The synopsis: How far would you run to find redemption?
Ro Grandee is the perfect Texas housewife. She's determined to be nothing like her long-missing mother, the one who left her with only a heap of old novels and her father's fists for company, so Ro keeps quiet and takes her husband's punches like a lady. But Ro wasn't always this way. Underneath her pastel skirts and hidden bruises lies Rose Mae Lolley, teenaged spitfire, Alabama heartbreaker, and a crack shot with a pistol. Rose Mae is resurrected when a gypsy's tarot cards foretell doom for dutiful Ro: her handsome husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.
Armed with only her wit, her pawpy's ancient .45, and her dog Fat Gretel, Rose Mae hightails it out of Texas. In a journey that is by turns harrowing and exhilarating, she uncovers long buried truths about her family and herself, running from the man who will never let her go, on a mission to find the mother who did.

About the book
Meet Jen Dik Seong — or "Dixie" as she's known to her friends. Korean American, dirt poor, and living on the ragged edge of LA's Koreatown, Dixie's only outlet is the ancient martial art of hapkido. In fact, she's on the verge of winning a championship — until she falls for fellow California surfer boy Adam and gets thrown spectacularly off her game. As she struggles to win the tournament — not to mention Adam's affections — Dixie learns that in love and in gift-giving, what goes around comes around.

My take
An instant favorite! I really loved the story and the characters in this charming graphic novel. Dixie is a strong girl but has trouble harnessing that inner strength when she is swooning over a boy. I love the way the story pans out in the end and could see this book being successfully adapted to the big screen. Read this book!

About the book
Vita is a purple-haired singing queen, and she has big dreams for her rock group, Zebrafish. But when she holds auditions for the back-up band, tryouts are sorely lacking in the musical ability department. Luckily her new bandmates—Walt, Tanya, Jay, and Plinko—have other talents. But lately Tanya has been missing a lot of rehearsals. When Vita discovers why, she realizes that the group can be about much more than one person, one band, or even one school. A concert won’t cure Tanya’s cancer or make her treatments any less painful, but, in their own way, Zebrafish can make a difference—and the tale of their unlikely success is sure to strike a chord with young readers looking to make their world a better place.

My take
I had a lot of trouble following what was going on. It skipped around constantly and didn't have a good flow to keep me interested. I stuck with it though figuring it would work its self out in the end. The message is a good one, although it could be lost on kids as the book is so hard to follow. They only touch the surface on "causes", I think it could have been expanded upon quite a bit. A so-so graphic novel for young adults. This one fell flat for me.

The synopsis: After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

My thoughts: A new supernatural young adult with a different twist? Sign me up! This was the introductory novel in a new series by Katie Crouch (author of Men and Dogs & Girls in Trucks ) and since several of my favorite chick lit authors have tossed their hats into the YA genre with fantastic results, I couldn't help but pick this one up at Borders. And it was honestly really good, there was enough held back that laid the pavement for a great series with many more stories to unfold. And that southern hot debutantes are only so perfectly coiffed and maintained because of their deal with the devil (or ancient African witchcraft)? Sign me up.

The synopsis:

Lucky runs a high profile casino and hotel complex, The Keys in Vegas.

Lennie, her movie star husband, is still writing and directing successful independent movies, while Max, her stubborn and gorgeous teenage daughter is about to celebrate her 18th birthday, and her son, Bobby, owns a string of hot clubs. Lucky has everything. Family. Love. Life.

And everything is exactly what billionaire businessman Armand Jordan is determined to take from her one way or the other.

Born a Prince in the small but affluent Middle Eastern country of Akramshar, Armand comes to America with his American mother at an early age, and rises to become a real estate business titan. Armand regards women as nothing more than breeding mares or sexual playthings, so when his people inform him that the one property he covets more than anything, The Keys, is not for sale, he is shocked. That a mere woman would dare to turn down his offer to buy The Keys is unthinkable, and Armand vows to force Lucky’s hand whatever it takes. And so the battle for power begins . . .

