Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This week is "Top Ten Books I Recently Added To My To-Be-Read-List"

So I just got on Goodreads and picked the last 10 books that I've added to my shelves, some are new, some old and some aren't even out yet but here they are. 

What books did you recently add to your list? 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Mini Review of "A Little Something Different"

A Little Something Different 

By Sandy Hall 

Source: Purchased 

Stars: 2 

"A Little Something Different" is a love story told from everyone's point of view but the two people falling in love, from their creative writing teacher to the squirrel in the park, they all know that Lea and Gabe belong together, this is their story. 

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So with my last review I told you all I took four pages of notes, well with this book I had half a page of 'notes' and at the end of the book I realized the only thing I had written down were the characters names... 

Sadly I don't have a ton to say about this book. I had such high hopes but it really ended up letting me down and I found myself forcing myself to finish reading it. 

It wasn't the 14 different point of views that I didn't like, to be honest I actually didn't mind it, I adored the bench (sassy little thing) and the squirrel, it was Lea and Gabe. I don't know if I didn't feel a real connection with them because it wasn't told from their eyes or if it was simply the fact that they felt rather one dimensional. 

I didn't care at all what was going on in their lives or what was about to take place. Lea annoyed me and Gabe was so awkward it made it hard to read chapters with him mentioned. 

It's kind of sad that the two 'characters' I actually liked weren't even human. 

I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll be reading more from this author so we'll have to wait and see but for now I wouldn't reccomend this book.

Until next time, 

Ginger

ARC Review of "The Start of Me and You"

The Start of Me and You 

By Emery Lord 

Source: Gift and Netgalley 

Stars: 5 

Release Date: March 31st 2015 

Paige had only been dating her boyfriend for three months before he died in a freak accident but even if she wanted to move on and let go the people around her won't let her forget that she's the girlfriend of the boy who drowned. 

When Paige decides to start over and wipe the slate clean she makes a list of the things that will help her. 

She wants to swim again, join a club, be more social and finally date her highschool crush, Ryan Chase. 

"The Start of Me and You" is an honest, relatable story about facing your fears, letting go of guilt and admitting your true feelings. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

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I have four (FOUR) pages of notes for this book. Usually I only have one, maybe two so bear with me and my rambles. 

First off I loved Paige, she was thee perfect female protagonist, she wasn't one of those characters you grew to love, it was an instant 'If I knew you in real life we'd be best friends' kind of connection. 

Speaking of best friends hers were EPIC. I can honest say I have some of the worst luck when it comes to friends, I've learned the hard way that not everyone can be trusted and not everyone has your best interests at heart but oh my god I was INSANELY jealous of Paige and her friends. Tess, Morgan and Kayleigh were always there for her (and each other). They knew just what to say and knew just how to turn a crappy day into an amazing day. 

I would LOVE to see each of them get their own story (hint hint Emery ;)). 

I adored Max (I mean who didn't?!) but I also really liked how Ryan didn't turn out to be an awful guy. 

Usually in a story like this the girl falls for the hot, charming, popular guy and finds out in the end that he's an awful person but even though Ryan wasn't for Paige he was still a good friend and a pretty decent guy. 

Of course Max automatically became one of my favorite book boyfriends, he was the perfect mix of quirky, nerdy and book smart. Not to mention he was kind to a fault! 

I loved Paige's relationship with her Grandmother, it was such a breathe of fresh air, usually the main character doesn't have that 'one person' she can talk to and reveal all her secrets to. It's usually all inner dialog or sometimes written in journal entries but having her Grandma brought such a depth to the story and a realness that I really appreciated. 

The T.V show references were a nice touch (especially the Gilmore Girl's ones) and I wish the book had been twice as long as it was so we could get a peek at what happened next with Paige's screenwriting. 

Another favorite part of mine was how Max called Paige 'Janie', I won't say why in case you haven't read it but lets just say that it melted my heart and I still can't stop thinking about it! 

I've only read one of Emery Lord's books but just from this one book I can honestly say that she is a master at tugging at your heart strings and making you care for her characters. 

I can't wait to read more from her! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

DNF Update (1)

DNF Update:

So I've gotten a lot better about not pushing myself to read books I'm not enjoying. I never used to quit reading a book half way through but ever since I started my blog I've gotten better about knowing when to push through and when to give up. 

