Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible. But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.
I liked The Selection series, it was cute and moved at a good pace (I have no desire to re-read it, once was enough), but WHAT WAS THIS??? I cannot begin to describe how many hurtles there were in reading this book...but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try: first of all, how do you even pronounce the princess's name? Adyln (silent E)? Eyadylin (extra E)? And Kile (yes, with the I) is annoying to read...the first book didn't have creatively named main characters and we got along just fine - so don't change that!
But once you get past that speed bump - trust me it takes a while - there's the next little issue: princess whats-her-name is a total BITCH! There's no kind way to say it. She's used to having everything she wants whenever she wants it. What's even more frustrating is that she knows she's a spoiled brat, but she thinks she's entitled to it! Reading from her perspective waters down the whole story. America's POV was at least legitimately entertaining; Eady's POV is manipulative and shallow. She plays it off as being protective of her heart but literally no one else in her family has similar tendencies so it always comes off as mean. Her own people throw food at her in public but she doesn't understand why she's so hated!!
Even after all this book drama I kept reading *pats self on the back* and did manage to find some good in this weird spin-off series: Henri and Erik. These two (mostly Henri) kept me laughing every time they showed up no matter what they were doing. Henri only speaks broken English so he has Erik translate for him most of the time, but when he's alone with the princess it's both funny and adorable to watch them interact without much verbal communication.
Honestly I'm not sure if I can continue with this 'new' series. I don't particularly like any of the main characters besides Henri, and I have a feeling he doesn't last much longer in the series, so there isn't even a side story I can look forward to reading. Eadyln treats everyone she meets with such disdain that it physically hurts to read; it took nearly 2 weeks to finish this book because I would look at it and just not want to read it. If it's that much of a problem starting this whole 'new selection' off I don't think the books to come will be worth my time or money.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.
They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.
Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.
So this book. I read the first two installments over a year ago and in between that time I also read the first two installments of The 5th Wave series. For some reason whenever I pick up a book from either series I think it's the other. So for the first 20 pages or so I was wondering where Ben was and why we were spending so much time focusing on some guy named Liam...then it all came back.
Because I wasn't as mentally prepared to start this book as I thought I was the first half was difficult to get into. I didn't like how the book just jumped right in and assumed I remembered everything I needed to know about the characters and their place in the world. Especially with as little action as there was. Don't get me wrong, I still love the characters and the story, but I could have used just a few pages of recap before we got started.
But once we did get started...wow did things move. It is because of this kind of development that I love this series and the author. No character is safe but at the same time we don't have to wait 300 pages for the characters to explain why they're angry. There's a problem and we think about it then we solve it. Done and on to the next. The only thing I really didn't like was the ending. It felt rushed and everyone just accepted that Ruby had to face her demons. I get that the main character is supposed to be all heroic and fight everyone herself I just thought the rest of the series was building toward a much more climactic ending.
I'm glad that everyone lived a happily ever after (well almost everyone) but that just seemed too nice a way to conclude a book this dark. Ironically In The Afterlight was the darkest book of the trilogy, so to have it end all sunshine and roses seemed out of character for the writing style and ideas the book wanted to portray. After so many characters had donated their lives to 'the cause', the ending seemed to ignore all that and just let everyone else move on with their lives. It felt like a piece of the puzzle was missing so we made our own and it didn't fit exactly, but it was good enough.
All that being said, this installment of the series created a satisfying ending to the trilogy. Not much was left unsolved and the overall ending was promising, even if it wasn't what I was expecting. I can't wait to read more of Ms. Bracken's writing in the future!!
They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.
Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.
So this book. I read the first two installments over a year ago and in between that time I also read the first two installments of The 5th Wave series. For some reason whenever I pick up a book from either series I think it's the other. So for the first 20 pages or so I was wondering where Ben was and why we were spending so much time focusing on some guy named Liam...then it all came back.
Because I wasn't as mentally prepared to start this book as I thought I was the first half was difficult to get into. I didn't like how the book just jumped right in and assumed I remembered everything I needed to know about the characters and their place in the world. Especially with as little action as there was. Don't get me wrong, I still love the characters and the story, but I could have used just a few pages of recap before we got started.