Meanwhile Bobby is dealing with shady Russian investors, while his girlfriend—smart and independent Denver Jones—is becoming a Deputy D.A. in the L.A. drug unit.

And Max, Bobby’s seventeen year old sister, is busy embarking on a forbidden affair with a sexy young movie star. An affair they have to keep on the down-low lest Lucky finds out.

My thoughts: I'm about a week late on this review, since the book was released last Tuesday but....Lucky's back.

Jackie Collins was my first foray into "adult" fiction, minus the Harlequin novels I'd stock up on from the library freebies section like they were candy. And Jackie Collins' novels were addicting, none moreso than those featuring Lucky Santangelo. They were mesmerizing, it was like Lori Foster had a sitdown with Mario Puzo and they decided to cowrite a novel with Jackie's sister Joan's slightly acidic Dynasty persona as inspiration. I've not read the last couple (I had no clue Poor Little Bitch Girl was a Lucky novel) but, while I enjoyed reminiscing about Lucky, the book had a feeling of just phoning it in. They mentioned Lucky's three children with Lenny, plus Lenny's that she adopted, and yet, only two of them were even mentioned by name in the book. It seemed like this could have been an arc to retire Lucky and have the new generation introduced, but....I hate the new generation. While this book was still obviously Jackie, it lacked the spark that made me go buy every single copy of Jackie Collins' novels on the shelf at my Barnes & Noble.

The wait is over! Check out the trailer for "One for the Money". I think it looks great, and I think Heigl works well for Stephanie. I will be seeing this the day it comes out!

About the book
The Squirrel Mother features 15 stories of between three and twenty-two pages in full color, including two stories, "Meow Face" and "Aide de Camp," done especially for this volume. The personal stories are each self-contained but in a sense take place in the same world where similar characters inhabit different stories. The "America" stories are broader in subject matter, taking on events of political and historical significance and wrestling with ideas having to do with the American experience.

My take
Megan Kelso has a tendency to go right over my head at times. Maybe she just outwits me! Most of the time though, I find her stories to be insightful and though provoking. This is an author that never misses a beat. She must absorb everything around her like a sponge. She shows the importance in mundane situations. She can clue a reader into a wealth of knowledge about a character in only a few pages, and minimal dialogue. I find her to be endlessly talented and will always be on the lookout for more from her. High on my list of must-reads.

My thoughts: First off, I am in love with this cover. I walked by it and grabbed this book no less than 5 times before I actually bought it. The premise and the cover remind me of The English American, which I absolutely loved. The story and characters were pretty damn likable, if a little underdeveloped for me (the sister, the best friend - I'm hoping they were purposely one dimensional so that we could be privy to their story unfolding also. I do have to say one thing irked me throughout the book, and that was the author's attempt at southern speak. One of the largest reasons I absolutely abhorred The Help was the way Stockett took it upon herself to type/speak so poorly as the maids. Though not nearly to that degree, Marinello's attempts at embracing what really can be a foreign language fell flat and took away some of the enjoyment of this novel. Would recommend to anyone who is not as uptight about such weird things, and I'd definitely read the follow ups. I just hope that Marinello drops the inflections/phrasings that are not native tongue to her.

About the book
A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

 It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

My take
Ransom Riggs (how amazing is that name?) creates a world with such detail that I felt as though I was walking alongside our main character and taking in the sights just as he was. The imagery is so vivid I won't soon forget a thing about this book. The photos are a great addition to the book, and its amazing to find out that most of them are genuine found photography. I could tell that a lot of thought went into this book and the characters within.

However I did find the characters to lack depth. We gain only superficial knowledge of them which is unfortunate. I would love to know more about their motivations, hopes and dreams in the sequel. Rigg's only scratched the surface on a mountain of insight into the lives of the peculiar children.