I've been really lucky so far this year and I've only DNF 3 books. 

The first one was "Remember". 

I was really looking forward to reading this, I enjoyed the concept and the synopsis really drew me in but it wasn't executed the way I imagined and it ended up boring the hell out of me. 

Next up is "Where Sea Meets Sky". 

Again, I don't request a book unless I want to read it so of course I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately it was just really unrealistic and I felt nothing for the characters. 

Lastly is "We All Looked Up". 

I was really in the mood for an 'end of the days' read when I picked this up so you'd think I would've liked it enough to finish it but sadly that was not the case. As with the previous books it just didn't hold my attention, I found it really boring and the jumping around from character to character just wasn't something I liked. 

So those are my DNF for the year so far, I'll continue to do posts updating you all on the books I don't finish (hopefully not too many). 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Stacking The Shelves (29)

"We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in the physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! 

If you're anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles."

The one book I bought this week was "Vanishing Girls" by Lauren Oliver, I already finished it and my review is coming soon but let me just tell you IT'S AMAZING! And the cover alone is too die for! 

I have two review books that I've been sent and I haven't really heard anything about these but I'm excited to dive into them! 

That's all for this week, feel free to leave a link below for your post. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Review of "We'll Always Have Summer"

We'll Always Have Summer

By Jenny Han 

Stars: 4 

Source: Purchased 

A lot has changed since we were first introduced Belly, she fell in love with Conrad, Conrad broke her heart, pushed her towards Jeremiah and she's been there ever since. 

Their relationship isn't perfect but they try, so when Belly discovers that Jeremiah cheated on her she starts to question the past two years she's spent with him. 

Things may have changed since her teen years at the beach house but somethings remain the same. Are her feelings for Conrad one of those things? Or is Jeremiah her past, present and future? 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

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So the first two books in this trilogy I rated 5 stars, I liked them, they were super fast reads and I enjoyed losing myself in Belly's world. 

However with each book I kept overlooking Belly's immaturity, thinking to myself 'It'll get better in the next book'. 

So imagine my surprise when I picked up the third and last book and realized Belly is just as immature as she has been for the past 5 years! 

It got so old, her pining away for Conrad all the while sleeping next to his brother (and cuddling with Junior Mints). 

I can see where she gets her immaturity from, her mothers temper tantrum about her and J getting married was one for the books (excuse my awful pun). 

I understand (and fully agreed) that Belly and Jeremiah were to young and (I really need another word here) IMMATURE to be getting married but her mother really didn't handle the situation with the grace that I thought she would. 

I did like (read: LOVE) the chapters from Conrad's point of view, even if Belly got on my nerves Conrad helped me get over it so I could enjoy at least some of the book. 

On the other side of the spectrum we have Jeremiah. Jeremiah whose solution to their trust issues, cheating and constant bickering is to propose... 

I hated how much I hated Jeremiah in this book. I wish he hadn't of been turned into such a whiny, jealous, controlling person.

I wanted him to be that little kid, smiling and making jokes, I wanted him to put Belly's happiness (and Conrad's) ahead of his own. I know that sounds awful but I feel like that's the kind of person he was in the first two books and in the third one he morphed into this stranger I didn't recognize. 

All in all it was an okay end to the series, I can't say it was my favorite (out of the trilogy or all around) but I did enjoy the first two so it's hard to recommend the those and not this one.  

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Here is my selection for the week: 

Taken from Barnes and Noble: 

Imagination takes on new meaning for a uniquely talented teen in this debut novel that is a breathtaking blend of contemporary, fantasy, and romance.

Sometimes Jonathan Aubrey wishes he could just disappear. And as luck—or fate—would have it, he can. Ever since coming out of a coma as a kid, he has been able to create alternate worlds. Worlds where he is a superhero, or a ladies’ man, or simply a better version of himself. That’s the world he’s been escaping to most since sophomore year, a world where he has everything he doesn’t have in real life: friends, a place of honor on the track team, passing grades, and most importantly, Kylie Simms as his girlfriend.

But when Jonathan confuses his worlds senior year and tries to kiss the real Kylie Simms, everything unravels. The real Kylie actually notices Jonathan…and begins obsessing over him. The fantasy version of Kylie struggles to love Jonathan as she was created to do, and the consequences are disastrous. As his worlds collide, Jonathan must confront the truth of his power and figure out where he actually belongs—before he loses both Kylies forever. 

