The Fault In Our Stars by John Green- Review

 Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind. Blurb from Goodreads

*****

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
 
This is me right now:







I can't even. John Green. That man.

****

One of the things about me that can tell you if I really like a book or not, is if I've borrowed a book from the library, read it, but still want to buy it from the bookstore. The Fault In Our Stars is definitely those books. I am so in love with this book, that I am tempted to buy every single edition of this- paperback, hardcover, whatever- but such expenses is too much for my wallet.



John Green continues to baffle me with the way he writes his books; his prose, his characters, the plot- everything. He could make me laugh like a mental patient one minute, and then bawl like a five- year- old the next. The way he writes and the things he writes about is so relateable to any teenager out there and I love that he understands. I mean, trying not to sound like Patrick here during that chocolate selling episode in Spongebob, but I love that man. The amazingness is to much to describe.



Lord, and Augustus. And the metaphors. And Hazel and Gus together. I absolutely loved how their relationship was very real and nothing seemed fake or cheesy (not that I expected fake cheesyness from John Green). Such perfection. I loved it. I loved all the other characters as well, Isaac, Van Houten, Lidewij, and how they were all relevant to the story (because I hate useless characters).



There's nothing negative for me to say about this book. The Fault In Our Stars was pretty much perfect.

In the end, I loved, loved loved this book; it was hilarious, witty and insightful. It just made me loved John Green more and more excited to read his other and future books. So now, if you excuse me, I am off to the bookstore hopefully to find a copy of The Fault In Our Stars.

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan- Review

 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves. (blurb taken from Goodreads)

****

I don't really know if people count the Percy Jackson books as YA, but I do, so here you go: 

I'm slightly ashamed to say that I watched the movie before I read the book. But I'm even more ashamed that I watched the movie only to experience the hotness that is Logan Lerman.
 



 But, come on! Someone tell me that this , is not hot:
 


Really. What did I tell you? (I do imagine that you probably won't read the rest of the review anf just stare at this gif instead, but that's no reason not to like my review! :D) But, I really have to thank Logan. I really do. Because without his unfreakingbelieveable hotness, I wouldn't have watched the movie, and I would've never read the awesomeness of The Lightning Thief. Yes, I loved the book. I've always taken an interest in Greek Mythology and I thought Rick Riordan's take on it was very unique, and unlike anything I've read before. I absolutely loved Camp- Halfblood. Well, it sure seemed better than the budget summer camps I've been to. RR seriously out did himself with writing the camp. I could imagine everything vividly and I like to think that I know the camp from back to front. The cabins would have to be my favourite feature of the camp, though. If only they were like that in the camps I've been to.
 
 

 Percy. What can I say? The guy has amazing underwater powers, is kick- ass and is a demigod. He's super loyal to his friends and family, is brave and has the looks (this is the part when you look at the gif of Logan Lerman again ;D). And he can make me laugh. Come on. You have to give a guy who make you laugh some credit. In short, the guy's the full package. Another thing I loved were the other characters. Especially Annabeth, who looks like Cinderella in Percy's words (am I right? I don't have the book on me, sorry. Stupid library fines). And I'm expecting something to develop between her and Percy, if you know what I mean...

 

So, yeah. I loved the book, it was exciting, fast- paced and humorous. Just one thing though, I'm kind of pissed that they didn't have cabins in the movie. Or Clarisse. Or the Oracle. Though it's hardly RR's fault. I just had to get it out there.

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson- Review

Blurb
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transfer from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding. This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie’s struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.


Rating: 5 out of 5


I love this novel! My FAVOURITE non-series book! So interesting and romantic.I couldn't put it down.

This book is truly loveable.

The tension between Lennie and Toby and Lennie and Joe make this book heart-throbbing.

Lennie. At first I was actually annoyed with Lennie, and how she couldn't help herself with Toby. Like he was your sister's boyfriend, what are you thinking?



But then I thought what would this book be without their little problem. With Lennie not being able to control herself and Toby... Which brings me to my next keypoint.

Toby. When Toby practically jumped straight to Lennie after his girlfriends death I was like what the fuck is wrong with you?



But then I started to understand him more and what he was dealing with. He adored how close Bailey and Lennie were and when Bailey died Lennie was the only one left...(I don't want to spoil it anymore for people who haven't read this book yet.)

Joe. "Joe is any parents and girls dream." 



He is the one who makes you feel like you don't need to be anything more than you already are.

He is one of those people who always knows how to cheer you up, the one that knows your every feeling and the one who always has a smile. He is charming and i found it so sad when he found out the girl he was falling for was in between falling for him and her sisters boyfriend...