Also, I would like to know more about the Wights, the evil characters in the book. Why do they want more power? It seems as though they are self-destructing and on a half thought out mission. I had trouble believing thier story altogether. All of this could be worked out in the sequel though.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is brimming with mystery, suspense and excitement. A circus side show tied into the peculiar children makes it unique while time travel adds a sci-fi element into the mix. While it sounds too far fetched to be believable, it actually works magnificently.

I have seen rumors that this could be turned into a movie. I think that it would translate very well to the large screen and would surely buy a ticket!

The trailer
 

The synopsis:
When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

My thoughts: Honestly? I wanted to like this book so much, it has all of the aspects to add up to a great quick, fun read. Ghosts, mean people, rich people, struggling people, fortune tellers, psychic powers. I don't if there was too much going on, or if I just couldn't connect to the main character, but this book fell really flat for me. I may have to try again with the second book in the series because the cover is ten times better than this cover.

And the winner of our giveaway here, is Sonja M, I'll email you for your deets! And we'll have to discuss whether you know of her super secret ghost writing job (and if you'll give me that info :P )

About the book
Spunky, strong-willed, eleven-year-old Mirka Hirschberg isn’t interested in knitting lessons from her step-mother, or how-to-find-a-husband advice from her sister, or you-better-not warnings from her brother. There’s only one thing she does want: to fight dragons! Granted, no dragons have been breathing fire around Hereville, the Orthodox Jewish community where Mirka lives, but that doesn’t stop the plucky girl from honing her skills. She fearlessly stands up to local bullies. She battles a very large, very menacing pig. And she boldly accepts a challenge from a mysterious witch, a challenge that could bring Mirka her heart’s desire: a dragon-slaying sword! All she has to do is find – and outwit – the giant troll who’s got it! A delightful mix of fantasy, adventure, cultural traditions, and preteen commotion, Hereville will captivate children and grown-ups alike with its exciting visuals and entertaining new heroine.

My take
This book was really cute! There is a very fantastical fairy tale side to the book as well as a bit of a lesson in the life of an orthodox Jewish girl and her faith. Brimming with charm, this book lands high on my list of favorite graphic novels. I really liked Mirka as the lead character and found her to be a spunky little girl I could see myself being friends with. There are a few lessons hidden within this story that give it some additional depth. I want more Mirka! An absolute must read.

The synopsis: Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she’s ashamed to invite to Parents’ Weekend. With the income she’ll receive from donating her “pedigree” eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.
Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband’s salary, she thinks she’s found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.
India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decides a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.
But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus’ daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems…

My thoughts:  I picked this up on a whim back in July while I was home visiting Michigan.  Full disclosure:  I think I have a good chunk of Jennifer Weiner's catalog because my best friend adores her stuff, and she's picky to the point of obnoxiousness.  I don't think I've ever been able to grab one of her books off my shelf though, because my tbr pile just constantly gets reshuffled since I can't go a week without buying new books.  However,  I allowed myself no packed books on my trip since the point of vacation was quality time.  I lasted about two days before I picked this up at Target.  And it was heavy.  While the synopsis felt vaguely like it had been done before, I now completely understand what Amy means when she says that Jennifer's words stand alone and her talent speaks for itself.  What could have been very trite and predictable was anything but.

About the book 
If blabbing were an Olympic event, Tasha Flanigan would blab for her country. When Tasha's mom brings home a creepy boyfriend and his deadpan daughter, this dysfunctional family is headed for a complete mental meltdown. It becomes not only a battle of the blogs, but a battle to the bitter end to get the school yearbook finished in one piece -- and keep a modern family out of prison -- compliments of Tasha's blabbermouth blog.

My take
This was a cute high school themed graphic novel. I'm not all that excited about it though. About midway through the novel it appears to be taking a dark, and very serious turn that had me feeling uncomfortable. However it was a misunderstanding and it turns out to be something totally different than what we are led to believe. Parts of the writing were really awkward, but most of it rang very true for high school girls. I really liked the fact that a father daughter team worked on this novel together. That was one of the reasons I picked out this book.

