Review: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
Publisher: Delacorte Books FYR (Random House)
First published: November 13th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 304

Goodreads Summary:

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

After being slightly scared that my high expectations for Meant to Be will only lead to disappointment, I realized that this contemporary YA is just as awesome as its summary wants to make us believe. It's an incredibly cute and heart-warming story with characters that will slowly make their way into your heart and will definitely stay there. If you're looking for a great addition to your contemporary collection, be sure to take a closer look at this one.

More detailed:

After I read about comparisons of Meant to Be with my absolute favorite contemporary YA Anna and the French Kiss, I knew that I had to read it. But thanks to that comparison and the über-cute summary, my expectations were pretty high and I'm very happy to announce that they were completely met. This definitely is the perfect read for everyone who is looking for a cute distraction from their own everyday lives.

Julia, Meant to Be's main character is a slightly obsessive, crazy but oh-so-loveable narrator who you will definitely fall in love with. Like many other Young Adult main characters she is slightly unpopular but knows just how to live with this situation. She is looking for the perfect Hollywood-kind-of love with the guy who is meant to be with her. Of course she has an idea who that perfect guy might be, but the girl who usually tries to plan everything has to realize that some things just don't happen like you want.

Therefore the love story is wonderfully entertaining. I soon knew which guy to root for and crossed my fingers for him to not mess things up with Julia. This story is full of tiny (and not-so-tiny) misunderstandings that made me laugh and made me cringe and overall made it almost impossible for me to put this cute read down. Of course there are also some interesting secondary characters that we get to meet, but thanks to its shortness Meant to Be mainly concentrates on the most important characters and doesn't overwhelm us with unnecessary information.

All in all, Meant to Be is a book to fall in love with and to pick up whenever you need to remind yourself that cuteness and true love are still out there in the world. With a slightly nerdy but very refreshing main character, lots of chaotic misunderstandings and a heart-warming love story it will definitely appeal to many readers and end up on quite a few favorite lists.

Challenge(s):

 Debut Author Challenge 2012

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Do you love cute contemporary novels like Meant to Be or Anna and the French Kiss as much as I do? And if you haven't read it yet, do you plan to read Meant to Be as well? What do you expect from it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Carina

Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
Series: Mystic City #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books FYR (Random House)
First published: October 9th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 416

Goodreads Summary:

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Inspired by one of the most tragic love stories in literature, Mystic City pulled me into its dystopian world of betrayal, mixed with paranormal elements, and didn't let me go until I finished it. And even now, while writing this review, I'm still hoping that its sequel will pop up next to me magically, so I can continue reading and find out what will happen after that explosive last chapter and only slightly calming epilogue.

More detailed:

I loved reading Romeo and Juliet back in school even though I'm not the biggest fan of starcrossed lovers as heartbreak is an inevitable part of these stories. And today I'm still looking forward to every Romeo and Juliet inspired story that takes this tragic drama and twists it into something beautiful and heartbreaking in a new setting and with new but recognizable characters.

Mystic City definitely exceeded my expectations, turning out to be more addicting than I could have possibly hoped for. Aria is, despite her naivety, a very interesting protagonist whose lack of memory of certain aspects of her past make it incredibly hard to put this book down. While I soon began to suspect correctly that some characters' ambitions weren't exactly what they pretended to be, I still ended up surprised by some others.

Of course the love story is the most vital part of Mystic City. Starcrossed lovers tend to break my heart and it's no exception with this book. But the positive moments these two get to share with each other definitely make up for the lovesickness and all those parts that will make you wish you hadn't picked up a book that is so closely related to Rome and Juliet.

Only the dialogue and a few certain characters sometimes made it hard to find certain story developments believable. Some were too one-dimensional and others betrayed their intentions a little bit too easily for my taste - their choice of words in that moments felt too artificial to me, too. But keep in mind that this just happened only a few times and could be a very subjective point of view - you might not even recognize these scenes as I can be quite picky with my characters and dialogues.

All in all, Mystic City is a very well written novel set in a dystopian world that is very easy to imagine thanks to the descriptions we get. I can't wait to find out where Aria's journey will take her and what will happen to her. If you've been considering to give this book a chance, I'd recommend you to do so as soon as possible.

Challenge(s):

Debut Author Challenge 2012

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you read Mystic City? If yes, what did you think about it?
If no, do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Carina

Review: Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson
Series: Flirting in Italian #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for YR (Random House)
First published: June 12th, 2012
Source: Edelweiss
Format: eARC
Pages: 336

Goodreads Summary:
Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Where is the second book? After that almost torturous ending I need to know how Violet's story will continue and therefore can't wait to get my greedy little hands on Flirting in Italian's sequel. This was a fun and quite cute story about being away from home for the first time and figuring out mysteries about your own past. Gorgeous guys and hot flirts included.

