Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

(4/5 stars)

I can tell you the very first time I realized I wanted to read this book. I was sitting in my Writing the Short Story class, fall semester of my junior year, and my professor had us reading the first chapters of books that were really successful. Two things about this book stood out to me right away and made me want to pick this book up: 1. Marissa Meyer wrote Cinder during NaNoWriMo and 2. Cyborg Cinderella. The second I read the first chapter, I was hooked... too bad it took me forever to actually get to the rest of it!

What I liked: Did I mention Cyborg Cinderella? Because it's probably the best thing ever. The world building is excellent, and the character interactions are extremely well done. Meyer does a great job at showing what it's like to feel so different from everyone else. Cinder is a cyborg in a world of humans who look down on other android-like forms. Not to mention there's a deadly plague infecting the world and Cinder is immune. The Sci-Fi feel in this book is awesome, and it really has all the aspects you can want in a Sci-Fi YA novel: hover cars, cyborgs/androids, plagues, moon people, etc. Overall, I'm really excited for the whole story arch as I continue to read this series. The first book was a good introduction, but I'm very much looking forward to what's going to happen next.

What I didn't like: To be completely honest, this book was a bit predictable. Like the second something was revealed (I don't want to spoil anything so I'm going to be vaguely tip-toeing) I knew immediately what it meant for the characters and how it was going to affect the plot. So that was disappointing. I just hope the other two books don't do that...

Regardless, I am definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next two books and you can bet that I'll be reading those as soon as I can get my hands on them!

-Annie

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, by Morgan Matson

(4/5 stars)

After reading this book, all I want to do is throw my things in a suitcase and go on an impromptu road trip across America. Anyone care to join? A big thank you to Lisa for the recommendation! 

What I liked: I really liked how fun this book was to read, and how I felt like I was on the adventure with Amy and Roger. I found myself relating to their trip a lot, especially since I had been to a lot of the places they visited. I couldn't help but smile when Amy described the beauty of Kentucky (one of the places I've lived) and it made me miss it so much. I also enjoyed seeing them eat their first meals at places like Sonic and Chick-fil-A -- I tend to forget how much of a Southern thing those places are. The relationship between Amy and Roger was organic and not forced at all, which I appreciated in a contemporary story like this one. They were friends first, and it casually grew into something more. The story also handled the concept of loss well- Amy's dad had just died a couple months before the story starts. The emotions were very real and raw. Her dad also reminded me a lot of  how my dad is (Elvis loving, obsessed with cutting his front lawn, etc) so maybe that's also part of why I was able to connect to those feelings- that relationship was very real as well.

What I didn't like: As much as I loved Roger, I was so completely over his wallowing for his ex-girlfriend. Dude, it's over, let it be done. But no, he had to drive to her house, after she had ignored all his calls, to confront her. That was dumb and annoying. But I guess it all led to good things regardless, so I can't be too mad.

I definitely enjoyed this book, and recommend it to fans of contemporary. It kind of goes into that category of "issue contemporary" (like TFIOS and Eleanor & Park), and even though I don't gravitate towards that genre first, I had a good time reading Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and had a crazy hard time putting it down!

-Annie

Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys

(3/5 stars)

I always love reading a good historical book, and this one had a special place in my heart because I bought it when I was in New Orleans (the books takes place in NOLA). It promised murder, scandal (the main character's mother is a prostitute), adventure, and all the magic of New Orleans in the 1950s. Out of the Easy was a fun, light read, but I really expected more of it.

What I liked: The setting is perfect. Sepetys captures the sights and sounds of New Orleans like no other, though I might be biased after my recent trip. But to me, it was so cool reading lines like "pulled to a stop on Conti Street" (where I stayed) and "down for the Sugar Bowl" (why I was there), though the visuals Sepetys painted were so well done I could have imagined it regardless. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters that showed up throughout the book. They were energetic and individualistic, and just plain fun. Unless you count the bad guys, who were, you know, bad. I loved Josie's motivation in the story, she was determined and stubborn which I always appreciate from a protagonist. But I have to be honest and say that my favorite characters were the ones that hardly had any time on the page- people like Charlotte and Cokie.

What I didn't like: That leads me to my feelings of Josie. She was straight up annoying at times, and, she was being too stubborn and wouldn't let anyone help her. There was a whole slew of people who cared for that girl, and I feel like she took them for granted. She continued to let her past define her, and wouldn't own up to it and let it mold her. I also didn't like how little the murder was in the plot. I was so excited to read about a murder in the French Quarter because it had so much potential- historical mystery, heck yes! But the murder took a back seat and it didn't even feel like a big deal. Disappointment. I wanted to know more about Cincinnati and his boss (who was mentioned a lot but never made an appearance- weird since he was like a super big deal, it could have added to the story).  And I would have liked to see Josie investigate more since she had such a stake in the murder or whatever.

I promise you, I did enjoy this book. It was just hard to like it so much or even love it when I had higher hopes. It's a fun read, and I didn't ever want to put it down- it definitely had me hooked. There were also some great lines in the book that made me stop and think and feel. If historical fiction is your genre, then I definitely recommend it!

-Annie

Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan

(4.5/5 stars)

Not going to lie, when I picked up this book I was hesitant. This was the last John Green book that I hadn't read yet and I've been very split on his books. I loved TFIOS and Looking for Alaska, but I wasn't a super big fan of the others. But people said it was good, and Good Reads said it was good, so I kept my fingers crossed and dove right in. Now I want to hit myself with the book for being hesitant at all. Will Grayson, Will Grayson was fun and funny and made me cry at the end out of happiness! 

What I liked: Both Will Graysons were so unique, each with their own set of problems that didn't completely intertwine, with the exception of their relationships with Tiny Cooper. They were equally laugh-out-loud funny in their own way, and had the right amount of teen angst that fit their personalities. I also think the way they handled sexuality was done quite well. Green and Levithan didn't walk on eggshells, instead they treated it like any other situation. The sky is blue, the grass is green, Tiny Cooper and one of the Will Graysons is gay. It is what it is. I'd like to send a round of applause to Green and Levithan for the way they wrote such good, supportive parents. That's not something super common in YA fiction. Usually the parents aren't involved in stories, and if they are, they're kinda lame and sucky. But not these parents. Anne Grayson is awesome! She doesn't blink an eye when her son comes out, and is nothing but supportive there after. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson are good people that are always willing to help their son. 

The writing in this book is spectacular and the voices of the characters are spot-on. Yeah, Tiny got to be annoying at some times, but you still gotta love him and his determination to find love. That's what the book is all about, finding appreciation and acceptance.The final scene had me with a big smile on my face and tears forming in my eyes. It's a feel good book, and I couldn't ask for anything more!

What I didn't like: Sometimes, I got frustrated by the relationship between Tiny and Will (o.w.g.) because it seemed like 1) Tiny had no stake in the friendship and used Will as a convenience and 2) Will was way too passive about how he felt about their rocky friendship at points. I know his rules are to shut up and not care, but sometime you have to care and speak up (which he does eventually). I also didn't really understand why the other other Will Grayson had to apologize to Maura. Like, she was really crappy to him (times, um, a million) and I don't think he owed her anything. I get that it was for closure, but still, not every broken relationship brings closure. 

Now that I've finished reading all of John Green's books, I'm going to patiently twiddle my thumbs and pray for a new one. I'm also going to move on and read some more David Levithan because I really like his writing style! I'm so glad these authors teamed up and produced such a great book, it was such a joy to read! Oh, and DFTBA :)

-Annie