real life: the workaholic, the flamboyant male best friend, the doting and caring mother. Another similarity is Becky's hilarious antics and thoughts.
Just an example: Becky and Luke spend the weekend in a small village. And while Luke is at a meeting, Becky decides to visit the nearby convent. Unaware of the proper behavior for a church, Becky tries to hold a conversation with a praying nun, disturbing and annoying the women. She talks about the movie, The Sound of Music, and then, thinking the nun is staring at her because she doesnt know what a movie is, begins to tell her about modern day technology. What a television is, what a film is, and on, and on, and on, and on.
This scene alone had me in hysterics.
But some differences between the first and second novel: I believe this novel had a stronger plot, for Becky dealt with troubles far greater than wanting to buy the latest pair of Jimmy Choos. I also enjoyed how Kinsella changed the scenery. Although I loved how the first story took place in London, the switch to New York really provided a new feel for the story, and it wasnt as if Kinsella was just dragging the story on.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoyed the first novel in the series - obviously - and for those who like Target Underwear and A Vera Wang Dress: Notes from a Single Girl's Closet, in addition to Can You Keep A Secret?, also by Kinsella.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

Overall Rating: 6 out of 10
The twi-hards out there certainly lusted after this new novel in the Twilight series, telling the Eclipse story from a different point of view: that of young Bree Tanner, a girl in Victoria's newborn army.
But was there reason to?
The story was short and seemed to have little action. I couldn't connect as deeply with Bree because of such a short time with her. This goes the same for the other characters, like her best friend/love interest Diego; Riley, Victoria's second in command; and Freaky Fred, a soldier who has the special ability to repulse and disgust others.
Besides the lack of connection with the characters, I was also disappointed with the ending to the story. We know what happens to Bree, but as for Diego and Freaky Fred, their fate remains unknown. It is very aggravating.
But besides that, I enjoyed being able to read about the other side of Eclipse: what it was like for the vampires who attacked the Cullens. And if you're like me, you'll be equally surprised by their story.
I also liked the fact that Meyer addressed a lot of the myths about vampires. The newborns believe that they are like every vampire they have heard about - they'll fry in sunlight, and getting stabbed by a stake is deadly. It was interesting to see how they dealt with this information, because the Cullens seemed to almost not be vampires in the Twilight series. The usual myths didn't apply to them.
For those who read the Twilight series, I definitely recommend this book. It's very interesting and fascinating to read about the newborn vampire. Also, it's a good story by itself. But for those who didn't read the Twilight series, I would brush up on my twi-knowledge before reading this. Because even without an extensive knowledge on the Cullens and Volturi, and an adamant opinion on Team Jacob or Team Edward, this still could be a fun and enjoyable read.
Also in the Twilight Series: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn

Reality Check by Jen Calonita

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10
Four long-time best friends, Charlie, Brooke, Hallie, and Keiran, are offered a once in a lifetime opportunity: to star in their own reality television show. Of course they accept! Little do they know, the show will change their lives as they know it, in both good and bad ways.
Through the eyes of the star of the show, witty and humorous Charlie, readers are told a story of friendship, romance, self-discovery, and regular high school drama...all while being filmed for television!
The best part about Reality Check was the thorough and complete setting and characterization. I felt as if I had lived in their town, Cliffside Heights, for my whole life and by the second chapter I could tell you where to get a good cup of coffee (Milk and Sugar) or tell you where to find the best seafood on the coast (The Crab Shack). Also Calonita introduces, describes, and establishes the identities and personalities of the four best friends as well as the other minor characters to such an extent that you feel as if you personally know them. They each bring something different to the story and the relationships, such as Charlie's relationship with her crush Zac, keep you turning the pages for more.
Additionally, Charlie, unlike some narrators, is not perfect or annoying to the reader. She makes mistakes, is not always right, but also has the overall sweet and nice personality that keeps readers rooting for her.
Although the characters and setting were fresh and fun, I felt that the story grew slow at some points. It was very predictable, and had me bored multiple times. It is also a very light and very easy read that did not challenge me as a reader whatsoever. But besides these flaws, this story is fun and enjoyable. Those who enjoy Calonita's other works, such as the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series or  Sleepaway Girls, or stories such as L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad will especially like this novel.

