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My Life Next Door
Synopsis: The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.
As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.
Review: Love and Other Perishable Items took me over a month to read. It was about 150-200 pages. My Life Next Door was just under 400 pages and took me two days to read. If you want the definition of Page Turner, you've found it. This is one of the best books I've read in a while. When I read the back cover, it sounded like a cliche summer romance novel. But it was so much more. I felt like I was the heroine Samantha at times, and this book gave me butterflies, left me smiling for hours after I've put the book down, and made me fall in love with Jase. The characters are original, and have little quirks that give them depth.
I know I'm not the only girl ever who's wanted a cute boy neighbor next door who will show up at my window one night. If you want to read this book (which I HIGHLY recommend you do) then set aside a day and make NO plans and just plow through this piece of LITERATURE. I can't put into words how this book will make you feel. Read it and find out.
Love and Other Perishable Items
Synopsis:Gr 9-11-Sensitive and intelligent Amelia Hayes, 15, takes an after-school job at a local supermarket, and the minute she meets university student Chris, who trains her to work the checkout, she's a goner. Alas, it's a mostly one-sided infatuation. Amelia wants romance with the charming 21-year-old, but he is mourning a failed relationship and sees Amelia only as a bright and funny "youngster." Over the course of a year, her cringe-worthy crush persists, although she tries valiantly to hide it from Chris and the rest of the supermarket crew, all of whom are quirky and deserve books of their own. Chris is busy working too many hours and trying to avoid graduating and getting a real job by extending his coursework to include a second major. It's abundantly clear that if there weren't such a dramatic age difference, the genuine friendship between Chris and Amelia could have morphed into a heavy-duty romance, and this makes her plight even more painful. The author captures all of the conflicting emotions of both characters by telling the story through Amelia's eyes as well as through some of Chris's journal entries, which provide background information about his failed love affair, his relationship with his family and friends, and his ambivalence about his future
Review: This book was not exactly what I was expecting. When I had read the back cover, I had hopes of a sappy love story with a slightly predictable ending. But it wasn't that at all. Basically this book follows a 15 year old girl's point of view as she pines over a coworker who talks to her about girls he hooks up with and doesn't really show her romantic interest for nearly the entire book. Buzo made the main character Amelia sound very sophisticated, but sometimes that made her sound pretentious more than anything, which made her annoying.
I picked up this book with the intentions of having a happy love story, which is why I gave this three stars. Don't get me wrong, this was a good book, but it was very realistic in some ways, which wasn't what I wanted. I recommend putting this book on your reading list, but I would read other books first.
We'll Always Have Summer
Synopsis:
Belly has only ever been in love with two boys, both with the last name Fisher. And after being with Jeremiah for the last two years, she’s almost positive he is her soul mate. Almost. While Conrad has not gotten over the mistake of letting Belly go, Jeremiah has always known that Belly is the girl for him. So when Belly and Jeremiah decide to make things forever, Conrad realizes that it’s now or never—tell Belly he loves her, or lose her for good.
Belly will have to confront her feelings for Jeremiah and Conrad and face the inevitable: She will have to break one of their hearts.Review: PENDING
It's Not Summer Without You
Synopsis: Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?
It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.
But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach.
Review: I give the sequel to TSITP a five star rating because finally Belly has matured. A lot happens that makes her grow up, and she seems a lot more down to Earth. While she deals with Conrad who is still a mystery to us, she begins to move on and sound more like an adult. Also, the best part about this book, WE GET JEREMIAH'S PERSPECTIVE. Every girl who ships Belrad takes a step back and notices the little bro for the first time. And he is perfect. And Belly realizes that too!!!
This book has more heart fluttering moments than the first (is that even possible?) and it changes everything. The end all leads up to a cliff hanger that leaves you anxious to find out who Belly finally chooses! I love me a good love triangle, but a love triangle involving BROTHERS? Perf.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Synopsis: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
*NOTE: I have read this book every summer for the past three years. I am extremely biased, but I didn't want to write a review until I reread it.*
Review:
So I used starfish since it's a summer book and I'm extremely lame. Anywho. I gave this book a 4.5/5 star rating because as much as I loved reading it the fourth time around, I finally started to notice a few new things. *THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
So, the first few times I read this book, I was in love with Conrad. I wanted nothing more than for Belly to be with Conrad. Likewise, Belly felt the same way. However, that's all she cared about. She cared more about Conrad than she did her own family or her BOYFRIEND. Like, hello? You have Mr. Right who's sweet and basically does anything and everything for you, and then you're just obsessed with the guy who ignores you? Dude.
I do understand loving someone unconditionally, though. First loves have a way of clinging on. So I still understood where she was coming from, I just didn't always agree. Besides that, everything else was perfect. I still got chills and cried at parts even when I expected them. This book never fails me.
The Probability of Miracles
Rating:
Synopsis:
Campbell Cooper has never been in love. And if the doctors are right, she'll never have the chance. So when she's told she needs a miracle, her family moves 1,500 miles north to Promise, Maine--a place where amazing, unexplainable events are said to occur--like it or not. And when a mysterious envelope arrives, containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies, she finally learns to believe--in love, in herself, and maybe even in miracles, as improbable as they may seem.
Review:
Sorry if I'm about to share an unpopular opinion, but I feel obligated to be entirely honest. While this book was good, it wasn't great. When I looked at other people's reviews, they either seemed to be in love with the book or they felt so-so. I'm the so-so person.
First of all, I love the concept of the book. I feel that Wendy Wunder's ideas were totally original and explored cool topics. Like living at Disney? Flamingos in Maine? Snow in the summer?
But that's where my first problem lies; Wunder had all of these cool ideas, but for me it felt like she put a few too many "miracles" into the story. There were a lot of ideas, but not enough depth. I felt like I didn't get to know the characters that much because they were pretty underdeveloped.
However, Cam was still a well written character. Her sarcasm, tomboy-ness, and wit made her a fun character. But halfway throughout the book, I started to get annoyed. She would want to do something (like go to Harvard) but then say, "oh, but I'm dying." Every time something came up, she would remind everyone she was dying. Sometimes she'd say it up to five times in a single chapter. Yes, Cam, you are dying. We know.
Overall, I gave this book 3/5 stars. It was entertaining, funny yet sad, and a good summer read. If you have the time to read and want some entertainment, then I would suggest reading this book.
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