Review: I Followed the Rules by Joanna Bolouri

Published by: Quercus
Release date: 2nd July 2015
Series:  n/a
I got it from: Netgalley
Goodreads summary:
Rule 1: Never ask him on a first date. Rule 2: Laugh admiringly at all his jokes. Rule 3: Always leave him wanting more.

. . . wtf?!

Have you heard of The Rules of Engagement? It's a book that promises to teach you to find the man of your dreams in ten easy steps. Unsurprisingly, I don't own a copy. What is it, 1892?

But I'm a journalist, and I've promised to follow it to the letter and write about the results. Nevermind that my friends think I'm insane, I'm stalking men all over town and can't keep my mouth shut at the best of times.

My name is Cat Buchanan. I'm thirty-six years old and live with my daughter in Glasgow. I've been single for six years, but that's about to change. After all, I'm on a deadline.

I Followed the Rules and this is what happened.
 
My review:
I totally fell in love with Bolouri's debut The List, so I had high expectations for this one. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. Bolouri's distinctive voice shines through loud and clear in this brilliant, sweary rom-com, making it an absolute joy to read. Somehow she's managed to come up with a story that's practically the opposite of The List. Where The List was all about having sex (well not all about that, but there was a lot of it), I Followed the Rules spends a good deal of its time not allowing sex. Despite that though, it still manages to be sexy. Bolouri is a literary wizard.

Cat Buchanan is a wonderful, complex character. I have to say, I don't often pick up books where the MC is a mum, because even though I'm of a similar age to our heroine, I have no children, am the least maternal person in the world, and do not enjoy reading about other peoples' children. Cat is that rare thing though - a single mum who still manages to act like a normal adult. We hear enough about young Grace to make it clear that she is a major fixture of Cat's life, but not enough to bore. She's an important character, but she doesn't get a huge amount of page-time, which works out perfectly for me. Cat is, apart from a successful single mum, a writer, and a brilliant woman who I want to be my best friend. In fact, she reminds me very much of my best friend, which must be why I loved her so much.

There something about Bolouri's books that has me constantly smiling while reading. Her voice is so full of humour and realism, that it's like a boozy night in with your best mate. I love the fact that she puts in lots of shouty capital letters. I love the fact that Cat has a voice in her head shouting inappropriate things at awkward times, the same way I do. I love the fact that it's frank and real and downright hilarious. I know I keep saying how funny it is, but I can't help emphasizing that point. I don't think any other author has had me in such a great mood while reading their books as Bolouri. I could read her writing all day, every day. But enough fan-girling. Just go and read it, I promise you won't regret it.

Review: Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

Published by: Hatchette Children's Books (UK)
Release date: 2nd July 2015 (UK)
Series:  Hamilton High #2
I got it from: Netgalley
Goodreads summary:
Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go.

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with— secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross.

Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand—a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?
 
My review:
There's something so delicious about reading a new book by an author you love, and if you've been waiting for it for a while it feels especially indulgent. I find myself having to force myself to slow down, to not tear through it. A new book by an author I love deserves to be savoured, like a scrummy chocolate dessert. Lying Out Loud is most definitely one of those books. I adored The Duff, and this return to Hamilton High is a most welcome one.

Sonny is one of those rare but brilliant characters - she's not too good to be true. She's average in some ways, incredible in others, and a bit of a bitch in yet others. She's so real, so relateable, I desperately want her for my friend.

And of course, because Keplinger is such a talented author, Sonny isn't the only brilliant character. Each and every character is well-developed and full of those little touches that turn them into real people. Amy perhaps most of all, because she's up there with Sonny sharing the limelight in this book. Yes, Lying Out Loud is a book about friendship, along with a few other things. Now I'm not normally a huge fan of friendship stories. But LOL has enough other stuff going on (including a rather charming romance full of witty banter), that the main story arc is perfectly acceptable, nay, it's better than acceptable. It's wonderful. The whole book feels wonderfully familiar, like putting on your favourite worn clothes and snuggling up on the sofa. It's a comforting sort of feeling I get while reading this, and I really didn't want it to end. It's going straight on my shelf of books I read when I need a lift. Thank you, Ms Keplinger.

Blog Tour: The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Welcome to our stop on the The Summer After You and Me tour for Jennifer Salvato Doktorski. This tour is hosted by Sourcebooks Fire.