Slept Away by Julie Kraut

Overall Rating: 6 out of 10 
Warning: This is not your average summer novel, ladies and gentleman. The city girl doesn't get shipped off to sleep-away camp to suddenly find a connection with nature and a love of the wild. She doesn't form that deep connection with her bunk. And she doesn't return home wishing she was back in camp.
No, Laney Parker, a native New Yorker, has a miserable time in camp. Her bunkmates, albeit the one single friend she makes, torture her. Laney finds that she despises most camp activities, especially swimming or anything else that requires some sort of exercise, and has no unexpected love for nature and all things wild. And when Laney returns home, "home sweet home" has a whole new meaning.
But maybe that's what made this book so enjoyable. Despite the very humorous and witty narrative of Laney, the unique and funny characters, and the countless allusions to pop culture, the fact that this book is different from most usual sleepover camp books actually makes it a fun and fresh read.
However, despite the high points of the story, this novel lacks a fast plot and it takes a while to get into things. For example, Laney pursues a romantic interest, but you only meet the boy two thirds of the way into the book. Additionally, several times the plot goes very slow and it gets a little boring. When Laney first arrives at camp, there is just this lull in the story where all she does is moan and groan about her misery and the terrible torture that her bunk and the camp staff inflicts on her. It gets a little tired after a while.
But this book is still very funny and very enjoyable. It may not be the most deep read, but it's a nice story and is very entertaining. Those who enjoyed Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita, Cruel Summer by Alyson Noel, or Hot Mess: Summer In the City, also by Julie Kraut, will especially like Slept Away. However, it's a great book for all readers.

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

Overall Rating: 6 out of 10
Helen Worthington was betrayed and humiliated by her best friend, Lauren Wood, the year before she went to high school. Forced to leave town, Helen obsessives over getting revenge on Lauren, and finally gets her chance, four years later, senior year. Helen moves back to her old town, with a new appearance, a new identity, and a plan to take Lauren down.
Helen, as Claire Dantes: the rich, exotic international jet setter from New York City, infiltrates Lauren's A-list crowd and devotes her days to making Lauren miserable.
Although interesting, Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood lacks originality as far as plot goes. It is very similar to the film, Mean Girls, with a few twists here and there.
Additionally, the story is somewhat predictable. In the beginning, readers see Helen obsess and deviously scheme Lauren's fall from grace, yet it's almost impossible that any heroine would set that sort of example for readers. Obviously, Helen eventually sees the error of her ways after a few eye-opening experiences.
In spite of these minor setbacks, Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood was a fun and enjoyable read. Helen's narrative voice is fresh and witty, and Cook is excellent with description and imagery. She portrays the character's emotions well using terms like "she chewed her lip", demonstrating Helen's uncertainty without just flat out saying, "she was uncertain."

Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood will definitely keep you entertained. It's interesting, and has twists and turns that keep you reading. Also, Cook keeps the story moving with some pretty interesting sub-plots. There's a nerd who turns cool, and a certain romantic interest that will keep those pages turning. An enjoyable read for most, however, I especially reccommend it to those who enjoyed Meg Cabot's Airhead series or Eileen Cook's other novel, What Would Emma Do?

The View From The Top by Hillary Frank

Overall Rating: 5 out of 10
Annabelle is heading off to college next year, but before she goes, she has to make a decision: her long time boyfriend or his best friend? Tobin cant seem to get a certain someone to notice him, but won't leave until she does. Jonah's a player - always has been, always will be. But will that change for one girl, the only girl off limits to him? Lexi wonders if she should make a move on her best friend, who just so happens to be her brother's girlfriend. Matt doesn't want to give up his relationship so easily, but things just seem destined to end. And then there's Mary Tyler. She's visiting Normal, Maine for the summer, and only wants to fit in. But it's hard to fit in when you're so different. And as rich as Daddy Warbucks.

Frank ties all seven interconnected stories together in A View From the Top, a story about self-discovery, romance, and just living life to the fullest. However, several aspects of this novel took away from the appeal of this story.
Although this story was wonderfully constructed and tied together, it lacked a plot that kept me wanting to turn the page. At times, the story grew painfully slow and boring, and several scenes seemed to have to drag on with no real reason.
I also did not like the ending of the story. I felt that it was unfulfilled and only focused on a few characters, such as Annabelle and Tobin. Jonah is mentioned at the end, as are a few other characters, but in my opinion, Frank should have included a sort of epilogue that informs the reader what they are doing, say, one year from the time of the novel.
Besides these flaws, the story was deep, emotional, and makes the reader think about herself and her future. Additionally, the way that Frank ties all of the characters together is very interesting and, well, neat. Another major plus to this story was the different narrators. Each character tells a portion of the novel from their point of view, which adds to the reader's depth, understanding, and overall interest in the story. I definitely recommend this story, and people who enjoyed Take Me There by Susan Colasanti, or her other stories, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, or Sarah Dessen novels will especially like this story.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10