But once we did get started...wow did things move. It is because of this kind of development that I love this series and the author. No character is safe but at the same time we don't have to wait 300 pages for the characters to explain why they're angry. There's a problem and we think about it then we solve it. Done and on to the next. The only thing I really didn't like was the ending. It felt rushed and everyone just accepted that Ruby had to face her demons. I get that the main character is supposed to be all heroic and fight everyone herself I just thought the rest of the series was building toward a much more climactic ending.
I'm glad that everyone lived a happily ever after (well almost everyone) but that just seemed too nice a way to conclude a book this dark. Ironically In The Afterlight was the darkest book of the trilogy, so to have it end all sunshine and roses seemed out of character for the writing style and ideas the book wanted to portray. After so many characters had donated their lives to 'the cause', the ending seemed to ignore all that and just let everyone else move on with their lives. It felt like a piece of the puzzle was missing so we made our own and it didn't fit exactly, but it was good enough.
All that being said, this installment of the series created a satisfying ending to the trilogy. Not much was left unsolved and the overall ending was promising, even if it wasn't what I was expecting. I can't wait to read more of Ms. Bracken's writing in the future!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.
I've been in the mood for a cute contemporary book lately and this seemed to fit the bill. Also it was the 'booksplosion book of the month' so I had incentive to finish it before watching the discussion at the end of August. As random as it was to have this book cross my path I'm glad it did.
Finding Audrey is a book that will appeal to anyone willing to give it a chance. Supposedly Audrey's only 14, but that is surprisingly not an issue. She speaks and acts at least 16/17; sometimes I hear her voice as my own and I'm 22! Her family is also surprisingly very likable. Going into this I thought the fact that the setting was in England would be an issue or that her younger brothers would be annoying but it turned out that made the story better and more realistic. I did have to Google a few things to understand the references but the majority of the story circles around Audrey's family home and the local Starbucks. Who can't relate to that?
I was disappointed that the bullying part of the story was left out. The characters kept referring back to 'the incident' but all I could gather was that a group of similar-aged girls made fun of Audrey. I would have liked to explore the part of the story where she snapped, but on the flip-side, most mental illnesses don't have an explanation. One day you're fine and the next...you're not.
But anyway this book was a cute, quick read (I think I finished it in 2 sittings) and I felt fulfilled after finishing it. There aren't any loose ends left hanging and this book genuinely made me smile. It's not a book that I will continue to revisit in the future so I can't give it the full 5 stars, but it is definitely worthy of 4.5 stars in my book.
I've been in the mood for a cute contemporary book lately and this seemed to fit the bill. Also it was the 'booksplosion book of the month' so I had incentive to finish it before watching the discussion at the end of August. As random as it was to have this book cross my path I'm glad it did.
Finding Audrey is a book that will appeal to anyone willing to give it a chance. Supposedly Audrey's only 14, but that is surprisingly not an issue. She speaks and acts at least 16/17; sometimes I hear her voice as my own and I'm 22! Her family is also surprisingly very likable. Going into this I thought the fact that the setting was in England would be an issue or that her younger brothers would be annoying but it turned out that made the story better and more realistic. I did have to Google a few things to understand the references but the majority of the story circles around Audrey's family home and the local Starbucks. Who can't relate to that?
I was disappointed that the bullying part of the story was left out. The characters kept referring back to 'the incident' but all I could gather was that a group of similar-aged girls made fun of Audrey. I would have liked to explore the part of the story where she snapped, but on the flip-side, most mental illnesses don't have an explanation. One day you're fine and the next...you're not.
But anyway this book was a cute, quick read (I think I finished it in 2 sittings) and I felt fulfilled after finishing it. There aren't any loose ends left hanging and this book genuinely made me smile. It's not a book that I will continue to revisit in the future so I can't give it the full 5 stars, but it is definitely worthy of 4.5 stars in my book.
Monday, August 10, 2015
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.
She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.
This book first peaked my interest because it is a topic that came up in one of my favorite shows ever, Leverage. One of the episodes featured a character who had to play the violin for a con and the piece he played was Scheherazade. It was explained in the episode that there was an evil king who would take a new wife each night and kill her at dawn, but Scheherazade was the only one to be kept alive because her stories were so enthralling that the king couldn't take a cliffhanger ending - so he just couldn't kill her. I thought it was a cool idea and then dismissed it.
