On My Wishlist (8)

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.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Hardcover: 496 pages

Release date: May 31st, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Goodreads Summary: How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Beautiful cover with Intriguing story. 

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

 Hardcover: 401 pages

Release date: February 9th, 2010

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere. 

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock--to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny. 

It's Melina Marchetta's. I'm a hundred and one percent it's awesome.

What's on your wishlist for this week? 

Contemporary Book Reviews: Love at First Click by Elizabeth Chandler and Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Love at First Click by Elizabeth Chandler

Paperback: 185 pages

Release date: March 31st, 2009

Publisher: HarperTeen

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: I could no longer deny what the heat in my cheeks meant when I was around Flynn. I was falling for my sister's boyfriend. 

There's just something about Flynn. Yes, he's a tall, unbelievably gorgeous, dark-haired football player, but . . . he's also sweet and nice and super easy to talk to. It's lucky I'm the photographer for the school paper, because my camera likes Flynn almost as much as I do. Unfortunately for me, so does my sister, and there's no way I can nab Flynn with her in the picture... 

This book has an adorable story of the only photographer at school, Hayley. She’s the regular photographer of their school paper which includes her constant attention to all football games and social events. She was determined to keep her status as a secret admirer of Flynn, the football star of the team, until her sister Breeze dated him.

I love Hayley’s name for one. She’s this simple and honest teenager who doesn’t want the spotlight focused on her. Her sister Breeze has that spotlight and Hayley is just contented on being the one squinting up on her sister’s light. I really liked her character because I can somehow picture myself in her. We both think wearing clothes that cause attention and spending too much money on them are just ridiculous. She saves up for money for her dream camera just as I save up to buy books. In that way, I know we both don’t feel deprived of buying any other things. Breeze is a little selfish but at the same time, she loves her sister and cares for her. Flynn is pure of awesomeness. Well, he's kind as always. What a fine specimen.


I read this a few hours after finishing my previous read. I was looking for a light yet fun read and I’m glad that I chose LOVE AT FIRST CLICK. Reading about the photography bit sparked my interest. I’m a huge photo enthusiast and I’ve always dreamed of having an SLR of my own someday. This book is relaxing and the story is truly cute. There were some predictable parts of the plot but I still liked it regardless. Just exactly what I was looking for at the moment.

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Hardcover: 320 pages

Release date: December 1st, 2010

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

I’ve been meaning to read a Sarah Ockler book in a while and FIXING DELILAH caught my attention. The book is about Delilah, a sixteen-year old girl who finds herself tangled up with life’s disconcerting issues. Her grandmother’s death brings her and her mother back to Red Falls, where memories are left behind eight years ago following the loss of her grandfather. There, Delilah unfolds the mysteries of her life and watches it change right before her eyes, that mends her broken life.

I’m in awe of Ms. Ockler for a wonderfully written novel. The words used are all well put-together and the complexity of her writing is just brilliant. I felt the weight of Delilah’s need to know more about her father, her Aunt Stephanie, and the cause of her grandmother’s depression.  I kept guessing and came to the point when I was so sure of what might be the answer to all Delilah’s question. I was SHOCKED to find out that I got the other half wrong.

While finding for answers, Delilah did what she thought she will never do: She fell in love. Patrick was her childhood best friend up until they moved to live in Keys. I felt all giddy every time they were together. It’s also great to have a change for once. Instead of a love at first sight kind of thing, they knew each other for a long time and the feelings came back after eight years of absence.
I highly recommend this to those who seek for a good realistic fiction and a great dose of teenage romance.

Waiting on Wednesday: Shattered Souls and Wanderlove

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

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Hardbound: 336 pages

Release date: December 8th, 2011

Publisher: Philomel/Penguin

Goodreads Summary: 

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Love love love the cover! I smell a love triangle..

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard 

Hardcover: 352 pages

Release date: March 13th, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads summary: It all begins with a stupid question: 

Are you a Global Vagabond? No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path. Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back. 

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

Teaser Tuesday: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"The altar blazes with a spread of prayer candles. Behind it, Father Nicandro lifts a single rose toward the ceiling. It's the holy variety   I can see the thorns even at this distance   chosen and consecrated because of its blood-red sheen and sharp spikes"

- page 68

Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Levitt

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Levitt

Hardcover: 288 pages

Release date: March 1st, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own. 

This book is adorable and hilarious. Sean Griswold’s Head was quite not what I expected in a good way. I thought it would just center around on Payton and Sean but it didn’t. I guess what makes it poignant and more likeable is the fact that it also deals with multiple sclerosis or MS. I learned so much about the disease and can relate to Payton’s situation. Sometimes I found it difficult to understand her but I think that what makes her like a real person. She’s smart and wise and a bit twisted but flawed like everyone else. Another person who I had fun reading was Payton’s best friend, Jac. These two best friends are total opposites, which made the story more enjoyable and entertaining to read. I loved their banters and even laughed hysterically at some parts. My favorite character was of course the male lead. Sean is a half-full-cup kind of person. He has killer calves and arms from cycling and a noticeable head. Thanks to it, Payton got her perfect Focus Object. Setting aside what’s superficial, Sean is a great guy. He’s joins cycling events and dedicates them to someone with MS. He doesn’t judge people and is full understanding. This book also taught me to disregard my first impressions to actually know people. There are ones who we’ve known by names all our lives but never really know them. I realized that they might even be my friends once I get to know them better.

Very light and fun to read, Sean Griswold’s Head will be enjoyed by anyone who loves contemporary reads.