Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (50): Fangirl

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature, which is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine! This meme is where you can post about what book(s) you're really look forward to.

This week, I absolutely can't wait for...


Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
September 10th, 2013
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.  
Cath is a Simon Snow fan. 
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . . 
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. 
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. 
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. 
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. 
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? 
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? 
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

First of all, I loved Eleanor & Park.  So, naturally, I can't wait until Fangirl comes out because not only is the cover super cute, but also the story sounds right up my alley since Cath and Wren are both going off to college and I'm going off to college too this fall.  I'm not that big into fandoms, but this one does definitely sound interesting and I can't wait until I can get my hands on it!

What are you waiting for today?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

May Favorites/Round Up

This was something new that I started last month for April.  Obviously, this is a little late, but that is primarily due to the end of the school year, as I had finals and I graduated high school!!  I also got my wisdom teeth taken out which has made me lazy.

Books:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Love, love, love this book!  It's become one of my favorites and I'm so glad that I finally got to buy it.  Not only is the cover super cute, but the story itself is just as adorable.  It's definitely a bittersweet story, mixing in romance with family life.  It's also filled with awkward moments that were way too cute.  I also love the fact that Park is half Korean.  If he were a real person, I would be all into him, minus the eyeliner though if you know what I mean.  If you haven't tried this one yet, definitely do!

Music:
Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey
I'm not the biggest fan of Lana Del Rey, but when I randomly decided to listen to Young and Beautiful off of The Great Gatsby soundtrack, I fell in love with it.

Chocolate by The 1975
I heard this playing on the radio and I kind of liked it but not really.  After a while though, I started really getting into it and bought the song.  Now I listen to it nonstop.  If you're into alternative music, which I think this is classified under, then you might like it.


TV Shows:
Downton Abbey
I finally got on the Downton Abbey train!!  Unfortunately, Netflix doesn't have series 3 :(  So I'm not impatiently waiting for that (I was able to borrow series 2 from a friend who has the DVDs).  I guess it may seem boring because it's set in the early 1900s, but it's super interesting to see the relationships between all the characters since there are so many of them.  It's a really good show!

Law & Order: SVU
This series did come out when I was I was like 4.  Pretty much, it's been around for a while.  Since all of my regular shows have ended and all, I decided to watch random episodes because I'm into mysteries like these.    I've been hooked and haven't been able to stop!  It's been a problem haha.

Movies:
The Great Gatsby
I saw this one for Mother's Day with my mom and sister and it was definitely really cool.  Honestly, I was just curious to see how the music would intertwine into the movie because singers like Jay Z and Lana Del Rey were on the soundtrack.  If you haven't seen it yet, then you definitely should because it was a really cool movie.  You don't need to see it 3D though.  It really isn't worth it. 

Iron Man 3
Ahhh Iron Man!!  I was super excited to see this one and couldn't wait until I could get my eyes on it!  There's a huge plot twist, that I didn't see, but my friend thought it was super obvious.  The whole story was really cool and I can't wait to find out how this will lead into the second Avengers movie.

Books Read:
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Mind Games by Kiersten White
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

This month has been another slow month with AP testing and getting ready for the end of the school year.  Reading has been a little slow too, as I only got through 4 books.  I think I'm going through another reading slump.  I've definitely been watching way to much TV and not reading enough books!  This is becoming a problem!  Hopefully more will come out of June :)

I hope you have a good June!

Cleo :)

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Let's Go on a Trip

Here are some light, summery reads that involve getaways and possibly some romance on the side for those of you in search of some cute reads that will take away to someplace else, whether it be just a road trip in the United States, a vacation abroad, or even some place else entirely that doesn't even really exist.

If you want to stay in the States try...

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson


Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house 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 best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever 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.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson


Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby


Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her. 

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green


When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washedup child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun–but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

If you want to go abroad try...