Enter this book: the exact same premise but with more backstory and adventure...it was like my dream come true! It's like when you make something up in your head, want to buy/invent it, and then finding out it actually exists!! (I love when someone else does all the work for me!) So of course I had to get my hands on a copy asap; thank god for library funding because there it was, sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to take it home for FREE! And this book totally held up to my insane fangirl standards. It was suspenseful, energetic and romantic - what more can you ask for?
I will say I had a difficult time keeping up with the names and customs used in a lot of scenes. I know nothing about middle eastern culture (I don't know where exactly this story takes place) so that was difficult for me to comprehend. After the first 50 pages or so I caught on, but those are also crucial pages because that's when a reader decides whether or not to continue reading the book. Had I not seen that episode of Leverage I might be writing a very different review. *Being the over-excited reader that I am, I completely missed the glossary at the back of the book explaining everything I didn't understand...sometimes I wonder how I make it through the day...
For those who are interested but not sure if they should read it: if you liked Aladdin then I would give this a try. It's a similar backdrop and there is some magic involved. In my opinion the tones of both pieces are comparable, but they do veer off story-wise about halfway through the book so don't go expecting Abu to jump out and say hi.
She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.
This book first peaked my interest because it is a topic that came up in one of my favorite shows ever, Leverage. One of the episodes featured a character who had to play the violin for a con and the piece he played was Scheherazade. It was explained in the episode that there was an evil king who would take a new wife each night and kill her at dawn, but Scheherazade was the only one to be kept alive because her stories were so enthralling that the king couldn't take a cliffhanger ending - so he just couldn't kill her. I thought it was a cool idea and then dismissed it.
Enter this book: the exact same premise but with more backstory and adventure...it was like my dream come true! It's like when you make something up in your head, want to buy/invent it, and then finding out it actually exists!! (I love when someone else does all the work for me!) So of course I had to get my hands on a copy asap; thank god for library funding because there it was, sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to take it home for FREE! And this book totally held up to my insane fangirl standards. It was suspenseful, energetic and romantic - what more can you ask for?
I will say I had a difficult time keeping up with the names and customs used in a lot of scenes. I know nothing about middle eastern culture (I don't know where exactly this story takes place) so that was difficult for me to comprehend. After the first 50 pages or so I caught on, but those are also crucial pages because that's when a reader decides whether or not to continue reading the book. Had I not seen that episode of Leverage I might be writing a very different review. *Being the over-excited reader that I am, I completely missed the glossary at the back of the book explaining everything I didn't understand...sometimes I wonder how I make it through the day...
For those who are interested but not sure if they should read it: if you liked Aladdin then I would give this a try. It's a similar backdrop and there is some magic involved. In my opinion the tones of both pieces are comparable, but they do veer off story-wise about halfway through the book so don't go expecting Abu to jump out and say hi.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
The Riches (2007-2008)
A family of crooks assume the identity of an upper-middle-class suburban clan in the Deep South.
This show was cancelled too soon. It's no secret that I love a good story about con-artists ripping people off and this show fed right into that slight obsession.
The Riches are a well-to-do family who meet an unfortunate end by way of the Malloys, a family of travelers (nomadic con-artists). The timing couldn't be better because the Malloys just happen to need a place to stay and where better than a big, fancy mansion free of charge? They decide to stay just long enough to get their act together but of course they get 'discovered' before high-tailing it out of there. They decide to stay and live the cushy lifestyle most people can only dream of, but of course, nothing is as easy as it seems.
I'm not entirely sure what the genre of this show is - it checks off every box on my list: it's funny, dramatic, dark and exciting. The first few episodes consisted of a family used to living off the grid in an RV trying to assimilate into a white picket fence household. It was hilarious! Minnie Driver plays the very definition of southern housewife but with enough sass to carry the initial episodes. Once the season arc sets in the show carries itself easily though.
