Every Day by David Levithan 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! I've read David Levithan's Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Will Grayson, Will Grayson and loved both, so I decided to read another of David Levithan's most popular books, Every Day.  I definitely enjoyed it, reading it in a single day, and its concept was really interesting.

The Cover:

The Cover:

I can only describe this cover as randomly artistic.  Oh, look! Clouds and flying people! I'm also not a big fan of the title, "Every day."  It works with the story (every day A wakes up in a new body) but its a little melodramatic, in my opinion.

Official Description:

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day

My Review:

I really liked reading this book.  The writing style worked.  I loved the concept behind the book.  Its really cool to have the main character have no gender/ race/ hair color/ body type but regain the same personality. You can't help but be surprised at each transformation.  It was really neat to be able to have the main character randomly thrusted into different situations.

I enjoyed this book and would probably rate it at five stars except for three things (1) the ending (which I will talk about later in a spoiler section), (2) the lack of chemistry between Rhiannon and A, and (3) too much of a message/moral.

Let's start with the chemistry problem.  I just didn't buy that A and Rhiannon were into each other. I believe that A thought that s/he was, but I couldn't quite see it.  There were not a lot of cute moments between the two.  I got more of the feeling of friendship from them than the feeling of a relationship.

Also, the message.  The author was a little heavy handed in laying out the message he wanted his book to give across.  "All types of people, despite sexuality (main point) or race or gender are essentially the same."  It's not that I disagree with his message, but that I disagree with books actively trying to teach me a lesson.  I just end up feeling a little brainwashed.  If you can manage to make your message a little less intrusive to the storyline, I wouldn't mind a "moral of the story" but that wasn't the case in Every Day.  If you've read the book and don't know what I'm talking about, look at the day with Vic.

My last problem was the ending.  (ATTN: SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH)  The ending was not enough.  I love open endings, but this wasn't an open ending.  It was, in my opinion, the wrong ending.  I would understand if A decided that he and Rhiannon couldn't be together and left.  I get that.  My problem is that he hijacked Andrew's life and hooked him up with his girlfriend.  What was that?  I am also not content that we never learned how A got to be the way he was.  (I would've been happy with a single sentence about it! Maybe from the Reverend?)  Either way, the ending caused me to rethink my evaluation of the entire book. (SPOILERS END HERE)

I just learned that there will be a sequel, Another Day that is told from Rhiannon's perspective.  I don't think that this is necessary and frankly a continuation of a stand-alone book that does not need a continuation, and if it did need a continuation, it's not in the form of a Rhiannon POV.

Phrase:

The devil

Happy Reading!

Updates

Hey, guys!

I have been doing a few things with this blog lately, so I thought I'd let you know.

I got a twitter for this page.  You can follow me to hear when I post reviews, etc.
@BookshelfSecret or https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

I also got a Facebook for the same purpose.  Go like it!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Secret-Bookshelf/898792643475611?ref=hl

I am also posting at least once every three days, so you can look forward to that!

There is a New Page called Suggestions List where I put down my favorite books of all time.  If you need a new book to read/love, check it out!

That's all for now.

Happy Reading!

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I finished reading the third book in the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick, Silence. In case you missed it, here are my reviews to book one (Hush, Hush) and book two (Crescendo).
I enjoyed reading it, and it was much better than book two!
The Cover:

The Cover:
Yeah, no.  First of all, let's think about what went on when discussing the cover.
"Want to make up a scene and use that for the cover?"
"Yeah. Sure.  While we're at it, how stereotypical do you think we can be?"
"The more stereotypical the better.  We want all of our readers to be embarrased to be seen reading this book with its cover!"
That's what I picture happening.  Suffice to say, I'm not a fan.

Official Description:
Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.
But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.
And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.
Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

My Review:
This book was much better than Crescendo. Nora was slightly less annoying, though she still irritates me.  The plotline was exciting and I enjoyed it.  Nora's amnesia helped Silence regain some of the best qualities of book one, but it also grew annoying to read as Nora attempted to remember events and people we have know about for a long time.  
I'd recommend Silence if you have read the other Hush, Hush books!

Phrase: 
Jev

Happy Reading!

