Cover Lust: Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Cover Lust is something that I do every week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.

Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 Why did I pick this cover? 

I'm a sucker for anything illustrated! I love the watercolor effect and overall fact that it is illustrated!

What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!

REVIEW: Of Shadow and Stone by Michelle Muto

Gargoyles were created centuries ago to protect mankind, but something went horribly wrong. Now only the sentinel—a mortal chosen to control the stone beasts—stands between them and their human prey.

When the latest sentinel is killed, Kate Mercer is destined to take his place. But Kate has enough going on in her life—like a skyrocketing film career, a delusional ex-boyfriend, and a crazed stalker who will stop at nothing to get to her. But the powers that be have decided, and Kate is transported to Shadow Wood, a mysterious castle that serves as a sanctuary for the supernatural. Although beautiful, Shadow Wood is no safe place for a mere mortal. Yet Kate is drawn not only to the gargoyles but also to Ian McGuire, a charming novelist who might be in the greatest danger of all.

As Kate decides whether to accept the most perilous role of her life, she discovers there are more secrets than answers within the castle’s walls. Her survival and Ian’s depend on her ability to master the gargoyles before time runs out. Is fate really cast in stone?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MY THOUGHTS
This book was not at all what I expected. I thought that this would be an action-packed paranormal with gargoyles! Gargoyles! I've read very few books with gargoyles as the main creature, so I was excited to read this one! Sadly, this book fell flat.

Kate Mercer is an actress and few the past few years she has been playing a major role in the Dark Fall trilogy. She's used to paranormal elements being only on screen until, every night, she has extremely realistic dreams of haunting a castle. Ian McGuire is an author and has been invited to the castle to research for his books. What's most interesting to him is a supposed "ghost" haunting the halls of the castle. Both will discover what is truly going on in the castle and the roles they both need to play.

Sounds interesting, right? But this book just didn't reach up to the expectations I had. A majority of the book was just Kate trying to decide is she really wanted to be the next sentinel. I understand that it takes awhile to decide, but probably 70% of the book was just this. The other percent was a weird add-on storyline with a crazed stalker. Again, I understand that, as an actress, she has stalkers, but this really wasn't necessary for the story. Especially since the first part reads as a paranormal and the last part reads as a thriller, they don't really work together,

I was also really confused by the castle. The castle is a Sanctuary for supernatural creatures and I guess it just bothered me that there were other supernatural creatures just seemingly added into the story. But what bothers me the most is just has the characters don't seem shocked at all by this. Sure, Ian chalks all this up to an elaborate act at first, but he still doesn't act that surprised. The world-building and character development in general was just lacking. Everything felt flat in this book and I, honestly, couldn't care less for the characters.

Now, I keep bashing on this book, but it's not that horrible. The ideas behind this book were really good and I would've loved to read more about them. Sadly, this book went about the ideas the wrong way.

IN CONCLUSION
This book isn't a bad book, but it really just fell flat. I hate saying this, but I don't really recommend this book. There are other books about gargoyles that are much more exciting.

I hereby give this book

2 Stars

Meaning: It was okay

Cover vs Cover: End Times by Anna Schumacher

This week's pick is...

End Times

VS.  

Hardcover                      Paperback

The hardcover is not the best, but the paperback is just worse to me. I'm never a fan of orange covers, orange is a fine cover but it usually looks horrible on covers. I really don't like the oil pumps and just the see-though people in general really bother me.
Final Verdict: Hardcover

Do you agree? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!

REVIEW: The Holders by Julianna Scott

17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.

What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.

Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?

In this world where alien and human are at odds, the connection forming between the two has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets a chain of events in motion which threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

MY THOUGHTS

A glimpse at the synopsis, and one might think that this is just like every other YA book. While this book can be predictable at times, it's actually a very unique and enjoyable read!

