News: Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins

I recently received some very exciting news about Stephanie Perkin's new book 'Isla and the Happily Ever After'.  I've been waiting for this one for the longest time, but now the wait is nearly over.  Usborne will be publishing the third book by Perkins in the UK and the US on Thursday 14th August 2014.  Yay!!  I'm dying to read Isla and Josh's story and I have high hopes that it will be just as good, if not better, then 'Anna and the French Kiss' and 'Lola and the Boy Next Door'. 

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

For those of you who can't wait until August, the first chapter of 'Isla and the Happily Ever After' is now available online. Read it here
And don't forget that you can pre-order your copy now.  I already have and am counting down the days until this one drops through my mailbox.   

Review: Now You See Me - Emma Haughton

Now You See Me by Emma Haughton, published by Usborne on 1st May 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Three years ago, thirteen-year-old Danny Geller vanished without trace.

His family and friends are still hanging on to every last shred of hope. Not knowing if he's alive or dead, their world is shrouded in shadows, secrets and suspicions.

This is the story of what happens when hope comes back to haunt you. When your desperation is used against you. When you search for the truth – but are too scared to accept the reality staring you in the face...

Review:
'Now You See Me' is a psychological thriller by British author Emma Haughton.  This is her first novel for young-adults which is inspired by a true story.  I was actually already familiar with the real events behind the book which slightly spoiled things for me because I knew what one of the big plot twists was going to be.  This meant that I didn't find the story quite as suspenseful as it might have been but readers who approach the novel with no prior insight would probably find it quite gripping.

The story is narrated from the point of view of Hannah, whose best-friend Danny went missing three years ago.  No one has seen him since then and the police investigation failed to uncover the truth behind his disappearance.  Hannah has always wondered if she could have done something to stop him from vanishing but she's over the moon when he eventually turns up after so many years.  The only problem is that Danny can't remember anything about his missing years and seems somehow different to the person who used to be her closest friend.

The majority of the story is about what really happened to Danny, as well as focusing on Hannah and Danny's families and the impact of his reappearance on everyone involved.  I found it interesting to see the impact on each individual but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't already guessed the main twist.  There was another surprise thrown in near the end of the book and I thought that was an intriguing and well chosen change of direction.

It's nice to read a British YA book but I wasn't completely hooked by this title as I would have expected to be from the blurb.  That said, I think a lot of readers will enjoy 'Now You See Me;, particularly if you're a fan of this type of genre.         

Review: One Moment - Kristina McBride

One Moment by Kristina McBride, published by Usborne on 1st July 2013 

Goodreads synopsis:
It was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it's the one she'd do anything to forget.

Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a party the night before. She remembers climbing the path hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, safe. So why can’t she remember what happened next?

All it takes is one second for everything to change. One moment to realize that it’s the people you love who hurt you the most.

 Review:
I've been trying to read more contemporary YA fiction lately and 'One Moment' by Kristina McBride fit the bill perfectly.  It didn't hurt either that there was a quote from Cat Patrick, one of my favourite authors, on the front cover which really sold it for me.

Maggie loves Joey.  It's as simple as that.  Part of a group of six close friends who have grown-up together, their friendship has gradually evolved into something more.  Maggie can't imagine herself with anyone else but the gorgeous, happy-go-lucky Joey that she's always known but when a tragic accident changes everything, she starts to question whether or not she ever knew the real Joey at all.  The plot is actually very simple but when I'd pieced all the elements together it became a moving and eloquent story about friendship and love.  

A huge part of the book is Maggie looking back at her time with Joey and recalling small incidences which happened between them in a new light.  I felt an enormous sense of empathy with her as she began to unravel so many truths and lies that had been lying just beneath the surface the whole time.  There was one minor incident near the very beginning which led me to predict what was really going on quite early in the book.  Although I guessed the truth that Maggie was struggling to remember, I still thoroughly enjoyed seeing her gradually work things through for herself in a mature and sensible way.   

There is an unexpectedly romantic aspect to the story too which slowly crept up on me.  I'm glad that this was more of an undercurrent than the main focus because I think it would have detracted too much from Maggie learning about true friendship and trust.  A nice balance was obtained between the two and the scene at the end perfectly concluded events.   

Moving and emotional and beautifully told, I thought this book was wonderful.  It makes you think what you would do if that image of your perfect boyfriend was shattered into a million pieces.  I will definitely be looking out for more by Kristina McBride in the future.   

Review: Level 2 - Lenore Appelhans

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans, published by Usborne on 15th January 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in Level 2, the waiting room between Earth and Heaven, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend…and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her…

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing in Level 2, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves. A choice that will change everything…

 
Review:
I particularly wanted to read 'Level 2' because the author Lenore Appelhans also has a successful book blog and so has managed to cross-over from the blogger world to that of published author.  The plot also sounded intriguing and the cover is really striking and quite different to a lot of other titles on the market at the moment. 

The main idea that the story hinges on, is that of there being three levels of existence.  Level 1 is earth, level 3 is heaven and level 2 is the place in-between, a kind of waiting room for the dead.  Felicia is one of those biding their time in level 2.  She, along with everyone else there, spend their time viewing memories of their past lives.  They can watch those moments when they were happiest or saddest, when they had their first kiss or met their best friend.  Although they are dead, it almost doesn't seem like death because they are still conscious.  As Felicia views her own memories, we get to know more about her and the people that were important in her life and are gradually introduced to her boyfriend Neil and bad boy Julian.

Although the love triangle aspect is there, I have to say that I loved Julian from the start but didn't really warm to Neil at all.  I thought that his characterisation was quite weak and I couldn't understand what attracted Felicia to him, rather than the incredibly hot Julian, who she has amazing chemistry with.  The scenes between the two of them were one of my favourite things about the story and I enjoyed getting to see how they first met. There's a huge revelation about one of the boys at the end of the book and I'm looking forward to seeing how this will affect things in the sequel, 'Level 3'.