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Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist has been on my to read list for years, but I didn't know much about it, so it just kept being postponed.  However, I learned last week that one of the co-authors was David Levithan (co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson).  I really loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  And man that was a great idea!
I started this book at 10:30pm and kept reading until I finished (2:30am).  My eighth grade English teacher classified short stories as books that you can read in a single sitting, and, by that logic, this book was a short story.  It was fantastic, and I'd highly recommend it.
However, I must warn you that this book has quite a bit of swearing and a few... sexual situations.  I don't like to recommend ages for books (because it varies so much and I don't want to be responsible for some parent not allowing their kid to read a book) but I would probably limit the target audience to high school aged kids and up. Read the first chapter online and decide for yourself, but that's my loose recommendation.

Anyways, the cover:

The Covers:

This is one of the few books that has multiple cool covers.  The top cover shows New York City at night, where most of this book is set.  It also has a little blurb, "You never know where the night will take you." The second shows intertwining headphones in front of a raining (nice detail) New York City.  I like them both.  A+ covers!

Official Description:

So you're a guy; you're at a band show and your ex, the girl who dumped you, walks in with the new guy. Looking for a safe exit, you ask the girl you happen to sitting with to be your girlfriend for five minutes . You're a girl; you're at a get-together and your least favorite female strolls in. The stranger sitting next to you asks you to be his five-minute date. So what do you? You lock lips . Nick and Norah's instant connection begins a roller-coaster "first date" that takes them through Manhattan and into themselves. A novel concept that works.

My Review:

This book was great! Told in alternating point of views of Nick and Norah, we read about one awesome night where anything can happen.  Both main characters are recovering from a doomed relationship and need a night out, which they accidentally stumble upon with each other.  It was hilarious and awkward and really cute.  

Music is a key point in this book (which you might've guessed from the title).  It ranged through debating if a punk band can work without a drummer, thinking up song lyrics, and wondering if you true nature of relationship is really just the desire to "hold your hand" (Beatles song).  The music was a constant soundtrack underneath the book.  

All of the characters in this book were awesome! Not only were Nick and Norah complicated and complex characters, but so were the minor characters, like Tris/Dev/Caroline.  They also had their own motives and needs. 

The plot line was also lovely.  I was really invested in it! It was very fast paced and exciting.  The writing style was also interesting.  It was told in a more "stream of conscious" style than most books, while still being completely understandable.  It made it really easy to read and added a little something.  

I am a big fan.  The ending in particular was really nice.  It (SPOILER: didn't wrap everything up perfectly so there is plenty of room for imagination SPOILER OFF).  This book was much better than I expected.  It made me want to go read more of David Levithan's and Rachel Cohn's books!

I hear there's a movie? I just watched the trailer and its so off that I'm already mad.  Has anyone read the book and watched the movie? Is it worth seeing?

Phrase:

Where's Fluffy?

Happy Reading!

Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just read the sequel to Hush, Hush, Crescendo.  It was, in my opinion, much worse than the first, but still pretty good.  If you missed it, here is my review of book one!  It was worth reading it you want to check that out!
The Cover:

The Cover:
This cover shows Nora standing moodily in the rain (which is basically the gist of this book).  She's dropping a feather, probably of a fallen angel.  It's a pretty lame cover, but its not terrible.

Official Description:
Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever (if that's possible) and what's worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar.
Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude, Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feelings that he is hiding something.
If that weren't enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

My Review:
I really loved Hush, Hush, but Crescendo caused me to be very irritated at the characters. That plot kept going and I was very interested in the book, but Nora was perhaps that most annoying character that I've read about it a long, long time. She makes wild accusations on everyone close to her. She breaks up with Patch for basically no reason and then complains for him being around. She does not pick up on the obvious clues around her and blames seriously everything on Patch even though HE WAS INNOCENT IN EVERYTHING GOING ON!!!
I enjoyed the book but wished it was narrated by anyone other than Nora. I was hooked into the plot, but Nora irritated me so much that I struggled to get through the novel.  It might frustrate you, it might not, but if you like Hush, Hush, you'll probably still like Crescendo.  I'd recommend reading it if you are interested in where this story goes.

Phrase:
It must be Patch!

Happy Reading!