About the book 
This moving, charming graphic novel about a dog and a robot shows us in poignant detail how powerful and fragile relationships are. After a Labor Day jaunt to the beach leaves the robot rusted, immobilized in the sand, the dog must return alone to the life they shared. But the memory of their friendship lingers, and as the seasons pass, the dog tries to fill the emotional void left by the loss of his closest friend, making and losing a series of friends, from a melting snowman to epicurean anteaters. But for the robot, lying rusting on the beach, the only relief from loneliness is in dreams.

My take
This grahpic novel without dialogue, manages to speak volumes in the images alone. This book is about companionship, and how fleeting friendship can be oftentimes due to circumstances beyond our control. The images are charming, the message is sweet. Absolutely pick this one up.

Book Description (per Amazon): Wicked is not just a musical, it is a phenomenon. Every week 15,000 people pack New York+s Gershwin Theatre to see the show. The most successful musical on Broadway in 2004, Wicked is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. It tells the story of Elphaba, the headstrong Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the good witch, growing up in the Land of Oz. The show has cast a spell on fans, many of whom return for second and third viewings. In 2005, the show begins an extensive tour across the United States and Canada, hitting major cities such as Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and many more.This beautifully packaged, whimsical keepsake is designed to resemble the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells that Elphaba uses in the show. Wicked: The Grimmerie offers fans a behind-the-curtains peek at the musical, profiles of the cast and creative team, and inside stories, with full-color photographs throughout. Some of the irresistible special features include an -Ozian+ glossary, spells, an illustrated family tree, and a step-by-step look at how Elphaba gets green before each show-everything fans need to relive the Broadway experience day after day.

My thoughts:  I've been hitting a lot of national tours of Broadway at the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap lately to try to enrich myself/broaden my horizons (and because what girl wouldn't love to go see a musical on or off Broadway??), and I love hitting the gift store and grabbing the companion books.  Far and away, my favorite play thus far has been Wicked, and the companion is equally as fun to delve into.  Secrets of the Elphabas, Glindas, the dancers and costumers abound, and each time I crack open the book again, I feel that little giddy realization that I saw Wicked, live and I hear the musical numbers and enjoy  it all over.

About the book 
The second volume of the critically acclaimed series finds a group of high school girls each named Jane, who are anything but ordinary, playing cupid. Plus P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods) goes global once the girl gang procures a spot in Metro City Museum of Modern Art contest.

My take
I honestly could see this series continuing on, but sadly it has not. We find out a lot more about the Janes and the men in their lives in this book. I loved learning more about Miroslav, a mysterious man that Jane saved during a city bombing event that resulted in her family moving to the burbs. Don't mistake the pink floral cover for a fluff novel, this series has depth.

About the book
When transfer student Jane is forced to move from the confines of Metro City to Suburbia, she thinks her life is over. But there in the lunch room at the reject table she finds her tribe: three other girls named Jane. Main Jane encourages them to form a secret art gang and paint the town P.L.A.I.N. -- People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the hell that is high school?

My Take
This was a really cute graphic novel that I enjoyed from start to finish. By the end I was tempted to go out and create my own public display of art, I guess blogging will have to suffice for now. I really like the characters in the book. The lead Jane has clear motivations for her actions and great depth of character. I sympathized with her on her first day at a new school, and when she was trying to find a way to fit in without being a sheep. Excellent read, too bad the series didn't continue beyond two books!

