Meet OwlCrate + another thing

Hey, guys! We’re back from the dead! For now. Until life gets us yet again and drags us away from our blog for the upteenth time.

Photo borrowed from OwlCrate's Twitter account. @owlcrate #owlcrate

We’ve come back to tell you guys about this awesome thing known as OwlCrate. If you’re a YA lover like Rachel and I, then this is the perfect thing for you. Each month, a box will be sent out including a brand new YA (hardcover! Be still, our hearts!) release, 3-5 book themed goodies (jewelry, totes, treats, etc.), exclusive items from publishers and authors, and a note telling you about the novel and the items included. The box is $29.99 plus shipping; both Rachel and I ended up paying $36.98 after shipping and we live on opposite sides of the US. The boxes ship out on the 20th of each month with the first box being shipped out on March 20th. Each box also has a theme to it (March’s theme is fantasy!)

Rachel and I both ordered it, and we will be sure to let you guys know what we think of the contents (and we’ll probably make an unboxing post!) If you’re interested, check out their site and sign up!

Another subscription worth mentioning is Colleen Hoover’s brand new service, Bookworm Box. Her service will be sending out 2 signed romance novels each month, but there’s been no mention of additional goodies. There’s no set price yet, although she did mention they’re looking at $29.99 as well. Bonus: all profit will be donated to charity. Good intentions aside, Rachel and I are both on the fence about it and are waiting for the first batch to roll out and be reviewed before we subscribe to the service.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve signed up for either (or any other!) subscriptions! We can’t wait to get our boxes and let you guys know what we think of it!

Yajaira & Rachel
(The exclamations mean we're very! excited! ermagerd, BOOKS!!!!)

Something like Normal by Trish Doller

...chicks are naturally attracted to the scent of badass.

I HAVE READ SO MANY BAD BOOKS LATELY AND ABANDONED SO MANY BAD BOOKS HALFWAY THROUGH AND JUST. SIGH. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR STANDARDS. Okay, they weren’t BAD. They had POTENTIAL. It’s just really clear that maybe there are some editors out there who have no business being editors? (or these authors had no editors to begin with) Whatever. It’s not my job to judg- oh. It literally is.

So, that’s why I haven’t read or posted much (anything) this year. Book slump. And life has been happening. And we both suck at blogging. Excuses, excuses. Anyway, I was kind of desperately searching through those little lists on Goodreads when I found

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Publication date: June 19, 2012 (Bloomsbury)

I know it’s “old,” but despite the thousands upon thousands of ratings/reviews, I haven’t heard anything about it. Ever. Maybe you guys haven’t either. So I’mma remedy that situation right now.

Picture it with me. Be intrigued. Swoon a little. It’s okay to be pulled in by the whole uniform thing. I don’t think we can actually help it.

Travis Stephenson spontaneously enlists in the Marine Corps after high school to escape the less than stellar relationship with his overbearing father. Though we don’t have much of an opportunity to get to know him pre-Afghanistan, the change in him is made fairly evident when he returns. Things at home have changed too, and not for the better. This is what a large portion of the book deals with, so the squee-inducing fluff-nugget of a cover is a bit misleading.

While Travis attempts to deal with the nightmares and grief on his own, (as an added bonus: enter cover) he starts spending some time with an old “friend” from middle school. It’s a rocky start - and a rocky middle - but she tries to understand him and is his only source of comfort in a world he feels undeserving of.

I’m extremely picky when it comes to books written from a male’s POV, and I’m happy (obvi) to report that I liked this one a lot. I appreciated the amount of research that was obviously put into it to accurately capture The Feels and the struggle of a soldier adjusting to life after loss and war. I was actually kind of mad when I reached the end. I wanted more, and I’m not going to lie, I cried. I laughed too. But I cried. The Fault in Our Stars didn’t even make me cry. I’m weird. Anyway, there’s a lot to take away from this book, but I’m not going to list them because I’m clearly not great at thought put-togethering, so you’ll just have to read it for yourself and judge me and my opinion of good literature.

I think this was a debut novel for Trish Doller, so I’m excited to take a look-see at her other works.

4.75 out of 5 (I KNOW. I have star issues. I can’t just throw them out willy nilly. Accept it.)

He was the person all of us should be, but most of us aren't. And if I could have taken his place to buy him a little more time in the world, I'd have done it. I'm sorry I couldn't.

P.S. AMERICA. OORAH. FRICK YEAH.