Boo by Neil Smith 5/5 stars

Oh. My. God.  I would write something witty or nice here but my brain can only form three words in a loop: Oh my god. Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!  This book!  Suffice to say, this book blew my mind.  It was fantastic in the way that I hope all books could be, but rarely manage to even reach the threshold.  This book was greatness that I could hold in my hands, and I am not even exaggerating. I beg each and every one of you to read it.
The Cover:

The Cover:
This cover shows Oliver (AKA Boo) shut inside of his school locker.  The number of his locker is 106, which happens to be exact number of elements in the Periodic Table, which Boo has, of course, memorized.  This is super symbolic and everything, but since I don't want to give out spoilers... You'll understand though, and if not, comment and I'll explain!

Official Description:

“Do you ever wonder, dear Mother and Father, what kind of toothpaste angels use in heaven? I will tell you.... This book I am writing to you about my afterlife will be your nitty-gritty. One day I hope to discover a way to deliver my story to you.”
It's the first week of school in 1979, and Oliver “Boo” Dalrymple—ghostly pale eighth-grader, aspiring scientist, social pariah—is standing next to his locker, reciting the periodic table. The next thing he knows, he finds himself lying in a strange bed in a strange land. He’s a new resident of a place called Town—an afterlife exclusively for thirteen year olds. Soon Boo is joined by Johnny Henzel, a fellow classmate, who brings with him a piece of surprising news about the circumstances of the boys’ deaths.
In Town, there are no trees or animals, just endless rows of red-brick three-story dormitories surrounded by unscalable walls. No one grows or ages, but everyone arrives just slightly altered from who they were before. To Boo’s great surprise, the qualities that made him an outcast at home win him friends; and he finds himself capable of a joy he’s never experienced. But there is a darker side to life after death—and, as they attempt to learn what happened that fateful day, Boo and Johnny discover a disturbing truth that will have profound repercussions for both of them.
Hilarious and heartwarming, poignant and profound, BOO is the story of a truly unforgettable character. Here Neil Smith gives us a unique look at the bonds of friendship in what is, ultimately, a book about finding your place in the world—be it this one, or the next.

My Review:
This book was just so fantastic!  It was exciting and funny and beautiful.  Picture combining some of the best characters you've ever read about with the writing style of a muse and then mixing in a plot with the surprises and greatness of your favorite book.  I think that describes Boo. I have little doubt that this book will be a huge hit.  If it doesn't, something is seriously wrong.
Anyway, the characters of this book were really complex and complicated with a human level of messed-up-ness.  They messed everything up with the purest of intentions.  They were kind and mean for their own reasons.  They were the people you've met and will meet.  You see only the one side of them until the truth is revealed.  They were beautifully crafted people who gave this story its wings (pun intended).  It usually takes multiple books for me to feel as connected with characters as deeply as I managed to do in this book's 310 pages. 
Boo has three stages of reading.  (1) This is really neat and cool.  A quirky spin on heaven.  I think I'll like this book, (2) Wait... WHAT?!?!, (3) Stab me in the heart, it'll hurt less. 
Each of these stages was amazing; I loved each of these even more than the last.  It was simply perfect.  The plot had so many twists and turns that I did not expect at all.  I was constantly floored.  At certain points, the story got so intense that I had to set down my book just so that I didn't accidentally have a heart attack and end up in an afterlife especially for fifteen year olds.  
The formatting was also really neat.  Instead of chapter numbers, each chapter opened with an element from the periodic table, the atomic number serving as the number of each chapter.  It was really neat and added to the book.
Also, I thought that it was really funny that Boo would replace the word 'God' with 'Zig' throughout the entire book because their heaven's god reminded him of a hippie.  It was just really random and funny.  I'm glad Neil Smith added these little moments of comic relief.

Quotes (NOTE: my copy was an ARC so these quotes may not be completely accurate with the published version):

"'Look, if he acts like a freak here, kids will sh*t on him just like they did back in America.' Rest assured, Mother and Father, that Johnny is speaking figuratively. Nobody ever defecated on me (though, as I said earlier, I was urinated on)."

"I feel prouder than the time I increased the pH of my urine by consuming citrus fruits"

"A geek was originally a circus artist who performed morbid acts like biting heads off live chickens and swallowing frogs. I am obviously, given my vegetarian diet, no geek"

"I try not to let the outer world wreak havoc with my inner one"

This book comes out May 12, 2015

Phrase:
Thank Zig!

(Note: This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

Happy Reading!