The word building and how there are random but pleasing and meaningful poems added at the start of chapters are very interesting and I give props to Jandy Nelson.



This book is full of obsticles and you just have to be there at the finish line waiting for the results.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth- Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself-while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. (blurb from Goodreads)

****

I think this book should come with a sticker at the front saying: WARNING: this book contains intense surprises and mind- blowing suspense and may cause extreme cases of tears, laughter and severe heart-beat rates. Because for me it SO did.



Which is to say that I loved this book. Maybe more than Divergent, actually. It totally exceeded all expectations I had and ended that reputation of the second book in trilogies being the worst.

One of the things I would like to applaud Veronica Roth for was how she wrote Tris and Tobias's relationship. After that absolutely gorgeous way the two of them got together, I was worried about how Roth would continue their relationship. The obvious easy thing to do would just pop pointless make-out sessions in there that would suggest that they were still going strong, but, like in the first book, I was glad that their relationship remained real. In this book, the Tris and Tobias's trust and loyalty of each other are tested. Secrets are kept, lies are told, and yet, the two still somehow keeps it together with their faith and belief of one another. I love the way Tobias believes so much of Tris that it pains me that he is only a fictional character. It really does.



Roth's characters remain as one of my favourites. They were fantastic, and full of personality and definitely believable. The only thing I disliked about the characters was the fact that, yes, Roth introduced many great characters, but she killed them off in half a second when I would've liked to get to know them more. You know when you are successful at character writing when your readers mourn your characters deaths.



I know that in the first book, most of us had problems of believing the world that Roth created; how would a world with only five virtues work? Well, most of the questions were answered for me in this book. Obviously not all of them. If that were the case there would be no need for a third book. :) In Insurgent we get to visit all of the factions (which was great; I was always curious about how the Amity headquarters looked like) and more and more was revealed about how, exactly, Tris's world became the way it is. Which means that there was a whole lot of action, suspense and drama, and I know how much you all love this sort of stuff. :)

So. The things I liked: Tris and Tobias's romance, the other characters (and their relationships with each other *shh, Uriah and Marlene*), more information about this world, the action, the drama, the suspense and the surprises. The things I didn't like: the sudden deaths of my (beloved) characters and the fact that I did not buy this book.

But the latter can be easily fixed. Off to the bookshop I go...

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins- Review

Blurb
/Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge. Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn./

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My first impression on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins...

*sigh* Oh, Finnick Odair 



Oh yes. I was completely awestruck!



There is no doubt that Catching Fire is a captivating novel. Making you question friends, allies and the enemy all in one moment. The non-stop surprises from Peeta always rouse my attention and the unknowing acts from Katniss know how to keep me reading. 

Before I started reading Catching Fire I was filled with questions like, "What are they even going to do now the games are over?" and "Will it meet or top the standards of the first book?"
Well, Suzanne Collins sure knew how to fool me.



So when I finally made time to read Catching Fire, I was just like. Oh. Yup. *psst* I knew that!

The plot and the way the story built overtime sure helped with all the tension. When I was near to the finishing page I felt everything happen all at once and was like, "NO, why is this ending all so soon", when the book itself isn't even that short. But with the (view spoiler) starting at around the last 3rd of the book it all seemed like it came to an end pretty fast. But as I said, there is no underestimating Suzanne's timing of situation.

The last 8 1/2 pages had me wishing for more! Knowing the fateful truth that again I will be left with numerous unanswered questions...



So I guess I will just have to get stuck into Mockingjay as soon as I finish this review...

The Help by Kathryn Stockett- Review

 

 Three women, Aibileen, a black maid and raising her seventeenth child; Minny, Aibileen's best friend whose cooking is wanted all over town but whose sass is not; and white Miss Skeeter who had just come home from college and is in search for the maid who raised her, all come together to tell their story. Little do they know, what they are planning are more dangerous than they thought.

Rating: 5 out of 5

I'd wanted to read The Help for a while, but that massive queue for this book at the library was pretty detracting. I can tell you now that this was my first time being number 243 on a reserves list. Not even for Twilight, did I end up having to wait for so long. Four months I had to wait. And I wasn't even sure if I could finish the whole book and three weeks didn't seem like enough.



Turns out, the wait was worth it and I didn't even need the whole three weeks, I finished well within the return date.