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Release date: 5th May 2015
I got it from: Netgalley

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Summary:

Will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?

For Lucy, the Jersey Shore isn’t just the perfect summer escape, it’s home. As a local girl, she knows not to get attached to the tourists. They breeze in during Memorial Day weekend, crowding her costal town and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Still, she can’t help but crush on charming Connor Malloy. His family spends every summer next door, and she longs for their friendship to turn into something deeper.

Then Superstorm Sandy sweeps up the coast, bringing Lucy and Connor together for a few intense hours. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm, and Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and her broken home. Time may heal all wounds, but with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, Lucy’s summer is sure to be filled with fireworks.

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About the Author:

Jennifer Salvato Doktorski is the author of two YA  novels and is a freelance nonfiction writer. Her first paid writing gig was at The North Jersey Herald & News, where she wrote obituaries and began her lifelong love of news and coffee. She lives in New Jersey with her family.

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My Review:

Ahh... there's just something about a really good YA contemporary read, especially if it features a beach town, summer, and a quirky MC. TSAYaM has all of those, plus a whole lot more. Now I'm not usually one for making comparisons, but I have to mention that this did have a bit of a feel of Sarah Dessen to it, which I loved about it - she's one of my favourite authors. TSAYaM has similar themes of new and old loves, new and old friends, getting off track and finding your way back again. Plus the whole beach town thing. There are a lot of summer romances out there, but just a few that are special enough to rise to the top of the pile, and this is definitely one of them.

Lucy is a wonderful character. She's intelligent, a bit of a geek, slightly socially awkward, but in possession of good morals. Her mother says of her: 'One of the things I admire most about you, honey, is that you're as responsible as you are fearless. It's a rare combination.'. And it's true. Aside from the social awkwardness, Lucy is the kind of person who knows what she wants and sets out to get it. She's good at school, she knows what she wants to major in at college, she has plans for interning through the summer, she has her boyfriend and her friends and her job - everything seems perfect. Or is it? Of course it isn't. Life doesn't work like that.

What I loved about TSAYaM is that we get to see Lucy's whole life. So many books focus on just one romance, maybe with a bit of friend or family action thrown in. But with Lucy, we're involved with her friends, her boyfriend, her family, her job, her interests - it's all there and it makes it all so much more real. And when Lucy loses her way somewhat in her perfectly planned life (or, in some cases, the way is dragged out from under her feet), that means we get to see all the knock-on effects. Doktorski has created a full and complex life for Lucy, but she's also done a top job with the other characters - each and every one of them, from Lucy's twin brother Liam, to her boss at work, feels wonderfully real.

I have to mention Sandy too - not another character, but the superstorm. TSAYaM is set a few month after Sandy tore up the coast, and it was really interesting to read how it Lucy and her family and friends. Lucy and her family were lucky - they had to stay with her grandmother for a while, while their house was repaired, but they didn't lose everything the way some people did. It still affected them in a big way though. The way Lucy hates the smell of newness - the new flooring, furniture and decor in her house; the newly patched and painted walls at her work - really gives feeling to the devastation that Sandy left behind. Everything is a bit different and unfamiliar, and home doesn't quite feel the same anymore. Lucy doesn't feel the same either - she's going through the motions in her relationship with Andrew, which has turned from best friend to 'more', but she can't stop thinking about Connor, the summer boy next door who she shared a moment with on the day of the storm, only to be ignored by him in the following months. Now it's nearly summer again and Connor is back, and she doesn't know how to react.

Although the romance is not the whole story in this book, it does play a big part. I'm not going to say too much more about it, as I don't want to give anything away. I will just say that I think Doktorski has written this aspect of the book just as brilliantly as she has all aspects. It feels realistic, age-appropriate, and it went the way I wanted it to. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, for lots of reasons. I got totally drawn into Lucy's world, and I didn't want to leave it. This is my first Doktorski read, but I'll definitely be looking up her other books now.

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Here's an excerpt from the book:

Connor opened the gorgeous double doors, each with half-moon stained-glass windows on the top, and motioned me inside. “After you.”

The house had that distinct yet hard-to-describe smell of a beach home that had been closed up for a while. I walked to the center of the high-ceilinged foyer and immediately pic­tured pine garland and twinkling white lights wrapped around the sweeping banister.