The Future We Left Behind/ 1.4 (Point 4 #2) by Mike A. Lancaster 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! So, earlier this week I discovered that Human.4 (which I read like three years ago and absolutely loved) has a sequel, and I've been oblivious about it since 2012!  Needless to say, I was beyond exited!  I practically stormed the library to check the book out and then finished it in basically a day.  It was great, the book before it was great, and you should read both.  Since I never reviewed the first, I'll post a little about that before we get into The Future We Left Behind.

Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster:

The Cover:

It shows an "upgrading" human arm.  Its such a cool cover.  The title is cool, too. A+ cover all in all.

Official Description:

Kyle Straker volunteered to be hypnotized at the annual community talent show, expecting the same old lame amateur acts. But when he wakes up, his world will never be the same. Televisions and computers no longer work, but a strange language streams across their screens. Everyone's behaving oddly. It's as if Kyle doesn't exit. 
Is this nightmare a result of the hypnosis? Will Kyle wake up with a snap of fingers to roars of laughter? Or is this something much more sinister? 
Narrated on a set of found cassette tapes at an unspecified point in the future, "Human.4 "is an absolutely chilling look at technology gone too far.

Alternate Official Description:

'My name is Kyle Straker and I don't exist any more.'
So begins the story of Kyle Straker, recorded on old audio tapes. You might think these tapes are a hoax. But perhaps they contain the history of a past world . . .
If what the tapes say are true, it means that everything we think we know is a lie.
And if everything is a lie does that mean that we are, too?
Plug into a gripping new generation of sci-fi.

My Review:

Considering that I read this book so long ago, I remember it remarkably well.  It was really neat.  There were certain moments, that I'm not going to mention because spoilers, that I would love to be able to replicate in my own writing.  It's deep without trying too hard, funny without being silly, and perfect in a way that few books can manage.  I'd highly recommend it!

The Future We Left Behind/ 1.4 by Mike A. Lancaster:

First of all, I'm not sure which title to use, The Future We Left Behind or 1.4.  I've seen both, but they are the same book so don't be confused!

The Cover:

It shows a mechanical bee (I know it doesn't look like a bee but trust me) flying near a person's head. These bees are actually a really significant part of this book.  Peter's, the main character's, dad engineered mechanical bees when the bees started becoming extinct.  These fake bees crowded out the natural bees, killing them all.  While that's not a very important part of the plot it shows Peter's dad's nature.

Official Description:

Thousands of years in the future the divide between humanity and technology has become nearly unrecognizable. Each thought, each action is logged, coded, backed up. Data is as easily exchanged through the fiber-optic-like cables that extend from fingertips as it might be through ordinary conversation. It's a brave new world: A world that the Straker Tapes say is a result of many human "upgrades." But no one is sure whether the Straker Tapes are a work of fiction or an eerie peek into an unimaginable past. 
Nearly sixteen-year-old Peter Vincent has been raised to believe that everything that the backward Strakerites cling to is insane--an utter waste of time and potential. Since his father is David Vincent, genius inventor of the artificial bees that saved the world's crops and prevented massive famine, how could Peter believe anything else?
But when Peter meets Alpha, a Strakerite his own age, suddenly the theories about society-upgrades don't sound quite so crazy, especially when she shows him evidence that another upgrade is imminent. And worse, there may be a conspiracy by the leaders of the establishment to cover it up. A conspiracy spearheaded by Peter's own father.
Gripping and full of unexpected twists, The Future We Left Behind takes the unsettling questions raised in Human.4, and flips them entirely. What if we knew that the very way we live was about to be changed in an instant, and we could stop it? And what if everything we are sure we know is entirely wrong?

My Review:

This book was so cool.  It picked up a thousand years after book one.  At first, I was skeptical about this change but it was obviously for the best.  The human race is still being upgraded and it seems like another update is imminent.  

People who believe that what is detailed in book one, the Strakerites, are hated and laughed at.  This led Mike Lancaster to be able to do something incredible, reference his own book within the current book.  Human.4 had become a bible of sorts to the Strakerites.  This probably doesn't seem very neat, but I loved this little detail!  For example, at one point, Peter goes through the list of books he will read in his English class.  They include Shakespeare, William Faulkner, Beowolf, Human.4, etc.  It was just so gutsy and fantastic.  This author won a lot of points with me by doing that.

The characters were all fantastic.  They were three dimensional with their own motivations, however ill guided they were.  They seemed alive.  Also, there was a LOT of character development, which I'm a big fan of, especially with Peter.  It was nice.