The topic that this focuses on was a topic I was unaware of. I mean, I was aware that discrimination was happening in the world, but I never knew it was ever this bad. Plus I think Kathryn Stockett did a fantastic job at this. I was amazed at how simple her style of writing was and yet she could excel at describing an environment like this one. And this is her first novel! Goodness…




One of the things I loved most about the book was the strong narrative voice. Even with three points- of view, I could flick to a random page and be able to tell who exactly was speaking. There would never be a time where I’d sigh with relief when a particular person’s chapter ended, in fact, I dreaded that moment because I desperately wanted to know what happened to Minny when Johnny came home. Which resulted to me reading on, and on, until, before I knew it, I’d finished.



Another thing I liked was the fact that the one word of which was the name of the characters oozed personality. It’s like you can just say, “Skeeter”, and I’d be able to tell you what she’s like on the spot. I would do it now, of course, but you’re here to read about how great The Help was, not so that you can admire my many talents. And another thing I liked was that all three main characters, Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter’s lives were linked in some way and so were the other ones. Nothing annoys me more than useless characters.



I loved, loved loved, The Help. It was easy yet informative. Serious yet humorous. So go read it now! While I’m off in search of the movie…

Ela's note: Okay, so I know that this isn't exactly a young adult book but, I thought this book would teach you a lot about what happened in the past as it did me. Plus it's just a good read :)

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand- Review

 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Clara Gardner is an angel-blood with a purpose. She must find out what her purpose is and filful it.
On her way to finding out what her purpose means, she faces decisions and incidents with Tucker and Christian.
Whilst Clara is trying to figure out all her new problems and challenges, she also learns that she will lose someone. Someone she loves.

Captivating. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand leaves you wanting more. Exciting and deeply romantic, I'm so joyful to have finished the book but also sad knowing it will be a LONG wait for the next... ;(




Clara has a purpose, a purpose that at one point she thinks she knows and the next finds out the detial is something completly different. Cynthia Hand writes in a very good structure, always making you want to find out more.





The quizzical love connections between Clara, Christian and Tucker result to finishing a beautiful novel.

I was all "She has to be with Tucker, he's so sweet and caring" after i finished Unearthly. But now after finishing Hallowed and learning alot more about Christian, my balance between the two are leaning over to Christian more. Don't get me wrong, I still love Tucker, I'm just saying that Christian really showed what he's worth and how caring he is thrughout the book, whereas Tucker seemed more defensive and not as much there.

To conclude this though, this book is not just about Clara and her infinate Christian and Tucker problems. Hallowed also puts Clara in more complicated decisions resulting from her purpose, which she still is learning about every second. Clara also learns she will loss someone she loves, someone she may have took for granted.

I loved this book, definately one of my favourites. It's just a book you have to read, after Unearthly ofcourse. :D

Delirium by Lauren Oliver- Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I'm a curious person. So when I heard that people were saying this book was very similar to Matched (which I loved), I just had to find out. Because I was absolutely, absolutely sure that no dystopian book would top Matched.



After finishing, I could see the similarity between the two books, as both books focus on the aspect of love as a forbidden thing. But each of the two authors had very different takes on it.

Basically, in Lena's world, love is thought of as a disease. So when she falls in love with a boy called Alex, she has to hide it from her family and her society, who would ultimately imprison her like her mother.

This plot, love as a disease, I think is a very hard topic to pull off and make believable because love is very much welcomed in our world. But Lauren Oliver did a fantastic job at it. Each idea was backed up by information, such as The Book of Shh. Her writing had a "pretty" prose and was engaging, something that I always look for in a book.

I loved all the characters, all were very fitting as relevant to tell the story. Though, I have to say, I didn't like Lena in the beginning of the book. She wasn't that strong confident, "I don't give a damn about you, I'm gonna fall in love and deal with it" type of person but when the book hit the middle, I could see her transitioning into just that. I can tell she'll be lick- ass in the next book (especially after what the poor girl had to endure at the end).



The romance isn't what I would call Instalove. Okay, so there was the instant attraction as soon as they met (which is normal, I think, as a teenager myself), but the rest was fine. No indescribable pull. No "I can't live without you" cliches (though the next book would finalise that for me). Nope. It was cute, in that cute "first love" type of way.

I am very, very much looking forward to the next book, as I think it would give us a better view on Lena's character, whether she weaken or strengthen despite her circumstances. But, Alex. I will miss those amber eyes of yours.

You said that Will/Clary wouldn't work together, nor Jace/Tessa.? By Cassandra Clare

I was wondering could you tell us why that is?

Tessa: Have you read this latest novel? It is my favorite!

Jace: No. I was polishing my latest gigantic weapon.

Tessa: A fine pastime for a gentleman, to be sure, but what do you do with your leisure time, sir?

Jace: More killing. My job is my hobby.

Tessa: I am not dressed for such activities.