More detailed:

Following Violet's trip to Italy, where she wants to find out more about a painting of a girl who looks almost exactly like her, Flirting in Italian turned out to be a very cute and refreshing summer read that will brighten your mood instantly. If you don't know what to take to the beach with you, this should be your pick.

I actually expected Flirting in Italian to be a bit more of a mystery since Violet only went to Italy to find out more about that painting and her resemblance to its subject. But especially during the first half, or even two thirds, we were whisked away to the beautiful summer paradise in Italy. Lauren Henderson's beautiful style of writing made me feel like I were part of this group of girls, flirting with these boys and just enjoying a fun summer.

The characters in Flirting in Italian are really diverse and while I loved to hate some of them (especially those "thin-too-thin Itlian girls"), I loved our four protagonists. All of them are so perfectly flawed, which makes it a lot of fun witnessing their interactions. Sadly though, I had a hard time figuring out Violet's love interest, who's one of the hottest guys we meet but also a bit mean from time to time.

All in all, Flirting in Italian delivers on its fun summary and cute cover. While I expected (and actually hoped for) a bit more mystery, it still was quite exciting and raised many questions that I can't wait for to be answered. The wait until its sequel's publication will be a small torture after that slight cliffhanger, but if you're looking for a cute contemporary be sure to add it to your to-read list.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Buy the book:
Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

Have you read Flirting in Italian? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Carina

Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Series: Lies Beneath #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for YR (Random House)
First published: June 12th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 303

Goodreads Summary:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Introducing its readers to a dark world of evil merpeople, Lies Beneath is a captivating story of finding a balance between your need for revenge and the magic of true love. And even though I had a few problems to connect with the protagonists, I couldn't stop reading and can't wait to see what will happen in the second book of this series. 

More detailed:

I've been really excited about reading a book with a different kind of merpeople lore, because I think that their evilness and cruelty works really well for creatures that are living in the dark depths of lakes and oceans. And it definitely didn't disappoint: these mermaids (and mermen) are evil and kill humans to survive - and sometimes just because they want to.

Lies Beneath is told from Calder's point of view and considering that we don't get a male perspective that often in Young Adult novels, it was a refreshing change. He's a merman and therefore has some darker sides, but nonetheless he's a somewhat likeable protagonist. His character development throughout the story is definitely interesting to witness.

His love story is one of the forbidden kind, which are my favorite ones. Falling in love with the daughter of the man Calder and his sisters have vowed to kill is the perfect way to ensure that readers will keep turning Lies Beneath's pages and cross their fingers for the unlikely couple to get their happy ending. 

And while I really like the plot line and Anne Greenwood Brown's style of writing, I sadly had a few small problems truly feeling for these characters. I can't even explain exactly why, because all in all Lies Beneath had everything I want in a book. It's just an overall feeling that made me not like it enough for a four star (or higher) rating.

But if you've thinking about giving this book a chance, don't hesitate and get a copy. I'll definitely read the second book of this series as well and might even get a finished copy. Mermaids are a really lovely trend in 2012 and Anne Greenwood Brown's take on them is refreshing and slightly addicting.

Have you read Lies Beneath? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Carina

Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
First published: February 14th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 272

Goodreads Summary:
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

I'm really happy that I gave Graffiti Moon a chance. While I was afraid that I might end up not liking it, it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. This novel is beautifully written, with characters whose stories will capture your heart and whose love for art will make you want to be part of their world and to experience what they are.

More detailed:

After having read the summary, I expected Graffiti Moon to be similar to Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which I sadly couldn't warm up to. But I still wanted to give it a chance and Graffiti Moon turned out to be exactly what I expected Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist to be like: a heart-warming story about searching and finding love. 

The story is told from both Lucy and Ed's point of view. I love such books because it gives you insight in more than just one character's thoughts and makes it a lot easier to understand someone's behaviour. And in Graffiti Moon this narration is done very well. I could understand both characters and relate to them and their thoughts, hopes and wishes.

Ed and Lucy's night is one full of adventures and I loved witnessing how they get used to their situation and grow comfortable with each other. Their search for Shadow is amusing and exciting, and while, as a reader, you already know everything about Shadow, I loved the moment in which the secrets are finally revealed.

I also fell in love with Cath Crowley's writing. This is a book about art and appreciating its beauty and meaning. Even without seeing any of Shadow's works, I had no problems imagining them right in front of me and could almost "see" what Lucy and Ed were seeing. And their feelings for the images and for each other were expressed just as beautifully.

