Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Book Description:

"Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be." -Goodreads

Book Review:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is about teen, Ari, who is angry. His family expects him to be the son his brother wasn’t. He didn’t want friends, well until he met Dante. A strange kid he is, but he starts to make Ari happy. A friendship quickly sprouts between the two boys. And the longer they know one another, the stronger it grows. Stronger than a friendship.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe made my heart bleed. I honestly have not read a book that really made me cry for the characters. And one of the reasons why I love it so much is because it was happy. Most of the romance books you’ll read now a days are beyond depressing. I’m not saying every book should be rainbows and butterflies, but it shouldn’t make the reader depressed. I was happy, sad, and ecstatic throughout this book.

Aristotle, Ari, is a strong character. He’s sort-of close with his mother and doesn’t know his father even though he sees him everyday. It doesn’t help that he has this silent of pressure of not being like his older brother who is in prison. He has always been the silent but deadly type at school and never had plans to have friends, well of course until the adorable Dante came in.

Dante is adorable. His character made me laugh and smile. I felt that he went through the emotional struggles of trying to find himself later on in the book. I appreciated that he wasn’t sure because us teenagers are always searching for ourselves. The way he talked and acted around Ari was beautiful. You could really tell that he loves this boy.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe really is an amazing book. I think it’s a book that everyone needs to read. I cannot believe that I haven’t heard of it before, I’m almost angry that I haven’t. This book is beautiful and I’m happy to give it five stars!

Link:
Goodreads

Book Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Book Description: 

"Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth." -Goodreads

Book Review: 

Faking Normal is about teen, Alexi, who has her fair share of issues. Issues that are caused by secrets that know one except for herself knows. But that all changes when her neighbor, Bodee “Kool-aid kid”, moves in with her family. The longer they know each other, the more they give each other their trust. And share their secrets. A spark ignites between them and the real truth comes out. 

Faking Normal caused me to be an emotional wreck while reading it. Seriously, I was a sobbing burrito of tears. It hurt to read Alexi’s story, it was so realistic. A teenage girl who doesn’t know who she is anymore because of this disturbing incident. She had this facade she put up in front of people she loved and knew. Alexi to me is what a true heroine is, because at the end, she faced the person who was responsible for her emotional damage and was strong.

The character that I felt really made the main character, Alexi, push for her “freedom” from her secret is our very own Kool-aid Kid, Bodee. He had his issues, his own tragedies, but he still fought to help Alexi overcome her’s. That’s what really touched me. Bodee will always be one of my top favorite characters because of his beautiful personality.

Faking Normal is just an exquisite book, it has its cliche moments but sometimes those moments are what makes the story come alive. Honestly, I haven’t read a book that actually questioned what people’s secrets are. Alexi, this normal girl on the outside who had these heart-breaking secrets, went to school, did activities, had friends. It really made me question my actions on how I will approach people and how everyone should be aware that no one has the perfect life. 

I will give Faking Normal five stars and a place on my favorite books shelf. I would want any book lover to enjoy and savor these three-hundred and thirty-six pages.

Link:

Goodreads

Book Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Book Description:

"Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?" -Goodreads

Book Review:

Daughter of Smoke & Bone is about seventeen-year-old, Karou, who so happens to have all natural blue hair. She is an aspiring artist whose fantasy drawings of her monsters are real. They are the ones who raised Karou. Brimstone is also the one who gives Karou her wishes. When mysterious burns appear on the portal doors, Karou becomes worrisome. Especially when she comes face to face with, Akiva. An angel. Together they will find out who Karou really is. 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone shocked me, in a good way. Honestly, when I read the synopsis I didn’t know if I would get “into” it. Heck yeah, I did! I mean the opening the scene was so awesome! I could totally tell from the beginning that Karou wasn’t gonna take crap from anyone. She is one tough, female main character. An awesome role model if you ask me. I mean I couldn’t hold together when she replied with this, “Musicians who asked questions,” to a noisy street musician when she was carrying a fairly large bag on the ground.

One of the main focuses in the book was the wishes. Karou usually had her own supply of wishes, but just tiny ones. Her wishes were definitely “realistic”, ones that real people would make. I mean it’s pretty rad that she wished for blue hair! Karou’s family is totally unique, extremely unique. Brimstone is the cliche protective, chastising father figure. 

No let's move onto the topic of Akiva. By the description of him in the book, I know that he is a fine piece of male specimen. Cliche alert. Yes, it does go down the road of forbidden love and tunnel of shocking secrets. But, it works. The way the author approached it was subtle and not obnoxious. Which I greatly appreciated. 

Overall Daughter of Smoke & Bone is an awesome read! I would recommend this to any readers interested in fantasy, romance, and a butt-kicking female lead. I would give this book four and a half stars!

Link:

Goodreads

Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Description:

"Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore." -Goodreads

Book Review:

The Raven Boys is about teenage girl, Blue Sargent, who made a decision to stay away from those Raven Boys. The so called “Raven Boys” are from Aglionby, a rich private school. Blue has always been leery of boys in general because of what she has been told; that when she kisses her true love, he will die. But when a band of Raven Boys come to her house for her mother, Blue knows she can not get out of this one. Especially when she meets Gansey, the one that she cannot explain. Surprisingly, a crew of three Aglionby boys, a psychic's daughter and a raven named, Chainsaw, will discover the secrets of the ley lines. 