Isabel, aka Belly's, life revolves around the summer. Because during the summer, Belly, her mother and her brother live at Cousins Beach with their longtime friends Susannah, Conrad, and Jeremiah. Conrad and Jeremiah: Belly's best friends, almost to the point of being her brothers. But that wouldn't work, because Belly just so happens to be in love with Conrad. In The Summer I Turned Pretty, Han spins a tale of summer love, friendship, sadness, and growing up into one tear-jerking novel that will leave one craving the sequel, It's Not Summer Without You.
The worst part about this novel was the confusion caused by the random flashbacks. Each chapter is either the present day or a flashback, and if one forgets to read the title of the chapter, they will certainly be confused (which happened to me many, many times)
But otherwise, The Summer I Turned Pretty was an amazing book. The character development was one of the many high points. To start, Belly was about as complex as a real person. I really could connect to Belly when her best friend, Taylor, comes over for the summer and Belly can't help but feeling as if the two parts of her life should not mix. She also feels a little possessive over the boys, and jealous too, when they start paying attention to Taylor. What was great was being able to read about something, and then say, "oh, Jeremiah would do that", or "that's so Conrad". Han creates complex and realistic characters and makes the reader feel as if they had known them for their whole life.
Another great element of this story is the deviation away from the cliche summer romance novel. Sure, Belly loves Conrad. But this story twists even deeper into family problems, a summer fling, the fun of Cousin's beach, as well as an unexpected and heart wrenching illness. When one sees the cover, they might think that inside rests an ordinary teenage girl novel, but don't be fooled, because there is so much more.
The best part of this book, I would have to say, is the emotions. Han conveys emotions so accurately and  deeply that it is impossible not to feel the same thing and get caught up in the story. You'll laugh at loud when Jeremiah sings to Belly during karaoke, feel angry when Conrad forgets Belly's birthday, and cry when... (You'll have to read it to find out that last part)
Overall, a terrific book. Those who enjoyed Just Listen or Keeping The Moon by Sarah Dessen, in addition to Summer Boys by Hailey Abbot will especially love this book.
Coming April 27th: It's Not Summer Without You, the sequel

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10
Tangled by Carolyn Mackler tells the stories of four teenagers: Jena, Dakota, Skye and Owen. These teen's lives all are connected somehow, or, are literally "tangled" together.
The novel begins in the perspective of Jena, an all-too-ordinary girl who can't help feeling inferior when around Skye, a beautiful actress who just so happens to be a family friend. Unfortunately, Skye and Jena are stuck together at the Paradise resort over Spring Break.
To take her mind off of perfect Skye, Jena occupies herself with Dakota. Dakota charms his way into Jena's life, and although she takes it for something serious, she's really just a rebound girl in Dakota's eyes. The next portion of the story is devoted to Dakota, who is struggling to stay out of trouble after his girl friend dies in a car crash.
Next, we have Skye. Perfect on the outside, but not so perfect on the inside. It becomes obvious that Skye is dealing with depression, bordering suicidal, and when she learns a secret about her dead father, Skye's life spirals out of control.
Last but not least is Owen. Dakota's little brother, babied by his mom, and the somewhat anti-social blogger. However, through his blog, he meets Jena. And the two instantly connect. Owen, stuck at a summer camp, must decide between living his life or playing it safe.
A great aspect of this novel was Mackler's excellent character development. The reader can instantly connect with insecure Jena, confused Dakota, Skye, hiding behind a mask, and Owen, hiding behind a blog. The story is written in first person, through each person's point of view, so readers not only get a glimpse of the character through their actions and dialogue, but also through their thoughts as well. For example, Mackler doesnt come out and tell you that Owen wants to become more daring. In fact, she communicates this thought through a blog post of his. In it, he writes, "A few hours ago, a girl invited me to escape to New York City. She even quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson...When she suggested the great escape, something along the lines of "stop your stupid monotony and do something cool for once" (I'm paraphrasing, sorry Ralph)..." The reader learns tons about Owen in this little excerpt. We learn that the obvious, he likes this girl and wants to go to New York City. But we also see that he can tease himself, is able to tease himself, and has a sort of witty humor. 