The plot was great! It was exciting and lovable and full of tension.  Unrelated things built off of each other.  There were twists and turns, betrayal and loyalty, love and hatred.  It was just fantastic.  I read this 300-some page book in almost a single sitting as a result.

I also liked its formatting.  The entire situation is set up like an encrypted computer diary that someone decoded.  So at the beginning of chapters, we have a line of computer code to run the next section of the diary, etc.

Quote:

"In the entire history of the world the answer to a question about the way things wok has never been 'magic', 'the supernatural' or 'pixies'.

Examples:

1) An apple falls. Was it pulled down by hands of angles? No. I think you'll find the answer to that one is 'gravity'.

2) Bright fire fizzes across the night sky. Are the Gods fighting? No, that one is an electrical discharge, and we have called it 'lightning'.

3) The sun is devoured by blackness in the sky. Surely the Gods are angry with us? Uh, no, the moon has just moved in front of the sun. We call that 'an eclipse'. "

I would strongly recommend both Point 4 books to anyone.  They grapple with issues while not being heavy-handed.  They are interesting, engaging, and just plain awesome.  Five out of five stars barely cut it!

Phrase:

Kyle paradigm

Happy Reading!

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  So, my class in school has been reading The Importance of Being Earnest in class for a few weeks, and we finished! I thought I'd blog about my thoughts on it.  I really enjoyed reading it.  It's very different than most books I read.  One of the main differences is the fact that it is a play instead of a novel.  It's also set in Victorian England.  It was just really funny and ironic.  I'd strongly recommend it.
The Cover:

The Cover:
There are a bunch of different covers out there.  I just randomly chose one.  It shows two girls, Gwendolyn and Cecily fawning over "Ernest".  The title is a play on words (Earnest vs the name Ernest).  The book I read had the subtitle, "A trivial comedy for serious people".

Oh, and also, the copyright is no longer valid for this book, so you guys can just go and download/ read it online for free!

My Brief Description:
Jack and Algernon are upper class men during the Victorian Era, and they constantly get into trouble.  However, they want to occasionally escape their lives, so Jack created an alter ego (Ernest, his "brother", a man who is constantly up to no good in London so that he could get out of his house as much as he likes) and Algernon made up an imaginary sick friend to get him out of social events.
Everything gets complicated when Lady Bracknell, Gwendolyn's mother, forbids her from marrying Jack because of his family and Gwendolyn only wants to marry a man named Ernest (not Jack).  Algernon also wants to find true love, and he looks for it in Cecily, the ward of Jack.  However, he introduces himself to her as Ernest, Jack's brother...

My Review:
This book was just hilarious! It was a romantic comedy or sorts.  It was just silly and ironic.  I had no opinion of it at all before I started reading it, but a few pages in, I knew I was going to love reading it.
There isn't that much to say about it, but I did enjoy reading it, and I hope you give it a chance!

Link to more of my thoughts (as I read it)

Phrase:
Frightening christenings

Happy Reading!

Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham 5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  So, I just finished reading Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham.  It was amazing!  However, I must warn you, it is a "letter-book" (more on that later) and it is not aimed at kids/teens like many books on my blog, so there is a bit of mild adult content.  If you are in high school, like me, you are definitely fine, but if you are like ten, maybe not?

Anyway, the cover:

The Cover:

The cover shows our couple, Madeline and Elliot talking at some restaurant.  Its not a particular scene in the book, but it kinda works for this book.  The title is very creative, too.  "Read bottom up" is something that Madeline wrote when she forwarded her best friend one of Eliot's emails.  She was supposed to start at the bottom of the conversation and read it up.  It also seems very metaphoric, but I'm not going to get into that right now.

Official Description:
A charming novel about falling in love, or like, in the digital age, told in an inventive, creative style.
Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City food event. Flirtation, online, ensues. A romance, potentially eternal, possibly doomed, begins.
And, like most things in life today, their early exchanges are very public, available to be scrutinized and interpreted by well-intentioned friends (aka amateur love doctors) who are a mere click away. Of course like all good email trails, this one reads from the bottom up.
Madeline and Elliot's relationship unfolds through a series of thrilling, confounding, and funny exchanges with each other and with their best friends. The result is a brand new kind of modern romantic comedy, both in format and in content. Read Bottom Up is a brilliant, fresh portrait that captures how enchanting, exciting, and downright confusing falling in love twenty-first-century style can be.