Release date is April 28th 2015 

I feel like this book is going to be a hit or miss and I'll probably just end up getting it at the library but I'm still looking forward to picking it up. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This week is "Top Ten Books From My Childhood/Teen Years" 

These are just the ten books that I could think up off of the top of my head, enjoy! 

1. Harry Potter 

2. Baby Island 

3. Magic Tree House Series 

4. Oh The Places You'll Go

5. Where The Red Fern Grows 

6. The Teeny Tiny Woman 

7. Eloise 

8. Junie B. Jones 

9. Summer Of The Monkeys 

10. Trixie Belden 

Until next time, 

Ginger

Review of "It's Not Summer Without You"

It's Not Summer Without You 

By Jenny Han 

Stars: 5 

Source: Purchased 

Last summer we were introduced to Belly, her family and most importantly the Fisher's. 

While the last book was set in Cousins at the beach house this summer is much different. 

It's the first summer that Belly hasn't spent in Cousins and she doesn't quite know what to do with herself. Not being able to go the beach house is one thing but not being able to talk to Susannah is excruciating. 

But fate seems to be pulling her back to Cousins and perhaps back to her first love. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Book Depository

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Can I just say how upsetting the first two pages of this book were to me? 

It was like Jenny waived this perfect book in front of my face and then ripped it away before I could even enjoy it. 

I instantly missed Susannah, her wise words, her sage advice, her witty comments. 

It felt empty without her on the pages, like she was the glue that held together their perfect paradise and without her it all fell apart. 

I did enjoy the chapters from Jerimiah's point of view but I wished the parts including Susannah weren't told in flashbacks. I felt like we were robbed of her last days and merely got snippets of what happened. 

I mentioned in my review yesterday that Belly acted really immature and that didn't really change in this book, sadly I feel like she was even more immature than the previous book. 

I did still like this book but I'm hoping I like the next one a little more. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Review of "The Summer I Turned Pretty"

The Summer I Turned Pretty

By Jenny Han 

Stars: 5 

Source: Purchased 

Belly spends the better half of the year counting down the days until summer vacation. Fall, winter, spring, they don't matter. It's summer when she comes alive, when she can let loose and live freely. 

She's never missed a summer at the beach house and she never plans to. 

Spending the weeks lounging around by the pool with Jeremiah and Conrad, watching old movies with her mom and Susannah, going into town to get ice cream with Steven. 

All her best memories happen at the beach house, all her firsts, everything important starts and ends in Cousins. 

But this summer things start to change, people start to grow apart, lines are drawn in the sand and somehow the magic of summer starts to fade right before Belly's very eyes. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

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I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I would. When I first started it I was a little put off by how immature Belly was and frankly how annoying her character was but the more I read the more the book as a whole outweighed my dislike of her. 

Yes she did have her moments and her tempter tantrums but I just had to keep reminding myself that she was only 15 and sadly some 15 year old's I know do act like that. 

What I did like about the book were the other characters, obviously Conrad and Jeremiah and even Steven and Belly's mom but it was Susannah that kept me reading. Susannah and her beach house are what made me fall in love with this book. 

The second I opened it up I would find myself smelling the faint scent of sunblock, chlorine and salt air.  

I found myself turning the pages and longing for sand between my toes and slight sunburn on my forehead. 

If you're looking for a fast, beach read that makes you nostalgic for your childhood summers I highly recommend picking this up. 

Until next time, 

Ginger

Review of "The Orphan Queen"

The Orphan Queen 

By Jodi Meadows 

Stars:5

Source: EW (First 12 Chapters) and Gift 

Release Date: March 10th 2015 

Wilhelmina is a Princess, an orphan and a spy. 

Ten years ago Wil's kingdom was attacked, her parents killed right in front of her and her land stolen from her and her people. 

Now nearly a decade later Wil and the other orphans have banned together and have a plan to take back what it rightfully theirs. 

Wil and her closest friend Melanie have lied their way into Skyvale Palace in order to gather inside information about the enemies army, their tactics and their plan to destroy the Wraith before it destroys them. After all, what good will it do for Wil to get her kingdom back if the Wraith kills everyone inside of it? 

