Confessions of a Hater by Caprice Crane

Confessions of a Hater by Caprice Crane

Publication date: August 27, 2013 (Feiwel & Friends)

Average teenager Hailey Harper has spent her entire life living in the shadow of golden girl and older sister, Noel. She isn’t popular at school but she isn’t hated. But when her parents announce they are moving to California and Hailey stumbles upon her sister’s diary called “How to be a Hater” as she’s packing, Hailey decides she is going to use this move as her opportunity to reinvent herself and become popular. Not long after she manages into the popular clique at her new school, Hailey finds herself hating everything about being popular and she is quickly butting heads with the most popular girl at school, Skylar. Hailey finds solace in the most hated girl at school, Anya, and her group of friends. Dubbing themselves The Invisibles, these girls quickly spark a war with Skylar and her clique.

What I found to be a refreshing change of pace is that instead of being the typical “girl moves across the country and is just instantly popular without changing/reinventing herself on her own,” Caprice Crane instead had Hailey reinvent herself to be exactly like her sister through the use of her sister’s diary. I haven’t read a book that has done that. The ending was also a pleasant surprise what with Hailey putting her artistic skills to use to resolve the conflict of the book.

Crane also shows she is quite capable of handling the tiny nuances of writing very well such as when Andy and Anya are introduced, the reader can instantly tell these two have a history because of their reactions to and behavior around one another. She also slips in the subplot with Kura that expertly emphasizes the fact that someone can be so caught up in their bullshit that they don’t realize their friends or family are struggling with something much bigger than what they’re dealing with.

My biggest issue with the book was the fact that as soon as Hailey ignited the war with the popular girls, I instantly knew where Hailey was going to end up character-wise: she was going to become what she hated. Along with the most popular guy at school falling for her, the flaw of this book is predictability.

With that being said, Confessions of a Hater is a book that I would recommend as something to read in between finding something that you absolutely love.

(3.5 out of 5)

~ Yajaira

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

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson

Confessions of a Murder Suspect (Teen Detective Series #1) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Publication date: September 24, 2012 (Little, Brown and Company)

The lack of evidence in the sudden death of Tandy Angel’s successful parents make her and her siblings prime suspects. She wants to insist she’s innocent, but the truth is she doesn’t know. There’s a lot that she doesn’t remember. The deeper she digs trying to clear her family’s name, the more secrets she reveals that have her questioning who she’s been her entire life as well as the ones she loves.

Being a fan of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series since practically the beginning, and looking for something to fill the void after its conclusion in August (2012), I was rather excited to hear of this first installment of his new YA series.

His usual short chapter format makes this book a breeze to read. It strays into predictability at times, and contains more Maury-esque drama than the legitimate mystery/action that one would hope for. You can’t help but become attached to smart, strong Tandy, but I found myself hating the rest of the crew. Malcolm and Maud (may they rest in peace) perhaps had good intentions but they were really just horrible people. While this book need not exist without Tandy’s impressive sleuthing skills, the real detectives on the case were almost unbelievably incompetent.

I honestly can’t say whether I was satisfied or dissatisfied with the ending. On one hand it feels like a stand alone because I really don’t know where it could go from here, but then you realize, “Hey, what about...”? So while a little different from what I would usually read, and not a complete disappointment perse, I don’t know how closely I’ll be following from here.

(3.5 out of 5)

- Rachel

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myrcle

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myrcle

Publication date: October 1, 2008 (Speak)

On the night before Christmas, Gracetown, North Carolina is hit with a terrible blizzard. Jubilee finds herself being shipped to her grandparents’ house the night of Christmas Eve; Tobin and his friends race to reach the Waffle House first to have the privilege of dining on waffles and hanging out with hot cheerleaders; Addie spends the what should be cheerful holiday trying to get over her ex-boyfriend who is consequently the only thing she can think of. Along the way, these three teenagers stumble upon romances in ways- and in people- they never expected to find it.

Three of today’s top Young Adult authors (John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myrcle) came together to weave this novel of winter romances. Each author contributed a short story that cleverly (and sometimes subtly) connected with one another.

For not being given a lot of pages to work with, each author is able to give a well delivered story. The plots don’t seem rushed at all, the characters are fairly well developed, and the stories come together nicely even though they are three separate tales.

However, out of the three, I felt Myrcle’s story was the weakest. Some points were repeated too often and Addie sometimes came off as whiny which got to be annoying a couple of times. Not to mention her critical character flaw was pointed out one too many times.

But all in all this book is an enjoyable read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good romance.

(4 out of 5)

~ Yajaira (SynysterShadows)

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM FLESH & BOOKS (and books we're excited for)

Hello, survivors of the 2012 apocalypse! To celebrate our survival of what we think is the 3rd apocalypse in our lifetime, we have decided to restart our book blog. We apologize for the unannounced and rather long hiatus but life got all “hey, have some extra suck” became lifeish and got in the way like it has a habit of doing. BUT NOW WE'RE BACK. We will try to post a review at least once a week, possibly more if time and life are feeling kind. To kick things off, we are bringing you two books apiece that we're looking forward to in the next year. We hope you all had a safe and happy new year! Enjoy!

Rachel’s picks:

Requiem (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver

Publication date: March 5, 2013 (HarperTeen)

As the third and final book in Lauren Oliver’s dystopian series, there are mild spoilers ahead...

From Goodreads:

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Publication date: June 4, 2013 (Viking Juvenile)

 From Barnes & Noble:

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?
Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Read an excerpt here!

Yajaira's picks:

Altered (#1) by Jennifer Rush

Publication date: January 1, 2013 (Little, Brown & Co.)

From Goodreads:

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?
Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.
Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.
Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley

Publication date: February ?, 2013

From Goodreads:

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.
Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.
As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?

Comment below and tell us what books will be making their way onto your ToBeRead piles!

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