Which brings us to our next highlight of Mackler's writing: her humor. It's impossible not to laugh when reading this novel. Mackler brings a different sense of humor with each character. For example, Jena makes you laugh because she is just an ordinary teen girl. Jena says, "It was a typical Wednesday night in Toperka, New York. Spring break was coming up next week, so I had nine minutes of homework, which I did while IMing my best friends, Ellie and Leora, surfing for celebirity gossip, and sending a virtual plate of snickerdoodles to my briother's ReaLife page." Jena then continues, "Then, since I happened to be on ReaLife, I checked out Samir Basu's online profile. And then, since I have no self-control, I opened every photo and drooled waterfalls over his caramel cheekbones and mile-chocolate eyes."
The combination of hilarious writing, easy-to-relate-to characters, and a meaningful and inspiring self-discovery message make for great read. The only downside to this story is that there are a few slow parts in Skye and Owen's chapters.
Those who enjoy Sarah Dessen novels, such as Keeping the Moon or Lock and Key will especially enjoy this novel. I also reccomend it to those who like Girl Overboard by Justina Chen.

Ex-Mas by Kate Brian

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10
     Christmas is just a few days away, and Lila Beckwith, 17, has the perfect holiday plans. Her parents are going away for the weekend, which means house party. There's just one thing in her way: Lila's ten-year old brother, Cooper. Cooper, an avid believer in Santa Claus, sets off to the North Pole with his best friend, Tyler. And Tyler just so happens to be Lila's ex-boyfriend, Beau's, little brother. Lila has to find Cooper and get him safely home before her parents return, but that's not so easy when you are stuck in a car with your ex for two days straight. 
    One negative aspect to this book was the very predictable ending. You don't even need me to tell you what happens. Nevertheless, it somewhat ruins the story to know how it's all going to turn out, but I have to give Kate Brian some credit, because she throws in unexpected twists. 
    In spite of the easy-to-predict ending, Ex-Mas is more than your run-of-the-mill romance story. It has humor, self-discovery, and a festive twist. Additionally, Kate Brian paints an incredible image with her descriptive words and it's very easy to imagine the characters, setting, and scenes. 

    Ex-Mas is a great heart-warming holiday story, but is a great read for any season. Those who enjoyed other novels by Kate Brian, such as Sweet Sixteen or The Princess and The Pauper, or Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by Maureen Johnson, John Green, or Lauren Myracle will most definitely enjoy this story. 

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Rating: 5 out of 10
   This was an pretty good story. It had an original plotline, which I found refreshing. DJ Schwenk, 15, is an overworked farm girl who decides to try out for her school's football team one day. DJ deals with numerous problems such as a family that doesn't communicate, a distant best friend, and...falling for the rival team's quarterback.
   Let's start off with the things I liked about this book. The girl power aspect was fun, and so was the modern day version of the star-crossed lovers archetype. I also enjoyed how Murdock portrayed farm life for how it really was: waking up early, doing all the dirty work, and then going to sleep sore and tired. Unlike other text, where the characters have time to ride horses in their free time, go to festivals or county fairs, or actually have fun while doing chores, Murdock reveals how tiresome, dirty and life-consuming living on a farm really is. DJ barely has time to pass school. This book was very realistic, and I liked having characters and situations that I could relate to as a reader. Additionally, DJ was easy to like. Some characters in novels are either very annoying, or very frustrating. DJ tries hard at everything she does, and doesn't pity herself or complain. She knows what she wants, but doesn't just expect to get it. I enjoyed DJ's authentic voice that the writer used. It was was very interesting to read and, as a teenager myself, I could actually understand it well.
   However, there were some parts of the story I didn't like. The book had many slow and even boring parts. It was also very predictable. I could have told you what happened at the end of Dairy Queen right after the first few pages. But besides that, this was a great read. Those who enjoyed the stories Throwing Like A Girl by Weezie Kerr Mackey, Pretty Tough by Liz Ligelaar, and The Off Season, also by Murdock will especially like this novel.

Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn

Rating: 4 out of 10

When I saw this book in the store, I was definitely intrigued. A picture of a floating wedding dress in the ocean...cool, right? And reading the back cover drew me in even more: A story of the five Taylor sisters, Mimi, Jane, Amelie, Emma, and Blythe, who board the Titanic with hopes of traveling to America. Little did I know, this book is barely about the Titanic. The sisters only get on the Titanic two-thirds of the way into the story. For the rest of the book, Weyn tells the story of their past: they lived in a society of clairvoyants, saw a real time travel machine and met the scientist Nikolas Tesla, as well as many other scientists. Told through Jane perspective, this story was definitely not what I expected. There is some romance involved, but very little, although the image on the front cover connotes that the story revolves around love and marriage. Basically, this is a story of time travel and psychic abilities. Not a tale of the Titanic sinking. Distant Waves is an interesting story, nonetheless. However, I thought it lacked excitement and suspense. Low points for this novel are weak character development and an inability to keep me wanting to read more. However, the historical events and figures are very neat. For example, on the Titanic, the sisters meet the only african american passenger on the boat, Joseph LaRoche. Turns out, Joseph LaRoche was a real guy. When I went to the Titanic exhibit a few years ago, there was information about him there. Also, the romance between Jane and Thad, and Mimi and her fiance is fun and interesting to read about. But that's about it. The story is very far-fetched at some parts, and downright boring at others. Don't let the title cover deceive you - this is not a story about the Titanic. I recommend this story for people interested in clairvoyance and spiritualism, although anyone who wants an imaginative tale, or even a historical fiction tale will enjoy reading it. 

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Rating: 8 out of 10 
I genuinely liked this book. Although some aspects were similar to the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series by Rick Riordian, Childs managed to make it entirely original. Phoebe, an amazing runner with high hopes of attending USC on a running scholarship, suddenly finds out her widowed mother married a new guy, Damian. But, worst of all, Damian lives in Greece. Phoebe moves to a small Greek island, and soon finds out the kids there are descendants of the Greek gods. Phoebe's own stepfather is, as well as her evil stepsister. Phoebe decides to join the cross country team, to keep in shape for the upcoming season at USC. A mix of friends, foes, and loved ones makes the choice to leave home a very difficult one. One element of this story that made it so enjoyable was the humorous and emotional first person narrative. Childs tells the story through Phoebe's perspective, and I felt like I truly knew the character just after one page of reading her witty thoughts that make me feel like I'm right next to her as Phoebe experiences everything. The excellent character development is a high point in this story, with characters ranging from a zany best friend to a handsome prince whose looks may be deceiving. Additionally, the description is just right. Some authors get too wordy and too detailed in their descriptions, and some don't provide any image for the reader. But Oh. My. Gods. drew the image in my mind, but allowed room for interpretation. With a plot containing romance, friendship, family and sports, I was nonstop engaged. And the allusions to mythology added a quirky twist that set it apart from your average, everyday teen novel. The only downsides to this book were the occasional predictable moments, and some parts were too rushed. For example, problems between Phoebe and Griffin Blake were resolved after a quick apology. All in all, this was an excellent book that I recommend to everyone. Readers who enjoyed The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter or the Mixed Bags series by Melody Carson will especially like this. 
Other books in the series: Goddess Boot Camp

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

Rating: 6 out of 10
       Stephanie Meyer's The Host was a compelling tale of love, war, and, of course, aliens. The main character, Wanda, is an alien from a species known as the souls. The souls invade Earth and take the body of humans. Wanda takes the body of a young girl, Melanie. However, Mel is not totally gone. She can still think, but cannot control her body. Mel can only feel, hear, and see what Wanda does. During the mental conversations that Mel and Wanda have, they begin to become allies against a mutual enemy, the Seeker, who is another alien. Wanda escapes her society of aliens and finds a refuge camp of humans where she must gain their trust in order to survive. Mel's old friends and family are there, including Jared, her boyfriend, and Jamie, her younger brother. Wanda develops a strong love for these two characters, as well as some of the other humans at the camp, including a friend named Ian. Wanda deals with conflicting loyalties and feelings at the refuge camp as well as a struggle to survive.
     Although they are very different, several aspects resonate in both Meyer's Twilight and The Host. For example, Wanda experiences forbidden love like Bella Swan. Jared is like Edward Cullen; Wanda loves him, but they could never be together. And then there's Ian. Ian is very similar to Jacob Black. Ian is Wanda's best friend, but he has stronger feelings for her that she cannot return, due to her love for Jared. Wanda herself is even like Bella. They are both stubborn and also choose to be with groups that they do not belong with. Wanda is an alien, yet chooses to live with humans and Bella is a human, but wants to join a family of vampires. Love acts as a strong theme in both stories, especially conflicting love.
     Meyer's The Host remains unique just the same. Her story is interesting and very different from anything I've ever read. Also, the perspective of The Host sets it apart from all other novels. Readers see the world from an alien's point of view, but Stephanie Meyer should have pursued this more and went into more detail about Wanda's past, which is touched upon, but only for moments. Additionally, the story contained many boring parts. Meyer extended many scenes that tired out after a while.
     This book will be a great read for anyone who enjoyed The Twilight Saga, or is interested in science fiction. But even for readers who are just looking for a interesting story, I strongly recommend The Host.