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As always, Happy Reading!

Undivided (Unwind 4) by Neal Shusterman 5/5 stars

If I could, I would break the rating scale to give Undivided the score it truly deserves.  This series, the Unwind series is one of my top 5 favorite series of all time.  It is truly fantastic!
If you haven't read the other books in this series (Unwind, Unwholly, and Unsouled), I suggest that you start now.
The basic premise for this series is that three teenagers are marked for unwinding (a sort of forced organ donation) by their families, and they struggle to escape from the cops and survive.  (Click for more).This series puts other Dystopian books to shame.

Without further ado, here is my review for the final book in this series.

*SPOILERS FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THIS SERIES*

The Cover:

The cover:

I love this cover so much! I shows the Statue of Liberty with her new metal arm that has seams running across it (like they're unwind parts) and her torch has "united" kids around it.  It's so cool and just amazing in every way.  I didn't like the covers for Unwholly and Unsouled, but this cover more than made up for them.

Official Description:

Teens control the fate of America in the fourth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology by Neal Shusterman.

Proactive Citizenry, the company that created Cam from the parts of unwound teens, has a plan: to mass produce rewound teens like Cam for military purposes. And below the surface of that horror lies another shocking level of intrigue: Proactive Citizenry has been suppressing technology that could make unwinding completely unnecessary. As Conner, Risa, and Lev uncover these startling secrets, enraged teens begin to march on Washington to demand justice and a better future.
But more trouble is brewing. Starkey’s group of storked teens is growing more powerful and militant with each new recruit. And if they have their way, they’ll burn the harvest camps to the ground and put every adult in them before a firing squad—which could destroy any chance America has for a peaceful future.

My Review:

Many of you may already know this, but I absolutely adore Neal Shusterman's writing style.  I tend to be blown away by his books' greatness, and Undivided was no exception.

The plot of this book was nonstop action and excitement.  Quite a few times, I had to put my copy down and walk away just so that I didn't have a heart attack or something, but I never could keep away for long! I read Undivided in a single day.  

It was the perfect conclusion to the Unwind series.  I had a lot of thoughts on how Shusterman would manage to end this series, but they all fell miles from the actual ending.  I was completely shocked by many points of this story.  From time to time, I would literally gasp while reading and say, "The author can't do that! Can he?", and, for better or worse (definitely better), he could and he did.  

The characters, as they were in the rest of the series, were perfectly flawed. We have characters like Connor, a martyr who never wanted control who becomes our hero, and Grace, a girl with a mental handicap (low-cortial) who is a brilliant statistician. Even the characters who I started out hated like Cam ended up beings wonderful surprises.  

I'm not going to give anything away, but you will love it once you read it!

Phrase:

I've got you...under my skin...

Happy Reading!

Solitaire by Alice Oseman 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! A while ago, I received Solitaire in exchange for my honest review from Edelweiss.  It was amazing! I think that a good way to describe it would be Catcher in the Rye meets Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Winger.  It was fantastic, but I feel obligated to give a warning: "This Book Contains Some Extreme Teen Angst, Proceed With Caution".  That being said, it wasn't too much, but the angst definitely existed, and I know that some of you hate those kinds of books... so beware.
Anyway, the cover:

Official Description:

In case you're wondering, this is not a love story.
My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that's all over now.
Now there's Solitaire. And Michael Holden.
I don't know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don't care about Michael Holden.
I really don't.
This incredible debut novel by outstanding young author Alice Oseman is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and all unflinchingly honest writers.

My Description:

While the above description is accurate, and I feel like I need to add... the premise of the book.  

At Tori Spring's high school, an anonymous group starts pulling pranks and posting about it on their blog, Solitaire.  The pranks start out simple enough, playing Sexy Back when the principle walks onto the stage, but start to escalate... and escalate.  Meanwhile, Tori (the chronic pessimist) has a few personal problems.  Her brother has a mental illness, her best friend Becky is behaving differently, her best friend from grammer school (Lucas) transfers to her school and wants to be friends with Tori (ugh. Socializing), and a new boy Michael Holden always seems to be around.  

And, also to clarify, in the official description is says that "this is not a love story" in a way that implies that it actually is a love story, but I disagree.  This is NOT a love story. If anything, there's more hate than love contained in Solitaire's pages, so don't let that turn you off of it!

My Review:

I loved this book! I was deep, it was funny, it was ridiculous, it was philosophical, and it was real.  