The Raven Boys is officially, literally, one of my favorite books. I mean omigosh, this book is every teenage fangirl’s dream. I can see what all the hype is about now. I thought that Blue’s life is extremely well-written. A normal teenage life with a splash of magic, okay maybe more like two cups. Blue is awesome. I found her to be different, but not obnoxious. She acts like a girl who has grown up in a household full of psychics. Blue is also a warrior, she don’t take crap from anybody, especially Gansey. 

On the topic of Gansey, let's take a moment to appreciate how Ms. Stiefvater played the Raven Boys. I mean Gansey acted like a rich, privileged, white boy and he knew that, which I respected because he knew he would be in the wrong. All three of the boys, plus Noah, had different personalities and quirks. You had the creepy, scary one, Ronan, the sweet, trailer-boy, Adam and then the smart-mouth, Gansey. 

The Raven Boys surprised me so much. I’m surprised I’m still sane. The plot twists and character development gave me joy. I love books that are just satisfying. Speaking of satisfying, if you are someone who loves endings that make you sigh in relief, then you will love this. I can’t wait to read the second book! The Raven Boys is fangirled approved! Five stars!

Link:
Goodreads

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Book Description:

"Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. 
And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters." ~Goodreads

Book Review:

Carry On is about Simon Snow, a young magician who is about to complete his final year of schooling. His life isn't exactly ideal at times, with a crazy best friend and roommate, that Simon is obsessed with. It doesn't help that he is the most powerful magician and that evil things are always trying to destroy him. 

Carry On is unbelievably awesome! I just want to read it over and over again. I'm utterly in love with this book. I've read Eleanor & Park along with Fangirl and I loved those also. I think that it was awesome that Mrs. Rowell wrote Carry On based off of Fangirl.  

The relationship between Simon and Baz had me tearing my hair out. Their love story is every fangirl's dream. It had a slight cliche feel, but it worked. I was actually surprised at the ending, I think it gave the story depth. A part of me hopes that there will be a second book in some universe. I will recommend this book to my girlfriends! Five stars! 

Links:
Goodreads
B&N
Amazon

Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book Description:

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. And she’s more than a little startled when the body disappears into thin air. Soon Clary is introduced to the world of the Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to driving demons out of our world and back to their own. And Clary is introduced with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque monster. How could a mere human survive such an attack and kill a demon? The Shadowhunters would like to know…" -Amazon

Book Review:

Clary Fray was just trying to figure life out like any other teenager. Worrying about normal people stuff like school or her mother, not demons or evil fathers. After one interesting night at the local club, Clary is brought into the world of Shadowhunters, especially when her mother goes missing. She experences demons, weapons and a whole lot of weird.

City of Bones is awesome, I've actually read the whole series. I think City of Bones is well written because not once in the book was I bored. I was fascinated with the world that Cassandra Clare created, it was unique. I loved the magic and myths that was put into this. To this day, I will read City of Bones for fun. Five stars!

Link:
Amazon

Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Book Description:

"Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits-smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love-and just how hard it pulled you under." -Amazon

Book Review:

Eleanor & Park is about two different outcasts, living completely different lives. They are drawn together with the mix of music and comics. Sounds like dose of perfect. Eleanor comes from an abusive environment while Park comes from the "classic" American family. These two are so opposite, that they're perfect for each other.

I'm a hard core book nerd, and this is one of my favorite books of ALL times. It is so real that I can honestly relate to Eleanor in many ways. So can the millions of people in this world. Rainbow Rowell perfectly captured the real life situations that teenagers are still experiencing today. Eleanor & Park had me laughing, crying and slamming the book on the floor. It is too good to rate.

Link:
Amazon

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Book Description:

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love." - Amazon


Book Review:

The Fault in Our Stars told the heart warming story of two cancer patients, Hazel Grace and Augustus. Okay was theirs, so was one book. They grow together, good and bad. Hazel Grace and Augustus do become a love story legend.

The Fault in Our Stars broke my heart in millions of pieces. This book kills me every time I read it, in every good way of course. John Green is absolutely brilliant writing this book, it shows that not every love story is perfect. I feel Hazel Grace and Augustus's relationship was real, pure. Not a fantasy. I won't ever get tired of this book, not ever. A hundred stars!

Link:
Amazon

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Book Description:

"Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison―even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does―in this second installment from Marissa Meyer.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana." -Amazon

Book Review:

Scarlet followed the awesome butt kicking of Scarlet and Cinder as they try to conquer Queen Levana. It also involved the relationship that bloomed between the quiet Wolf and Scarlet. We also cannot forget our new found friend so called "Captain" Thorne. 

Scarlet is amazing! I got it at my local library and I was not really that "pumped" to read it since I honestly wasn't that into Cinder. I couldn't put Scarlet down, I had to force myself not to finish the rest of the book in one day. It was witty, quirky and intense. I mean its a great book for any fantasy, futuristic-book lover! Cannot wait to read the third and forth book. Five stars!

Link:

Amazon