I don't have many complaints other than it feels like the second season was forced. Wikipedia says season 2 was around the time of the writers' strike and I feel like that played a large role in the less-than-stellar quality of the story arc. As a viewer watching most episodes back-to-back this is hardly noticeable, but I know I would have been confused and frustrated with only watching one episode a week. It took way too long to get each episode going and old problems were just shoved aside to be forgotten.
Which brings me to the biggest flaw in the show...the finale. Instead of wrapping up the show even more questions were left unanswered and then the screen faded to black. I literally shouted when it ended because I couldn't believe that's what actually happened. I guess the writers thought they were getting a season 3 because we STILL don't know:
1. What's up with Dale (where was he? why is he all beat up? is he still a threat?)
2. If Hugh wins the election
3. How Hugh and Gigi got back together, if they actually did or if it's just for show
4. What's up with Cal and that Irish guy
5. The explanation behind Dahlia and her parole officer (literally that came out of nowhere)
6. If the Malloys get the $13 million or was this all for nothing???
Although the finale wasn't the best way to end the show, the acting is great in every episode and the characters are one-of-a-kind. This show will hold a special place in my heart because it was witty and different from just about every other show I've watched. I recommend The Riches to anyone with an Amazon Prime account, it's free, only 20 episodes, and worth the watch.
This show was cancelled too soon. It's no secret that I love a good story about con-artists ripping people off and this show fed right into that slight obsession.
The Riches are a well-to-do family who meet an unfortunate end by way of the Malloys, a family of travelers (nomadic con-artists). The timing couldn't be better because the Malloys just happen to need a place to stay and where better than a big, fancy mansion free of charge? They decide to stay just long enough to get their act together but of course they get 'discovered' before high-tailing it out of there. They decide to stay and live the cushy lifestyle most people can only dream of, but of course, nothing is as easy as it seems.
I'm not entirely sure what the genre of this show is - it checks off every box on my list: it's funny, dramatic, dark and exciting. The first few episodes consisted of a family used to living off the grid in an RV trying to assimilate into a white picket fence household. It was hilarious! Minnie Driver plays the very definition of southern housewife but with enough sass to carry the initial episodes. Once the season arc sets in the show carries itself easily though.
I don't have many complaints other than it feels like the second season was forced. Wikipedia says season 2 was around the time of the writers' strike and I feel like that played a large role in the less-than-stellar quality of the story arc. As a viewer watching most episodes back-to-back this is hardly noticeable, but I know I would have been confused and frustrated with only watching one episode a week. It took way too long to get each episode going and old problems were just shoved aside to be forgotten.
Which brings me to the biggest flaw in the show...the finale. Instead of wrapping up the show even more questions were left unanswered and then the screen faded to black. I literally shouted when it ended because I couldn't believe that's what actually happened. I guess the writers thought they were getting a season 3 because we STILL don't know:
1. What's up with Dale (where was he? why is he all beat up? is he still a threat?)
2. If Hugh wins the election
3. How Hugh and Gigi got back together, if they actually did or if it's just for show
4. What's up with Cal and that Irish guy
5. The explanation behind Dahlia and her parole officer (literally that came out of nowhere)
6. If the Malloys get the $13 million or was this all for nothing???
Although the finale wasn't the best way to end the show, the acting is great in every episode and the characters are one-of-a-kind. This show will hold a special place in my heart because it was witty and different from just about every other show I've watched. I recommend The Riches to anyone with an Amazon Prime account, it's free, only 20 episodes, and worth the watch.
Monday, August 3, 2015
The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton
For Mab Prowd, blood magic is as natural as breathing. She spends her days on a secluded Kansas farm with other blood witches, practicing spells for healing and trying to avoid boring lessons like algebra and history. Wild and confident, Mab uses magic to understand her entire world. But when one of Mab's spells mistakenly taps into a powerful, long-dormant curse, she finds her magic spinning out of control - and crashing right into Will Sanger, a boy from town. Will has always relied on the logical, tangible things in his life, like his dogs, his soccer team, and even his complicated family. So he tries to dismiss all he sees and feels around Mab. Still, the strangeness and beauty of her magic draw him in.
As Will and Mab grow closer, the unbound curse grows stronger. Hiding in the shadows of the forest, it seeks to manipulate Will and gain Mab's power - even if that means destroying everything they love.