Alice Oseman took care too develop all of the characters to the extent where they felt like real, complex people who had lives outside of the events of this book.  They were incredibly realistic, and there was so much character development! It wasn't just for the main character, but for almost all recurring characters. At certain points, I had some disagreements with Tori (You hate the Beatles? You don't like reading?!?!) but I managed to get past them remarkably easily and could still relate with Tori.  Even if you are nothing like her, I think that you will still completely understand her character!

The plot was very exciting. I couldn't wait to read of Solitaire's latest escapade or really any of the other plot lines. I was spellbound.  However, I must admit that some aspects were predictable. I  was thrown off by certain moments, but I knew the "surprise" orchestrator of Solitaire fairly early on as well as a few other things that Tori was seemingly oblivious to. That didn't affect my reading experience, but you should know.

The writing style was very similar to a modern-day Catcher in the Rye. You might disagree, but the narration style, if not the rest of the book, was definitely reminiscent of it.  I really loved the way Oseman told this story. It was the perfect way to write it, and I deeply respected it. 

Also, my inner fangirl loved everything about this book.  For example, the characters argued over whether Drarry (Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter) was a thing. There were just countless references to books, movies, and TV shows that I love. It made the entire book kinda cool.

Overall, Solitaire was amazing.  I highly recommend reading it.  It is aimed at teenagers, so keep that in mind, but I don't think your age will affect your reading experience. 

Quote Bonus Round:

I don't normally do this, but I don't think that you can truly appreciate the majesty that is Solitaire without reading at least some of it. 

(Note: Since I read an 'uncorrected proof' of Solitaire, these quotes might be altered in the physical books.)

"Rebecca Allen is probably my only real friend at the moment. She is also probably my best friend. I am yet unsure whether these two facts are related."

On Bruno Mar's Grenade: "it's unlikely anyone would want to catch a grenade for anyone else. Or jump in front of a train for someone else. That's very counterproductive."

"'you're Sherlock Holmes. I'll be John Watson. But we've got to be the Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman Sherlock and Watson, because the BBC Sherlock is infinitely greater than all other adaptations' I stare at him. 'It's the only adaptation that gets the bromance right.'

'You're a fangirl,' I whisper"

I hope that was enough for you to get the feel of this book!

Phrase:

It's funny because it's true

Solitaire by Alice Oseman comes out March 30, 2015.

Happy Reading!

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston 3.5/5 stars

The word that comes to mind when thinking about this book is simply "decent".  I don't have any direct complaints but I also didn't find reading it very enjoyable either. I read Their Eyes Were Watching God for my English class at school.

Description (from Goodreads):

One of the most important works of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston's beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose.
A true literary wonder, Hurston's masterwork remains as relevant and affecting today as when it was first published - perhaps the most widely read and highly regarded novel in the entire canon of African American literature. 

My Review:

This book was a strong advocate for an end to racism as well as being very extremely feminist. It also was completely filled with drama!  I don't think many people have had such an exciting, and mainly miserable, love life, like Janie does. Of course, that may just be because JANIE NEVER ACTUALLY TALKS TO ANYONE BEFORE MARRYING THEM!

I also found all of the characters a bit annoying. None of them could remain happy or keep the same characteristics. The characters did whatever the plot required of them, despite whether or not it worked with their ideas/personality.

For a required book, Their Eyes Were Watching God wasn't bad.  A bit irritating, a bit predictable, but not bad. 

Phrase:

Sop-de-Bottom

The Path by Peter Riva 3.5/5 stars

Hey guys! A few days ago, I decided I would put Food: A Love Story and Darkest Before Dawn on hold for a little while.  I needed a break from them and decided to dive into The Path by Peter Riva.  I enjoyed reading it, but it did have a few drawbacks.  I received it a while ago from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The Cover:

The Cover:

The cover shows rather Simon or Agent Cramer doing... something to the System, I imagine.  While I was looking at the cover, trying to think of something else to say about it, I noticed that its the first in the Tag SERIES? I thought that this was a standalone book.  I can easily say that I have no idea where the rest of the series will go.  This book did not have the feel of an opening book of a series...

My Description:

Simon Bank's job is to go into the System (the computer system that controls all of American life from national security to food production) and give it human interaction.  He basically tries to mess it up, and theoretically it will learn from him to better itself.  Except this plan works too well.  The System becomes sentient, and the task of fixing the derailing System falls to Simon.  Simon has help though from an agent of Control, Cramer, who while loving chocolate is rude and loves to be in charge.  Things go from bad to worse as Simon, Cramer, and a few others attempt to save everyone in America and maybe even the entire world.

