Review of Circle the Soul Softly by Davida Wills Hurwin

Title: Circle the Soul Softly

Author: Davida Wills Hurwin

Description: An elite school. Glamorous students who have fancy cars and mansions for homes (and all the haughty attitude to go with it). This is Katie O'Connor's fabulous new life since her family's recent move to Brentwood -- a perfect opportunity for a fresh start, at least in theory.

The only time she can overlook the hostility of her classmates is when they share the stage for plays. Onstage, directed by her awesome drama teacher, Tess, she has the confidence and talent that she cannot seem to muster in her everyday life. And it doesn't hurt that one of Katie's fellow actors is smart and cute and interested in her. But beneath the glossy surface, there are secrets buried deep, even in Katie's own past.

Nightmares and dark memories continue to plague Katie's consciousness, and in order to deal with the present, she needs to come to terms with the past. If only she could remember it.

Review: Circle the Soul Softly is the story of Katie O'Connor's journey to discovering her past. Ever since she can remember, Katie hasn't quite fit in. She feels awkward, and stupid, like something just isn't right with her, if she could only figure out what. As she reinvents herself at a new school in a new town, and people begin to accept her, Katie begins having flashbacks of things she long ago locked away in her memory, buried so deep even she had no idea they existed there. She slowly begins to piece together her past, realizing it is in fact much darker than anyone knew. This book is beautifully written and keeps you absorbed in the story until the very end.

Bottom Line: This book was a lot darker than I originally anticipated it to be, but I think it is a great plot line unlike anything I've read and I highly recommend it.

Rating(1-5): 5

Review of The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

Title: The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Author: Kody Keplinger

Description: Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Review: In The Duff, by Kody Keplinger, Bianca Piper is feeling lost. When her home life gets complicated and she doesn't feel like turning to her friends for help, Bianca finds another outlet, Wesley Rush. It starts off with a simple kiss at a party, but then Bianca realizes that kissing Wesley is a great distraction from her everyday problems and suddenly she's hooked. She soon finds her self head over heels for Wesley, and thats when things start getting complicated. Once feelings are involved everything becomes all too real again and Bianca finds herself running away from her problems again. This had me completely hooked from the beginning and I couldn't put it down.

Bottom Line: I love this book and highly recommend it.

Rating(1-5): 5

Review of The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Title: The Karma Club

Author: Jessica Brody

Description: Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. Do good things and you'll be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what you deserve. 

But when Maddy’s boyfriend cheats on her, nothing bad comes his way. That’s why Maddy starts the Karma Club, to clean up the messes that the universe has left behind. Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. 

It turns out Karma often has plans of its own.

Review: The Karma Club tells the story of high school student Madison and her experience with karma. When Madison's boyfriend cheats on her, her life goes into a downward spiral, leaving her hurt and confused. Everyone tells her he'll get what he deserves but Madison doesn't want to wait, and she and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands. Soon, she learns that for every action, there are repercussions and one should never mess with karma. I found this plot line to be a bit predictable, however, it was still fairly enjoyable.

Bottom Line: This book is a good, fun read that I would recommend to anyone that wants an easy and entertaining novel.

Rating(1-5): 3

Review of Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

Title: Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks

Author: Lauren Myracle

Description: Wealth, privilege, and way too many pastel-tinted opinions...that's Carly's life. And guess what? It's. Getting. On. Her. Nerves.

Carly wants to be real, and she's always counted on her little sister, Anna, to lover her and support her—and tell her how right she is. But when Anna turns "hot" over the course of a single summer, everything goes weird. Suddenly Anna's swimming in the deep end with the big girls—while Carly watches, hurt, from the kiddie pool. And of course there are boys involved, complicating things as boys always do.

With warmth, insight, and an unparalleled gift for finding humor even in stormy situations, beloved author Lauren Myracle dives into the tumultuous waters of sisterhood and shows that even very different sisters can learn to help each other stay afloat.


Review: Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks is the wonderful story of two sisters Carly and Anna, and the pressures that come along with growing up. Carly goes away to camp for a couple of weeks and when she comes back her sweet little sister Anna looks more grown up than she does. This doesn't bother Carly at first but when they go back to school and Anna is known as her "hot" sister, Carly starts to get jelous. As the story progresses the two girls find themselves in typical teenage dilemmas involving boys, parties, and responsibility. Lauren Myracle has a very accurate way of portraying teenage girls and their emotions and I was hooked immediately.


Bottom Line: I love the way this book chronicles the complicated relationship between sisters and I definitely recommend it.


Rating(1-5): 5

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: The Best of Me


Author: Nicholas Sparks


Release Date: October 11th, 2011


Description: In the fall of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.

Now, twenty-five years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for a funeral. Neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers soon realize that everything they thought they knew-about themselves and the dreams they held dear-was not as it seemed. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?

This sounds so good!! Please comment below I would love to know what you guys are thinking and what book you are "waiting on" this week!

Review of Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn by Sarah Miller

Title: Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn


Author: Sarah Miller


Description: What if you could see inside the head of the guy you love?  Know his every thought?  Feel his every dream and fantasy?  The mystery girl who'sInside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn can. She tells us the intoxicating story of her beloved Gideon, an adorably clueless boy who flukes his way into New England's fanciest prep school. 
 
Gideon's naïve compared to the wolves at Midvale Academy, especially Cullen and Nicholas, his charming, morally ambiguous roommates.  They welcome Gid by trashing his music and betting big on when he'll lose his virginity. Will he lose it with the cute and feisty Molly McGarry? Or Pilar Benitez-Jones, the most beautiful girl Gid's ever seen? Gid actually likes Molly and hooking up with her might be possible. But winning Pilar would be legendary. Gid is torn--he wants to prove himself to his roommates, but he also wants love.
 
Through it all there is one hysterically funny girl sharing every thought in Gid's conflicted little mind. But who is she?

Review: When an unknown girl from Midvale Academy finds her way into Gideon Rayburn's mind, she is shocked by what she finds. Through her, the reader experiences Gideon's first year at Midvale Academy. Sarah Miller is totally open in detailing all the drugs and sex are part of Gideon's life. I was sort of put off by this book, and I think the author may have exaggerated the male mind slightly, at least I hope so! Nevertheless, Gideon's thoughts and actions do make for an interesting plot line, although it is a bit predictable.

Bottom Line: I would not recommend this book to others because although the idea of being inside a teenage boy's mind is good, the author exaggerates private school life too much. I found many things too hard to believe and I was often disgusted by Gideon's behavior. 

Rating(1-5): 2

Review of Clarity by Kim Harrington

Title: Clarity


Author: Kim Harrington


Description: When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth? 
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats. 
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. 
And a curse. 
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Review: Usually I would further explain the plot of the book in my review but I believe the description sums it up perfectly, after all, I wouldn't want to give anything away. When I read the description for this book, I knew I had to read it. I am not usually drawn to the paranormal/fantasy type books but I really enjoyed this one. Kim Harrington manages to keep the reader fully engaged through the entire plot. I was constantly changing my mind about who the killer was and I couldn't put the book down until I found out. This book has a satisfying conclusion despite the fact that it is the first in a series. It gives you closure, but still leaves you wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good mystery.

Bottom Line: Kim Harrington gets you hooked and you just can't seem to put the book down. The ending has a surprising twist and no matter how hard I tried, I could not figure out who the killer was until it was revealed. I recommend this to anyone that loves a good mystery or just wants a great new series to read.

Rating(1-5): 4