Review | Diary of a Haunting by M. Verano

Title: Diary of a Haunting by M. Verano
Series: Diary of a Haunting #1
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: August 25, 2015 by Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★

Synopsis: When Paige moves from LA to Idaho with her mom and little brother after her parents’ high-profile divorce, she expects to completely hate her new life, and the small town doesn’t disappoint. Worse yet, the drafty old mansion they’ve rented is infested with flies, spiders, and other pests Paige doesn’t want to think about.

She chalks it up to her rural surroundings, but it’s harder to ignore the strange things happening around the house, from one can of ravioli becoming a dozen, to unreadable words appearing in the walls. Soon Paige’s little brother begins roaming the house at all hours of the night, and there’s something not right about the downstairs neighbor, who knows a lot more than he’s letting on.

Things only get creepier when she learns about the sinister cult that conducted experimental rituals in the house almost a hundred years earlier.
The more Paige investigates, and the deeper she digs, the clearer it all becomes: whatever is in the house, whatever is causing all the strange occurrences, has no intention of backing down without a fight.

Found in the aftermath, Diary of a Haunting collects the journal entries, letters, and photographs Paige left behind.

Thoughts: The idea of Diary of a Haunting creeps me out. Writing this review is kind of creeping me out, in all honesty. I couldn't read this book at night, because like with a scary movie, it would freak me out to try and go to sleep afterwards. The thing is, not much happens in the book.

Paige, the MC, moves into a creepy house with her mom and brother, and she notices some weird things. They can be brushed off as paranoia or her imagination, and since we are reading from a diary format, not much is explained which didn't work out that great for the story in some cases. The sense of dread scared me most, thinking that something really creepy was going to happen made it worse. Nothing really creepy happens, and then the ending was terrible.

I didn't give it a higher rating because the conclusion was both really weird and felt really rushed. It was like someone completely different wrote the ending and it just did not work out well. I don't want to spoil anything but the ending is probably complained about the most on Goodreads (seriously, go check it out.) But speaking of authors, I can't seem to find a picture of the author, or much of anything else. That probably creeped me out the most.

Review | When by Victoria Laurie

Title: When by Victoria Laurie
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: January 13, 2015 by Disney-Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis:  Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father’s premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually death dates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one.

Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching death date of one client's young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not the how, she’s unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie.

Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie's whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it's too late?

Thoughts: I was really intrigued by When because it reminded me of a book I read years ago, Numbers. I didn't wait long before picking it up and read it rather quickly. Unfortunately this didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Maddie is more of a serious character, mature for a teenage girl, since she's dealing with issues in her home life. I definitely liked her, and I also enjoyed the idea that she could see people's death dates. The story itself though, was pretty unrealistic (besides the whole death-day-seeing thing) and also felt really predictable. I realized I knew what was going to happen next in every plot twist, and that made me just want to finish it off quickly.

It was still an entertaining read, but there wasn't much to the story that came as a surprise or felt that classified it as a "thriller" per se. Maybe it just wasn't for me. Overall though, it was an okay read, but my favorite part of it is definitely the cover.

Review | You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Leviathan

Title: You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Leviathan
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: June 7, 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis:  Who knows you well? Your best friend? Your boyfriend or girlfriend? A stranger you meet on a crazy night? No one, really?

Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.

That is, until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way.

When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other—and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

Told in alternating points of view by Nina LaCour and David Levithan, You Know Me Well is a story about navigating the joys and heartaches of first love, one truth at a time.

Thoughts: You Know Me Well was one of the first books I've read that fall into the #OwnVoices category and the LGBT genre. But it was sort of a let down. The story was interesting, and it was told in a dual POV but I had a hard time connecting with Kate. I did like Mark, and wanted him to be happy, but also wanted him to stop pining over his best friend.

I got through the story really quickly because it was such a short book, told in about a night(ish) so it also felt like it needed a bit more. I still liked the book but wasn't all that impressed overall.

Review | Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Title: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Series: N/A
Genre: Graphic Novels - Young Adult
Publication: May 12, 2015 by Harper Collins
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

Thoughts: This was such a fun read! I definitely had to start there. I saw Nimona every where on Booktube and I really wanted to read a graphic novel that wasn't part of a series (cause those are usually super long) so Nimona was the perfect choice. And it was so great!

The characters are lovable, the story is fun and captivating, and there is humor but also some heartfelt moments that made this one of my favorite graphic novels ever! The art is so awesome too, it definitely made me want to read more of Stevenson's work.

I highly recommend Nimona to everyone, especially to anyone who has wanted to start reading graphic novels but has never dared to give them a chance. This is definitely a perfect place to start.

Review | Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: December 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line? 

Thoughts: I was honestly surprised by Catching Jordan because I did not really know what to expect. Jordan is a star football player and captain of her team. Yep, her team. She's a tomboy and the guys consider her one of them, which is fine by her until she develops a crush on the new guy and then things start to change a bit.

I loved her and wanted to be her friend. She's lovable and sweet, but also kick ass and a great team captain. She's definitely relateable as a teenage girl though, learning how to handle a first relationship, not seeing the obvious, and a great friend to all her teammates.

The romance is important part of the story, but so are the friendship among these characters. The family doesn't fade into the background either, since Jordan's family is definitely involved in her sports and other aspects of her life. And while this book does talk a lot about sports, its definitely readable for those of us out there who have never watched a football game in our lives (that's me!)

