Review: Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Title: Tell Me a Secret

Author: Holly Cupala

Series: n/a

Publication Date: 20th September 2011

My Synopsis:

Miranda, (or Rand or Mandy) has been having trouble coping with her sister’s death. She had always looked up to her sister and even told her she wanted to be just like her. The problem was her sister had been the trouble maker while she had been the good sister. Her parents will not talk about Xanda and have taken away any pictures of her, this makes it hard for Mandy to really know who her sister was, so she tries to find out for herself, be more like her in the hope of getting some answers. So she ditches her best friend in favour of the new bad girl, gets a boyfriend and starts partying. Then she misses 2 periods.

Why I picked this book up:

I originally had it as a free audio book, but found I just can’t get along with audio, so got the book instead as it sounded really interesting.

Did it live up to my expectations?

I actually didn’t realise before I read it that this was a book about teen pregnancy as well as death, so that was a really good surprise. I guess it did live up to my expectations.

What I thought:

When I think back about this book, I remember it as more of a story about a girl dealing with grief over her sister, not so much about teenage pregnancy. This for me is a good thing, it means I wasn’t preached against the horrors of teen pregnancy, but at the same time we were shown how hard this was for Mandy. There were times when I wanted to yell at Mandy to grow up, for example, the first time she sees Kamram with Delaney she freaks out, at the time they were doing nothing wrong and had done nothing up to that point, so why was her reaction so strong? I also thought at times she was a bit of a spoilt brat, she thinks it was unfair that her parents wouldn’t support her and the baby and look after it while she goes to college, that’s her job not theirs. I loved the girls’ dad, he really loved his daughters and tried so hard for the family, but the mother I just wanted to shoot, she has some serious issues. Kamran was an ok character, there are times when you can see that he cares for Mandy and just got caught up in all the shock, but I would have thought he’d have been able to see through Delaney sooner. I thought Shelly was a great character and would love to hear more of her story.

The storyline is what really captured me with this book, there is so much to it, you have lies, secrets, teen pregnancy, death, family issues, friendship, the list just goes on and on, but it’s not in your face either.

Overall I liked this book and would read another by Holly Cupala

My favourite quote/s from the book:

“Keep your eyes on the future, because that's where the answers are. It's where the hope is.”

Read if:  

You liked “Twenty Boy Summer” by Sarah Ockler, both deal with grief and secrets.

Up next for review:

The Icarus Project by Laura Quimby

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Series: #1, Mara Dyer

Publication Date: 27th September 2011

My Synopsis:

Mara Dyer wakes up to find out a building has collapsed on her and 3 others. She is the only survivor. She doesn’t remember much about what happened in the building, but constantly suffers from hallucinations and is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. Her family decide to move to Florida to help her recover; on her first day there she meets Noah, the local bad boy. She has hears of his reputation, but cannot stay away, and the hallucinations start to get worse, can she stop her parents from putting her in a mental asylum?

Why I picked this book up:

I originally fell in love with the cover, it looked mysterious and intriguing, and the synopsis just made it even more so.

Did it live up to my expectations?

It blew my expectations away.

What I thought:

This book had me hooked from the very start with the letter from “Mara”; I NEEDED to keep reading to find out who Mara was, what really happened to her friends, and why she would need a lawyer.

In my opinion Mara was a great character, despite everything that happened to her, she had a certain strength that kept her going and she was constantly worrying what affect her illness had on her family. I loved her sarcasm, and the fact she actually sounds like a teenager when she talks, without all the teenage clichés.

Noah I also loved, he is mysterious and sexy, what more could you want? The interaction between the two of them was spot on, and I really believed in the romance part.

Michelle Hodkin wrote this in such a way that you were really pulled into Mara’s world, the imagery and atmosphere was so real, that at times I was laughing, others I was completely creeped out. Although I wouldn’t say this book was out and out scary, there are definitely parts that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Overall I loved this book, the writing was brilliant, characters were real and believable, the romance delicious and the plot mysterious.

My favourite quote/s from the book:

‘In my rush, I hadn't tied my shoelaces. Noah was now tying them for me.

He looked up at me through his dark fringe of lashes and smiled. The expression on his face melted me completely. I knew I had the goofiest grin plastered on my lips, and didn't care.

“There,” he said as he finished tying the laces on my left shoe. “Now you won't fall.”

Too late.’

How it stood as part of a series:

Well, being the first in the series it was a really good start, definitely had me wanting to read the next one, I was really gutted to find out I’d have to wait. It certainly left off with plenty more to go; it ended on quite a cliff hanger too.

