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

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