Lis Les Livres- Read Books!

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-cryers-cross-by-lisa-mcmann.htmlCharacters: I really liked the two main characters. I wouldn't say that they are developed well, but they are genuine and relatable. Kendall is trying to cope with her "boyfriend" being missing, trying to figure out if they were just friends or if she had true feelings for him. She's trying to find herself in reality. Then there's Jacian who makes her feel like nobody else does. I liked him a little bit better than Kendall; I'll admit it. He was the boy who had a bad boy reputation, but was playful and caring. The scene where he was dancing with his mother killed me. Plot:This was Bizarre. I can't really reveal anything about the secrets of Cryer's Cross, but all I have to say is that it was weird! But, the romance part of the story was pretty light and cute despite both character's baggage.Cover:The hardback cover is a huge spoiler. I don't like the cover of the paperback because it makes the book look like another ya romance. Yes, there is romance, but the paranormal (I guess you can call it that)aspect is major.Would I recommend it to a friend? If the friend hasn't read any Lisa McMann, I would'nt recommend it as their first of her works. I'd recommend the Wake trilogy.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-over-you-by-emma-mclaughlin-and.html3.75 starsStrange rating, I know, but it deserved higher than a high 3 keeping in mind the genre. Writing: So this was chick-lit like everything else these authors write. I find chick-lit simple to read. I must comment on the POV. That was weird! It was written in third person present and would skip from Max to Ben, sometimes unexpectedly.Characters: A lot of people don't like Max, but she was just a young girl trying to figure out her life after being heartbroken. Obviously, she was going to be naive. I don't know how anyone can expect her to act like a mature adult when she's only 17. I thought she was very caring for her clients and had the qualities of a good friend. As for Hugo, most people would call him the French word for shower, but I'm going to be nice and call him a jerk. Ben seemed very sensitive, a little too sensitive, to me. Plot: It's a typical boy meets girls, they like each other, someone messes up, and then a final makeup for a happily ever after. I thought this book was too short. In reality, Max and Ben only exchanged a few short conversations. I didn't think that their relationship was developed enough to start falling for each other.Would I recommend it to a friend? only someone who enjoys chick-lit because a lot of people can't stand the corny jokes and predictability.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-dead-to-you-by-lisa-mcmann.htmlJust get used to it. When I love an author's work, I'm going to then read them all. Besides Cryer's Cross, which I am halfway through, and the Unwanteds, her middle grade novel, I've read all of Lisa McMann's books. After reading the blurp for this book, I kept thinking,"Something's gonna happen," over and over, but up until the end, nothing really jumps out at you but you still have that feeling of its imminent arrival. The book's events are what I think would be typical if this happened in real life, so it is therefore very realistic. The family tries to get used to having another member around. The parents are thrilled to have their kid back, but are totally paranoid of losing him again. The one sibling is jealous of the attention the new member is getting and causes trouble. And the newly found child, Ethan, is just trying to get settled and win the neighbor's heart. Some people might find it boring, but it's the build up for the big finish.I'm like Rachel, but turned down one notch when it comes to the hopeless romantic. I'm going to admit to totally rooting for Ethan to win Cami's heart.Maybe it's because I knew something shocking had to occur, but I always found myself wanting to find out what happens next in this book. I was on the edge of my phone, nook, and book.When that thing happened that you knew was going to happen happened, my mind was blown...Would I recommend it to a friend? Yeah, I quite enjoyed the suspense of the book.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-everyday-by-david-levithan.htmlJust got to warn you, I wanted to cry during the first chapter. This is a very bittersweet book, so if you want a cute, light, read, this is not the right book, but nonetheless an awesome choice. It really makes you question what makes a human human. What are the characteristics that make us up and why we feel? I went to the book signing of this book tour. It was the second time I have seen David Levithan. He is a nice, funny guy. I aspire to be this guy one day. Editor, author, founder of PUSH, David Levithan has the best jobs.Would I recommend to a friend? YES