The synopsis:
Set behind the scenes of America's most popular guilty pleasure—reality TV—Reality Jane delivers a high-spirited, delicious tale of finding love and a career in Hollywood while juggling lipo envy, singlehood angst, and the resounding results of success.
Reality Jane follows Jane Kaufman, a Canadian journalist who, because of a lucky connection, finds herself in LA as a producer on a hot new reality show. Mingling with rock stars, attending Grammy parties, and visiting the Sex Kitten Mansion, Jane sees her new career as a one-way ticket to the big-time! But for a small-town girl thrust into the cutthroat Hollywood scene, ninety-hour work weeks, heartless bosses, and superficial womanizers are a rude awakening.
Just when her love life seems at its bleakest, along come not one but two guys vying for her heart: hunky Alex, a hot up-and-coming reality show host, and Grant, a sweet, sincere cameraman who's unfazed by Hollywood fame. With a sizzling sex life on the horizon, and maybe even true love, Jane's fondest hopes seem en-route to full realization when she lands the cherry gig of all time: a producer's post on TV's hottest new self-help talk show.
But the deeper Jane ventures into reality TV, the more completely un-real her life-personal and professional-becomes. And the realities of life behind-the-scenes-like goading people to confess their deepest, darkest secrets on cue-are chipping away at her very soul.

My thoughts: One of my favorite "insider " novels (sidebar: is there a better name for these, because there should be) was Chore Whore - Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant. Back in the fledgling days of chick lit, stories like The Devil Wears Prada, the Nanny Diaries, and The Second Assistant were garnering buzz and let's face it: offering those of us who are obsessed with Hollywood's in and outs a vicarious glimpse. And now, for me at least, the love of the sitcom has waned (Modern Family notwithstanding) while reality TV has spiked in popularity (I cannot give up Real Housewives of Beverly Hills/New Jersey), and so I was intrigued when Bancroft Press offered me an ARC of Reality Jane, written not by an assistant, but by reality TV producer Shannon Nering who's worked on not only reality TV, but on Bravo reality TV (which is kind of demigod status to me, to be perfectly frank). And I know Shannon Nering wrote this as fiction, but the whole time, I read it as a quick memoir, and tried to figure out who was who (and nobody will ever convince me that Ricky Dean is not Dr. Phil in disguise). If you are a fan of reality TV, or were a fan of the books that offered us glimpses inside that world in the early chick lit days, I think you'll enjoy this tale of slaving away with a smile filming people who think their 15 minutes of fame give them A list status, and treat all those around them......well, similarly to how Kate Gosselin treats everybody (kids included) who comes into contact with her, minus her bodyguard of course.
(Could I have used any more parentheticals?)

The synopsis:

From the author of THIN IS THE NEW HAPPY comes a hilarious new memoir about embracing your Inner Hater. In the midst of a health and career crisis, Valerie uncorks years of pent up rage, and discovers you don't have to be happy to be happy. You don’t have to love everyone else to like yourself. And that your Bitchy Twin might just be your funniest, most valuable and honest ally.
“The hate in you has got to come out.” After being advised to reduce stress by her doctor, humorist Valerie Frankel realized the biggest source of pressure in her life was maintaining an unflappable easing-going persona. After years of glossing over the negative, Frankel goes on a mission of emotional honesty, vowing to let herself feel and express all the toxic emotions she’d long suppressed or denied: jealousy, rage, greed, envy, impatience, regret. Frankel reveals her personal History of Hate, from mean girls in junior high, selfish boyfriends in her twenties and old professional rivals. Hate stomps through her current life, too, with snobby neighbors, rude cell phone talkers, scary doctors and helicopter moms. Regarding her husband, she asks, “How Do I Hate You? Let Me Count the Ways.” (FYI: There are three.) By the end of her authentic emotional experience, Frankel concludes that toxic emotions are actually good for you. The positive thinkers, aka, The Secret crowd, have it backwards. Trying to ward off negativity was what’d been causing Frankel’s career stagnation, as well as her health and personal problems. With the guidance of celebrity friends like Joan Rivers and psychic Mary T. Browne, Frankel now uses anger, jealousy and impatience as tools to be a better, balanced and deeper person. IT'S HARD NOT TO HATE YOU sends the message that there are no wrong emotions, only wrong ways of dealing with them.