My Review:

The good parts? 

Everything had a greater significance than it first appears.  The plot built on itself in complex yet understandable levels.  There were frequent plot twists, and you could never tell where anyone's loyalties truly lay. In fact, there was a huge mystery element to the entire book. I was definitely intrigued and zipped through this book. 

It also had a very unique universe in which it took place.

The bad? 

At times, it was a bit confusing for a number of reasons. (1) Abbreviations.  There were probably thirty or forty different things that were all identified by their initials, and I had a little trouble keeping them straight. (2) The Fictional Universe. I never felt that I fully understood the rules of the world the story took place in.  They would introduce a new story element and I would have no idea that that was even possible before it became a critical part of the plot.  There was no gradual integration into Simon's world, the reader is mainly just shoved into the deep end. While I figured it out, I wish I didn't have to. (3) Transitions and the Like.  I found myself having to reread entire pages because I couldn't figure out who was talking or what the characters were talking about to begin with. (4) Technology. There were many long complex computer programming moments in this book. While I found that I could follow them mostly, I am afraid that some people would be completely lost during them.  In general, they didn't effect your understanding of the book but be warned.  

I also had trouble comprehending the plans that were created by the characters, and there were a lot of plans.  Some of them just didn't make any sense. (SPOILER: What was the benefit of giving Cramer invincibility? I don't think that it helped anyone! SPOILER OFF.)  Some of the plans were so complex and dependent on others ignorant reactions that I just didn't buy them.  That being said, the plans weren't horrible.  I am always a little skeptical of the plans that books propose.  

All in all, I enjoyed reading The Path.  I was interested.  There were a few issues that I had with it, but they were minor.  I suggest reading it if you were interested in the description, but if not, I recommend holding off.

Phrase:

Mary's a Genius

Happy Reading!

Currently Reading

Hey, guys!

The last few days I have been alternating between reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, Food:A Love Story, and Darkest Before Dawn.  To tell you the truth, I'm not really enjoying any of them.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is a book that I'm reading in English class.  Its kind of interesting, but it only has so much potential, being titled what it is. (I don't think that don't-judge-a-book-based-on-its-cover counts for titles...)  It's about black Americans and especially black women during the Harlem Renaissance. While slightly boring, it isn't terrible; however, I find myself getting irrationally angry while reading it.  I suppose that means that the book is fulfilling its purpose, but it is not fun for me.

Next, I've been trying to read Food:A Love Story since October.  Whenever I pick it up to read, I immediately regret the decision.  I love Jim Gaffigan (the author)'s stand-up, but I don't think that he has the gift of writing, sadly.  However, my problem is less the writing style and more the lack of direction the book seems to be going on.  I figured, when deciding to read it, that it would be funny or a memoir or something like that.  It's more of a research paper on food.  I'm hoping that it will get better soon. (Full Review to come, eventually.)

Lastly, I've been slowly making my way through Darkest Before Dawn.  It's the sequel to Knightfall, which I reviewed earlier.  I'm finding it a bit slow and boring.  Most of the problem is that I don't care about the characters.  The main character from the last book, the only character that I do not actively hate, is barely in a single scene in this sequel.  He never narrates, and he's just become an ensemble member of the cast.  I'm more than half-way done, so maybe it will reach its climax soon.  (Full Review to come.)

I'll keep you guys posted, and will try to write at least a little post on all the books I read this year.
And, as always, Happy Reading to all of you out there!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 4.9/5 stars

Hey guys!

A few days ago, I finally caved and read Hush, Hush.  It's been on my to-read list practically forever, but I never had a chance to read it.  Until now.  This is just going to be a mini-review but it should give you guys the gist!

Cover:

Cover: 
I really like this cover.  Its simple, but elegant.  It shows Patch... falling from heaven.

Official Description:

A SACRED OATH

A FALLEN ANGELA FORBIDDEN LOVE
Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

My Review:

This book wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.
The characters were complicated and complex. The plot had me hooked.
Really the only issue I had were the characters' lack of concern over certain details. For example, if your best friend tells you that a boy physically threatened her, would you really push to go camping with him? (If you answered yes, you are rather a (A) terrible friend or (B) asking to die.)
Oh, and also the fact that Nora is supposedly doing well enough in school to go to an Ivy League college. If that was true than none of the event in this book could happen because of homework, etc. (I'm aware how nit-picky that is, but I'm getting sick of books where school is not as time consuming as it really is!)
All in all, a good book. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

This is How it Ends by Jen Nadol 4/5 stars

*Note: This books was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

This is How it Ends was a very interesting book.  The entire book was filled to the brim with mystery. As soon as one thing was answered, two more would come to take its place.  It was a good book.
The Cover:

The Cover:

The cover shows Riley, the main character, with Sarah.  This scene was one of the visions that Riley saw in the binoculars, but I don't agree with it being on the cover.  It makes this book seem like a romance, which it wasn't.  Romance was an element, yes, but it was very subdued.  (It's just as much of a romance as Harry Potter is.)

