Septemeber & October Wrap Up:

Wrap Up:
# of books in September/October:  5
Read in 2014: 32

Challenges:
Books over 400 pages in September/October: 1
Books over 400 pages in 2014: 8
Classics: 0
Diverse Authors in September/October: 1
Diverse Authors in 2014: 3

September:

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

The Murder Complex takes place in a world where the death rate is higher than the birth rate. Meadow is trained by her father to protect her family in this cruel world. All of the training pays off because Meadow has to literally fight to get a job to help support her siblings. In town, Meadow runs into a boy named Zephyr and things start to get crazy. Zephyr is programmed by the government to assassinate whoever they need to get rid of. I am a fool for dystopian, so of course I LOVED this book. I read it really fast because I had to figure out what was going to happen next. It is a bloody, action packed dystopian that I would highly recommend.

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

I enjoyed this book. All the catty drama was extremely over the top and unrealistic, but for some reason I loved it. Burn for Burn is told in three different perspectives. All three of the girls pick a person that have wronged them in the past and decide a revenge plan for each one. I will say it was predictable, but I still read it super fast. Overall, I would describe Burn for Burn as Mean Girls meets the O.C. & Mean Girls with a tad bit of Carrie mixed in.  

October:

The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Diviners is about a young girl, Evie, who moves to her uncle's house in New York in 1920, and while she is there a series of murders occur. Evie's uncle is recruited by the police to help with the murders, and Evie tags along. I don't want to spoil anything, so I don't want to give away too much. The 5 words I would use to describe this book are spooky, paranormal, mysterious, long (578 pages), dark.

 A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

A Little Something Different is unique because it is told from 14 different viewpoints and none of them are from the couple. A few of the viewpoints are from Maxine, the waitress at the dinner Gabe and Lea always eat at, the bench they always sit on, a squirrel that sees them together all the time, a few of their close friends, the lost goes on.  I enjoyed the different perspectives in this book, but I wished we would have gotten more of Gabe and Lea together. It just seemed like the book was building to something awesome, and we did not get enough of the "awesomeness" that we had been waiting on. Overall, it was a cute, fluffy read. I recommend it if you are looking for something light and entertaining. 

Nightmares! by Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller

Nightmares! is a middle grade adventure story that will have you wishing you had more. It is about a young boy whose mother passed away and his father remarries. Charlie has a reoccurring nightmare that this witch is going to take his family from him, and he is certain the witch from his nightmares is his step mom. I loved Charlie. He was a great male lead that you couldn't help but root for. I also loved all the nightmares, but felt a few might be a little too creepy for middle grade readers. I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves spooky adventure stories with an awesome male lead.

I am currently reading Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White. I know this month I will be reading Fangirl and Mockingjay. What will you guys read in November? What did you read in October? How are your reading goals going? 

Until next time,

Bre

June Wrap Up & July TBR:

I can't believe June is already over. I set myself a goal to read 6 books this month, but I only read 5. I'm still happy with what I read. So let's get started : )

Wrap Up:
# of books in April/May: 5
 Read in 2014: 19

Challenges:
Books over 400 pages in June: 2
Books over 400 pages in 2014: 6
Classics: 0
Diverse Authors in June: 0
Diverse Authors in 2014: 2

The Sound of Us 

By Ashley Poston

Published December 2013

Goodreads Rating: 3.96

Pages 202 (ebook)

I decided to buy this on my Kindle because I was craving some contemporary, and it was only $1.99. The Sound of Us follows the story of a young girl named Junie who is a rocker chick. Her best friend is obsessed with Roman Holiday, a popular pop band. Junie hates Roman Holiday because it is constantly played on the radio and she feels like there is no meaning to their songs. I bet you can guess what happens. That's right she meets the lead singer (in a very embarrassing way btw) and she starts dating him.  There is a side story going on with Junie's family. Junie's father passed away, and he owned a bar that she has now taken over. I really loved this side of the story because it added a lot to Junie's character. I did not have any expectations for this book, but I really liked it. Overall, I gave The Sound of Us...

 

 Kissing Doorknobs 

By Terry Spencer Hesser

Published March 1998

Goodreads Rating: 3.84

149 pages

My friend at work gave me this book to read, and I'm so glad she did. I loved it. I have read a few books that deal with realistic issues like some of Ellen Hopkins books, but I have never read one about OCD. I like that Terry Spencer Hesser took a chance and wrote about a sensitive topic. Tara Sullivan struggled all throughout childhood, but something triggered her OCD when she was eleven. One day she heard the saying "If you step on a crack, you'll break your mama's back." From that day on, she couldn't go anywhere with out counting the cracks in the sidewalk to make sure she never stepped on a crack. Her rituals got out of control. Tara would pray constantly, she had to walk up the stairs backwards, separate her meals on her plate, and she had to kiss her fingers then put them on the doorknob over and over again before she could answer/go out the door. This book really opens your eyes to the real struggle of OCD. I rated Kissing Doorknobs....

 

 The Fear Trials

By Lindsay Cummings

Published in May 2014

Goodreads Rating: 4.37

100 pages (ebook)

The Fear Trials is a prequel novella to a new YA series called The Murder Complex. I really enjoyed this novella. It is about a girl named Meadow who is training to compete in The Fear Trials, which if she wins she will be able to leave her houseboat without her parents by her side. In this world, the birth rate is lower than the death rate. At night tons of people die and no one knows why. This novella was awesome. I need The Murder Complex right now. I rated this novella

 

The Program 

By Suzanne Young

Published April 2013

Goodreads Rating: 4.06

pages 405

I already posted a review on this book. CLICK HERE to check it out. I gave The Program....

 

Dorothy Must Die 

By Danielle Paige

Published in April 2014

Goodreads Rating: 3.84

Pages 464

UUUGGHHHH!! I was very disappointed with this book. First of all, it took me forever to read. I put it down so many times because it was too slow. I think I just had my expectations too high. My main problem with the book is that the back of the dust jacket says "Your Mission: Remove the Tin Woodman's heart. Steal the Scarecrow's brain. Take the Lion's Courage. And then Dorothy must die. Only you can make Oz a free land again." Please tell me why NONE of this happens in this book. I understand it is going to be a series, but dang. Paige could have at least made Amy (the main character) do one of those things. I liked the last 100 pages of the book the most. I will continue this series just to find out what happens, but it was a let down. I gave Dorothy Must Die a ...

 July TBR:

I am currently Reading Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover. It is book 2 in the Slammed Trilogy. I am in love with Will and Layken. I will probably finish it tomorrow.

I want to try to read at least six books again this month. I want to get a little ahead of my reading challenge. I have currently completed 19 out of 40 books. 

I will be reading The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider for my book club. 

I also want to read: 

 What did you read in June? What are you planning on reading in July?

Until next time,

Bre