My thoughts: I love Valerie Frankel. Seriously, love. I know that I have a lot of favorite authors, but none have consistently made me laugh as loudly, as often, and as much as Valerie did when I first dipped my toes in the chick lit pool. I would give anything to know which novelist duo she was the ghost writer for a while back, and I might even read a Snooki book for her. If I see her name anywhere on the cover of a book, be it hers or a blurb from her recommending it, I'm grabbing the book. Obsessed? Yeah, probably. Her mind is that damn intriguing. And the backstory on this memoir in particular is interesting enough that I would have skimmed it whether or not Valerie was involved. But the fact that it was hers upped my interest exponentially. And I enjoyed it quite a bit, with the exception of a couple things. 1) I hate her neighborhood bully. A lot. I hope she realizes at some point that she is in this book and is a horrible person. 2) Ms. Frankel (although the likelihood that you will ever see this is about .000000012%, you mentioned in this book (and I'm not even attempting to be verbatim so apologies if it seems piecemealed), that you were one of the forgotten chick lit authors. I'm just one person, but there has not been a time since I read Smart vs. Pretty (and I do believe that was my first chick lit book, officially), that when I'm browsing the fiction shelves, I don't wander over to the F section and hope there's been another book by you. I Take This Man, and Hex and the Single Girl are still in heavy heavy rotation on my bookshelves. I'm eagerly awaiting much more from you.


And now, the publisher was kind enough to send me two advanced copies of It's Hard Not to Hate You, so if you'd like the second copy, respond below and tell me your favorite Valerie Frankel book. Winner will be chosen on the 20th.

About the book
My perfect life was a lie.

Now I’d do anything to uncover the truth.

Not long ago, I had everything a girl could wish for: amazing friends, an adorable boyfriend, a loving family. But none of them know that I’m gone—that I’m dead. To solve my murder, my long-lost twin sister, Emma, has taken my place. She sleeps in my room, wears my clothes, and calls my parents Mom and Dad.
And my killer is watching her every move.

I remember little from my life, just flashes and flickers, so all I can do is follow along as Emma tries to solve the mystery of my disappearance. But the deeper she digs, the more suspects she uncovers. It turns out my friends and I played a lot of games—games that ruined people’s lives. Anyone could want revenge . . . anyone could want me—and now Emma—dead.

My take
A really quick read, this book clocks in at about 200 pages. Packed with mystery and a bit of suspense this book was a page turner till the ending cliffhanger. The author lets the clues trickle out slowly, and just when you think you have it figured out there is a monkeywrench! We learn a bit more about Suttons friends, and their home lives which gives us more insight into the lying game club. This is a really interesting series and the show on ABC Family is excellent also.

About the book
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.

My take
I really loved Paranormalcy and the twist of humor thrown into the book gave it originality, so I had high hopes for Supernaturally. I was not disappointed. Supernaturally was a great follow up, and a perfect addition to the series. There humor is woven thoughtfully throughout the novel keeping it somewhat light. However there is enough suspense to keep you flipping pages late into the night. We get to know more about Evie and her past, as well as see how she is getting on in the real world. I would like to see more character development in Lend, he almost seemed to be an afterthought, thrown in when needed. One of the main mysteries in the book is left unresolved so I hope that is revisited in the future novels. Overall an excellent pick.

The synopsis:When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

My thoughts:Honestly? I put this book down every time I picked it up. There was a lot of grossness in it that made me want to just give up on it. But I love the play so much that I wanted to power through. And, take away the fantastickal aspects and the gross sex scenes and read just a bit at a time, I really saw and appreciated the elements that brought it to the attention of Broadway producers. Still,I won't be rushing to read the rest in the series anytime soon.

The synopsis: Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.