“Wow. I’d love to spend Christmas here,” I said and immedi­ately regretted being so sappy.

Connor smiled. “You could fit a twelve-foot tree in this hallway.”

I admit, over the years I’ve had my share of Connor-centric fantasies. However the image of him watching his children pad down the stairs on Christmas morning had never been one of them…until that very second. I liked thinking about Connor that way.

“Come on. You’ve got to see the master bedroom.”

The wholesome image of a Malloy family Christmas van­ished. Aha, I thought. That was the Connor I knew.

“Uh-uh,” I said. “The widow’s walk. I want to go there first.”

“Race you,” he said and took off running.

He beat me up the two flights and was waiting for me in the third-floor hallway toward the back of the house. Off the hallway was an art studio, with a drafting table and a bookcase. There was also a telescope standing near the window.

“Follow me.” He crossed the studio and unlocked the dead­bolt to the narrow door leading outside.

“You’ve already been up there?”

“First thing I did when I got here,” Connor said.

“Not the master bedroom?”

“Nah, that’s the first thing I wanted to do when you got here.”

I thought it was just more flirty banter, but Connor’s flushed cheeks looked as warm as my body felt. He stared at me for a beat too long and my throat constricted. I was suddenly aware that I’d left the house with slept-on hair and no mascara. The look on Connor’s face told me he hadn’t noticed. His eyes never left mine.

Finally he said, “Come on, Luce. I’ll follow you.” The space was tight when I passed in front of him, and the closeness of his body gave me the shivers. I opened the door and stepped outside onto a small patio. I walked toward the wrought-iron spiral staircase that lead to the widow’s walk on the roof and placed my hand on the railing. My knees felt shaky as I began the climb, but I never looked back. 

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And here's where you can buy it:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1bdZCrJ

Apple: http://apple.co/1GZ6qq1

BAM: http://bit.ly/1wWFUdw

B&N: http://bit.ly/1ABV3x6

Chapters: http://bit.ly/1EnXK6R

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1EtSUr9
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And here's what you've been waiting for: the Giveaway!

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Same Old Story: A Rant About the Lack of Originality in Romantic Fiction

I read a lot. I read a lot of romance. I love the stories of first love, boy meets girl, drama and lust. But what I don't love at the moment is the sheer number of books I'm reading that all follow basically the same story. Girl meets boy. Girl and Boy fancy each other. Girl and Boy dance around one another for a while before (hurrah!) getting together. Something terrible/tragic/confusing/annoying happens; Girl and Boy break up. Girl and Boy realise that one or both of them have been idiots and get back together. The End.

It's not a new story. It surely must happen a lot in real life in order to have spawned quite so much fiction following this plot line. But it sure does get boring sometimes. It's got to the point where I start to lose interest at the point where something happens to split the lovely couple up. It's not like I hate all books that use this story - there are plenty out there that are still really good in spite, or even because, of it. But I do need a break from it now and again. It's one of the reasons why I enjoy urban fantasy novels. Lots of these use the same basic story, but the addition of magic or monsters spices it up and makes it more interesting.

Many of the worst offenders are Young and New Adult romances. I think these books suffer the most from the curse of unoriginality because the main characters are young, and they often don't have much going on in their life apart from school, friends and romance. Don't get me wrong - that can make for a wonderful book, but it doesn't always. It pleases me greatly when the young MC has something else in her life to make it more interesting, be it a sport or hobby, a werewolf or a witch. Adult novels are also guilty of the common trope, but older characters tend to have more going on in their lives which makes for a fuller, better-rounded story.

So what books have bucked the trend? Here are a few examples of some of my favourite books - all stories that veer off the well-beaten love-tragedy-love path:
Everything by Maggie Stiefvater, but specifically the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy
Stiefvater is far too clever to give in to YA cliches. She works hard at making her writing tricksy and intelligent, but vastly enjoyable at the same time.

Kiss Him Goodbye by Victoria Routledge
Not a YA though it could be classed as NA, an old-time favourite and my go-to book whenever I feel down. Kate Craig is new to London and she hates it, but she's a stubborn thing and determined to see the challenge through. What she didn't bargain for was flatmates who invade her life and the ways in which the big city subtly changes you.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington
A road-trip story, a coming-of-age yarn and a poignant tale of loss and growth all rolled into one.

Soulmates by Holly Bourne
Poppy and Noah's romance is incredible, wonderful and beautiful to read. But. There is a But. I just can't say what it is. Sorry. Read it if you're feeling brave, and love it for its beauty.

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
Buckets of blood, magic that could be real, and an atmosphere so thick and dark that I found myself completely drawn in.

Review: Paradise City by CJ Duggan

Published by: Hatchette Australia
Release date: 28th April 2015
Series:  Paradise #1
I got it from: Netgalley
Goodreads summary:
There's bound to be trouble in Paradise . . .

When her parents decide a change will be good for her, seventeen-year-old Lexie Atkinson never expected they'd send her all the way to Paradise City. Coming from a predictable life of home schooling on a rural Australian property, she's sure that Paradise will be amazing. But when she's thrust into a public school without a friendly face in sight, and forced to share a room with her insipid, hateful cousin Amanda, Lexie's not so sure.

Hanging out with the self-proclaimed beach bums of the city, sneaking out, late night parties and parking with boys are all things Lexie's never experienced, but all that's about to change. It's new, terrifying . . . and exciting. But when she meets Luke Ballantine, exciting doesn't even come close to describing her new life. Trouble with a capital T, Luke is impulsive, charming and answers to no one. The resident bad-boy leader of the group, he's sexier than any boy Lexie has ever known.

Amidst the stolen moments of knowing looks and heated touches, Lexie can't help but wonder if Luke is going to be good for her . . . or very, very bad?

My review:
It's not often I get the opportunity to read books by Australian authors on Netgalley, something I wish they would rectify if Paradise City is anything to go by. Billed as 'a seriously sexy New Adult series you won't want to miss. For fans of Abbi Glines, Sarah Dessen and Colleen Hoover', I'd say they've got it spot on. I am indeed a fan of Sarah Dessen and Abbi Glines, and Paradise City reminded me of both, in all the best ways.

First up there's Lexie - part sweet and innocent, part sassy and brave, she makes a wonderful MC. Lexie has a lot to learn when she arrives in Paradise City - her cousin isn't at all what she expected, school is nothing like her dreams, and boys want to do a lot more than hold hands. The wide-eyed country girl learning how things work in the big city makes for an endearing start to the story, and it makes her different enough to catch the attention of the school heartthrob, surfer bad-boy Luke Ballantyne.

Ah, Luke Ballantyne. Definitely a great addition to the book boyfriend list. He's hot, mysterious and confident, yet there's definitely a nice boy lurking underneath all that. I wish we'd had Luke's point of view as well as Lexie's, as I'm guessing it would have made for very interesting reading. There's a lot about this boy that I still don't know and really want to.

Duggan's writing is addictive, and I really didn't want to put this book down. It's a decent size though and I do require sleep in order to function, so this definitely wasn't a one-sitting story, which is a good thing - a book I can read in a couple of hours is all well and good, but I like to sink my teeth into something a bit meatier most of the time. Duggan provides that and more, with steamy scenes, titillating romance, and a fast-paced plot. And if that's not enough, it's funny, awkward, charming and entertaining too. One thing the story seemed to be lacking however, was any mention of the future. These kids are 17 and 18, and not once did they mention what they might do with their future. Are any of them going to university? If so where? Or are they going to get jobs locally, apprentice, go travelling? At that age the subject of what you're going to do when you leave school is a pretty major one, and I found it strange that Duggan didn't think it worth including. Hopefully all will be revealed in the sequel, which, by the way, I really can't wait for. I nearly cried when I got to the end and realised I'd have to wait until the autumn to get the end of this story. In the mean-time, I'm off to read every CJ Duggan book I can get my hands on!

Blog Tour: Thoughtful by S.C. Stephens

Published by: Little, Brown Book Group
Release date: 24th February 2015
Series:  Thoughtless 1.5
I got it from: Netgalley
Goodreads summary:
Every story has two sides, and in this new book, the epic love story between Kiera and Kellan is shown through his eyes.

All Kellan Kyle needs is his guitar, and some clean sheets of paper. Growing up in a house that was far from a home, he learned a hard lesson: You're worthless. Now his life is comfortably filled with passionate music, loyal band mates, and fast women...until he meets her.