These are not the same characters as book 1!!! Clearly I didn't know this going into it because I spent the first 20 pages confused and annoyed. When I finally looked up the summary of book 1 (to be sure I wasn't completely crazy) I figured it out and that's when I put this book down...never to be picked up again.
It's no secret that I liked the first book, wasn't thrilled with it, but it was solid. I genuinely liked the characters and the story they had to share. So when the next installment totally threw all that to the curb and made me start fresh, that was enough for me to be like, 'ok I'm officially done with this'; another series* crossed off my list.
*In my eyes a series is not a series if we don't get to check in with the same characters over and over again. It's just a cop out for authors who like the world they've been writing in.
So long story short, if you're into essentially starting a sequel without any information, direction or expectations then this book is for you. But if you're like me and this will only frustrate you, then take this as a heads up and move on to the next book on your TBR shelf.
As Will and Mab grow closer, the unbound curse grows stronger. Hiding in the shadows of the forest, it seeks to manipulate Will and gain Mab's power - even if that means destroying everything they love.
These are not the same characters as book 1!!! Clearly I didn't know this going into it because I spent the first 20 pages confused and annoyed. When I finally looked up the summary of book 1 (to be sure I wasn't completely crazy) I figured it out and that's when I put this book down...never to be picked up again.
It's no secret that I liked the first book, wasn't thrilled with it, but it was solid. I genuinely liked the characters and the story they had to share. So when the next installment totally threw all that to the curb and made me start fresh, that was enough for me to be like, 'ok I'm officially done with this'; another series* crossed off my list.
*In my eyes a series is not a series if we don't get to check in with the same characters over and over again. It's just a cop out for authors who like the world they've been writing in.
So long story short, if you're into essentially starting a sequel without any information, direction or expectations then this book is for you. But if you're like me and this will only frustrate you, then take this as a heads up and move on to the next book on your TBR shelf.
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Luxury spaceliner Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive -- alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help. Everything changes when they uncover the truth.
This book was not for me. I've heard it described as Titanic in space...it's not. Titanic had action scenes and an epic love story. These Broken Stars had the crash scene shoved between a bunch of space-jargon and a semi-attraction between two teens from different worlds. It was cliche at best and the mystery was so underwhelming that I didn't really care to find out what the truth was.
I stopped reading this book around page 50 because reading is supposed to be exciting and engaging. Usually if a book is decent I can sit and read 50 pages in one sitting no problem. Every time I picked up this book and finished a couple of pages I found an excuse to go do something else. Summer is fleeting and I don't have the time to waste on books I really can't get involved in.
I don't recommend this book, period.
This book was not for me. I've heard it described as Titanic in space...it's not. Titanic had action scenes and an epic love story. These Broken Stars had the crash scene shoved between a bunch of space-jargon and a semi-attraction between two teens from different worlds. It was cliche at best and the mystery was so underwhelming that I didn't really care to find out what the truth was.
I stopped reading this book around page 50 because reading is supposed to be exciting and engaging. Usually if a book is decent I can sit and read 50 pages in one sitting no problem. Every time I picked up this book and finished a couple of pages I found an excuse to go do something else. Summer is fleeting and I don't have the time to waste on books I really can't get involved in.
I don't recommend this book, period.
Tease by Amanda Maciel
Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault. At least, that's what everyone seems to think. Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, has been criminally charged for the bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. Now Sara is the one who's ostracized, already guilty according to her peers, the community, and the media. In the summer before her senior year, in between meetings with lawyers and a court-recommended therapist, Sara is forced to reflect on the events that brought her to this moment—and ultimately consider her own role in an undeniable tragedy. And she'll have to find a way to move forward, even when it feels like her own life is over.
I had a hard time reviewing this book because my opinion on bullying is not a popular one: the victim has to stand up for themselves and learn to grow a thick skin. Most of these situations can get nipped in the butt right in the beginning before they escalate to personal attacks or unfortunately suicide. Should things get more severe, then sure, bring others into the mix, but just standing by and taking it is ridiculous - no one was killing themselves 30 years ago because someone called them a bad name; today's kids have to learn to pick themselves up, dust off and move on. *gets off soap box*
So supposedly this is based on true events, which isn't too far of a stretch because I have experienced almost every situation in this book personally (being a girl who has successfully made it through the public school system). I don't mean that I was bullied, but I was usually a witness to these types of things.
