Book review: “Rarity” by D.A.Roach

Title: Rarity
Author: D.A.Roach
Genre: Romance / Young Adult / Contemporary
Series: –
Publicated: June 5th, 2015 by Limitless Publishing
Pages: 180 (Paperback)
Book: Provided by the author
My rating: 7/10
Reading time: 2016 June 14 – July 6

SYNOPSIS:
Brogen Mathers can’t deal with teen drama… As an empath, she is constantly bombarded with other people’s energies. Despite coping techniques taught by her psychologist mother, it’s often too much to bear, forcing her to avoid most activities a typical high school junior would enjoy. Jay Wilken won’t let his past define him… A dead mother and an alcoholic father brought Jay to Stanton, but he doesn’t want pity. His good looks, charisma, and friendly nature quickly win over the whole student body, but he has his eye on one girl…Brogen. Brogen can’t believe anyone could be so genuinely nice. It has to be an act, right? But when Jay literally saves her from deadly jaws, she has to admit he’s exactly what he appears, and he’s worth risking the potential emotional upheaval. “Drama” might as well be Becca Grant’s middle name… Another newcomer to Stanton, Becca’s blonde beauty and abundant attitude shoots her straight to the top of the popularity charts—and she believes Jay belongs right there beside her. Accustomed to getting exactly what she wants, she launches a relentless mean-girl campaign to shake up Brogen and claim Jay for her own. Everything changes with a devastating diagnosis… When Jay learns he has a rare and potentially fatal disorder, he keeps it secret and begins to push Brogen away to spare her future pain—which is exactly the sort of opening Becca is waiting for. As Jay’s well-meaning deception unravels, Brogen realizes there is much more than her heart at stake… But how far is she willing to go to fight for someone she loves?

Book Review: “Love story” by Jennifer Echols

Title: Love story
Author: Jennifer Echols
Genre: Romance / New Adult / Contemporary
Series: –
Publicated: July 19th, 2011
Pages: 243 (Paperback)
Publisher: MTV Books
Book: Library book
My rating: 3/10
Reading time: 2016 April 29 – May 09

SYNOPSIS:
*spoilers alert*

She’s writing about him. He’s writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines…

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions–it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter. . . . except this story could come true.

Book Review: “The Future of Us” by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Title: The Future of Us
Author: Jay Asher ; Carolyn Mackler
Genre: Young Adult / Romance / Science Fiction / Contemporary
Series: –
Publicated: November 21st, 2011
Pages: 356 (Hardback)
Publisher: Razorbill
Book: Library book
My rating: 9/10
Reading time: 2016 April 21 (per one day)
ISBN13: 9781595144911

SYNOPSIS:
It’s 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They’ve been best friends almost as long—at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh’s family gets a free AOL CD in the mail, his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they’re automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn’t been invented yet. And they’re looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they’re forced to confront what they’re doing right—and wrong—in the present.

Book Review: “Our Demons, Best Friends” by Diana T. Scott

Title: Our Demons, Best Friends
Author: Diana T. Scott
Genre: New Adult / Romance
Series: Half of me, #1
Publicated: May 10th, 2015
Pages: 326 (Paperback)
Publisher:
Book: Provided by author in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 8/10
Reading time: 2016 March 21 – April 3

SYNOPSIS:
Ava and Sebastian are two medical residents who in a perfect world, would really like each other. But both of them are closely watched by their demons. Their baggage is not light – Ava has hers carefully folded in vacuum bags to occupy as little room as possible; Sebastian wears his like a lead armor that makes him slouch sometimes. They like each other, but how are their demons going to get along?

Book Review: “Solitaire” by Alice Oseman

Title: Solitaire
Author: Alice Oseman
Genre: YA / Contemporary
Series: –
Publicated: July 31st, 2014
Pages: 368 (US version)
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books
Book: Library book
My rating: 5/10
Reading time: 2016 March 4-13

SYNOPSIS:
In case you’re wondering, this is not a love story.
My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that’s all over now.
Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden.
I don’t know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don’t care about Michael Holden.
I really don’t.
This incredible debut novel by outstanding young author Alice Oseman is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and all unflinchingly honest writers.

Book Review: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han

Original cover

Title: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (#1)
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: YA / Contemporary / Romance
Series: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Publicated: April 15, 2014
Pages: 368 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Book: Library book
My rating: 9/10

SYNOPSIS:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Book Review: “Emotions” by Arnulfo Contarero

Cover illustrator Kiyomi Sakamoto

Title: Emotions
Author: Arnulfo Contarero
Genre: Science Fiction
Publicated: May 15, 2013
Pages: 347
Publisher:
Book: Provided by author in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 7/10

SYNOPSIS:
Jason Ariaz is not your average 22 year old. He has been genetically and cybernatically enhanced but that’s only the beginning. He is an emotionless extraterrestrial born to human parents and living amongst us. Both him and his implanted thinking computer were damaged on landing and must go through life as less than what they really are. The purpose of their mission: to gain permanent emotions from the more primitive society that is Earth. If he is successful, he will be the first of his species to do so in nearly 200,000 years.
Hope lies in the fact that he is capable of emotional episodes and he has been able to forge true friendships. However, he does have the chance of completing his mission if he can truly care for Ariel, the closest human in his life. But he better know his heart soon. Their lives are in danger of ending tonight, unless he can recover what his species has lost.

Book Review: “Supernaturally” by Kiersten White

Original book cover

Title: Supernaturally (#2)
Author: Kiersten White
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal / Fantasy
Series: Paranormalcy Trilogy
Publicated: July 26, 2011
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Book: Library book
My rating: 6/10

SYNOPSIS:
Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be…kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.