The only thing that I might not like was the somewhat abrupt ending. I would have liked to see more of the final scenes, would have loved them to be a little bit more elaborate. But all in all, I can definitely recommend Graffiti Moon for everyone who wants to read about a beautiful journey to love and (self-)acceptance.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Interesting links (Cath Crowley):
Twitter | Goodreads | Website

Have you read Graffiti Moon? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?
Carina

Chick Lit Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

While I mostly read Young Adult fiction, I love to read a good Chick Lit novel from time to time. I started Chick Lit Time to feature those books on my blog.

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I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: The Dial Press (Random House)
Expected Publication: February 14th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 448

Goodreads Summary:
I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

My Rating: 5.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Since I fell in love with Sophie's books about eight years ago and always look forward to her new releases, my expectations for I've Got Your Number were pretty high. But again Sophie Kinsella managed to create a chaotic but very loveable main character, a romantic and cute plot and scenes that made me laugh out loud and not caring about strangers witnessing it. If you enjoy Chick Lit novels, go ahead and pick up books by Sophie Kinsella!

More detailed:

If you haven't read any of Sophie Kinsella's books yet, you're definitely missing out on something great. When I heard about I've Got Your Number, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this and devour it as soon as possible. And despite my high expectations, I wasn't disappointed and only realized how much I've missed Sophie's writing and wonderful stories.

Her characters are always a little bit chaotic in a very charming way. Poppy is no exception. After having managed to lose her engagement ring - a family heirloom - her journey begins. I love how Sophie Kinsella always manages to make me feel like I know a character after a few pages already. Poppy's voice and way of narration are just as addicting as I hoped them to be.

Of course the love story is very cute. It might be a little bit predictible at certain times, but that's why I love reading these light-hearted Chick Lit novels from time to time - just to distract myself with amusing problems of adorable main characters. This love story definitely made me feel good while reading and I had to laugh out loud and swoon more than just once - even during a coffee break at university.

I could continue telling you about how much I loved this novel, but if you think you might like it, just pick it up and let the book show you how awesome it is. I'm already crossing my fingers for more books by Sophie Kinsella, hoping I won't have to wait too long. I've Got Your Number is a wonderful stand-alone novel that I definitely want to recommend for everyone who needs a light-hearted distraction.

More about Sophie Kinsella:

Homepage | Goodreads
My review for her Shopaholic series
Writing as Madeleine Wickham

Have you read I've Got Your Number? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Series: Gone With the Respiration #1
Publisher: Del Rey (Random House)
First published: October 18th, 2011
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 470

Goodreads Summary:
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

While I have to admit that I struggled with it a little bit in the beginning, I ended up really liking Dearly, Departed and its characters. Despite the various points of view, Lia Habel's writing manages to make the main characters relatable and will have readers waiting for the sequel excitedly.

More detailed:

Dearly, Departed is only the second zombie book I've ever read and it has definitely made me want to read more books of this genre. Nora's (New) Victorian world is turned upside down when an army of the walking dead comes for her and another group of more civilised zombies rescues her. I loved this combination of dystopian and paranormal elements that created a very unique setting.

I definitely enjoyed the prologue and the first part of the first chapter of Dearly, Departed but I have to admit that the pacing of the story slowed down a lot after that and made it a bit hard to get into the story. At first we are introduced to the world Nora grew up in, which is both futuristic and historical, and how she is living her life. While such an introduction was necessary considering the very special dystopian setting, I wished it would have been a little bit shorter.

Nora is a very strong character and her realistic reactions to the things she finds out make her very believable. At some points she is a little bit overwhelmed by her discoveries, but at the same time she never overreacts. It was easy to imagine being in her situation and feeling the things she has to go through.

Dearly, Departed is told from five different points of view. While I'm a fan of novels who tell more than one person's story, I was a little bit overwhelmed by the constant change of narration in the beginning. After a while I found out that it was necessary to understand the most important parts of the storyline and I came to appreciate the different characters' stories.

The love story is progressing very slowly, too, but considering the circumstances Nora and Bram met under, it felt very right. In many YA novels the romance is rushed, but the love between these two grows slowly and you can witness how their feelings towards each other develop into something more. I definitely can't wait to find out what the future has in store for them.

All in all, Dearly, Departed is a unique novel with an intriguing setting and the chance to be the introduction to a great series. If you don't mind if a novel has a somewhat slow pacing and want to be swept away into a romance that is heartbreakingly beautiful, you should definitely pick up Dearly, Departed.

Novels in this series:

1. Dearly, Departed
2. Dearly, Beloved (2012)

Have you read Dearly, Departed? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina