4-star Books, Uncategorized

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

My rating: 4 / 5 stars | Goodreads rating: 4.23 / 5 stars

Writing a review about The Fault in Our Stars — especially now, years after it became so wildly popular and still ranks pretty high in the lists — feels a little like…well, I have no comparison. It’s intimidating. Just plain intimidating. Continue reading “The Fault in Our Stars by John Green”

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5-star Books, Uncategorized

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

My rating: 5/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 4.12/5 stars

FANTASTIC.

That’s it, I’m done. This review is over. We can all go home.

“But, Natalie! We want to know more!” Well, all right! If you insist! I can hardly begin to tell you how much I loved this book. Geekerella is a modern retelling of the story of Cinderella. (I know. “Another one?” But bear with me.) The story of Cinderella is probably one of the most well-known, long-standing fairy tales in history. The idea of a girl with nothing being found, despite all odds, by the boy with everything has appealed to people across generations and nations. Author Ashley Poston brings a new twist to the tale in the form of — in case you couldn’t guess — total and absolute geekdom.

It was awesome. Continue reading “Geekerella by Ashley Poston”

0-star Books, Uncategorized

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

My rating: 0/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 3.39/5 stars

I knew nothing about this book when I picked it up except for a few semi-interesting commercials for the movie. I thought it sounded intriguing and fast-paced. The first few pages reminded me of both Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars and Dave Eggers’s The Circle. Because Nerve was a fairly easy read, I finished the book in a weekend.

Let me save you from making the same mistake. Continue reading “Nerve by Jeanne Ryan”

3-star books, Uncategorized

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 3/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 3.74/5 stars

Requiem is the third and final installment in Lauren Oliver’s Delirium trilogy. (Click here for reviews of Delirium and Pandemonium!) Oliver’s writing is as graceful in this last novel as it is in the previous two. I much prefer prose to poetry, but I do enjoy reading prose that is so carefully crafted that it feels like poetry. The story itself was exciting enough–finally, there is a movement against the governing forces! The majority of my thoughts about this book fall into three major categories: Hanna, the love triangle, and the ending. (Read with caution! Many spoilers ahead!) Continue reading “Requiem by Lauren Oliver”

1-star Books, Uncategorized

The Moon Dwellers by David Estes

My rating: 1/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 3.82/5 stars

I gotta be honest: I was disappointed with this book. On the plus side, this review is going to be short, to prevent me from being as repetitive and boring as the book itself. Let’s begin, shall we?

This isn’t a book I would have picked up originally, but I wasn’t sure what to read next and must have found it on a Pinterest suggested reading list, though I can’t find it now. I definitely enjoy sci-fi/fantasy novels, though The Moon Dwellers sounded a little heavier on the “sci-fi” part. After (finally) finishing it, however, I’m not sure what genre I would classify this book under. Whatever it is, it isn’t my cup of tea. Or cocoa. Or coffee. Whichever warm beverage you prefer. Continue reading “The Moon Dwellers by David Estes”

3-star books, Uncategorized

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 3/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 4.07/5 stars

Pandemonium is the second book in Lauren Oliver’s Delirium trilogy. As I said in a previous review, I greatly enjoyed Delirium, the first novel (that review can be found here!). I thought Oliver could have pushed a little harder at the undercurrents of her topic, but overall, the beautiful language and creative setting made for an excellent read.

I also mentioned in my review of Delirium that I had a list of things I wanted to happen in the next book. Before I get too far, though, let me give a quick recap of what happens in Delirium. (Be warned-there are spoilers ahead!) Continue reading “Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver”

3-star books, Uncategorized

Compulsion by Martina Boone

My rating: 3/5 stars  | Goodreads rating: 3.9/5 stars

Compulsion is the first in Martina Boone’s Heirs of Watson Island series, comprised of three novels: Compulsion, Persuasion, and Illusion. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started the first novel. The cover looks warm and content and a little mysterious, with a photo of two people on a tree-lined dirt road, all tinged in a golden honey color. Most of the reviews I skimmed called the book a “Southern Gothic,” which I hadn’t really heard of–at least not in application to books written in the past few decades–so I was anticipating a slow pace, references to sweet iced tea, and maybe some kind of family drama.

I got the family drama part right, anyway. Continue reading “Compulsion by Martina Boone”

4-star Books, Uncategorized

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 4/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 3.99/5 stars

Delirium is a dystopian novel set in a future USA where love is regarded as a disease. All citizens are “cured” once they reach maturity through a medical procedure that prevents them from feeling love, or any other extreme emotion, for the rest of their lives. After all, love is dangerous. Love breeds unhappiness, discontentment, jealousy, even hatred. It is safer to live without it. Continue reading “Delirium by Lauren Oliver”

Uncategorized

Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard

Cruel Crown is the bind-up of Queensong and Steel Scars, two novellas by Victoria Aveyard that take place in the Red Queen world. As companion novellas tend to do, both tell the stories of secondary or behind-the-scenes characters and events that readers are introduced to in the books but never get to know very well.

Before I continue, I’d like to include two warnings. First: I listened to this bind-up on audiobook, which is useful for passing time in my car, but I have to admit audio books are not my favorite, primarily because A.) I can’t see how things are spelled, and B.) The reader’s voice becomes an intrinsic influence to the story that I will never be able to unassociate. I will try to be as objective as possible here, but there are some things that I might think a little differently about by virtue of having “read” these books via CD. Second: If you have not yet read Glass Sword, there are some spoilers in this article! Continue reading “Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard”

3-star books, Uncategorized

Messenger by Lois Lowry

My rating: 3/5 stars  |  Goodreads rating: 3.9/5 stars

I was not introduced to Lois Lowry’s award-winning novel, The Giver, until I was halfway through college. As many other readers will agree, to finish The Giver is to want to know what happens after the ending, so I found out what happens after the ending. As it turns out, Lowry has written three more books in the same universe to create The Giver Quartet (including, in order, The Giver, Messenger, Gathering Blue, and Son). None of the sequels quite measures up to The Giver itself, but Messenger was the sequel that I enjoyed best. Continue reading “Messenger by Lois Lowry”
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