During their mission Wil begins fighting along side the vigilante Black Knife, helping him kill the Wraith creatures who find their way into the city limits. But concealing her magic from him is getting harder and harder and if she slips up even once she's afraid she'll disappear along with the other flashers he has apprehended. 

"The Orphan Queen" is high fantasy at it's finest and it has the perfect blend of magic, love and revenge. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

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This. Book. Killed me. 

While this is a spoiler free review I would like to just get this out of the way: I'm 99.9% positive that Jodi Meadows lives off the the tears of her readers. That is all. 

I loved this book from the first chapters. 

Wil is such a kick ass character! She isn't stupid and she doesn't run into things without a plan, a backup plan and a backup for the backup plan. She's a thinker, quick on her toes and she can handle herself in a fight. 

I loved how she knew from the very beginning that she was a princess and that her kingdom was taken from her. There wasn't a slow, building lead up to a big revel where the lonely orphan discovers her heritage. She knew from the start and she knew she would do anything to reclaim it. 

I loved all the Osprey's (excluded Patrick) and how they each had a purpose and a place. 

But I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Black Knife. 

First off he's a vigilante so I instantly pictured Stephan Ammell all dressed in black flying across the rooftops. 

Secondly he is mysterious as hell, never revealing his identity or giving any clues as to who he might be. 

Thirdly the banter between both him and Wil is perfection! I couldn't get enough! 

I flew through this book, I picked it up and didn't set it down until I reached the last page and I instantly regretted it. 

I wish I had stretched it out a little longer and enjoyed the world bit more. 

I've already added this book to my re-read list because I know I won't be able to go very long without picking it back up again. 

I am warning you that the ending will tear you to pieces, it's heartbreaking. 

What's even more heartbreaking at this I've heard this is only going to be a two book series and not a trilogy. I'm praying it's at least three book but I would love more (12 would be ideal). 

To sum it all up you need to read this book! It's only March and I can already say that this is one of my top books of 2015.  

Until next time, 

Ginger

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Stacking The Shelves (28)

"We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in the physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! 

If you're anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles."

So this week I didn't request any books and I didn't buy any books (my TBR pile is cheering) but I did get a couple books from my lovely #OTSPSecretSister and I'm so excited to read them! 

The first one is The Orphan Queen which I have already finished and I LOVED it! 

Next is The Conspiracy of Us which is signed (!!!) 

And the last one I got this week is Being Audrey Hepburn, which if you know me at all you know I'm OBSESSED with Audrey Hepburn and anything to do with her so I've been dying to read this. 

Lemme know in the comments below what books you guys picked up this week! 

Until next time, 

Ginger

ARC Review of "The Walls Around Us"

The Walls Around Us 

By Nova Ren Suma 

Stars: 5 

Source: Netgalley

Release Date: March 24th 2015 

"The Walls Around Us" is a story about three girls and how their paths cross, their mysteries intertwine and their secrets unravel.  

Violet's dream is to be a professional ballerina, she has trained and studied for years and in just a few short days she will leave for Julliard. 

Amber is in a girls detention center, surrounded by murderers, thieves and druggies, oh my! 

Ori is the girls that ties Vi and Amber's stories together. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

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I don't want to say too much about this book because I feel like it's the kind of book you have to go into blind. 

It's such a good mystery and it's supernatural/ghostly undertone adds a depth to it that you don't see a ton of in the YA genre.

I was a little hesitant when I first started it because it was a little difficult to tell exactly where the timeline of each chapter was taking place but it didn't take long for me to just let go and roll with the punches. I feel like if you try to over think this book and draw a clear timeline you'll drive yourself crazy and end up not finishing it. 

One of the thinks I loved about this book was how the divide between reality and fantasy wasn't always black and white but a dark gray.

I feel like if this book were to be turned into a movie the only person who could direct it and make it a worthy adaption would be M. Night Shyamalan. 

It's got that eerie, cryptic, spooky factor that makes you want to read it in the middle of the afternoon yet you still find yourself staying up way past midnight to finish it. 

This is definitely one of those books that you finish and you immediately feel the need to flip to the first page and read all over again.  

I cannot wait to read more from this author and I HIGHLY recommend this book! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.