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-divergent-by-veronica-roth.htmlBefore I start, I'll mention that Crystal and Rachel loved this one. I did not. It was very good, but I think it's getting too much hype. This is not as good as the Hunger Games.Characters: Let's start with Four, my favorite character. I liked the elusiveness of Four. He's definitely got an interesting back story. He was always thinking of Tris' interests, even if it did not seem like it. He was truly caring for this girl, despite the cold shoulder he initially gives her. Tris was the underdog. She comes in as the weak little girl who eventually perseveres to the top. I like this about her, but I did think her character was a bit weak. Her inherent selflessness was described by Four as making her braver and stronger, but I think it's what really caused her trouble. It's her complex. Therefore, I don't think she can be the next Katniss. Nonetheless, these two characters have great chemistry, and the tension between them gets pretty juicy. Plot: I didn't think there really was any until the end. Up until then, the book is about Tris's adjustment to the Dauntless faction and trying to see if she qualifies to belong there. The end got some excitement going, though.Writing:I don't remember being super impressed by it, but the writing wasn't bad. It was typical ya fiction. Every once in a while, you find a ya book with truly impressive writing, but this wasn't one.Overall feelings: Again, despite the negativity, I still read this one at a relatively fast pace and enjoyed it. It was a very good book. Had The Hunger Games not become a huge success and everybody started pumping out dystopians because of the craze, this might have been "the book" for me.Would I recommend it to a friend? YesWhat's your dream cast?TrisShailene Woodley's in talks of being cast as Tris. I like her and wouldn't mind if she was playing Tris, but I've loved AnnaSophia Robb since Bridge to Terabithia. Shailene Woodley AnnaSophia RobbI wouldn't mind if a "totally random never hear of you" personplayed Tris. There hasn't been anyone that I've been like"That is Tris."FourI've watched a ton of fanmade videos on youtube, and the top two picks for Four seems to be Max Irons and Brant Daugherty. I think Max Irons is gorgeous, and I'd have no problem watching the movie if he starred in it. The Only thing I've seen him in is Red Riding Hood, which I didn't like. Max IronsBrant Daugherty is good looking as well, so what do you think?P.S. Don't forget to read Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story, Tobias' version of one of the chapters

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-lovers-dictionary-by-david.htmlThis is a really short book, so it's going to be a short review.I thought the format of this book was the coolest thing since sliced bread! I actually learned a ton of new words.The story wasn't bad. It was good, not the best. It was simply a person's documented experiences with love, betrayal, happiness, sadness,heartbreak, everything that goes along with that thing called love.I don't know why this is classified as an adult fiction book, because there was no more mature content that I could see, so don't be discouraged by that.Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, just for the format of the book. I've never seen anything like it before.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/12/review-day-before-by-lisa-schroeder.htmlCharacters: Both Amber and Cade have a lot of baggage. They've both got their issues, but they forget about them for the one day, and they act like normal teenagers for most of it. Yet, their secrets loom over their heads, which makes them both very elusive, especially Cade since Amber was narrating the story. Even though it's just one day, the characters have a tremendous growth, and you can't help but sympathize.Plot: I guess I didn't read the summary, but I wasn't expecting Cade's reasoning for being out of school. Looking back on it now, I think you can get a pretty good inking of it. There's an emotional, dramatic tone to this one. Overall, there really isn't much plot to discuss because the book is super duper short. Writing: This was my favorite part. It was written in "lyric," so poetry for the common folk's mind, sans verbosity. The stanzas end up taking up a lot of the page, so I was able to finish this and her others in two hour each. I also loved that the author put in so many pop culture references. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, I love these emotional books but even if you don't, you should try it. If you don't like it, it'll be over really quickly anyway.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-struck-by-jennifer-bosworth.htmlIf we're judging books by covers and book trailers, this would be the best book ever. Whoever designed them, you are awesome! Seriously, the trailer looks like a movie trailer, this coming from a girl who laughs at the silliness of all book trailers. I we judge on content, I'm going to have to lower my rating because this one really annoyed me.Characters: Mia was kind of a boring character. She looked out for her family and was protective to the point of putting herself at danger. I know the author intended on her being a strong heroine, but she seemed too trite for me. Then there's the love interest. The thing I likes about him was his appearance, with his Clark Kent glasses:) For the most part, I found him too elusive to care about. I wanted to figure the guy out, but he really wasn't in he book that much. I realize that sounds weird as he was a main character.Plot: I love the idea of the lightning addict. It seems original to me. However, as her power is discovered by various religious groups, they all want it for selfish purposes. That really annoyed me. You should know that I'm not a believer in religion. Regardless, all sides are corrupt so even if you are aren't religiously affiliated, you will probably get a little peeved. Overall, I found the plot to be slow, but I think my expectations were a bit high.Writing: Mediocre writing.Book Trailer: Seriously, awesome! I know that the author and her husband are involved in the movie making industry from reading about her, and that fact is evident in the trailer.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/12/review-such-rush-by-jennifer-echols.htmlCharacters: Hot twins. Enough said right there.Alec is very sweet, the one everyone thinks of as the good boy. He had a few funny lines here and there. Alec is the kind of boy that would make a great friend.Grayson is the one with a temper and has trouble expressing his feelings. He doesn't seem like he cares and kinda comes off as a bad boy, but he's very sensitive and has good intentions.Leah is another one of those girls who has a rocky home life and expresses it through sarcasm and bitterness sometimes. Honestly, these types of characters confuse me. Why would I ever get involved with someone who acts like a snake? But you can predict what happens when these boys get involved with Leah...Plot: You know I'm a sucker for romantic dramas, or rom drams as I like to call them. You know the formula: boy likes girl, girl likes boy, they get together with a lot of things in the way, then they break up, then they get back together because love prevails. The things that get in the way, the secrets are interesting and unexpected. Writing: As always, Jennifer Echols knows how to write some steamy scenes!!! After this, I felt like taking flying lesson, but that quickly passed when I realized that wouldn't be too safe.Would I recommend it to a friend? Oui. As I said before, hot twins.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/12/review-imaginary-girls-by-nova-ren-suma.htmlCharacters: Not much to say about Chloe except that she seemed really dull compared to her sister. She seems very self-conscious and shy, whereas Ruby is the life of the party, and everyone wants to be her. The girls love each other. Ruby is very protective of Chloe, but Chloe seems to let Ruby walk right over her like the rest of the people in town.Plot: This was super boring. It seemed like the whole book was about Ruby being better than everyone else in town. She's that girl that all of the girls wish could be and all of the guys wish they could get with. Reading about this was annoying. I thought this was going to be an eerily beautiful story, but it was just disappointing. One line barely got me weirded out. I thought I was going to be somewhat scared reading this. Would I recommend this to a friend? Not unless you want to read about how great Ruby is.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-when-you-were-mine-by-rebecca.htmlI'm a huge fan of Shakespeare's original Romeo and Juliet, so I was really interested in the premise of this title. I had never heard of any book on Rosalind, only Juliet. So, I read it. It was okay. I was a little disappointed that it was set in modern day because I was so enthralled by Shakespeare's age. Likewise, it was very easy to read. Even though decoding Shakespearean language is difficult, I find his diction very interesting and romantic. Sometimes, I wish we could all talk like that which was why I personally was a little upset by the setting of this book. It's obvious that the story line of Romeo and Juliet is within the plot of this book, but still, there are other elements that make this its own story.I liked this book, didn't love it. I think my expectations were too high because there is no book like it. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yeah (That wasn't a passionate "yeah," but nonetheless a "yeah." This was optioned to be a movie, and the screenplay was written by the people behind 500 Days of Summer. I'm interested to see how that turns out.I saw this author at the NYPL Teen Author Reading Night this summer, and she said that the sequel is going to be a little "darker" than this one. I thought the ending was suitable for a stand alone, but I will definitely check out the next book. And, she wrote something punny funny in my book. She thought my name was Harley and not Carly, so she wrote that I have an awesome name anyway, making sure to put in "What's in a name?"

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/12/review-lemonade-mouth-by-mark-peter.htmlActual rating 3.75I read this after watching the Disney channel original movie. I'll admit that I loved the movie. I love Bridgit Mendler.Characters: Opposite from the movie, some of the characters weren't fairly attractive people. For instance, Charlie was supposed to be really chunky and mediocre looking. Charlie in the movie was very skinny and not ugly. Besides their physical portrayals, the characters weren't that different. They were all still the underdogs that you love to cheer on!Plot: Only a few details here and there are different than the movie. For me, I got really bored reading something i had already watched when it was verbatim. I actually stopped reading it and didn't pick it back up until summer and I had checked it out at the library before Christmas. Writing: The POVs change each chapter, and the fonts do as well which is very cool! This book comes off as a middle grade book from the way its written through the kids' perspective, very straightforward and lacking higher level vocab.Would I recommend this to a friend? This was a cute story, inspiring, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone older than middle school. Also, people who have seen the movie, I gave you my caveat.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-league-of-strays-by-lb-schulman.html3.5Frankly, I just found this one boring. The main character Charlotte was one of those people who did everything to please her parents but didn't do anything for herself until the league of strays. It was difficult to connect with her. As for Kade, he was the elusive good looking guy that was the head of the league and Charlotte's love interest. He was too distant. I wasn't able to like him at all because I really wasn't given much about him. The premise of he book was different than anything else I've read. The kids plan things to get back at someone who's embarrassed them. These things that they do become extremely even violating the law. The only one that feels guilty and says anything is Charlotte which was quite refreshing. The other kids kinda have me a psychopath vibe as they felt no remorse for their revenge. I just thought the whole thing was bizarre and it was hard for me to get through it.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/reviewon-island-by-tracey-garvis-graves.htmlJ'adore, j'adore, j'adore!If you're like Rachel, the huge age difference between Anna and TJ is a major "no no." I'm going to tell you the same that I told her, partly mocking her since she actually says this phrase but being completely honest since the book was really good. I said for her to give it a whirl.The age difference is definitely taboo, but the book is a beautiful and realistic love story. Under the circumstances, being trapped on an island with only each other, obviously the two would become pretty close.I was very much into the series "LOST." I enjoy dramatic survival stories that are fictionalized and add in other elements than the harsh challenges of survival. I liked that "LOST" focused on character development and relationships, and I thought that this book did that too.I will admit that some of the situations TJ and Anna get in and how they get out of them regarding the other indigenous creatures is a bit far fetched, but the vast majority of the actual living on the island details seemed like they could have happened.This is the first self published book that I've read, and I was really impressed. And now it is a Penguin book. This was optioned for a movie, so I'm interested to see how it plays out. I think too many people will be opposed to the age difference, but I'm rooting for it to happen.Would I recommend to a friend? Yes**I'd recommend to a mature friend, perhaps someone sick of YA and wanting to go in the adult fiction direction. The writing is pretty simple, but the content obviously more mature.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-midsummers-nightmare-by-kody.htmlJ'aime Kody Keplinger!Evertime I read something by her, I'm amazed at how young she is.I have no idea why I even picked up her first book, The DUFF, but ever since I've been loving this girl's work! On to my thoughts on this one. Ok, some people might be weirded out that Whitley and Nathan are step siblings and had sexual relations. You might be questioning my tastes in books after also having read On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves where the protagonists have a 14 year age difference, but I assure you that these are goodies!The thing about Kody Keplinger is that she will delve into the "risque" topic of sex, but in no way is it ever gross and graphic. She goes beyond the climactic kiss that most ya novels have, but not to the point where you feel uncomfortable reading it. So, I guess it's advised that you be mature in order to read this. And of course, there are her characters. They always have distinct voices. First, there's Whitley. She has got sass! She is very sarcastic and immature, but grows up by the end of the book. She's been described as a female Holden Caufield: I can see it a bit. Then there's Nathan. I love him. He's the hot, caring nerd. And, finally comes Harrison, the funny, gay best friend. If you've read Shut Out, he's in there because all of Kody's novel are set in Hamilton. Even Wesley and Bianca have a cameo.The writing isn't complicated, but it flows nicely. Her stories are always quickies for me.The story's kind of predictable. It's simply one about going through the struggles of adolescence and coming out strong! Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes,this has everything in it-romance, drama, humor.

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-meant-to-be-by-lauren-morill.html3.5 stars*spoilers*I had very high hopes for this book since I LOVED [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss|Stephanie Perkins|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1267522241s/6936382.jpg|7168450] who Meant to Be has been compared with. The humor in that was very witty and cute. However, the humor in this seemed like it was trying too hard. As for the characters, Anna was actually likable. I felt for her when the girls were spreading rumors. I could not sympathize with Julia of this book at all. Jason calls her the "Book Licker" and I must agree. I couldn't stand her for the first quarter of the book. She had the biggest stick up her rear end. She was the epitome of sticklers and wet blankets! And Etienne from [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss|Stephanie Perkins|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1267522241s/6936382.jpg|7168450], well I fell in love with him and his winsome personality. Jason of Meant to Be, however, was extremely annoying for the most part, constantly vying for attention. For example, he showed great immaturity during the Hyde Park walk, doing cartwheels and dragging Julia into the pond. Really? For the actual plot, the phone mix up was quite stupid and unbelievable. There, I felt that Julia was the stupidest smart person ever. How could she not connect the dots? The idea of this book and the MTB was a good idea, but the book fell short for me.On a positive note, I thought the ending was really cute...maybe a little corny but cute!