ARC Review: Wild Hearts

Title: Wild Hearts

Series: If Only . . . 

Author: Jessica Burkhart

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Source: Printed ARC from Bloomsbury

Goodreads | Amazon
 

Enjoy Wild Hearts and the other standalone titles in Bloomsbury's contemporary If Only romance line centered around an impossible problem: you always want what you can't have!

Brie Carter's father's land development business has taken her family all over the world,
but as soon as they arrive at their new home in Lost Springs, Wyoming, the town turns out to protest. They don't want a new hotel if the resident mustang population will be displaced or hurt as part of the deal. Then Brie meets Logan, a gorgeous local who has a special connection to the mustangs, and she is immediately drawn to him . . . and the horses. However, with Logan's father leading the protests and Brie's father refusing to budge, it's clear that their parents are heading towards an all-out war. Can Brie and Logan find a way to save the mustangs and be together? Or is their love doomed from the start?

This new title in the If Only line is the perfect summer read and proves that love flourishes in the wildest places!

My Review

Wild Hearts is a standalone novel in the If Only . . . series, a series of novels about forbidden love. The cool thing about the series is that all of the titles are standalone novels, so they can be read in any order (or you could skip the ones that don't interest you). Wild Hearts by Jessica Burkhart is the first title that I've read in the series (and my first Jessica Burkhart book), and I'm sure it probably won't be the last as many of the released and upcoming titles look entertaining and adorable. Unfortunately, Wild Hearts wasn't a huge hit for me, but I did find some aspects of the book to be cute.

Wild Hearts is about Brie Carter and Logan McCoy's Romeo and Juliet romance. They are immediately attracted to one another, but their fathers hate each other. Their romance is pretty much instantaneous, and if I had to, I'd label it as instalove. It just seemed a bit unrealistic for the new girl in town to fall for the most gorgeous guy in town so quickly. Their romance is sickly sweet, and to be honest, it was a bit too much for me to handle. Sometimes I thought parts were outstanding and adorable, but other times, I was scratching my head because it was just so weird.

Brie is one of those characters that I could take or leave, and for me, it's kind of a problem if I don't connect with the protagonist. Here she is, a girl who is forced to move pretty much every year, and she's just kind of bland. She has a lot of stories, but they really don't make her as interesting as one would think they would. She complains a lot about not having "a thing" of her own. It was nice to see that she wanted to find something that made her unique in the world, but the complaining got annoying. By the middle of the book, she finds something that makes her happy, and I loved that part, but it was kind of upsetting that she just dropped her "no boyfriend until college" rule to find the thing that she wanted. Even so, I was proud of her by the end of the novel for all that she and Logan accomplished in such a short amount of time.

If you're looking for a YA romance that's set in the country, then Wild Hearts is definitely for you. I can see many readers devouring this book during a summer camping trip or at the beach. Burkhart does a great job at setting the scene and tone of life in Lost Springs, and her imagery is fantastic, even if some aspects of the book are a little corny. She writes about horses in a way that felt very realistic, and those parts held my interest, even if I didn't agree with some of the things that the characters do. I felt like I was able to picture the entire town of Lost Springs, and it was a fairly enjoyable ride.

Book Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Author: Jesse Andrews

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

Format: Hardcover, 295 pages

Source: Purchased from Half Price Books

Goodreads | Amazon 

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

My Review

Wow. Now this is one hell of a book!

If you want to read a realistic book about cancer that doesn't romanticize the disease, look no further than Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Unlike other young adult novels that make it seem like living with cancer is a just a normal thing (which it's totally not), this book shows that cancer really does suck but can truly bring people together and realize what dying really means.

I'm pretty sure that in my Goodreads review, I swore a lot because of how much I adored this book. The swearing won't happen here, but I do want you to know just how much I loved this wonderful debut novel. Everything about Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is perfect. The characters are so real that you feel like they could walk down your street at any moment.
 

The book is told from Greg's point of view, and at the beginning of the book, he tells you that he is writing a book that will suck. That definitely caught my attention because it works as Greg writing his own novel. Many times throughout the book, he makes fun of the readers for still reading it. It is completely adorable. He doesn't expect anyone to keep reading, but you become so completely involved in the story that you do keep reading. Eventually, in the epilogue, Greg reveals who he is writing the book for, and a lot of it makes so much sense. It's a really funny moment. Also, you need to know that Greg prides himself for getting along with every clique in the school. That becomes important later in the book.