This book focuses on Becca, a very smart 17-year old girl. In fact, she graduated high school at 15. Becca is very protective of her younger brother, Ryland, who is constantly made fun of for the voices that he hears. It's not uncommon for people to recommend 'help' or try to give 'help' to Ryland in the form of mental institutions. But one day, their family is approached by representatives from a school in Ireland. At first, Becca thinks this school is just another mental institution trying to 'help' her brother and is enraged. It turns out that Ryland isn't as crazy as everyone seems to think, he just has a special ability to read minds with no way to control it. Becca ends up agreeing with sending Ryland to the school (her mom already agreed, but we all know that Becca is as much in control when it comes to Ryland's life), but there's one condition: she must come too.

Becca is such an amazing character. What most defines her is her loyalty. She really loves her brother and will do anything to protect him. She also has always believed in her brother, never believing that he was crazy. Becca is just such an admirable character. She also has to learn in this book too. She's so used to being with her brother, always protecting him, that she has to learn that Ryland doesn't always need his big sister around and that's hard for her to come into terms with.

The world-building in this book was amazing! We get a full history of the Holders, along with other general info, but I never felt like I was being info-dumped. I was getting the info just as Becca was coming to learn them. Overall, the whole idea of the Holders was very creative. The book was also very fast-paced! I had a very hard time putting it down!

I loved the romance. I admit it, I thought they were perfect together and you can tell that they honestly did like each other. There was no insta-love in this book. Becca does have a bit of an insta-attraction, but I have no problem with those, because you're bound to have a crush on a cute, but sweet guy shortly after meeting. <highlight to view spoiler>There was a bit of a soulmates thing thrown in, which I usually hate, but it oddly didn't bother me.<end of spoiler> I still felt like the romance was done well.

IN CONCLUSION

Frankly, I loved almost everything about this book! The only issue that I can think of is the fact that there was a few typos. Other than that? Everything! This was such a great book! A very strong, loyal, yet realistic main character. A very interesting and well-developed plot. And a great romance! I definitely recommend this book and I will certainly be reading the sequel soon!

I hereby give this book

5 Wheels

Meaning: A new favorite!

Waiting on Wednesday: Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where you talk about whatever book you are IMPATIENTLY WAITING for!

This week I am waiting for...

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.

Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.

Release Date: May 19th 2015  
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Why am I waiting?

Apparently, the main character in this book has schizophrenia and I'm really curious about how that will work out in the book! Also, "featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator", I'm a sucker for unreliable narrators!

What book are you waiting for this week?

REVIEW: Kalahari by Jessica Khoury

Deep in the Kalahari Desert, a Corpus lab protects a dangerous secret…

But what happens when that secret takes on a life of its own?

When an educational safari goes wrong, five teens find themselves stranded in the Kalahari Desert without a guide. It’s up to Sarah, the daughter of zoologists, to keep them alive and lead them to safety, calling on survival know-how from years of growing up in remote and exotic locales. Battling dehydration, starvation and the pangs of first love, she does her best to hold it together, even as their circumstances grow increasingly desperate.

But soon a terrifying encounter makes Sarah question everything she’s ever known about the natural world. A silver lion, as though made of mercury, makes a vicious, unprovoked attack on the group. After a narrow escape, they uncover the chilling truth behind the lion’s silver sheen: a highly contagious and deadly virus that threatens to ravage the entire area—and eliminate life as they know it.

In this breathtaking new novel by the acclaimed author of Origin and Vitro, Sarah and the others must not only outrun the virus, but its creators, who will stop at nothing to wipe every trace of it.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

I received an ecopy of this book via First to Read in exchange for an honest review.

MY THOUGHTS
I've read and loved all of Jessica Khoury's other books, but this one has to be my favorite so far. I went into this book without knowing anything about it, besides the setting and the fact that it has something to do with experiments (the latter was just a guess, it is a Corpus book after all). I love going through books knowing little to nothing about it. I ended up really enjoying this book and constantly turning the pages to know more!

This book is another companion book, part of the Corpus series, though the books can be read out of order and by themselves yet still make sense. Kalahari follow Sarah who lives in the Kalahari desert with her dad. In order to make more money, they agree to let five teenagers join them for an educational safari. When her dad goes after some poachers and doesn't return, she fears the worst (especially since her mom died recently after a similar event). She goes after to find her dad, with the five teenagers in tow. She has to find her dad, while keeping her tag-a-longs alive, all the while strangers keep coming after her, along with the discovery of odd, silver animals and a deadly disease.