My Condensed Description:

Elliot and Madeline meet at the restaurant that Elliot works at and they start spending a lot of time together.  They share all of their romantic hopes/dreams/conversations in emails (and a few text messages) between themselves and their two friends, David and Emily.  The relationship is cute at times and doomed at others.

My Review:
This book was great! If I had to pick one word, I would call it "realistic" because it has none of the dramatic fanfare that fictional relationships sometimes have.  Madeline over analyzed everything that Elliot said, they were noncommittal, it was awkward at times, and most importantly, it wasn't perfect. There were constant snags and irritations in their relationship.  This made it really interesting to me.
The characters were also really three dimensional.  Even David and Emily, the best friend characters, were developed and unique.  They were not many characters because of the way that this novel was written, but each character that did exist was treated, if not equally, than well.
So. The writing style.  It was different. It took me a few pages to understand the way it was written and easily read the book, but it worked.  After I understood how to read it, I had no trouble at all getting into the story.  Don't let its difference push you away.  Basically, there were just a lot of emails back and forth to the four main characters of this cast (Elliot, Madeline, Emily, and David).  It was actually a great way to write this particular story, and it made it much more enjoyable to me.  One reason was that we had multiple character's points of view.  For example, Madeline would describe a situation as awful and terribly awkward, while Elliot would think it went well.  There were just so many little inconsistencies between their stories (he was 3 minutes vs 2 hours late) that it made each situation full of doubt and humor.  I normally don't like "letter-books" but this book made these modern-day "letters" work!
It was also surprisingly deep, as well as sort of romantic-comedy-esque. The messages sent were what actual people would send in these situations.
My only real complaints were that the formatting for the text messages (which happened only a few times throughout the book) was off.  This was almost certainly because I was reading an uncorrected ARC, but it was a little irritating.  I am 99% sure it will be fixed by the time you guys read it.  Also, the fact that the characters were expected to respond instantly to emails irked me.  Now, keep in mind that I am a teenager, and I find that we rarely email/check our emails.  I know that the characters in this novel were NOT teenagers, so it might be different for them, but I was a little skeptical about that.
All in all, it was a great book.  It was cute, deep, interesting, and just a quick read in general.  I'd strongly recommend reading it!

Quotes (NOTE: These may change in the official published edition!) :

"did not go home with her. I mean I did walk her back to her apartment, tell her I'm still madly in love with her, and offer to stay over (just spoon) and do her laundry in the morning... but she said no to everything, so all good. Except the laundry part. She did let me come in and do that."

"Well, there's also that adage about not buying the cow if you can get the milk for free but WHAT IF YOU'RE LACTOSE INTOLERANT"

"Conclusion: he is the dead cat of my dreams"

"Do you want me to start with the part where she called me 'an emotional vegetable'" ....
"the part where she said that I was more interested in being 'in a school play about a relationship than in real intimacy'"  ....
"Or when she accused me of using her to get a cookbook deal?"

This book comes out April 7, 2015.

Happy Reading!

The Ripper, The Asylum, and The Compelled (Stefan's Diaries #4, 5, and 6) by "LJ Smith", Kevin Williamson, and Julie Pec 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  This is my last review installment for any Vampire Diaries book for the foreseeable future.  This is the second half of the Stefan's Diaries series, and now that I'm done, I'm going to move on for a while.  Just a warning, these will be exceptionally short reviews!

Have you missed my previous posts? Click on these links to read my review: Vampire Diaries (original), Vampire Diaries: The Return (Nightfall,  Shadow Souls, Midnight), Stefan's Diaries 1: Origins, Stefan's Diaries 3 and 4: Bloodlust and The Craving ADD A LINK TO THIS!!!!!!!!!!.

Now, if you're ready, let's start reviewing these three books.
Oh, and if you are wondering, I grouped these three Stefan's Diaries together because they formed a trilogy of sorts.  They all told the story of Damon and Stefan in London during the Jack the Ripper Era.

Book Four: The Ripper:

Official Description: 

Haunted by the past . . .

The year is 1888, and the scent of blood lingers heavy in the London air. Stefan Salvatore thought he could escape his violent origins by settling in the peaceful countryside of England, but when a heinous murderer named Jack the Ripper surfaces, Stefan fears darkness will always follow him. Drawn into the investigation, Stefan assumes the worst: This is the work of a vampire. And the more he learns, the more he becomes convinced that the killer is someone close to him—and that he can never outrun his past.
Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

My Condensed Description:

Stefan assumes the murders in London were committed by Damon and decided the best move is to snoop around London.  Stefan meets Violet and tries to help her.