Emma is the new girl in town and Sara hates her because she was texting her boyfriend, Dylan...at least that's what I gathered from the first few chapters. Later on in the story things heat up between Emma nd Dylan so I can understand Sara's emotional distress. On top of that, Sara's best friend, Brielle, is no help because she's egging her on to do things Sara didn't really want to do in the first place (push Emma, repeatedly call her names, etc.)
In my opinion Brielle is the problem here. Emma should clearly explain what she's doing with Sara's man instead of just avoiding the situation, but Brielle is the one who always takes things to the next level.
I found myself sympathizing with Sara a lot of the time because no one really understood her. Her own boyfriend couldn't explain his relationship with Emma even after being asked about it point blank multiple times, her family has too many kids for Sara to be a priority and best friend Brielle was always one step ahead of her so she was constantly trying to keep up. Bullying Emma was the only way Sara was able to keep her life together and honestly it didn't even start off that bad. I don't know one girl who hasn't been called a slut or whore in her life; it's like girl-code for venting. If Emma couldn't take it, that's her problem. I'm not excusing what Sara did in any way, but I can see how she justifies it as being ok. Also, the court scene at the very end showed that Sara did regret her actions. She explains how she didn't realize that other people were not as good at handling pain as she expected. That doesn't make up for what she did, but I believe it shows she's truly sorry and has grown from this experience (unlike anyone else on trial).
I don't have very many things I specifically liked or disliked, besides the cover: GORGEOUS! But I do think a lot of people should read this book because it puts a whole new spin on bullying. Tease shows how quickly things can escalate without the bully even realizing she's the bully until it's too late.
I had a hard time reviewing this book because my opinion on bullying is not a popular one: the victim has to stand up for themselves and learn to grow a thick skin. Most of these situations can get nipped in the butt right in the beginning before they escalate to personal attacks or unfortunately suicide. Should things get more severe, then sure, bring others into the mix, but just standing by and taking it is ridiculous - no one was killing themselves 30 years ago because someone called them a bad name; today's kids have to learn to pick themselves up, dust off and move on. *gets off soap box*
So supposedly this is based on true events, which isn't too far of a stretch because I have experienced almost every situation in this book personally (being a girl who has successfully made it through the public school system). I don't mean that I was bullied, but I was usually a witness to these types of things.
Emma is the new girl in town and Sara hates her because she was texting her boyfriend, Dylan...at least that's what I gathered from the first few chapters. Later on in the story things heat up between Emma nd Dylan so I can understand Sara's emotional distress. On top of that, Sara's best friend, Brielle, is no help because she's egging her on to do things Sara didn't really want to do in the first place (push Emma, repeatedly call her names, etc.)
In my opinion Brielle is the problem here. Emma should clearly explain what she's doing with Sara's man instead of just avoiding the situation, but Brielle is the one who always takes things to the next level.
I found myself sympathizing with Sara a lot of the time because no one really understood her. Her own boyfriend couldn't explain his relationship with Emma even after being asked about it point blank multiple times, her family has too many kids for Sara to be a priority and best friend Brielle was always one step ahead of her so she was constantly trying to keep up. Bullying Emma was the only way Sara was able to keep her life together and honestly it didn't even start off that bad. I don't know one girl who hasn't been called a slut or whore in her life; it's like girl-code for venting. If Emma couldn't take it, that's her problem. I'm not excusing what Sara did in any way, but I can see how she justifies it as being ok. Also, the court scene at the very end showed that Sara did regret her actions. She explains how she didn't realize that other people were not as good at handling pain as she expected. That doesn't make up for what she did, but I believe it shows she's truly sorry and has grown from this experience (unlike anyone else on trial).
I don't have very many things I specifically liked or disliked, besides the cover: GORGEOUS! But I do think a lot of people should read this book because it puts a whole new spin on bullying. Tease shows how quickly things can escalate without the bully even realizing she's the bully until it's too late.
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