Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Release: December 1, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Rating: 5/5

Summary:Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Review: Beautiful Creatures is simply extraordinary. This is my second time reading it and while reading the beginning I kept asking my self “Why did I love this so much?” I was worried it would happen again. That I’ll reread a book that I loved so much the first time I read it, then the second time around, the magic just isn’t there anymore. Luckily, that wasn’t the case this time because it picked up and everything fell into place.

One aspect of the book that really worked for me was the main character Ethan. The fact it was a male main character in love with a girl with a secret and not a female character in love with a broody, two-dimensional male with a secret really made this book stand out to me. All of the characters were great. There was excellent development, especially with the adult characters who usually get looked over in young adult literature. 

I am a major advocate that the setting of a book is a character. It can make or break a book. Breathe life into a scene or leave it flat on the floor. The setting in this book is breathtaking. It enhances the whole mood of this novel is absolutely perfect for a southern gothic. 

I have yet to see the movie, and I’m glad for that. I like reading, or rereading in this case, books before I see the movie. 

Beautiful Creatures is a stunning novel that will peak your intrigue. You will quickly become fixated on the romance and hooked by the drama. A fabulous novel that I recommend to lovers of paranormal romance and mystery.

Have you seen the movie? What did you think?

Waiting on Wednesday: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Publication date: August 15, 2013
Published by: Dial

From Goodreads:

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

WHY: This. Book. Sounds. AMAZING. The Devil as a love interest? Yes, please. I've never heard of that in a book and I am very excited to see how it plays out. I cannot even describe how excited I am for this book. Gothic is one of my favorite genres, so you can bet I'll be picking this up when it comes out.

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

This is going to be very easy for me, considering I just started my blog last week.

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

I love everything Ellen Hopkins. Her books were some of the first to really get me into reading, so of course there is going to be a few of them on here. Great book.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

This is also one of the books that really instilled a love of YA literature into me. It is a wonderful book. It's my favorite of his that I've read.

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

This book was insane. I don't think it would be on this list if it weren't for the ending. I was all shades of "WHAT?" after finishing it. I literally could not handle how much the ending shook me. One of the best endings I've ever read and it's a great thriller.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

This was the first book that I read by Ellen Hopkins. This is what made me love her books. This was an amazingly powerful, moving novel. I recommend this to EVERYBODY.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Do I even need explain this choice?

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

This is the cutest romance I've ever read. It very well could be my favorite romance I've ever read. I TORE through this in one day because it is just SO GOOD. Love love love. Go read it, please.

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

I, again, read this very early on my adventure with books. It was the first book I had read of his and I just fell in love. I utterly love everything about this novel.

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

This book is so amazing. I couldn't tear myself away from it while reading it. Ellen Hopkins really is a genius.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

This is the sequel to Across the Universe, but I enjoyed this book so much more than the first book. That is very rare for me. GREAT BOOK.

 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

And lastly, an AMAZING, DEEP, MOVING, TENSE, EMOTIONAL novel. This might be my favorite book of all time. This truly is a great book. Everyone should read it, especially now seeing as it's Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It gives bloggers a chance to spread the of the words of all of the awesome books they've gotten throughout the week. 

I normally don't get books often, so these posts will be rather very sporadic.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

This is my third copy of this book and I have zero regrets. I found it at a local bookstore for $2 and I was like "OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG I NEED." I am actually currently rereading this so look for a review that should be up soon.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I am SO excited to read this! Fairy tale retellings are legit my guilty pleasure. What am I talking about, it's not guilty. VERY EXCITED.

Chime by Franny Billingsley

I LOVE this new cover! That's what made me pick up this book, then I saw that it's about witches, I had to get it.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

WHY DID I NOT ALREADY HAVE THIS? I am in love with Gretchen McNeil and Possess was a great book. 

Who Done It? by a lot of authors

This looks so cool! I can't believe I had never heard about this before. There are so many amazing authors in this anthology and I can't wait until I get a chance to read it. I love a good mystery.

What did you get this week?

An (in)Formal Introduction

Introductions are always awkward, so why try fighting it: Well, I'm Corey and this is my shiny, brand new, young adult book reviewing blog. WELCOME. I love reading, so I thought, why not share my love WITH THE WORLD. I am hoping to have somewhat interesting posts (most likely ramblings) on other bookish things along with my reviews. So, yeah I guess that's all I have to say. TELL YOUR FRIENDS. SPREAD THE WORD OF I READ WORDS. BYE <3.

Waiting On Wednesday: Truth or Dare

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.                                                                            
                                                                            

Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

Publication Date: May 14,2013 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads:

When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.

Why:I have literally stared at this cover for ten minutes. PRETTY COLORS. I have always loved books based around childhood games gone wrong and I can not wait until this comes out. This sound amazing, and I want it. The end.

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Release: April 2 2013
Published By:Poppy
Rating: 4/5
Summary: If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

Review: When I saw that This Is What Happy Looks Like was set in Maine, I knew I had read it. Having lived in Maine my whole life and having absolutely nothing ever happen here, you can say that I can get more than excited whenever something has anything to do with Maine. The thing is, I also have high standards when it comes to things set in Maine, luckily Jennifer E. Smith's book did not disappoint.  
  
This Is What Happy Looks Like is set in the perfect Maine town; locally owned shops line the streets, beautiful beaches are scattered about the town, and tourists flock to it like Maine blueberry bees to a fertile blueberry field, especially when Graham Larkin is shooting his new movie there. 

The plot is great for a summer read. It's very cute, but also extremely unrealistic. Yet, I feel like that works well for the book. It makes it lighter and funner and an overall great summer read to get lost in. It was a beautiful romance that didn't need a love triangle to keep me hooked. It was just two people very much in love due to one misaddressed email about a pig named Wilbur.

I highly recommend this to people everywhere, especially Maine. This Is What Happy Looks is an extremely lovable summer read that will hook you from the first email.

Oh, one more thing, who in Maine hasn't heard of whoopie pies?