Review: Awkward by Marni Bates

 

Awkward by Marni Bates

Paperback: 300 pages

Release date: January 1st, 2012

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Goodreads Summary: Mackenzie Wellesley has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disastrous - not to mention unwelcome - attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an Internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting...

This is the most adorable book I’ve read in a while! It is a quick and fun and hilarious read that deals with coming out of your own shell and learning how to trust again. Mackenzie, having been famous for her video on YouTube where she knocked out a jock and attempted to do CPR, suddenly faces a life of a Hollywood celebrity over the weekend. She’s been chased with paparazzi and getting the perks of being famous like free designer clothes and backstage passes to her most favorite band’s concert. Not only that, but her long-time crush and the hottest guy in the school—whom she’s tutoring—appear to be interested in her. 

What I love most about AWKWARD is how realistic the characters are. Mackenzie is the type of heroine who I can most relate myself to, being awkward and shy and all. But in reality, she’s an amazing person with a great sense of humor. She sort of reminds me a little of Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory when she casually drops trivia because it’s interesting to say (which makes me love her more). Another reason why it worked for me is her unwavering personality. If she turned out to be different because of the effects of popularity, I would’ve stopped reading it. The secondary characters were also hard not to admire especially Logan, the Notable of all Notables (read: hottest guy) and Mackenzie’s best friends, Jane and Corey.

Marni Bates wrote an incredibly cute debut novel for teenagers and young-adult readers. AWKWARD is light and sweet and I definitely recommend it to everyone who’s looking for a relaxing and enjoyable read. Fans of Meg Cabot and Stephanie Perkins will surely be entertained with this one. I can’t wait for the companion book with Jane’s story!

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Review: Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

   

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand 

Hardcover: 403 pages

Release date: January 17th, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Bought

Buy it on: Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Summary: 

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose-the task she was put on earth to accomplish-is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of  the terrifying new reality that she must face: someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

I would have put this book on my "favorites" shelf on Goodreads, but it wasn't worthy of the position. It was still deliciously good, but not amazingly great. Hallowed continues the story of the first book, where Clara's purpose is still not determined. She has visions occurring during her dreams, but at first she doesn't tell people about it. You get the vision: someone she love will die. It's one of the big revelations here in the book. The story also focuses on Clara's relationship with Christian. The book was a real tearjerker I tell you. After you find out who's going to die, you'll cry buckets of tears. The book's just so emotional and all that.


I really liked the book, everything in it, but the part where Ms. Hand pushed Tucker out of the spotlight and lets Christian take the center stage with Clara. Yes, Tuck isn't Clara's leading man here in the book. That's what I felt. And it didn't do me any good. I was left wanting more, well, more of Tuck. Every scene they have together just makes me so smitten. I melt with their sweetness. They are so good together that I can't even picture Clara and Christian beside each other. I love that Ms. Hand pours me answers to the questions my brain has gathered after the first book. I was simply mind-blown. I was giddy about Clara's parents, and I just can't tell you it's making me go nuts. The book will expand Clara's background I say to you. You'll feel happy that you're going to get some answers to your questions. I also love the new characters in the book. Billy, she's just a sweetheart. (I know, the name's weird.) You'll go gaga over this installment, even if it has flaws.


I recommend this to Unearthly fans, and those of you who have been waiting for a good angel story.

Amazing! Loved it.

Patrick

Waiting on Wednesday: Breathless and Flesh & Bone

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

 

Breathless by Cole Gibsen

Hardcover

Release date: March 27th, 2012

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Goodreads Summary: Obituary-reading emo girl Edith Small is broken - the end result of forcing herself inside a mold that doesn't fit. All she wants is to conform to her strict sergeant stepfather's rules long enough to make it to graduation day.

But a boat accident threatens to unravel the life Edith has worked so hard to keep. After waking up in a hospital with a lacerated shoulder, Edith fakes amnesia. Because admitting she received her injuries from a blue-haired girl who breathes underwater is all the reason Sir needs to send Edith on the first bus to military school.