My Too-Short Review:

It wasn't quite as good as the others on this series, but it was still enjoyable.  I was mostly just disappointed that this book was about Jack the Ripper rather than "Ripper Stefan".  This book was just a bit whiny.  I'm not as interested in this storyline than I was in the plot of the previous three books.

Book Five: The Asylum:

Official Description:

The hunters become the hunted. . . .

Driven from their hometown of Mystic Falls, both Stefan Salvatore and his brother, Damon, arrived in Europe looking for a fresh start. But Samuel, a wealthy and cunning vampire, has other plans for them. First he ruined Stefan’s peaceful existence and now he’s framing Damon for the most gruesome murders London has ever seen.
United against their common enemy, Stefan and Damon are stunned when they realize that the source of Samuel’s rage lies in their past—tied up with the woman who forever changed their lives. Haunted by the memory of Katherine, the brothers find that their uneasy alliance is tested. Can they overcome their rivalry to defeat Samuel before he exacts his final revenge?
Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

My Condensed Description:

Damon and Stefan argue amongst themselves while a vampire, Samuel, kills more girls.  Samuel frames Damon for these murders and creates a vendetta against Stefan and Damon that they, in turn, attempt to reciprocate.  Also, Stefan and Cora bond.

My Too-Short Review:

I have to admit that I don't like this Jack the Ripper storyline, which spans 3 books now as much as the early storylines. I hope they change soon! (They didn't.)  This book went a lot slower than the past ones have.  I don't believe they should've stretched this over three books.  Two books is pushing it.

Book Six: The Compelled:

Official Description:

Control or be controlled . . .
Stefan and Damon thought they knew evil. But nothing compares to Samuel, the ruthless vampire hell-bent on avenging Katherine's death by destroying the Salvatore brothers.
Reeling from Samuel's latest attack, Stefan and Damon find help in the most unlikely of places—a secret coven of witches. Together they discover Samuel's plan is more sinister than they ever could have imagined. Their only hope is to stop him before he secures the power to control humans and vampires alike. If they fail, not only Stefan and Damon but all of London will fall victim to Samuel's spell.
Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan's Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began. 

My Condensed Description:

Damon and Stefan finally band together to attempt to stop Samuel once and for all.  They recruit a few witches to help them on their mission, but things are more complicated then they appeared. There was a reason for Jack the Ripper's dismemberments, and it could lead to the end of London.

My Too-Short Review:

This was definitely better than the last two books in this series.  It had more action, a better plot, and more complex interactions between characters. 

Quote:

This was just too melodramatic not to include:
"But washing the dirt from my face did nothing to scrub the blackness from my soul" - The Ripper

Does anyone know if there will be anymore books in this series? Comment!

Happy Reading!

Follow me on twitter: @BookshelfSecret

Bloodlust and The Craving (Stefan's Diaries #2 and 3) by "LJ Smith", Kevin Williamson, and Jullie Pec 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! Just so you know, this will be a very short review.

I just read both Bloodlust and The Craving, sequels to Origin (LIIIIIINNNNNKKKKK) and part of the Vampire Diaries /  The Return  (Book 1  Book 2  Book 3) series.  I'm liking the series so far.  All of the books are action-packed, short and fun.  If a book is only 200-some pages, I don't tend to expect more than good characters and an actual plot, and you most certainly get that in these books. There are pretty good books that just breeze by.  I am by no means saying that they're the best books I've ever read, but if you just want some quick entertainment, go for this series.  It will probably exceed your expectations for a vampire book.
I also love it when books are set in the Victorian Era.  It just makes every interaction so scandalous! For example, "he just touched her hand in public! *gasp*"  This makes the book better for me, in the same way that it made The Infernal Devices better.  I'd recommend reading these books if you have a free day. They may be guilty pleasure books, but as long as there is still pleasure, why not?

P.S. These covers are just awful.  I'm so glad I'm not reading paperback copies so no one sees these covers and judges!

Happy Reading!