Earl is another central character in the book. Now Earl is Greg's friend. But from what Greg tells you, you realize that the two aren't really friends; they just hang out a lot out of habit. Earl is pretty much the coolest YA character you'll ever meet because he is one hundred percent honest and real. I love how he talks because it is in the right vernacular and everything. He reminds me of a lot of the people who work at my uncle's pizza shop. He is a piece of work, and I love Mr. Andrews for bringing Earl into the literary world.

And then you have "the dying girl." Her name is Rachel, and she goes to school with Greg and Earl, but neither of them hang out with her. Greg went to Hebrew classes with her when they were younger, and he kind of dated her, but in that way that middle schoolers "go out" and then usually break up a week later. Of course they broke up. Then they kind of stopped talking to her. As a favor to his mom, Greg spends time with her to make her feel better while she is sick.

I don't know if I've said it enough, but I really, really just freaking love this book. I'm really hoping that with the upcoming film adaptation, it becomes one of the most popular YA books of all time because it really deserves it. All three main characters are positively perfect because they aren't perfect and you can tell that Andrews never set out to make them perfect. The book is hilariously written, and it pokes fun at all sorts of other YA books about cancer and cliche YA books, which I think is really funny because it is completely fresh.

Now... to the cool connection that I have to the book. It's set in my hometown. so obviously, I knew I had to read it. I love all things about my city, so seeing it in literature yet again was just amazing. It is great to see another young adult author write about many of the great things to see and do in Pittsburgh.

The Friday 56 (18)

The Friday 56 is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. The rules are super easy to follow, and this feature is a great way to share the books you're reading with other bloggers and readers. I've discovered so many great books through this meme, and I always have a blast trying to figure out what quote I like the most.

So what do you need to do to participate in The Friday 56?

• Go to page 56 (or 56% for e-readers like Kindle and Nook) of the book you're currently reading
• Grab a few sentences to share with your blog's readers, but be sure not to spoil anything too major
• Add your name and link to the link-up on Freda's blog

I just finished reading Kissing in America by Margo Rabb yesterday, but I enjoyed it so much that I had to include a quote from it in this week's Friday 56 post, and I'm sure you'll see why as soon as you read the excerpt I've chosen. 
 
*This excerpt has been quoted from an uncorrected proof, so it may not reflect the final printing.*
 

"In our neighborhood in Queens, almost everybody's family was from another country - our local library had books in Korean, Spanish, Romanian, Chinese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, and Turkish. Even the Jews were from Israel or Yemen or Ethiopia, or their grandparents, like mine, were born in Europe."

What do you think of this excerpt? Will you be reading this book when it releases next month? Are you a fan of how diverse it appears from this quote? Let me know in the comments.

Also, feel free to leave links to your Friday 56 posts. I'd love to see what everyone's been reading and enjoying this week!

Hardcover Lover Confessions (7)

Welcome back to Hardcover Lover Confessions, everyone!

By now, I'm hoping that you've become a little more acquainted with my new every-once-in-a-while feature, Hardcover Lover Confessions. These posts are kind of like discussion posts, wherein I share a little bookish secret or two of mine. Every few weeks (or whenever I find something I want to share), I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to before! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing, and that you might even make a new friend after commenting.

HCL Confession on Dog-Eared Books

Here's something that people might not know about me - I hate seeing when people dog-ear books! Gasp! I just find it cringe-worthy to see someone purposefully deface a book. Strangely, I didn't always feel that way...

When I was a senior in high school, my English class was reading Tuesdays with Morrie. As usual, everybody got a copy of the book to take to and from class. One day, we were reading silently because our teacher needed to grade some of our stuff. When the bell rang, I gathered up my things. I was the last person to leave class, and of course, I was busted folding the page. My teacher wasn't mad, but she wasn't happy. She handed me a bookmark and told me that I was only ruining the book if I dog-eared it. I haven't folded down a page on a book since that day.