First of all, this book is incredibly action-packed. Sarah's dad disappears very quickly in the book and from then on it's event after event after event. This book is never slow-paced and it absolutely works with the book! The entire idea behind this book is also really unique and creative, yet makes scientific sense. Sure, silver animals don't sound very plausible, but it is explained so brilliantly that it makes perfect sense. (By the way, please tell me I'm not the only one who was reminded of that one Scooby-Doo episode where all the safari animals turned a radioactive green? Anyone?)

The characters were also very great. I know I say this a lot in my reviews, but Sarah is a very strong main character. She is very resourceful, thanks to practically living off the land, and saves the other's lives many times over. The other characters do grow as the book progresses. A few of the teenagers are kind of annoying in the beginning. They blame Sarah for what is going on and they complain about what's happening, but they begin to lose these feelings when they realize how serious the situation is.

There is a very tiny romance in this book. It was one I was expecting. Once this guy walked out of the plane, my first though was "I bet this is the love interest." As I said though, the romance was very small and didn't distract from the plot at all. I actually thought it was really nice.

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this book was very fact-paced and action-packed! The plot behind this whole book is very fascinating and I thought it was done very well. I do recommend this book, along with any of Jessica Khoury's other books! If you are a fan of fast-based books with a mystery and science, you will very likely enjoy this book.

I hereby give this book

4 Wheels

Meaning: It was amazing!

Book Blast: An Angel Torched My Homework & Other Lies by Miche Sipes

Carrie Philips just wants her junior year at Clement Academy to go smoothly. Sure, it’s the first high school in the nation to integrate Norms like her with the Differents. But the Diffs are just typical teenagers with “tiny” genetic anomalies. They’re not really vampires or werewolves or angels or zombies like you see in old movies. The Diffs just have special dietary needs and some unusual abilities. They’re certainly not dangerous or anything—at least that’s what Carrie has always believed, since her dad is a doctor of Different medicine.
 But when several of her fellow students are mysteriously assaulted, cracks form in Carrie’s worldview. Cracks she tries to ignore while defending her friends from anti-Diff backlash and solving the mystery of who’s really behind the attacks. Meanwhile, she’s distracted by two criminally cute guys who both seem to like her (and hate each other). Then Carrie uncovers a bombshell that could forever change how Norms and Diffs see each other. So much for a quiet school year.
 "What happens when you combine vampires, angels, werewolves and zombies with normal humans? Supernatural insanity! Miche Sipes has created a clever world, filled with lovable characters, unexpected plot twists and lots of humor. I loved this book. 5 stars!" --Lynda Hilburn, author of the Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series
 "A refreshing, hilarious blend of every paranormal creature under the sun (or moon), heavy on the fun and light on the angst!" -- Helen Keeble, author of Fang Girl and No Angel

Goodreads/ Amazon

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miche Sipes wrote her first play at the age of six and has been writing creatively ever since. Well, if you don’t count the occasional decade-long lapse. Miche has lived in Maryland and Florida, but now calls Colorado home. Whenever she’s not writing—or finding ingenious ways to procrastinate like ironing shoelaces or flossing her cat’s teeth—she can be found hiking in the mountains. Then again, there’s a good chance you won’t find her because she’s probably lost.

Website/ Twitter/ Goodreads/ Facebook/ Instagram

 GIVEAWAY

1 Winner will receive a signed copy of An Angel Torched My Homework and Other Lies by Miche Sipes and a $25 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Rooms by Lauren Oliver

The New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy makes her brilliant adult debut with this mesmerizing story in the tradition of The Lovely Bones, Her Fearful Symmetry, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane—a tale of family, ghosts, secrets, and mystery, in which the lives of the living and the dead intersect in shocking, surprising, and moving ways

Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.

But the Walkers are not alone. Prim Alice and the cynical Sandra, long dead former residents bound to the house, linger within its claustrophobic walls. Jostling for space, memory, and supremacy, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a light bulb.

The living and dead are each haunted by painful truths that will soon surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results.