Visit me on Twitter: @BookshelfSecret

Origins (Stefan's Diaries #1) by "LJ Smith" and Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I decided to go down a different path from here on out in the Vampire Diaries series.  Let's ditch the awful writing of The Return series and the original Vampire Diaries series for something a bit different.  This is a book based on the Vampire Diaries TV show which was based on the Vampire Diaries books.  The reason I put LJ Smith in quotes is because, while her name is on the cover, she had no input in this book's writing process, and I'm grateful.
The Cover:

The Cover:
This is a boring cover.  End of story.  It has Stefan's face on it.  (Have I mentioned I hate the half-face on book covers? Because I do)

Official Description:

A love triangle that will span eternity… 

The year is 1864 and the Civil War rages on. But seventeen-year-old Stefan Salvatore is fighting a battle all his own. Engaged to marry someone he does not love, Stefan falls for a mysterious girl named Katherine. With her gleaming curls and mischievous brown eyes, Katherine is beautiful and seduction…but she also harbors a dark secret: She’s a vampire.Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.(Note: This book is written by a ghostwriter)

My Review:

This was infinitely better than the original Vampire a Diaries series and The Return series. Both of those series were decent at best and trash at worst. However, I really enjoyed Stefan's Diaries book one. 
My reasons:
1. Stefan is a much less irritating main character than Elena. He's just a strong character who I can relate to.
2. The writing style was much better than LJ Smith's (who didn't write this book).  
3. The plot was interesting and not stupid. 
This book was by no means that best book I've ever read, but it was much better than I expected. 

I got really involved in this books plot and felt for all of Stefan's difficulties throughout the story.

I would definitely recommend Origins to anyone really.  It's definitely more of a girl book than a guy book, but do what you want to do.

Quote:

"It was ironic that while I'd spent my entire life trying to get my father's approval, what made him happiest was an act that made me feel dead inside"

Phrase:

Oblong ball

Happy Reading, everyone!

Midnight (Vampire Diaries: The Return #3) by LJ Smith 3/5 stars

Hey, guys!  I know that I promised to give Vampire Diaries a break for a bit, but that didn't happen, I'm afraid.  If you haven't read my previous reviews, check them out: Vampire Diaries (original series) and Nightfall and Shadow Souls.

The Cover:

The Cover:
....Yeah.... I have no idea who is on the cover.  Is it Bonnie? This girl looks just plain evil so I doubt it.  Anyone know? Comment!

Official Description:
The devil you know . . .
With the help of charming and devious Damon, Elena rescued her vampire love, Stefan, from the depths of the Dark Dimension. But neither brother returned unscathed.
Stefan is weak from his long imprisonment and needs more blood than Elena alone can give him, while a strange magic has turned Damon into a human. Savage and desperate, Damon will do anything to become a vampire again, even travel back to hell. But what will happen when he accidentally takes Bonnie with him?
Stefan and Elena hurry to rescue their innocent friend from the Dark Dimension, leaving Matt and Meredith to save their hometown from the dangerous spirits that have taken hold of Fell's Church. One by one, children are succumbing to demonic designs. But Matt and Meredith soon discover that the source of the evil is darker and closer than they ever could have imagined. . . .

My Review:

What can I say about this book? It wasn't bad or good. It was probably a waste of time to read it, but for some bizarre reason, I haven't given up on this series yet. I think I'm holding out hope that it will miraculously get better? I know the next part is not written by the same author, and while I'm disgusted that LJ Smith got fired from her own books, I kinda hope it will re-jumpstart this series to at least the point of the first Vampire Diaries "series". Who knows? I think I'm definitely going to take a break for a while though. 

I just feel so offended when I read it. Seriously all of the girls literally FAINT at the sight of trouble. Elena is hopelessly playing with two boy's hearts. The villains are stupid. Elena has wings (I will never not be upset by that). And LJ Smith DOESN'T BOTHER TO USE TRANSITIONS!!! How can I possibly know what's going on if things happen with no explanation. I had to read entire pages like 7 times in order to figure out what on earth was going on. Honestly though, it was on par or maybe even better than the rest of The Return series (the others were bad with a single good moment while this book was simple Ehh... the whole time).  I think that this was partially because Elena was not as much the center of attention as she normally is. I'm not sure.
If you made it through the tragedy that was the rest of this series, go ahead and read Midnight.  If you are debating whether or not to read this section of the Vampire Diaries series, I would suggest you read a different book.

Phrase:
Virgin tears

Until next time, Happy Reading!