Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Summary Provided by Goodreads: When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

My Thoughts: Perfect Chemistry is an excellent book. I thought it was just going to be a cute, simple love story about two people from completely different backgrounds, but it was so much more than that! The story, told through a dual-narration, is about Brittany Ellis, the stereotypical popular, blond, rich, cheerleader and Alex Fuentes, the Spanish gang member from the wrong side of the tracks. Brittany hides her family secrets with her perfect appearance, and Alex, who plays the part of the bad boy thug, is really a smart, caring person who is just trying to protect his family, and little brothers from gang life. I loved knowing both Brittany’s and Alex’s POV, because I love when the author goes beneath the surface of a character so the reader can find out who they really are. What I also really liked about Alex is he is so much more than a gang member, he’s loyal, and confident, and unlike many other gang members we see in movies, or read about in books, he knows what he is doing is wrong, and refuses to do certain things, such as dealing drugs. Alex struggles every day with his choices and doesn’t see a way out, until he meets Brittany.

I just really loved this book. As soon as I finished, I was ready to read it again. Right now I am reading, Rules of Attraction, which is about Alex’s little brother, Carlos, and I am loving is so far. Simone Elkeles just has a way with words that is absolutely perfect!

Love, Kristina

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

Summary Provided my Goodreads:

A sweet and touching modern love story, told through dictionary entries.

basis, n.
There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this little novel. I first saw it at Borders, and thought it seemed interesting and different. I picked it up from my public library, and had it read in an hour. It’s short-only about 200 pages. What drew me to this “love story” was the originality of it. The story is told through letters of the alphabet. I laughed out loud at some of the parts. The writing felt real, like I was apart of the narrator’s relationship with his unnamed girlfriend. The story really made me think about all different types of relationships. It tackled the boyfriend/girlfriend dynamic perfectly, and also included relationships with family and friends.

I recommend reading this book. It’s short, sweet, and real. It’s simple, and too the point. It’s a modern love story. 

Love, Kristina

2011 Debut Author Challenge!

I am super excited to say that I will be participating in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge! What's that you ask? Well, the 2011 Debut Author Challenge (DAC) is hosted by The Story Siren and the purpose of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from a Young Adult author whose debut book is coming out in 2011. There are so many amazing books coming out this year and I'm happy to be able to read as many as I can and share them with the world! If you would like to participate in the 2011 DAC, you may do so here.

The Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Summary Provided by Sterling Publishing: 
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she'd be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world.
 
But that's exactly what happened.
 
Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
 
Tiger's Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.


My Thoughts: 

The Tiger’s Curse is a wonderful story about a girl named Kelsey and a prince named Ren. It's the beginning of the summer and Kelsey gets a job at a traveling circus where her job is too sell tickets and souvenirs, help out with the animals and feed the beautiful, white tiger, named Dhiren. Kelsey feels drawn to the tiger and realizes he is not like animals. Believing that he can understand her, Kelsey spends more and more time with Dhiren, even nicknaming him Ren. She talks to him, reads him stories about cats, and eventually she has enough courage to pet him. One day, a mysterious Indian man, Mr. Kadam comes to the circus and purchases Ren, allowing him to go back to India. Mr. Kadam asks Kelsey to go with them and help care for the tiger. Kelsey, who has become very attached to Ren, agrees. Once in India, Kelsey finds out her beloved tiger is actually a 300 year old prince, who along with his brother, Kishan, was cursed to spend eternity as tigers. The brothers are only able to be human for twenty four minutes in every twenty four hour day. It’s up to Kelsey, with the help of Ren and Mr. Kadam, to break the curse so Ren and Kishan can be human again.