Safe at home, Edith struggles to put the nightmare behind her. But the mysterious creatures that live in the ocean aren't about to let her forget.

After meeting Bastin - a strange boy with silver hair and black eyes - on a secluded dock, Edith learns about the war raging undersea to end human existence. A war that Edith, unwittingly, has become the key to winning.

In a world where death is an ever-present shadow and motives are as dark as the bottom of the ocean, Edith must decide if her life is worth risking for a love that can't survive past the shore. 

   

Flesh & Bone (Benny Imura #3) by Jonathan Maberry 

Hardcover: 448 pages

Release date: September 11, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Goodreads summary: Reeling from the tragic events of Dust & Decay, Benny Imura and his friends plunge deep into the zombie-infested wastelands of the great Rot & Ruin. Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong journey through a fierce wilderness that was once America, searching for the jet they saw in the skies months ago. If that jet exists then humanity itself must have survived…somewhere. Finding it is their best hope for having a future and a life worth living.

But the Ruin is far more dangerous than any of them can imagine. They are hunted by fierce animals escaped from zoos and circuses. They must raid zombie-infested towns for food and medical supplies. They discover the very real truth in the old saying: In the Rot & Ruin…everything wants to kill you.

And what is happening to the zombies? Swarms of them are coming from the east, devouring everything in their paths. These zoms are different. Faster, smarter, infinitely more dangerous. Has the zombie plague mutated, or is there something far more sinister behind this new invasion of the living dead?

In Flesh & Bone, Benny Imura, Nix Riley, Lou Chong and Lilah the Lost Girl are pitted against dangers greater than anything they've ever faced. To survive, each of them must rise to become the warriors Tom trained them to be.

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

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Private Lunch with Lauren Oliver and Philippine Book Signing Event

Last Sunday was one of the most exciting days ever! Things like YA authors coming to visit here in the Philippines are deemed a big deal since we're practically living on the other side of the globe. Thank you so much to National Book Store for bringing Lauren Oliver here and for giving some Filipino fans an opportunity to have a lunch with her!

NBS held a contest on their Facebook page and I was one of the 10 lucky winners to have a private lunch with Lauren. We were to bring another person so I brought Mary Ann with me. We ate at Recipes by Cafe Metro in Greenbelt 3 and there, we were served delicious Filipino cuisine and I'm glad Lauren loved it. But when I asked her if she has ever tasted our most famous exotic food, Balut (Google it!), she said she will never try it! LOL

 We had one of our books signed even before the event. Lauren moved to different seats and when she came to seat across from us, we grabbed the chance and conduct an interview with her (will be posted on Friday). Even better, we had Lauren do the 'wacky' pose. (we had several but I'm disturbed by the guy at the back who was in every picture) She's such an adorable and lovely person. 

(me, Lauren, Mary Ann)

(Lauren with the fans)

Two hours after was the book signing event at Powerbooks in Greenbelt 4. Here are some pictures during the event.

Lauren shares that she's currently working on a book entitled Panic. She can't spill any details about it but I'm already excited for the book! Requiem - the third book in the Delirium series has two POV (hint: the other one isn't Alex's). ;) We got to know more about her and her writing, which I think will definitely help all the aspiring writers out there - including me.

(Mary Ann, Kai, me, Precious, Jayjay, and Norman)

We also met some of the awesome Filipino book bloggers like Kai, Precious, Jayjay, Maricar and Louisse! 

It has been such an awesome experience that I still can't get over with. I want to thank Lauren Oliver and again, NBS for making this event possible.

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Teaser Tuesday: Until I Die by Amy Plum

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!

My teaser for this week is from Until I Die by Amy Plum, the second book in the Revenants series. I want to thank Jayjay of We Fancy Books for lending me his ARC!
  

 

Summary: Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love. 

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy. 
In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

Teaser:

"Some do find love. I thought.
 Charlotte had told me that Ambrose and Jules are players , dating human girls but never getting serious with anyone."

How about your teaser for this week? Please leave a link in the comments so I can check them out :))

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