Jace: My sister Isabelle could lend you an outfit.

Tessa: Is that your sister? I thought she was a prostitute.

————

Will: Ducks! Confound all ducks!

Clary: Are you all right?

Will: Lo, for a duck is man’s greatest enemy. You know I hate everyone, don’t you? Don’t get too close to me, or it will be your ruin.

Clary: You seem to be fond enough of that silvery-haired guy.

Will: My love for Jem passes your mere understanding.

Clary: So you’re gay, right? That’s okay.

Will: No one has ever suggested I was overly merry before. Have you read Tale of Two Cities?

Clary: For school. It was boring.

Divergent by Veronica Roth- Review

In Tris Prior's world, every person is sorted into one of the following faction: Candor, for the honest, Erudite, for the intelligent, Abnegation, for the selfless, Amity, for the peaceful and Dauntless, for the brave. Tris is currently in Abnegation, a place where she feels like she'd never really belonged and with her sixteenth birthday nearing, she will finally be able to switch factions. But with the pressure of looking after her parents and her brother making an unexpected decision, Tris isn't sure if her choice should benefit her family- or herself.
___________________________________________________

Rating: 5 out of 5

It was one of those times of the year I was having, when it was summer and everybody was off on vacation except for me, when all of the good T.V shows have ended and the movies out at the cinemas were either too kiddie, or needed an I.D (which I didn't have), and when I didn't have anything good to read (stupid library).



Divergent was a book I'd wanted to read for a long time but I didn't have enough money (it's not my fault the malls have "End of Spring" sales) and the library kept on cancelling my request (I guess they didn't have enough money either). But my mother, thankfully noticing my pouty face, gave me Divergent as a late birthday present. And then I did a little happy dance because it meant not spending the rest of my summer like a zombie. You know, if the book was as good as everyone's been saying.



And it was. To me, Divergent was my cure to my post- Hunger Games hangover. Yes, it was really that good. It had all the things I crave for in a book: kick- ass characters, an easy to follow but elaborate plot, non- cliche romance, and humor, of course.

Why yes, there is a romance, and no, it is not Instalove (I can just hear your sighs of relief). It's a nice cute type of romance, not rushed, and it didn't include those rapey, stalker types of guys (not naming names *coughs*). Nope, just Four/Tobias, whom I like very much. So, I approve!



I loved all the characters; they were all relevant to the story and all had a legit relationship with each other, not just dangling uselessly in the novel (I refuse to name names *ahem*). Tris wasn't annoying to me at all, she was definitely "Dauntless" . Better than the whinny "heroines" we get now... And I liked Will. No, me liking him doesn't relate to the fact that he has the name of one of my top YA crushes (yes, I'm talking to you, Mr. Herondale). No, he's funny, okay? Humor's a good enough reason to like someone, you know. Sheesh. ;)

Roth's writing was very descriptive, which made Tris's world become very real. There was an actual story behind this world unlike in some other books (still not naming names....).

So, yeah. I loved Divergent. I am very much looking forward to the sequel, because after that killer of a cliff- hanger in the end, who wouldn't?

Before I Die by Jenny Downham- Review

Before I die by Jenny Dowham, makes you realise how fragile everything we take for granted is. Getting up in the morning, spending the day knowing you still have tomorrow and looking forward to things in the future...


Tessa Scott has a list. She has a list of ten things to do before she dies.

When Tessa was 12, she was diagnosed with cancer. Now at the age of 16 she wants to live through all the things she wants to do before she dies.

Number 1: Sex

While I was reading this I thought, 'Oh here we go again'. But luckily enough for me, it changed. Not just in how Tessa handled her life, but the way Jenny Downham brough the characters feelings/emotions to life.

The word building and structure of this novel was literally breath taking. I couldn't put the book down, wondering what would happen next.

Cal, Tessa's 11 year old brother just seemed like a random extra character. But as the book builds, along with the tension. You begin to realise how important he is along with Zoey.

Zoey, Tessa's best friend, just seemed like a prop at first. The fun, rebel teenager. But like all other charcters in the book, reality sets in, and the unexpected happens. She also will face decisions, just like Adam.

Adam is the shy neighbour, that Tessa can't keep herself from.
Adam is looking after his ill mother, while also coping with a loss. With everything else on his plate, he has to face a massive decision on letting Tessa into his life. While knowing he could lose her too at any moment.

Tessa's mum and dad also put out a big influence throughout the novel. Espiecially the dad, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

This book was really set out well and the storyline was written out perfectly.