Official Description:

If you could see the future, would you want to? After the disturbing visions Riley and his friends see turn out to be more than hallucinations, fate takes a dangerous twist in this dark and suspenseful page-turner.

Riley and his friends are gearing up for their senior year by spending one last night hanging out in the woods, drinking a few beers, and playing Truth or Dare. But what starts as a good time turns sinister when they find a mysterious pair of binoculars. Those who dare to look through them see stragne visions, which they brush off as hallucinations. Why else would Riley see himself in bed with his best friend's girlfriend-a girl he's had a secret crush on for years?

In the weeks that follow, the visions begin to come true...including a gruesome murder. One of Riley's closet friends is now the prime suspect. But who is the murderer? Have Riley and his friends really seen the future through those mysterious binoculars? And what if they are powerless to change the course of events?

My Review:

This is How it Ends is one part murder-mystery and one part time travel book (though it was more like time watching than time travel).  There were a lot of seemingly unrelated mysteries that overlapped in spectacular ways.  What do the binoculars show? Who killed Natalie's dad? etc.

The characters were all unique and complex.  There wasn't a lot in the way of character development, but I was still satisfied with how the characters were portrayed.

I was completely sucked into this book's plot.  It was fast-paced and interesting throughout.  

That being said, this book was missing the piece of the story that grabs you by the guts and forces you to be part of the book (with some books its the narrator's voice, others relationships between characters, other plot).  In other words, it was missing the ummph. I still really enjoyed This is How it Ends and read it in a single day, but it needed something to make it stand out. 

I loved reading this book, but I imagine I will not remember it in the long run.  

I would recommend reading This is How it Ends by Jen Nadol if you were originally thinking about reading it or if you think the concept is interesting.  If not, I'd recommend another book.

Phrase:

My inner fourteen-year-old

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson 5/5 stars

*Note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley was a truly fantastic book! I loved every minute of reading it, which, sadly, wasn't very long because I was so interested!  It was a whirlwind of love and hate, joy and despair, and life and death.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and hope you will give yourself the opportunity that is this book (i.e. you should read it).

The cover:

The Cover:

Andrew (Drew) is on the cover.  I like this cover, for some reason, but there really isn't much to say about it, though it works.  I'm not even annoyed by the "A Novel".  (That's a pet peeve of mine.  I don't get the need for clarification.)

My Description:

Drew is a teenager who lives at the hospital, though he's not a patient.  He works in the cafeteria and never leaves, sleeping in an abandoned wing of the hospital.  He entertains himself by writing a comic book, Patient F, and through the friends he's made at the hospital, such as a few kids with cancer and the ER nurses.  Drew won't let anyone know him too well, otherwise they might notice that he's not who he says he is.  

However, when a boy, Rusty, is brought into the emergency room after being burned alive, Drew finds himself wanting to help the other boy in any way that he can, and he slowly realizes that he can't stay in the hospital forever.

(I thought that the official description had a few too many minor spoilers in it, but if you want to read it... Link to Official Description )

My Review:

I really like The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley, but I have to warn you that it is depressing.  It isn't a book that entirely focuses on tragedy.  There are points of pure happiness, but the sad moments, while less in number than you would anticipate, can be pretty sad.  (I imagine you picked that up from the title, but one can never be too careful.)  Aside from the tragedies, this book was actually really sweet.  There were multiple romances occurring in the hospital that were insanely cute at certain points.

I loved all of the characters.  There weren't just unique, but they were like-able!  I felt every character's pain and joy like it was my own.  They were complex and very, very complicated.  They also had this amazing thing, character development! Drew ended the book as a completely different person than he was at the beginning.  Even smaller characters, like Drew's boss, Arnold, had extreme character growth over the course of the novel.

The plot was amazing.  It kept me in complete suspense.  Shaun Hutchinson kept just the right amount of details from the reader to make the characters' backstories a mystery that was worth solving.  