P.P.S. Thanks to Yajaira for some of the random parenthetical additions.

- Rachel

Anatomy of a Boyfriend (Anatomy #1) by Daria Snadowsky

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky 

Publication date: January 9, 2007 (Delacorte)

Dominique Baylor has never had a boyfriend. It’s her senior year of high school, and lo and behold, she runs into a very cute boy that catches her attention while attending a football game with her best friend, Amy. Wes and Dominique’s relationship quickly evolves from friends to boyfriend/girlfriend. Dominique is thrilled. And like a lot of teenage girls, within one month, she believes he is The One. And like some teenage girls, she allows a boy to change her.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend was a bit of an odd read in that it’s pretty realistic when it comes to sex and relationships. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in which it describes the awkwardness and fumbling that comes with having sex for the first time. It was also entertaining to see a teenage relationship portrayed so realistically (because let’s be real, a majority of girls believe their boyfriend is The One in one month max). Reading the whirlwind romance of Dominique and Wes was amusing to see, watching it quickly go from one step to the next.

But the book does have its faults. Dominique isn’t very dynamic, and her character is rather predictable. Amy also fills the expected role of sexual deviant best friend. Wes was a pleasant surprise in some of his actions and characteristics.

Overall, this book is a good read, and I’d certainly recommend it to YA lovers.

(3.75 out of 5)

~ Yajaira

Waiting on Wednesday (5/7/14): Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Expected publication date: September 23, 2014 

When a daredevil teen pushes herself too far, she must choose between two boys: the one who wants to keep her safe, and the one who dares her to return to her old self.
Seventeen-year-old Dyna comes from a family of risk takers and is an avid thrill-seeker herself, until the day she splinters her ankle in a terrible fall. Her whole life goes from mountain biking and rock climbing to sitting at home and attending group sessions at the bizarre alternative healing center that her hippie mother found. The boy who witnessed Dyna’s accident believes her injury is a wakeup call and he encourages her mild new lifestyle, but a young Afghanistan War veteran she meets at the healing center pushes her to start taking chances again. Forced to face the consequences of her daredevil impulses, Dyna finds herself in danger of risking the one thing she’s always treated with caution—her heart.

- Rachel

Waiting on Wednesday (4/30/14): Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Four by Veronica Roth

Expected publication date: July 8, 2014

From Goodreads:

 Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Story Collection, five short stories told from Four's perspective. Each brief story—"The Transfer," "The Initiate," "The Son," "The Traitor," and "Free Four"—explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships.

Numbers. Theo James. Cute scenes. Need I say more?

~ Yajaira

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

Publication date: May 15, 2008 (Viking Juvenile)

So, Fancy White Trash. I picked out this book when I was ordering a few other ones from Barnes and Noble. The summary initially interested me (because who doesn’t like a good YA family drama-ish read every now and then?) and the title was entertaining.

Fancy White Trash brings the story of sixteen year old Abby Savage who is entering her sophomore year of high school with a set of rules to find her One True Love. She comes from the infamous Savage family, a family of all girls who are notorious for being, in Abby’s words, sluts. Abby is also forced to confront her feelings for her best friend’s older brother (and ex-boyfriend), Jackson, after he returns from a trip to Nicaragua.

I didn’t go into this with high expectations, but I wasn’t expecting it to be bad either. With that said, I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s an easy read if you’re looking for something light to read in between books, but it’s not something that will have you going to your friends and telling them, “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.” The plot is predictable, Abby doesn’t have much character development (her best friend Cody has more development than her but even then, rather flat), and the drama seems forced.

Boy, does it sound like I dislike this book.

Like I said before, if you’re looking for something to read in between really good books, I’d suggest this as it is a read that’s good enough to pass the time. I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but I was not completely riveted by it.

(3 out of 5)

~ Yajaira

Happy Holidays from Flesh & Books!

Twas the night before Christmas

When all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The bibliophiles were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of advanced reader copies danced in their heads...

Wait, what?

    Life gets crazy and we get lazy, so we might not always do what we say we're going to or when we say we're going to do it, but we're here now wishing you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas! Eat some extra cookies for us, and try not to snap at those nosy family members like we know you're dying to. We hope you receive every book on your wish list this year (and a few extras), as we are waiting with bated breath for your recommendations!