I thought that the story started quite slowly and didn't begin to pick-up until about half-way through when the truth about level 2 began to surface.  Although this debut novel didn't sweep me off my feet, I feel like there is still an awful lot more to come and I'm intrigued to discover what will happen to Felicia and co next.  

Review: Life Eternal - Yvonne Woon

Life Eternal by Yvonne Woon, published by Usborne on 1st May 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Renée Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renée can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin.

Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul.

Just when Renée has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters--brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can't shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it.

Review:
One of my surprise favourite books of last year was 'Dead Beautiful' by Yvonne Woon and ever since I read it I've been eagerly anticipating the sequel.  No surprises then for guessing that I curled up with this book as soon as it arrived and didn't move for the rest of the night.

Renee is now a monitor capable of sensing the Undead but has been changed forever by the kiss she received from Dante which gave her back her soul.  When Gottfried Academy is closed to all by the Undead, she's transferred to Lycee St. Clement in Montreal.  Separated from Dante and from her old life, she becomes determined to unravel the secret of the Nine Sisters which she believes may hold the key to her and Dante's future.

Having read the first book in the trilogy quite a long time ago, I was a bit worried that I wouldn't remember all the important plot points.  Luckily there's a handy recap near the beginning and I very quickly picked up all the threads of the story and was soon engrossed in Renee's journey. 

I enjoyed the change in setting from the confines of the Academy to a whole new school with lots of new faces.  There's some interesting characters including Anya, who becomes a friend of Renee and has a secret talent, along with Clementine, who is immensely jealous of Renee's talents and not to forget the very cute Noah who she becomes close to.

Although the introduction of Noah made me initially groan slightly at yet another love triangle, he really did grow on me quickly and I found myself liking him more and more.  As there aren't many Dante/Renee moments in this book, Woon choosing to focus the plot on the quest to find the secret of eternal life, I was pleased to see a friendship forming between Renee and Noah, even if he quite obviously seemed to want more than to be just friends.

The ending had me screaming in frustration and I can't believe I'll probably have to wait yet another year for the concluding part.  I don't think I can hold out that long!

This book will definitely appeal to fans of paranormal romance and to those that enjoyed the first in the series.  Life, death and love collide to create a fascinating and brilliant story from the talented Yvonne Woon.  I can't wait to see how it is all going to end. 

Review: Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Woon

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon, published by Usborne on 1st May 2011

Goodreads synopsis:
At Gottfried Academy, just one kiss will take your breath away. After Renee discovers her parents dead in what appears to be a strange double murder, she is sent to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, 'crude sciences', and Latin: the Language of the Dead. Here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student who harbors a deadly secret, but to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. Despite himself, Dante cannot control his attraction to Renee either and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. But Dante's not the only one with secrets...Gottfried Academy has a few of its own. When Renee begins to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a former student, she begins to realize just how deadly these secrets are...

Review:
As soon as I saw the cover of 'Dead Beautiful' I knew I had to read it.  It's a striking cover shot and really grabbed my attention before I even knew what the book was about.  It's been compared in many ways to the Twilight saga but I have to say that although I agree in some respects, in others I thought that 'Dead Beautiful' really stands on its own merit as a brilliant read which was gripping and exciting and deserves to be considered in it's own right as a superb paranormal romance.

After the death of Renee Winter's parents in mysterious circumstances, she is sent to live with her grandfather who she finds it difficult to communicate with.  I would have liked to have seen their relationship explored further, as I always enjoy reading about the relationships between family members.  I liked the gradual unravelling of her grandfather's history and background and I think he could be very important in the future to many of the important secrets that Renee will come across.  He decides to send Renee to Gottfried Academy and although she doesn't want to leave all of her friends and her life behind, he insists that she goes.

This book had all the perfect ingredients for a fascinating read.  I thought that Renee was a brilliant female character who was really interesting and engaging and goes through a huge amount of character development over the course of the story.  There's lashings of romance mixed with dark and mysterious secrets and plenty of action to grip the reader entirely. 

'Dead Beautiful' ticked another box for me in that the majority of the story was set at a boarding school.  I never wanted to attend one myself but I love reading about them and seeing how the characters get on standing on their own two feet and interacting with each other within the confines of the boundaries, rules and regulations of the school which has a dark and Gothic feel to it.

At Gottfried Academy, Renee meets the enigmatic Dante Berlin who I loved!  Seriously, the guy is gorgeous, beyond beautiful and like all great boy crushes, has so many layers and hidden secrets that you keep discovering more and more about him as the story unfolds.  I could definitely identify with Renee being drawn to him!  I loved the way in which their relationship developed.  It didn't seem too sudden and fast, which meant that sufficient time was spent on building up the chemistry and romance between them.  By the end, even I was feeling weak at the knees!  I'm looking forward to seeing more of Dante in future installments and discovering all of his secrets.

Another thing I loved about the book was the interweaving of Latin and philosophy.  The idea of Latin as a 'dead language' is of huge significance to the story and I found this absolutely fascinating.  So much so, that I'd quite like to try and learn it myself.  Several of the character's names are also derived from philosophers which provides insight into their personalities and behaviour.     

I thought that the main plot progressed quite slowly but this was actually a good thing as it allowed greater depth to be built in the plot and for the characters to be developed fully.  The ending was mind-blowingly good and shed light on lots of the mysterious happenings throughout.  This opening installment has got me well and truly hooked on the fascinating Renee Winters and Dante Berlin and I can't wait for the sequel 'Life Eternal' which is due to be published next year.