My thoughts: Hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing throughout. Since everywhere I've looked for a more thorough synopsis has only what's above, I'm going to keep my thoughts as short. If you're a fan of satire, grab this and enjoy.

The synopsis:After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is "like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair," has never minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him:

"That woman was sexy. . . . Out of your league? Son, let women figure out why they won't screw you. Don't do it for them."

"Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled on their heads and started fucking."

"The worst thing you can be is a liar. . . . Okay, fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but then number two is liar. Nazi one, liar two."

And some more info: Almost two million people now follow Mr. Halpern's philosophical musings on Twitter, and in this book, his son weaves a brilliantly funny, touching coming-of-age memoir around the best of his quotes. An all-American story that unfolds on the Little League field, in Denny's, during excruciating family road trips, and, most frequently, in the Halperns' kitchen over bowls of Grape-Nuts, Sh*t My Dad Says is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father-son relationship from a major new comic voice.

My thoughts: OHMYGOD. I actually bought and read this book within two hours back before Father's Day, and have read it several times since. Immediately after reading it, I went back and bought 3 more copies - one for my boss for his birthday (irreverent? sure, but too good not to be shared), one for my dad, and another for another boss. Boss # 1 actually went and bought copies for his dad and his brothers and gave his 13 year old son his copy to read. There are some books that are bawdy just for the sake of being bawdy, but this collection of essays just works completely. Make no mistake, it's ribald and completely off color, but the point isn't to shock, it's to make laugh and Halpern hits the mark completely.

The synopsis:

Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .

When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.

My thoughts: This seems to be a common theme among books since the recession hit and hit hard. And honestly? I can't get enough of the reverse - riches to rags. Seeing the fictional people come to terms with being a normal person and learn their sense of entitlement is overblown and outrageous just intrigues me. Some books hit the mark, and others just feel like they're trying to cash in on the trend. Where I Belong hit the mark, and was probably my favorite after The Book of Tomorrow. Heasley hit the emotions and the personalities in the most believable way.

About the book
One hour to rewrite the past . . . For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

My take
A new take on paranormal young adult fiction, Hourglass kept me interested. The novel ends with a few questions unanswered, but not so many that I felt frustrated. I found the premise to be inventive and well thought out. The pacing was spot on and propelled me through the book at an enjoyable speed. I really liked the characters the author created, but I do wish I could have gotten to know them beyond a superficial level. I will have my eyes peeled for the next installment in this series.

The synopsis: If You Were Here follows Amish-zombie-teen- romance author Mia and her husband Mac (and their pets) through the alternately frustrating, exciting, terrifying-but always funny-process of buying and renovating their first home in the Chicago suburbs that John hughes's movies made famous. Along their harrowing renovation journey, Mia and Mac get caught up in various wars with the homeowners' association, meet some less-than-friendly neighbors, and are joined by a hilarious cast of supporting characters, including a celebutard ex- landlady. As they struggle to adapt to their new surroundings- with Mac taking on the renovations himself- Mia and Mac will discover if their marriage is strong enough to survive months of DIY renovations.

My thoughts: Jen's first novel, ZGFJSL, I was so super stoked to grab it. She and Laurie Notaro are two of my favorite memoir writers, and Notaro's novels have both been solid gold awesome reads. It's going to be harder for me to read Jen's stories as not Jen apparently, because I totally read Mia as Jen (which is sort of fair, because she said it's based on her and a what if we had done this). Honestly, I don't think I could ever get sick of reading about Jen, as Jen or as Mia. She's hilarious, and as quick witted and sharp tongued as she can be, she's nice. I love reading her books, I love watching her youtube clips, I can't wait for more of her Barbie twilight vignettes, I love her dazed twitter posts, and I love catching her on her book tours, and I loved this book. She's got a sparkling personality, and engaging wit that transcends all social media and makes her a must read/see/watch. Basically, she's my John Hughes (and I mean that in the non stalkiest way possible, promise).