MY HEART

 

Heartbreak Graphics

All of our favorite books seem to have one thing in common: they have heartwrenching moments. No matter what, there always seems to be one of those moments that make you want to scream, cry, and curl up into a little ball. And as much as those moments break our hearts, we can’t help but love them. Here are my top five heartbreaking moments. (Spoilers ahead for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, Fang by James Patterson, Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins)

1. Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars

“I lit up like a Christmas tree, Hazel Grace.”

2. Fang’s letter in Fang

Man oh man, that letter. That letter was one of the most heartbreaking things to read after reading five books and seeing Fang and Max’s relationship blossom. If you know Fang, you know he’s the strong and silent type but with Max, he lets a softer side show and he does everything in his power to be with her and by her side. To see that he is willing to leave her, despite how happy she makes him and vice versa, just to make sure they survive, well that’s heartwrenching. Not to mention his promise to meet her on the cliff where they learned to fly with the hawks is one of the sweetest things ever.

3. Snape’s love woes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Everyone can agree that Rowling’s surprise in Deathly Hallows of Snape having loved Lily for his entire life was completely unexpected. Harry Potter fans everywhere had spent nearly seven entire books hating the Potions Master, thinking he was out to make Harry’s life miserable and eventually kill him. But when I got to the point where Snape’s love for Harry’s deceased mother was revealed, all I could say was, “Oh.” The literal undying love that man had for her was something that some would call almost obsessive but others would find it to be something completely and utterly admirable and adorable. And to find this out right as he died was something that made me want to put down the book for a moment and let what I just read sink in (except I didn’t put down the book because I wanted to finish the book.)

4. Patch’s “death” in Finale

Becca Fitzpatrick’s series, Hush, Hush, had brought us the love story of fallen angel Patch and human Nora. Their relationship was something that at many times caused me great joy and immense pain. But towards the end of Finale, when all the fallen angels were banished to hell and Nora realized that meant Patch was lost to her forever, my heart broke. And when she found his motorcycle crashed on the side of the road, tears welled up in my eyes. The idea of these two being separated was horrible because of how much they loved each other and everything they struggled through to be together; they didn’t deserve to end like this.

5. Finnick’s death in Mockingjay

When Finnick was first introduced in Catching Fire, I didn’t think much of him. When I found out he was aiding the rebels, I thought, “All right, he’s just gonna help Katniss out, won’t be that important.” But when he began to take a more prominent role in Mockingjay, revealing everything about his complicated relationship with Annie and, most importantly, helping Katniss hold herself together when she was falling apart, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the guy. I thought for sure he would make it through until the end of Mockingjay, being able to finally enjoy a peaceful life with Annie. But no. Suzanne Collins decides to take your heart and rip it to shreds when Finnick himself gets ripped to shreds by some Capitol mutts to protect Katniss not long after having gotten married to Annie. I literally wanted to throw my book and then pick it up to find out I had misread it. But alas, Finnick Odair was indeed dead and left me beginning to metaphorically sob (which only worsened as I finished Mockingjay.)

So there you have it! Those are my top five heartbreaking moments in the books I’ve read. Of course there are plenty more but these are some of my favorites. We’d love to hear some of your guys’ favorites so leave a comment and share your tears with us!

~ Yajaira

Waiting on Wednesday (9/21/11): Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Publication date: October 10, 2011  (Poppy)

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

- Tabbyc

Waiting on Wednesday (8/17/11): All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Publication date: September 6, 2011

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Caffeine illegal? WTF? Noooooo! 

~ SynysterShadows 

Waiting on Wednesday (8/10/11): Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I really, really loved Vampire Academy. Hoping this spin-off series won't be a disappointment! 

Publication date: August 23, 2011 (Razorbill)

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

- Tabbyc

Seven Deadly Sins by Corey Taylor

Publication Date: July 12, 2011 (Perseus Books Group)

I’m not gonna lie; the only reason I was interested in this book at first was because Slipknot and Stone Sour singer Corey Taylor was the author. When I saw the title, I figured it was going to be a memoir of how he has committed each of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Boy was I wrong.

He makes it evident from the start that this is not going to be a memoir. He tells the reader that he will be talking about each of the seven sins are, as he puts it, bullshit. Committing a chapter to each sin, Taylor logically explains why each sin shouldn’t even be considered a sin. He occasionally throws in moments from his life in which he has committed the “sin” but then quickly points out the reasons as to why they aren’t a sin.

The only thing that ever sorta bothered me about this book was the random tangents he sometimes went off on. But most of the time he was able to relate it to what he was talking about.

All in all, I would suggest this book even if the arguments presented mean nothing to you. Look at more points of view, you know?

What I’m saying is that in all the chaos, remember to breathe, remember to smile, and remember that the only time to panic is when there is truly no tomorrow.

(3.75 out of 5)

~ SynysterShadows

Waiting on Wednesday (8/3/11): The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Publication date: November 15, 2011 (Margaret K. McElderberry)

From Goodreads: 

Words are the most dangerous weapon of all.

 
In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

 
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

~ SynysterShadows 

This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff

Publication date: January 26, 1989 (Grove/Atlantic)

I’ll be honest; normally I would never pick this book up on my own. The only reason I read it was because it was one of the options on a required reading assignment as part of my AP English summer assignment. I figured I would just read it for the homework and that I wouldn’t actually like it.

Boy was I wrong.

This memoir is about the gypsy, for the lack of a better word,  life of Tobias Wolff (who later adopts the name Jack) and his mother. After his mother got a divorce from his father, Tobias and his mother are always going from city to city, looking for a good life. At one point, the two meet Dwight who would later become Tobias’ step father.

The book mainly chronicles Tobias’ adolescent life in the town of Chinook. Wolff not only tells us what he did, thought, and felt at the time, but, on occasion, he also tells us what he thought when he recalled the event years later.

For the most part, I liked the book. I wouldn’t say I loved it but I enjoyed reading it. Wolff does an amazing job painting an image of not only himself but all the others in the book. I could understand how he felt, his thoughts, everything. Wolff does an amazing job of bringing characters to life, allowing readers to hate Dwight, sympathize for his mother, understand Arthur’s motives, etc, etc.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was how it got a bit confusing at times. Not to mention the occasional off topic tangents.

All in all, it’s a good book and I suggest it to those who are into reading memoirs and/or non-fiction.

(3.5 out of 5)
~ SynysterShadows

Waiting on Wednesday (7/13/2011): The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Publication date: September 1st, 2011 

From Goodreads: 

Daphne is the new girl in town and is having trouble fitting in. At least she has Jesse... sort of. He wants to be more than "just friends," but there's something he's not telling her about his past. Something dangerous. When a female student is brutally attacked, police turn to PROFILE, a new program that can predict a student's capacity for drug use, pregnancy, and violent behavior, to solve the case. As the witch hunt ensues, Daphne is forced to question her feelings for Jesse-and what she will do if her first love turns out to be a killer.

- Tabbyc

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Publication date: July 12th, 2011 (Simon Pulse)

Source: Simon & Schuster eGalley

Hannah is anticipating a perfectly normal summer, until she attends a fellow classmates party and things start to fall apart. She loses her boyfriend to a sophomore and her best friend announces she’s going away when she needs her the most. Sensing that Hannah is struggling with things, aforementioned best friend asks her own boyfriend to keep an eye on her, not expecting it to come back to bite her.

I was super excited to see this tacked onto the bottom of my Galley Grab newsletter. I think the cover is cute and the plot sounded pretty good. I expected to enjoy this -

But I didn’t. At first I thought that I would like the way it flopped from past to present, but it only managed to whisk away the element of surprise. The first hundred or so pages were really slow for me. Only when the truth about what happened between Hannah and Ava’s boyfriend comes to light did it even begin to be remotely interesting.

Not much can be said about the characters, as we aren’t really given a chance to get to know them. I know they all have relationship issues, though, and Hannah is a major drama queen. I do kind of get why she was attracted to Noah, as he seemed to be a good guy.

I was definitely caught off-guard with the ending. I was angry, because I thought I had been jipped a few pages; it was that abrupt. Then I thought, “Well maybe there’s going to be a sequel,” because I do have some unanswered questions. I can’t find mentions of a sequel anywhere.

Bottom line: Lauren went through a lot just to tell us that stuff happens and that we have to find a way to deal with it. This book does have mixed reviews, so you might want to check it out for yourself and tell us what you think. 

(2.5 out of 5)

- Tabbyc

Waiting on Wednesday (7/6/2011): Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Publication date: July 21st, 2011 (Razorbill/Penguin)

I’ve never been one for mythological stories but upon reading this blurb, I was intrigued. There is the cliche factor of having to make a life changing decision but the fact that it involves a siren is a new spin. This will certainly be an interesting book to pick up.

From Goodreads:

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

~ SynysterShadows