Review: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Series: Pretty Little Liars #1
Author Info: Wikipedia | GoodReads
Published: October 1, 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 286
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Pretty Little Liars Books 1-4 on Amazon
Rating: 4/5

Gonna keep this review short and sweet, I don't know what else to say about this book, other than I loved it.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this book. Nor can I pin down my exact reasoning for wanting to read it in the first place. It was mostly just to see what the hype was about (granted I jumped on the bandwagon pretty late) but also it sounded like it was a story full of drama, and I like reading drama, even if it is a little juvenile for my tastes.

When I first started reading, I found it to be pretty predictable and not all that interesting, but I still continued to read, I don't like leaving books unfinished. And sure enough, the more I read, the more intrigued I got. And by the ending cliffhanger, I'm now totally hooked and have to have more.

Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Author Info: Website | GoodReads
Published: January 10, 2012
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 318
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: 5/5

When this book first came out, I had never heard of John Green, because I was just starting to get really into reading. But so so so many people were excited to read this book, and also were raving about it once they read it. At first I didn't think anything of it, I didn't think it would be something I'd be interested in. But the more I heard people talking about it, the more intrigued I became. I did not hear one negative review about it. And then I caught on to the fact that evidently, the ending of this book made a lot of people cry. I've never had a book make me cry before. Challenge accepted, John Green.

It did not make me cry, but it almost did. Regardless of that, I completely loved everything about this book from the first day I started reading it. All the main characters were interesting and likeable, the bursts of humor actually made me laugh out loud, and then there were sad moments that made me question life and everything in it. Even though it didn't make me cry, I can definitely see how it made others cry. Clearly my heart is made of stone or something. Or it's partly made of stone, because I was sad, just not in tears.

After reading this, I definitely have to say that I will be picking up more of John Green's books. If they are anywhere near as good as this one, he's sure to become a favorite author of mine.

Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Author Info: Website | GoodReads
Published: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 396
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon

Every now and then I get in the mood for something humorous and quirky, and that's how I was feeling when I picked up this book. It had been on my wishlist for a little while and sounded like it was going to be really funny. And it definitely was.

This book is full of wacky, fast-paced fun action. There was not a dull moment in this book, it goes straight from one crazy hilarious event after another, and they just got better and better as the book went on. I felt that the majority of the characters all had their own personalities that made them totally unique from each other, but there were a few that fell flat and were generally unmemorable, and thus also didn't play too big of a role in the story.

Much like Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, I felt like this book was quite heavy on the language for being YA, and also a little heavy on sexual references as well. It doesn't bother me at all, just surprises me.

Now I know a lot are saying this book reminded them of Miss Congeniality or Lord of the Flies, and I do agree with that, but the main thing this book reminds me of is a little known independent film I watched ages ago titled Death to the Supermodels. The plots aren't entirely the same, but there are many similarities.

If you're looking for a book that will keep you laughing with it's random, kooky adventures, of beauty queens surviving on an island, or you are a fan of Libba Bray's sense of humor, I recommend this.