At the end of every couple of chapters was a one or two page excerpt from Drew's Patient F comic book.  I really enjoyed this small aspect, as the life of Patient F mirrored Drew's life perfectly and added to the experience of reading this book. Still, there was not too many comic book panels, so it did not detract from the story.  (It was done in a way that kind of reminds me of Winger by Andrew Smith, it supplemented the story.) 

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley was both sweet and heartbreaking, but it was mainly wonderful.  I would highly recommend it! To be warned, it does contain some adult themes such as death, so don't give it to your seven year old niece, but for the rest of you, I strongly recommend that you try to read The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley.  It was a really great read.

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson comes out January 20, 2015

Phrases (I can't decide):

Andrew. Andy or Drew. Whatever.

AND

Death likes scrambled eggs

2014, A Year of Books

I thought that since the year is ending, I'd give you the highlights of the books I read this year.  I read 75 books this year, most of which I loved, and I had a hard time narrowing it down, but here are most top 10 favorite books of the year, in no particular order. (If I read multiple books in a series, they're counted as one).  All of the official descriptions came from Goodreads, and the brief reviews were written at the time that I finished the book.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Official Descriptions

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washedup child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun–but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

Or

Katherine V thought boys were gross

Katherine X just wanted to be friends
Katherine XVIII dumped him in an e-mail
K-19 broke his heart 
When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.
On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun--but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

My Brief Review:

This book was incredibly funny.  I loved the characters, the situations, and even the calculations.  It was truly masterful, and one of my favorite realistic fiction books.  It's the second-best John Green book, by far.

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Official Description: 

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

My Brief Review: 

I really loved the book's voice. (In a way, it reminded me of the narrator in Beautiful Creatures.) The entire book flowed very smoothly and the storyline was very engaging. This book was definitely worth the hype, which so few books are. It was fantastic. Highly recommended!
In an unrelated note, I love how the author's name on the front cover was so small unlike some others like James Patterson whose name fills each of his books' entire cover so that it's difficult to tell if you are reading "Blah Blah Blah Book" or "James Patterson". I really appreciate it when authors make the book more important than themselves. You go, Ransom Riggs!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Official Description:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Brief Review:

Easily the best book I've read in a long time. I cried during the last third of the book, but I loved it so much! It is one of those books that seem to reach into your soul and brighten some small essential part of yourself. At least it did for me.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Link to Full Review from earlier this year

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Official Description:

Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family. Jake is blown away...but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the era of Ike and Elvis, of big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke... Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten...and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful.

My Brief Review:

An amazing book. Not a single slow second in all 800 or so pages. I highly, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone! It was both a mystery, romance, and science fiction book all in one! I've recommended 11/22/63 to more people than I can count.

Misery by Stephen King

Link to my review from earlier this year

Legend by Marie Lu

Link to my review of this entire series from earlier this year

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Link to my review of this entire series from earlier this year

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Official Description:
Vane Weston should have died in the category-five tornado that killed his parents. Instead, he woke up in a pile of rubble with no memories of his past - except one: a beautiful, dark-haired girl standing in the winds. She swept through his dreams ever since, and he clings to the hope that she's real.
Audra is real, but she isn't human. She's a sylph, an air elemental who can walk on the wind, translate its alluring songs, even twist it into a weapon. She's also a guardian - Vane's guardian - and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs.
When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both their families, Audra has just days to help Vane unlock his memories. And as the storm winds gather, Audra and Vane start to realize that the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance growing between them. 

My Brief Review:
I loved this book! It was just perfect. I do not have a single complaint (which is a first). The characters were wonderful and non-annoying. The romance was believable, and the plot line was really engaging. Also the voice of the novel (both Vance's and Audra's). 
It's kind of similar to Beautiful Creatures. But better. 
I highly, highly recommend!

Winger by Andrew Smith

Official Description:

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.
Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

My Brief Review:

Amazing. It was probably one of the funniest books I've ever read. I just loved Ryan Dean's narration style. It's also not very rugby-oriented like the official description would have you believe. (I'm not entirely sure what rugby IS and I loved it). 

I highly recommend Winger (but only if you have at least a high-school maturity level). 
I didn't have high hopes for this book, but it surprised me by being completely amazing. It had everything you could ask for and placed it all together perfectly.

If you are looking for a book to read this coming year, I strongly suggest trying out one of these.  They are all incredibly different but they were completely amazing, nonetheless.  

Happy Reading!