Before that moment, I'd never really given dog-eared pages much thought. I didn't have an extensive book collection then, and if I didn't have a bookmark, I'd just fold down the page. Now I'm pretty anal about trying to keep my books in pristine condition, but I LOVE finding used books with dog-eared pages. Weird? Yeah... I'd say so. But... I'm kind of a freak.

What Do You Think?

Now I want to hear your thoughts on dog-eared pages. Are you okay with folding down a page to mark your place or when you find a quote or passage that you really enjoy? Does seeing a dog-eared page make you cringe like me? What do you think of my weird habit of finding dog-eared books? Do you prefer to fold a page or a bookmark?

Feel free to leave a comment to let me know, and be sure to interact with everyone else who comments. I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who have some of the same habits as you, so don't be shy - say hi!

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps blogger spotlight the upcoming releases that we are eagerly waiting on. Get it?

Participating in the meme is a piece of cake! All you need to do is make a post about an upcoming release that you're waiting on, make sure you've linked back to Breaking the Spine, and then add your name to the link-up tool.

What I'm Waiting On...

Title: Immaculate

Author: Katelyn Detweiler

Publisher: Viking Children's

Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Mina is seventeen. A virgin. And pregnant.

Mina is top of her class, girlfriend to the most ambitious guy in school, able to reason and study her way through anything. But when she suddenly finds herself pregnant—despite having never had sex—her orderly world collapses. Almost nobody believes Mina’s claims of virginity. Her father assumes that her boyfriend is responsible; her boyfriend believes she must have cheated on him. As news of Mina’s story spreads, there are those who brand her a liar. There are those who brand her a heretic. And there are those who believe that miracles are possible—and that Mina’s unborn child could be the greatest miracle of all.

 

Why I'm Waiting...

It's no lie that I am drawn to contemporary books with insane synopses, and Immaculate definitely falls into that category. Umm, a pregnant virgin? Sign me up for the waiting list for this book! 

I'm sure this book will explore some religious themes, and while I normally don't read books like that, I'm spreading my wings and giving more books a chance this year. Besides, everybody knows what it's like to feel insecure in high school, and I'm sure that somehow, I'll be able to relate to and connect with Mina.

What Are You Waiting On...

Now I want to hear from you! Are you also waiting on Detweiler's Immaculate or do you have your eyes set on another book? As always, feel free to let me know in the comments or leave the link to your own Waiting on Wednesday post! I'd love to see what everyone is waiting to read.

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone

Title: Since You've Been Gone

Author: Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Source: Purchased

Goodreads | Amazon

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend.

Apple Picking at Night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Um...

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Wait ... what?

My Review

If there's one thing I've learned about the YA book community, it's that mostly everyone loves Morgan Matson. I don't think I've come across a single person who hasn't enjoyed at least one of her books, so when my blogging friends found out that I had never read a Morgan Matson book, they told me to immediately read one. I was able to find this one at a second hand book store, so they convinced me to read it right away. I'm glad that they did because I'm able have crossed it off my list. I liked the book, but sadly, I wouldn't say that this book is anywhere close to a favorite of mine.

The inside cover art of Since You've Been Gone is beautiful.

I guess the thing about Since You've Been Gone that really bothered me is I felt like even though things were happening and Emily was crossing items off her list, I felt like things were really happening for no real reason. It was pretty clear to me from the first page that Sloane wasn't coming back, and I kind of felt like Emily was doing all of these things without real reason. By the end of the book, I was pleasantly surprised because I really enjoyed the build up to the end of the novel. Things started to fall into place for Emily, and I was only wishing that the pacing of those final chapters matched the pacing in the previous chapters.

There were a few things that I really enjoyed about the book, and those things held my interest to keep me reading. I really liked the inclusion of playlists. You know me... I love music, so being able to actually see, in writing, what Emily and Frank listen to while on their runs really brought the book to life for me. I also really liked how Matson included the image of Sloane's letter to Emily. It was a nice touch. I also liked the slow change in Emily over the summer. Even though the plotting of her change felt a bit unrealistic, the changes that Emily made for herself felt very real.

So... did I enjoy Since You've Been Gone? Yes. I just think that it was kind of long, overdone, and a bit difficult. I probably wouldn't add this to my list of books to reread, but I'm glad that I was finally able to read (and somewhat enjoy) a Morgan Matson book.