Review of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Title: Twenty Boy Summer

Author: Sarah Ockler


Description: "Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." 
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?" 

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. 

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Review: Twenty Boy Summer is the fantastic story of two best friends, Anna and Frankie, and their journey to come to terms with the death of their best friend, who also happened to be Frankie's brother, Matt. When Matt and Anna reveal that they have feelings for each other one fateful summer night, their once special friendship turns into something more. The only problem is, how do they tell Frankie?Matt wants to tell her when they take their annual family trip to California, and he makes Anna promise not to tell. But life takes a tragic turn the day before Matt and Frankie leave for California, and Matt is dead. This leaves Anna with a terribly broken heart and a decision: should she tell Frankie about her relationship with Matt? Or should she keep her promise? Anna decides to keep her promise to Matt, which works fine until a year later. Frankie's family asks Anna to come on their annual family vacation to California, and the girls decide they have a mission, meet twenty boys while they are there. And even though they hoped having a twenty boy summer would help them cope with the horrible feeling of knowing Matt is not coming with them, when they arrive it feels like he is all around them. The girls can't avoid thinking about him in this place he loved. Anna wants to tell Frankie about her relationship with Matt, but something is holding her back. As their trip goes on, Anna and Frankie's friendship is put to the test. And the twenty boy summer becomes one they will never forget. Sarah Ockler's writing creates so much emotion inside you and you can feel your heart hurting for these girls. I repeatedly got goosebumps from this book because it just feels so real.

Bottom Line: This book is written in a way that makes it feel so raw and real. My heart went out to Anna, Frankie, and their families. I felt their loss and got tears in my eyes a few times. I would definitely recommend this book if you like raw, natural emotion, and a book that will give you goosebumps over and over.

Rating(1-5): 5

Review of The Summer of Firsts and Lasts by Terra Elan McVoy

Title: The Summer of Firsts and Lasts

Author: Terra Elan McVoy

Description: Three sisters. One life-changing summer.

Calla loves summer because summer means Duncan. They’ve been best friends for years, but Calla has never worked up the nerve to tell him how she really feels. This summer, the summer before college, is Calla's last chance.

Violet isn't much of a rule breaker in real life. But this isn't real life, this is summer, and Violet is determined to make the most of it. Besides, a little sneaking out never hurt anyone. And sneaking out with James is 100% worth the risk...even though James is completely off-limits.

Daisy has never been the sister that boys notice, but when sparks fly with Joel at the first bonfire of summer, it seems so easy and right. So why is being his girlfriend so complicated?

Review: The Summer of Firsts and Lasts is the story of three sisters, Calla, Violet, and Daisy, and their adventures at summer camp. This is not quite what I predicted. From the description, I thought it would be the story of three friends, and I did not know that the setting would be summer camp. Honestly, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't written like I thought. Other than that, the storyline is pretty good. Each sister has her own summer romance and they all end in surprising ways. I found some parts a little predictable but overall not that bad. I must confess I did find myself skimming at some times.

Bottom Line: I would recommend this if you want a fun summer read with sweet characters and traditional romances, as long as you don't mind a little skimming.

Review(1-5): 3.5

Review Policy

Thank you for taking the time to check out my review policy!

How to contact me about reviewing your novel: I am currently accepting novels for review (ARCs or finished copies) from authors and/or publishers. I would also be happy to have a contest, or hold an interview with an author. If you are interested in any of the above, please contact me at kbetterbooks@aol.com

Please understand that my reviews are always honest, and  reflect my personal  opinions. By sending me a book to review, you are saying that you have read and agree with my review policy, and realize that my review may be positive or negative.

The type of books I enjoy: I try to review mostly YA/Teen books but I will accept Middle Grade and Adult books as well. Usually, I  gravitate towards realistic fiction, romance, and mystery type novels but I am open to trying other genres.

When I accept your novel for review: I cannot guarantee I will write a review. Please understand I do not have anything against you or your novel, I just may not have the time to read it or it may not be my type of novel.

If I feel a novel is one that I would not typically read on my own, I will usually read 30-40 pages to try it out. Sometimes books I receive for review just don't appeal to me, in which case I will choose not to review it on my blog.

If you have any further questions you can contact me at kbetterbooks@aol.com

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Title: Shut Out

Author: Kody Keplinger


Release Date: September 5th, 2011


Description: Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.


This book looks good and branches out from the type of realistic fiction I am usually drawn to. I am excited for it to come out and luckily we wont have to wait to long...only a few weeks.




I am really sorry about my lack of reviews over the past couple of weeks. I promise to have lots up this coming week.

Waiting on Wednesday

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

Title: Torn

Author: Cat Clarke

Release Date: January 5th, 2012

Description: Four girls. One dead body. A whole lot of guilt.
Alice King isn’t expecting the holiday of a lifetime when she sets off with her classmates on a trip to the Scottish wilderness, but she’s not exactly prepared for an experience beyond her darkest nightmares…

Alice and her best friend Cass are stuck in a cabin with Polly, the social outcast, and Rae, the moody emo-girl. Then there’s Tara – queen of mean. Powerful, beautiful and cruel, she likes nothing better than putting people down.

Cass decides it’s time to teach Tara a lesson she’ll never forget. And so begins a series of events that will change the lives of these girls forever...

A compelling story of guilty secrets, troubled friendship and burgeoning love.

This book looks really good! I can't wait for it to come out!

Waiting on Wednesday

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

Title: Breaking Beautiful

Author: Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Release Date: April 24th, 2012

Description:  Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

 

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

 

I love realistic fiction books like this that have a twist of mystery added. I can't wait to read this!

Review of Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Title: Imaginary Girls

Author: Nova Ren Suma

Description:  Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.
But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.
With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

Review: Imaginary Girls tells the story of two sisters who have a complex relationship. Chloe and her older sister Ruby have an intense bond and because of their absentee mother, Ruby feels it is her job to protect Chloe, at whatever cost. As the story goes on, Chloe becomes more aware of how Ruby seems to have a lot of power over their town and all its people. Chloe learns more about the reservoir and what may lurk beneath the surface. The book is written through Chloe's perspective, but is greatly focused on Ruby's life, which can make it confusing at times. For a lot of the book, I was very confused about what was real and what Ruby was making up. I continued reading because I was hoping it would all make sense but the ending still wasn't very convincing.

Bottom Line: I really wanted to like this book, but overall it was just a let down. I continued reading in the hope that it would get better but that didn't happen for me. I think the problem was that everything was too realistic to have the element of fantasy thrown in. The setting and characters seemed like they could be real and from the description I thought it was just going to be a realistic fiction/mystery type book. Instead it was a realistic fiction book with a twist of fantasy thrown in and that didn't work for me. I think it would be better if it were written like the hunger games where the entire story is just fictional. All in all, I would not recommend this book.

Rating(1-5): 2.5