Elegantly constructed and brilliantly paced, Rooms is an enticing and imaginative ghost story and a searing family drama that is as haunting as it is resonant.

Goodreads / Amazon/ Barnes&Noble

MY THOUGHTS
I love all of Lauren Oliver's other books, so I decided to pick up this book, despite my irrational fear of adult books. To be honest, this book isn't all that different that YA books. I read somewhere that the difference between YA and Adult books is just who it is written for and, yeah, this book was written for adults, but it's not all that different from YA. My point is that if you're worried about the fact that Lauren Oliver wrote an adult book and you usually stick to YA, don't worry.

Anyway, I am a bit disappointed in this book. Like I said, I love Lauren Oliver's books, so I was expecting my socks to be fully knocked on my feet. Sorry to say, my socks stayed firmly on my feet. I'm not even certain why I couldn't connect with this book, I just couldn't. Lauren Oliver is a wonderful writer and her beautiful writing is still evident in this book. My problem my dwell in the fact that this is more of a character-driven book. It's very slow-paced and has more of a literary feel. Do I like these kinds of books from time to time? Yeah, but they're not usually my thing.

If you're looking for a ghost story, turn around and search somewhere else. This is not a ghost story. The entire story focuses on multiple different characters, some living, some dead. All of these characters are incredibly real, by that I mean they all have flaws and they all have their own problems. And yeah, some of these characters aren't exactly likable. This book slowly introduces you to the characters and their lives all until we learn the secrets they've been hiding and the secrets that may have made them the way they are now. I think that's basically what Rooms is supposed to be about, the secrets we keep, and it is done very beautifully. It's just not my kind of book.

IN CONCLUSION
The writing is very beautiful and well-done, but it's also very slow-paced and character-driven. If you enjoy those kind of books, yes, pick this up. I did actually like this book, it just didn't connect to me as much as I hoped.

I hereby give this book

3 Wheels

Meaning: I liked it.

New Releases in YA! (January 25th-31st)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!

Here's what you get to look forward to this week:

P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!

               
              
               

What books, if any, do you plan to buy?

Stacking the Shelves (January 24th 2015)

Hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is where all the book nerds can post about the lovely (or not so lovely) books that they've got this week.

Not much really happened this week, but I did get to read a few books.

P.S. The covers take you to the book's Goodreads page!

Books I've Read in the Past Week

Ebooks

For Review

Thanks to Netgalley & Entangled Teen!

Books I Reviewed

(The covers are linked to my review)

NEW DISCOVERIES

I add books to my TBR pile so often, that I decided to include the new additions to my ever-growing list.
I DID NOT RECEIVE OR BUY THESE BOOKS. I only added them to my TBR list.

I also have a giveaway running, so check that out!

Anyway, what books did you haul in this week?

Cover Lust: The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick

Cover Lust is something that I do every week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!

A bold, genre-bending epic that chronicles madness, obsession, and creation, from the Paleolithic era through the Witch Hunts and into the space-bound future.

Four linked stories boldly chronicle madness, obsession, and creation through the ages. Beginning with the cave-drawings of a young girl on the brink of creating the earliest form of writing, Sedgwick traverses history, plunging into the seventeenth century witch hunts and a 1920s insane asylum where a mad poet's obsession with spirals seems to be about to unhinge the world of the doctor trying to save him. Sedgwick moves beyond the boundaries of historical fiction and into the future in the book's final section, set upon a spaceship voyaging to settle another world for the first time. Merging Sedgwick's gift for suspense with science- and historical-fiction, Ghosts of Heaven is a tale is worthy of intense obsession.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 Why did I pick this cover? 

I have no idea what this book is about, but I LOVE this cover! I love all the muted colors and how they transition into one another (I have an obsession with all things rainbow). I also love the design overlays and that spiral staircase! This is a really great cover!

What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!

Cover vs. Cover: The Geography of You & Me by Jennifer E. Smith

This week's pick is...

The Geography of You & Me

VS.  

Hardcover                      Paperback

Both are great, but I kind of prefer the paperback. I like the photograph more than the silhouettes and the paperback matches Statistical Probability very well!

Final Verdict: Paperback

Do you agree? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!