Read if:

You liked “Hourglass” by Myra McEntire, or “Forgotten” by Cat Patrick.

Up next for review:

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Title: Saving June

Author: Hannah Harrington

Series: n/a

Publication Date: 1st May 2011

My Synopsis:

When Harper’s sister, June, commits suicide, no one can understand why, least of all Harper. When her divorced parents decide to split the ashes, Harper decides to take them to California, the one place June wanted to go after graduation. Before she can work out a way to get there she meets Jake. He won’t tell her how he knew June, but insists on coming along, Harper realises she won’t get anywhere without him and reluctantly lets him come.

Why I picked this book up:

I had read so many raving reviews I decided to give it a try.

Did it live up to my expectations?

Yes.

What I thought:

I really enjoyed this book, the characters felt so real, and although I have never been through what Harper had, I could sympathise and understood why she felt how she did.

The romance part was exactly the way I like it, a nice slow build, it really felt as though they got to know each other and feel in love naturally. I felt so many emotions during this book that it left me a little exhausted! The writing is brilliant, and all the dialogue felt so real. Everything about this book felt real.

Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to others.

My favourite quote/s from the book:

“He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that's what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you.”

Read if:

You like contemporary YA, you read and enjoyed Crash into Me by Albert Borris

Up next for review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Review: Entangled by Cat Clarke

Title: Entangled

Author: Cat Clarke

Series: n/a

Publication Date: 6th January 2011

My Synopsis:

17 year old Grace wakes up in a write room with only pens and paper to keep her entertained. She realises she has been kidnapped, but the last thing she remembers is meeting a stranger named Ethan just before she planned to kill herself. She decides to write about what is happening and what has happened in the past that made her want to commit suicide.

Why I picked this book up:

The premise sounded really interesting and it was recommended to me by Librarything.

Did it live up to my expectations?

Yes.

What I thought:

The book had me hooked straight away. It reads a bit like a diary with Grace writing what is happening and what has happened in the past, so you are learning of it as she is remembering/writing it. Because of this you only see her side of the story. The book was a little confusing, especially the end, but I think this added to the book for me, I like a book that makes me think and lets me come to my own conclusions (it does give some kind of ending, it’s up to you how you interpret it.) This book does deal with a lot of issues, but they are not in an your face/after school special kind of way, they add to the story rather than being what the story is about.

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely more by this author.

My favourite quote/s from the book:

“For a brief moment of madness yesterday (after an entirely sleepless night), I did entertain the thought that maybe he is a vampire. Until I remembered that my life isn’t actually Twilight.”

If this book were a song it would be “Many of Horror” by Biffy Clyro, sad, good and slightly confusing, many people will interpret it in different ways.

If this book were a food it would be marmite, you either love it or hate it, but never can figure out quite what is in it. There are also many things like it, but nothing quite like it if you know what I mean.

Read if:

You liked “Scars” by Cheryl Rainfield; both books are about cutting as a way of release.

You liked “Ultraviolet” by R. J. Anderson, both books having you guessing if they are paranormal or realistic YA.

Up next for review:

The Eyes of Kid Midas by Neal Shusterman

Review: One Moment by Kristina McBride

Title: One Moment

Author: Kristina McBride

Series: N/A

Publication Date: 26th June 2012

My Synopsis:

Maggie is there when her boyfriend, Joey, jumps from the cliff and dies by accident, the only problem is; she can’t remember anything after getting to the top. We see her trying to deal with her grief and trying to remember what happened, along with trying to keep the rest of her group of friends together.

Why I picked this book up:

I love a book that makes me feel, and I was hoping it would do just that.

Did it live up to my expectations?

I didn’t expect this to be as good as it was, so it far exceeded them. It certainly made me feel.

What I thought:

I started this book at 10.30pm, fully intending to only read for half an hour, I turned out my light at 12.30am having just finished the book. I don’t really know what to say about it, except that I loved it. The characters and emotions felt quite real. It was a little predictable, but that didn’t take anything away from the great story, if anything it may have helped because you are waiting for Maggie to catch up with you, but understand why she can’t make her mind go there.

Read if:

I haven’t read it myself, but readers of “Breaking Beautiful” by Jennifer Shaw Wolf may enjoy this. Anyone who enjoys realistic YA fiction should like this. Basically I think everyone should read this, it’s one great book.

Up next for review:

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins