Mini Review: The Summer I Lost It by Natalie Kath

The Summer I Lost It by Natalie Kath

Hardcover: 112 pages

Release date: August 1st, 2011

Publisher: Stone Arch Books

Source: NetGalley

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: Kat is just like other fourteen-year-old girls. Except this summer, she's spending four weeks at a Health Camp . . . otherwise known as fat camp. Can she lose the weight she needs to be able to do the things everyone else does? Or will she let her body control her?

I could really relate to this story (The Summer I lost it). Being not just fat but in the category of “obese” is really hard to subjugate, especially if you want to do things you can’t do because of your situation. I have a classmate with this kind of situation, kids tried to make fun of her, people stared at her like she’s some kind of a specimen and not a human being, and it’s really bothering me and sometimes annoying. Reading this book is really a wake up call for everyone who’s in this same situation, that you have to change for the better. Kat, our protagonist showed us her eagerness to transform, to have a healthy life. At first, she wanted to change for her crush, Josh, because she wanted to wear swimsuit and someone who could dance her. But as she changed herself, she realizes that she shouldn’t do those things for others but for herself, and soon achieved her dreams. The story was easy to embrace, and you will absolutely learn something from this story. I hope you’ll try to read this book!

On My Wishlist (9)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It’s where we list all the books we desperately want but haven’t actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It’s also an event that you can join in with too – If you want to know more, click here.

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Paperback: 320 pages

Release date: August 4th, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books

Goodreads Summary: 17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them...

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

 Paperback: 290 pages

Release date: September 1st, 2011

Publisher: Random House Australia

Goodreads Summary: I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me. 

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

What's on your wishlist for this week? 

Review: Haven by Kristi Cook

Haven  by Kristi Cook

Hardbound: 416 pages

Release date: February 22, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Won

 Amazon││The Book Depository 

Goodreads Summary: Violet McKenna isn’t a normal girl with normal teenage issues; she has more to contend with than most people could handle. Violet thought she was just crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad’s murder. Her life started falling apart when her premonition came true. She’s had flashes of other events too. The problem was nobody believed her until she found a new school: Winterhaven.

At Winterhaven, Violet finally feels like she belongs. She quickly finds a close group friends and discovers that they too have psychic ‘gifts’—as do all the students at Winterhaven. But as soon as she feels settled she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she has ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy’s death start to haunt her. In her premonitions the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical--and deadly--way. 

I've been waiting Haven for awhile now to read and it was fairly impressive. The writing of Kristin Cook was easy to grasp that I was engross on reading that I lost track of time. The thing that really lets me continually read the Haven was because of how Kristi Cook puts you into the story. I was captured by the exquisite visual rendering of Winterhaven. That I was envious of their school that it looks like from another period.
I love how readers could easily devour the story. The supernatural powers of the students in Winterhaven are really interesting and mind-boggling. Honestly I become a victim of ‘Aidan effect’, he is gorgeous, mysterious and every girl seems fascinated to him and our protagonist, Violet, is not an exception. He’s the one who supports Violet every time and he’s just tranquil whenever a problem comes.
On the contrary, I dislike some stuff about the story. First, Aidan’s “secret” identity, finding out about it, was kinda hackneyed especially nowadays his identity is really known to all readers. The second thing was their relationship, how they ‘re so absorbed in each other that sometimes they forgot to think of their private lives is somehow tedious. The third one, the story, sorry to say this but in some way I find the prose sort of banal and the anonymity that lies in the past life of Aidan, in some way it was just like on the Vampire Diaries. I’m not against with how the story goes, but if I’ll muse on if the Haven sends a new kind of flavor on the story these days, I would say no.

The story ends on a not cliffhanger note, but left questions to be answered—on what was the real truth about the Herculean gifts of the students and the love story of Aidan and Violet. The friends of Violet make the whole story interesting for me, how they handle to discover the mysteries and being with a newbie, who’s Violet. And Oh by the way, I’ll surely looking forward on its sequel, why?... Well it’s because of Dr. Byrne as in Byrne-ing hot, that I know will play a big part on the next story*wink*; p and because I know that the story will be more catchy, so check out the book!

Waiting on Wednesday: Second Chance Summer and Where It Began

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Second Chance Summer  by Morgan Matson

Hardbound: 224 pages

Release date: May 8th, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Goodreads Summary: Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then they get news that changes everything: Her father has pancreatic cancer, and it's stage four – meaning that there is basically nothing to be done. Her parents decide that the family will spend his last months together at their old summerhouse in the Pocono Mountains. 

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven't actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is suddenly around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they've ever been before. But all of them very aware that they're battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

I loved Morgan Matson's debut novel, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. I know this one's going to be awesome.

Where It Began  by Ann Redisch Stampler 

Hardcover: 384 pages

Release date: March 6th, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Goodreads summary: Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and lacking a single memory of the accident that landed her there. What she can remember, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the accident.

As she takes us through her transformation from invisible girl to on-trend Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby herself does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why is Gabby left alone to take the fall?

Putting the pieces together will take every ounce of Gabby's strength. As she peels back the layers of her life, she begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

I was instantly inlove with this cover the moment I saw it on Goodreads.

What are you anxiously waiting on this week? Just leave a comment of the link to your WoW post!

Don't forget to enter our First Ever Giveaway if you haven't!

Review: Flawless by Lara Chapman

Flawless  by Lara Chapman

Paperback: 255 pages

Release date: May 10th, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Source: Won

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame. 

On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?

This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.

I have a fixation for witty contemporary love stories and reading Flawless is quite impressive for a 2011 contemporary books. I’m not saying that I’m head over heels with Flawless as well as I’m not into it or I hate the book. Flawless is a story about love, friendship, and acceptance. It was a cushy read that you wouldn’t notice you’re halfway finished the novel. This is the book that I would recommend for the readers who just start off on YA contemporary. 

The characters were fantastic and they have those qualities that made them more true to life and mesmeric. Sarah, the protagonist is one of the personas that I liked most. She’s sharp-witted, amusing and I would definitely love her to be my friend. She is the kind of a girl who wants people to accept her for who she is, although there are times she also have doubts on herself. Her friend Kirsten, some would say she is self-centered, insensitive and annoying. But I managed to like her for she’s a true friend, she may not become aware of the feelings of Sarah, but Sarah knows that Kirsten would also do those things for her sake. And of course who would forget Rock—who ‘rocks’ the world of Sarah and Kirsten—as the love interest of our protagonist and her best best friend. Rock is of course an eye candy and a guy who is simple to be with, and who loves poetry/literature. But aside on his almost faultless appearance there are times when I hate Rock, when he would show interest for Sarah then on the next day he would be so into Kirsten, and vice versa. However as the story goes by Rock finally had his decision and that his true love is Sarah. 


Another beautiful thing that adds to the story was its prose. Chapman showed us the real thing that’s happening on a high school/teenage life. That there’s a competition everywhere, true friends that wouldn’t leave you and obstacles that may break your friendship, an indisputable love that will surely come into everybody’s life and could heal wounds from a misery. The story thought me one thing, that sometimes our flaws makes us beautiful, it may not be what we wanted but others may see it as the one that makes us glow. Overall I admire the book and I highly suggest it for you to check out!