Book Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars
by E. Lockhart
Series: Standalone
Publication: Delacorte Press on May 13, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 225 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Family, Romance

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends - the Liars - whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution.  An accident.  A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Peach Talk: Books vs. Movies

Ah yes, books versus movies, the age-old debate.  For generations, those with a preferred taste for books clashed with those with a preferred taste for movies.  And all the meanwhile, lovers of both, (like me), mediated the battlefield.

I must admit, however, I used to exclusively be a book-lover.  I had little to no interest in movies, and for that matter, hated the whole "going out to theaters" experience.  I hated the scratchy fabric seats under my thighs (and the dirty cushion against the back of my head), hated the buttery smell of popcorn, and absolutely hated the oily feel of the theater atmosphere (which did not clash well with my oily teenage skin).

Yes, I was a crabby little hermit living under a rock; I rarely went out to see movies in theaters.  I couldn't fathom why a person would want to attend a public lice fest when a person had the option of watching Netflix in the comfort of their own cozy home.

Since my "moving-hating" times, I am now happy to say I am no longer a recluse or hater of movies.  In the past year especially, I've developed an appreciation, a fondness, you may call it, for the movie form.  A particular friend of mine began dragging me out to new showings on the weekends, and my family turned trips to the movies as frequent family outings.  When I had an hour or two to spare, they were dedicated to watching movies I'd previously missed in theaters.

Book Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything
by Sarah Dessen
Series: Standalone
Publication: Viking Juvenile on May 5, 2015
Format: Hardcover, 417 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Family

Sydney has always felt invisible.

She's grown accustomed to her brother, Peyton, being the focus of the family's attention and, lately, concern.  Peyton is handsome and charismatic, but seems bent on self-destruction.  Now, after a drunk-driving accident that crippled a boy, Peyton's serving some serious jail time, and Sydney is on her own, questioning her place in the family and the world.

Then she meets the Chatham family.  Drawn into their warm, chaotic circle, Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance for the first time.  There's effervescent Layla, who constantly falls for the wrong guy, Rosie, who's had her own fall from grace, and Mrs. Chatham, who even though ailing is the heart of the family.  But it's with older brother Mac - quiet, watchful, and protective - that Sydney finally feels seen, really seen, at last.

Saint Anything is Sarah Dessen's deepest and most psychologically probing novel yet, telling an engrossing story of a girl discovering friendship, love, and herself. 

#BookProbs: Ten Struggles Bibliophiles Face

We all know being a bibliophile isn't all too easy in this technological, advanced day and age.  As a book lover, I struggle to make it through the 24 hours in a day.

Why?  Well, if you're a fellow bibliophile, you know why.

Here's a list of ten struggles we face:

When . . . 

1. PEOPLE TALK WHILE YOU'RE READING

I seriously cannot handle when people are having conversations with each other or (even worse) trying to have conversations with me while I'm very obviously reading.  Jesus Christ, people, do you not see that book open in front of me?

I require complete peace and quiet.  Please kindly take your loud mouths elsewhere.

2. THE BOOKSTORE/LIBRARY DOESN'T HAVE WHAT YOU WANT

Oh, the absolute horror.  When I want to read a book, I want to read it now.  Now meaning I can't continue living another day without that book in my possession.

This is how it usually goes:

First, the anger.

Then, the sadness.

A whole lot of sadness . . .

:'(

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3. YOU SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY ON BOOKS

Yup.

4. YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

Ah, yes.  This is how new love is bloomed.

First, the love.

Then, the obsession.

The excitement.

The screaming.

The FANGIRLING.

But then,

TRAGEDY STRIKES.

YOU REALIZE THE BOOK IS OVER.

YOU REALIZE . . .

YOUR FICTIONAL LOVE?

IS . . . well . . . FICTIONAL.

5. YOU FANGIRL BUT HAVE NO ONE TO FANGIRL WITH

Even worse than fangirling over fictional characters?

Having no one to fangirl with.

Book Review: We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

We All Looked Up
by Tommy Wallach
Series: Standalone
Publication: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on March 24, 2015
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Contemporary, Dystopia, Coming of Age

Before Ardor came, we let ourselves be defined by labels - 
the ATHLETE,
the SLUT,
the SLACKER,
the OVERACHIEVER.
But then we all looked up, and everything changed. They said the asteroid would be here in two months. That gave us two months to leave our labels behind. Two months to become something bigger than what we'd been, something that would last even after the end. Two months to really LIVE.

Book Review: Wildlife by Fiona Wood

Wildlife
by Fiona Wood
Series: Six Impossible Things/Wildlife #2
Publication: Poppy on September 16, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Friendships

A semester in the wilderness?
Let me survive it.
Hey, let me enjoy it.

During a semester in the wilderness, sixteen-year-old Sib expects the tough outdoor education program and the horrors of dorm life, but friendship drama and love that gets complicated?  That will take some navigating.

New girl Lou has zero interest in fitting in, or joining in.  Still reeling from a loss that occurred almost a year ago, she just wants to be left alone.  But as she witnesses a betrayal unfolding around Sib and her best friend Holly, Lou can't help but be drawn back into the land of the living.

In this tender, funny story of first love, good friendship, and going a little bit wild, Fiona Wood introduces two unforgettable girls who discover that before you can be true to yourself, you have to figure out exactly who you are.