Kiera makes him ache for more. Makes him feel for the first time that he's worth more. But there's one problem - she's his best friend's girl.

Just when Kellan thought his emotional defenses were rock solid, Kiera's indecisive heart wreaks havoc on his soul, changing him forever. Losing Kiera is not an option.
 
My Review:
Wow, that was an emotional rollercoaster ride of a book. I feel like I need a week off from reading to recover from it! Okay, so for starters you should know that I haven't actually read Thoughtless, Kiera's side of the story. However I've been assured that Thoughtful can be read as a standalone, and after reading it I have to agree - Kellan's story works really well on its own, and after reading it I'm not actually sure if I want to know Kiera's side of things - a lot of the time I really wanted to scream at the girl. Now I know there a lot of huge fans of this series who may not like my review but please imagine you've never come across any of Stephens' work before, then read on.

I've never been in love with two people, and I really hope I never am, because it sounds horrific. I'm not usually a fan of love triangles in books - so many are shoehorned in just for the sake of it - but this is the love triangle to end all love triangles, and as it's basically what the whole book is about I can't argue with it.

It took me a few chapters to really get into Kellan, but once I did I really fell for him. I have to say, I thought he sounded a bit girly to start with, but the more I got to know him the more I liked him. Stephens does a brilliant job of bringing to life this deep, tortured soul. He pours out his heart on the pages of this book so many times that you can't help but feel for him. He certainly makes a compelling book-boyfriend. I love a guy who isn't afraid to cry and admit how he feels. I felt for Denny too, but he doesn't get much page time as a character. It was actually Kellan's band-mate Evan who was the main side-character for me. I really want to get that guy's story, so I might just have to get the next book in the series to see if I get to find out more about him.

This is a long book, and in no way is it an easy read. There's a heck of a lot of angst in those pages, though it is tempered by some smokin' hot scenes. Stephens is definitely one of those writers who throws all the feels at you - she makes you feel EVERYTHING along with Kellan. And that's a whole lot of feelings. Don't go near this book if you're recovering from a recent heartbreak, you might not recover from it. I'm in a happy relationship and I had to steel my heart against this book and not let it affect my mood to much for the sake of my poor real-life boyfriend. Whether you've read Thoughtless or not, wrap a duvet around your heart and dive in - it's not always fun but it is an amazing read.

UKYA Review: Mind Games by Teri Terry

Published by: Orchard Books/Hachette Childrens
Release date: 5th March 2015
Series:  n/a
I got it from: Netgalley
Goodreads summary: 
Luna is a no-hoper with a secret: in a world of illusion, she can see what is real. But can she see the truth before it is too late?

Luna has always been able to exist in virtual and real worlds at the same time, a secret she is warned to keep. She hides her ability by being a Refuser: excluded by choice from the virtual spheres others inhabit. But when she is singled out for testing, she can’t hide any longer.

The safest thing to do would be to fail, to go back to a dead-end life, no future. But Luna is starting to hope for something better, and hope is a dangerous thing...
 
My Review:
Where to start? This is an incredible book. As always, Terry has created a world so complete that it's hard to believe it's not real. In Mind Games, it's a world of the future, where virtual reality has become the norm. Kids are taught via virtual lessons, they meet and date in virtual rooms, they spend all their free time playing in virtual worlds. Adults work in virtual offices, their bodies held in a life support system. But Luna is a Refuser. Her mother died because of the virtual world, her Nan insists she should stay away from it, and every time she tries to enter it she feels sick and disorientated. When Luna is selected for intelligence and rationality testing, with a chance to go to university and get a good job, but also a chance at being marked as irrational and put under watch for the rest of her life, she discovers that all is not as it seems in the virtual world.

That's a pretty basic premise. I could write pages of it to be honest, because Terry's world is so complex and there is so much going on. Yet despite all this, she somehow still manages to make Mind Games an easy book to read. It's just a lot more interesting and fulfilling than a lot of the fluff out there. Be ready for scientific and political questioning, in fact pretty much everything will end up in question. At the same time, Luna is a girl coming of age, dealing with a difficult family life, being persecuted for her beliefs and trying to discover who she really is. Then introduce a doctor who seems good but might be evil, a boy with a whole ton of secrets and a flirty smile, and a whole secret world. Mind Games is a brilliant read that will make you think.