Catching Jordan is part of a series of companion novels, but can be read as a stand alone and is definitely a great pick for the summer (even if it takes place during the school year.) It's a laugh out loud romantic/friendship comedy that I was able to get through really quickly. I definitely recommend it for YA readers out there.

Review | The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Title: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: May 3, 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that?

Thoughts: This one was definitely my "perfect summer read" because it had everything I wanted: summer break, friendship, family, romance, parties, scavenger hunts, pizza, and summer jobs that included lots of dogs. This was my first Morgan Matson book and I must say, I was not disappointed.

Andie does have it all planned out, but life happens, and she has to change her plans last minute and that's when the story really begins.

The book is lengthy, and the writing takes its time to develop the characters and introduce characters, but I loved this about it. It felt like a real summer, which has long days and short nights, which feels like it will drag on forever until it's only a couple weeks from ending, and then sort of speeds up so quickly you almost want to cry cause it's over.

This book felt exactly like that, and while there were some slower parts in the story, I enjoyed it thoroughly and devoured this book in a couple days.

I loved the characters, each unique and they had an amazing friendship. I loved the romance that developed slowly but was fun and passionate, the way many teenage/new adult romances usually are not. I loved the strain in the family, because there was opportunities to change, grow, and develop.

The Unexpected Everything is definitely a great summer read that I recommend everyone who enjoys YA to pick up.

Review | Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Chairapotra & Dhonielle Clayton

Title: Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton
Series: Tiny Pretty Things #1
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: May 26, 2015 by HarperTeen
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette's desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.

Thoughts: I really had no idea what this book was really about, because I usually borrow audio books from the library by how familiar or interesting the cover looks to me, but I am glad I picked this one up. I've seen Tiny Pretty Things described as Pretty Little Liars meets Black Swan and that is pretty accurate. Following the point of view of three very talented, and very competitive ballerinas, we are introduced to Gigi, Bette, and June and their world where they attend a very prestigious ballet school and compete for the most coveted roles. 

Gigi is the new girl who lands the lead role in the Nutcracker; Bette has been the best for years, trying to be as great as her sister was; June works hard at perfecting her dancing but has yet to land a leading role, so her mother threatens to take her out of the school. Each of the girls has a secret, as well, but they are willing to go to great lengths to keep those secrets safe, while struggling to be the best ballerina in the school. Not only do they compete in their dancing roles, but they also have personal conflicts that make their issues more difficult. These girls could be pretty awful to each other, but the mystery on who was doing some of these things kept me very interested in the story.

I am glad I grabbed an audiobook copy of this instead of reading the book, because the story was told in alternative point of views, but it also helped emphasize the diversity of the girls. Gigi is black, Bette is white, and June is half-Korean, so the different narrators made it easier for me to know who's POV we were following, and made each character more unique. 

The story does end in a bit of a cliffhanger, so I was left feeling surprised. The sequel was recently released and I am definitely looking forward to diving into this story again soon. 

Life Update | Wrap Up of Sorts + Currently Reading

Life Update:  

It's been a long time since I've tried to keep this blog consistently active. It was difficult because of school + work, lack of reading or motivation to read, creating a YouTube channel and keeping that updates, and other life stuff. But regardless of all the changes in my life, and my transition to a more popular way of talking about books on social media, my blog will always be my favorite form of expressing myself when it comes to books.

Earlier this year, I made an attempt to post more often by cleaning up and transitioning my blog back to Blogger. I am still trying to clean it up, but I have a lot of posts to go through and it's just a work in progress. Then, I tried writing up reviews and I realized I haven't reviewed any of the books I've read in the past year. So that left me feeling a little unmotivated. When I finally graduated college, I expected to have a little more time on my hands while I transitioned jobs, but I had some family stuff which sort of put everything on hold for a couple weeks. Then I had about a week of self-care and relaxation before a mini-vacation and then getting my butt back into gear.

And now here I am.

With all that, I've thought about what to do with this blog, and how to get back into the whole blogging thing. I decided that I want to start off with a quick wrap up of what's been going on, what I've been reading (it hasn't been much) and where I plan to pick up and move forward with. I've noticed that checking out other blogs and seeing how consistently they post, or what they post, encourages me to get really back into this.

Reading:

Like I said, I haven't been reading much but every little bit counts so here's what my year to date looks like

• Books Read: 12
• Books DNF'd: ≈ 6
• Favorite Book (so far): The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
• Books Reviewed: 0

There hasn't been much of anything, but on my YT channel I have uploaded 23 videos so there is that. But again, I feel the need to update my blog and keep it active. Let's see how well I can do this time. 

Currently Reading: 

I'm currently reading a few books and I also have a summer TBR that I want to follow in hopes that I will read more this summer. I've been attempting to finish the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series since I am obsessed with Game of Thrones but that hasn't been going great. I started A Darker Shade of Magic but that's also something I might have to put on hold right now. I decided to re-read and continue the Boys Over Flowers manga because I really did enjoy it when I was reading it a few years back. I've read one book of my summer TBR so far, and might start another one soon but that's all I am currently reading.

Blogging:

I haven't made time to blog to be honest and I really want to. I have started by catching up on reviews and since I read pretty slow, I am sure I can be up to date really soon if I actually try. Which I am, since that's the whole point of this post. I want to write all the reviews on the books I've read so far, post a monthly wrap up towards the end of the month, and also update the look of my blog. Definitely plenty to work on and I do have time to right now, I just normally don't. I also want to read more, of course, because I haven't read much and I miss it. That is all.