I really enjoyed this novel, I hope you other fellow readers that decide to read it, will find it as amazing as I did. :)

Blood Red Road Review

  Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

What we thought when we read the first line of Blood Red Road was, "woah, what the hell?!"
The sentence, "Lugh got born first", surprised us. But we read on, thinking it was just some random typo (everyone makes mistakes, right?) Then we started to notice other mistakes like 'an' instead of 'and' and 'jest' instead of 'just'. That's when we realised that these mistakes were intentional. Then both of us did the whole hand smacking on the forehead thing 'cause we freaking went on for a whole fifty pages or so thinking Moira Young had a really messed up editor.

When we got to the end though, the different language became one of the things we loved about the book. Both of us thought it added further to Saba’s personality and added further information to Saba’s world. Young’s style of writing is simple, which wasn’t a bad thing in this case; it made most of the scenes- especially the action ones- fast paced and all the more exciting. We was so used to this style of writing that we went around saying that Blood Red Road "warn't as bad as I wus sayin it wus" and that it was really "innerestin", accent and all.

The characters were awesome, each one unique, funny and relevant to the story. We would also like to say that we loved Tommo. He was so cute especially when him and Emmi were doing some bonding. Maybe a romance will develop? Hope so :D

We found the romance between Jack and Saba... cute, although sometimes their remarks and so called "hatred" for each other felt forced. And the way he just left in the end?! We can tell this won't end well.

The world- building was very well done- oh, God, we sound like we're talking about meat here, "would you like your steak well done, medium rare, or rare?". Scratch that then. The world building was really good (better, now?), very vivid and very... deserty, if we can say that.

In short, Blood Red Road was a fun intense read that both of us enjoyed very much. Five Stars!!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater Review

Ever since Grace was attacked by wolves when she was younger and a yellow eyed wolf came to save her, Grace had always been watching him, and he has always been watching her. 

 

One day, Grace finds a bleeding boy in her backyard with the same yellow eyes as her wolf. Her wolf, it turns out, is a werewolf named Sam that turns into a human every summer and a wolf every winter. And this bond, turns out to become a romance. But winter is coming, and Grace and Sam must fight to stay together.

_____________________________________________


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater has to be the most saddest and sweetest book ever.

First of all, We'd like to applaud Maggie Stiefvater. *cue clapping*

We know from experience how hard it is to distinguish each character when your book has multiple points- of- view. This is especially hard if the characters are of different sex. We've read books where the guy sounded so much like a girl that we thought he was going to open up about his sexuality at some point.

This was not the case for Shiver.

Sam Roth was very much a boy, a guitar playing, poem loving boy at that. He has experienced a very painful past that still haunts him and endures a present with no hope of a human future. Enter Grace Brisbane(boo! *thumbs down* Just kidding :p). She too has experienced a traumatic childhood attack by werewolves. But before things got worse, a yellow- eyed wolf morphed into a human to carry her out of the scene. Fast forward several years and Grace still remembers the mysterious yellow- eyed boy who carried her out of the woods. A fateful meeting and Grace and Sam are reunited, sparking a romance between them.

We loved Sam. Unlike the rapey "bad boys" we get nowadays in YA books, Sam is just the freaking bomb. The way Sam wanted to do things the right way with Grace was so sweet. He has a way of saying things that are totally romantic but really sad. If only the guys in our tiny town are like him. It would make us very happy girls. We even wrote it in our letters to Santa:

Dear Santa,

I hope I've been a good girl this year and I hope you make my wishes come true.
I would really love a real- life Sam Roth (you, know. From Shiver?)....

Loved our little sneak peak of our letter to Santa? Yeah, we thought so.

Moving on....

We actually liked Grace. We mean, we hated that she stole Sam from us, but as we liked how Grace wasn't like some of those really annoying girls you find when reading some other Y.A novels. She wasn't "nothing" without Sam; she was still very much functional and still thought of herself with a future. And with Sam, she still made plans about her future, like going to a decent college, getting a red coffeepot, things like that (unlike someone we know, who'd go to Alaska and lie her own dad just to be with her vampire boyfriend). we felt sorry about her relationship with her parents, though. Poor thing.

The way the book swaps from Grace's and Sam's point of view makes you know have everyone is dealing or feeling with each scene. It really adds a lot more depth to the characters.

The world- building was excellently done; we would very much love to live in Mercy Falls. And the werewolf thing's pretty much what we’re looking forward to. Who wouldn't love some hot werewolves? Except Shelby. She's just a psychotic bitch (ha, ha).

We really enjoyed Shiver, and we are very much looking forward to the sequel. We hope all you other fellow readers will find Shiver an amazing read too.<3

P.S: Wanna know what we miss the most?