The Tiger's Curse started out slow for me, but once I was hooked I could not put it down. I fell in love with Ren. He was a great character and when he was in his tiger form, I couldn’t wait for him to be human again. Ren is everything a girl could want in a guy. He's loyal, thoughtful, sweet, funny, mysterious, sensitive, brave, kind, and who could forget absolutely gorgeous! He's confident, but not arrogant, and I really enjoyed his character overall. Kelsey on the other hand bothered me a lot. While she was strong and loyal, and I loved that she was risking her life to save someone she has just met, she also pissed me off a lot. One minute she is in love with Ren, the next she's being very nasty to him and wants him to stay away from her. What she did in the end to Ren, actually made my teary-eyed.

The Tiger's Curse is a captivating, original story and deserves much praise. The second book in the saga, The Tiger’s Quest comes out in June 2011 and I can not wait!!!!

Love, Kristina

*This is a 2011 Debut Author*

In My Mailbox! (1)

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly post created by The Story Siren to share with everyone the books that were bought, received for review, and borrowed from friends or the library during the week.

Here is my first IMM post!

Books I bought: 

 ~Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

~Willow by Julia Hoban

~Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

~White Cat by Holly Black

Books I borrowed from the library:

~Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 

~The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan 

 ~Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Split by Swati Avasthi

Summary Provided by Random House:
Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.

At least so far.

Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. 

My Thoughts: 
Swati Avasthi first novel, Split, is a beautifully written story about a boy trying to deal with his past. Jace leaves his home in Chicago after his extremely abusive father beats him up and kicks him out of the house. Jace travels to New Mexico to live with his older brother, Christian. Christian is 22 years old and left home when he was 17 and Jace was 11. Jace had not seen him since then.

I've read a lot of books that have abuse as a common theme, but this one was different in a wonderful way. Some of the story is told in flashbacks but the majority of it is Jace trying to figure out a life without abuse, and also worrying if he will end up just like his father.

I borrowed this book from the library, finished it within a few hours, then bought a copy for myself at Amazon. Split is a very emotional and raw read. The author does a wonderful job with Jace's narrative and as a reader, I felt everything Jace felt. She even did a great job developing Christian's character who is also dealing with the abuse. Their father was a sick, disgusting man and the brothers, along with Christian's girlfriend, who knew nothing about the abuse until Jace came along, help each other to deal and move on.

This touching novel stays with you weeks after you finished reading it.

Love, Kristina

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Summary Provided by HarperTeen: 

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

  
My Thoughts: 
I freakin loved this book!!  As You Wish is a perfect book to read over and over again while cuddled in a blanket on a rainy day! Viola, who was dumped by her boyfriend, Lawrence last year, has never been able to get over it. Even though her and Lawrence are best friends, she still feels betrayed.  She's lonely and unhappy, and wishes she belonged--Enter the magical genie Jinn! Just like in the classic, genie fairytale, Viola gets three wishes that Jinn has to grant.

Viola and Jinn fall in love, but after she makes her three wishes, Jinn will be gone from her life forever. I could not put this book down because I needed to know what happened. If Jinn and Viola did not end up together, I was going to throw my book across the room....**SPOILER ALERT**....I did not throw my book across the room! The ending was perfect!

Many times in books, the lead female character bothers me. They are too winy to deal with. Viola complains a lot about feeling invisible and not belonging since Lawrence came out of the closet and broke up with her, but let's face it, this is something that every single teenager has felt. We all at one point or another in our life has felt  "invisible in a crowded room". I admired Viola. I thought Viola was strong, selfless, thoughtful, and smart. I also enjoyed Lawrence's character. He was sweet and caring, and brought a lot to the story. Jinn was my favorite. He started off as kind of a sarcastic douche, but once he opened up, it was easy for me (oops, I mean Viola) to fall in love with him! I could not stop picturing Jinn as Aladdin, who I had a childhood crush on, even though he was a cartoon. I know, lame.  

The only thing I did not like about this book is the cover. The publishers could have done so much with the cover of this novel. But whatever, the book was still amazing!

Jackson Pearce is a wonderful, funny, and talented writer. As You Wish was her first book that she wrote while in college (which in itself is really cool!).  I've read and reviewed Sisters Red already and I am excited for Sweetly, due out in August 2011!

Love, Kristina