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill


Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman


A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen


Sixteen-year-old Catherine Vernon has been stranded in London for the summer-no friends, no ex-boyfriend Adam the Scum (good riddance!), and absolutely nothing to do but blog about her misery to her friends back home. Desperate for something-anything-to do in London while her (s)mother's off researching boring historical things, Cat starts reading the 1815 diary of Katherine Percival her mom gives her-and finds the similarities between their lives to be oddly close. But where Katherine has the whirls of the society, the parties and the gossip over who is engaged to who, Cat's only got some really excellent English chocolate. Then she meets William Percival-the uber-hot descendant of Katherine-and things start looking up . . .

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard


Eighteen-year-old Bria wants to be a Global Vagabond. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. So when Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspoken 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 through Mayan villages and remote Belizean islands, they discover they're both seeking to leave behind the old versions of themselves. The secret to escaping the past, Rowan's found, is to keep moving forward. But Bria realizes she can't run forever. At some point, you have to look back.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith


Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row. 
A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

If you want to go to another world all together try...

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson


Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . . 

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell. 

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter. 

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo


The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Which one will you read this summer?

All of these are amazing books that I loved reading.  Some of them can be pretty depressing (Second Chance Summer almost made me cry while I was tanning last summer) while others can be really funny and happy (like Meant to Be).  So, if you're in need of a book this summer that will just let you explore some place else because you're stuck at home, try one of these!

Cleo :)

*Descriptions and covers from goodreads.com

Monday, May 20, 2013

Cover Crush (14): The Beginning of Everything



Cover Crush is a feature here at Booklopedia that features covers that I currently have a crush on. I know that there are multiple features out in the blogging world that feature covers, but I thought that it would be nice for Booklopedia to feature something, especially something that I absolutely love about books, even though they always say, "You should never judge a book by its cover."

Today, I have a huge crush on the cover for The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider!

The Beginning of Everything
Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life. 
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures. 
But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?  
Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.
So, this book has actually had both its cover and title redone.  I really liked the original cover and thought it was super cool, but I really like the cover for this one as well.  I love the bright yellow and orange that just grabs my attention.  The roller coaster design is really cool, too, and I'm excited to see how it's going to tie in with the book.  The bright blue title also pops out in contrast with the bright yellow and orange and I like how it is sort of in a handwritten style.  Overall, I really like this simple cover.  Even though I liked the original more and was surprised that they had decided to go in a different direction, I still like this cover, especially in how it's different from many of the other covers that are currently on my shelves and I think it would be the perfect addition when it comes out :)

What do you think of this cover?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Review: Tiger Lily

Title: Tiger Lily
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Date Released: July 3rd, 2012
Pages: 292
Rating: 4 out of 5

Description:
Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.


Review:
I went into Tiger Lily not exactly knowing what to expect.  Even though the narrator, Tinker Bell, tells you straight away that it isn't a happy story, I didn't really want to believe it.  Tiger Lily is definitely bittersweet.  It has its sweet moments, and then its absolutely depressing moments that make you want to scream and cry, if you're that sensitive at least.  But as a whole, I really liked it.

Essentially, Tiger Lily is about Tiger Lily, the Native American girl you see in the Disney movie of Peter Pan who doesn't have the biggest role.  However, book explores her relationship with Peter Pan through the eyes of Tinker Bell, who is actually a very observant little mute fairy who eventually gets caught, but they don't mind her and instead give her a name.  It also gives her a past and a background.  I definitely will not see Tiger Lily the same way now when I watch her in Peter Pan.

Seeing the relationship develop and then dissolve as a result of none other than Wendy was bittersweet.  It was cute seeing Tiger Lily and Peter Pan trying to figure out what love is since love in Tiger Lily's village is pretty much unheard of and Peter Pan grew up with woman figures in his life.  But then it was heartbreaking to see Wendy come in and just take Peter Pan away from Tiger Lily.  Anderson really makes you root for Tiger Lily and portrays Wendy as one of the antagonists (and actually pretty ditzy as well).

While it does seem rather predictable, just reading about all the little bits in between from the struggles Tiger Lily faces with her impending arranged marriage to the man she nurses back to life only to have him come and destroy the traditions and culture of her village.  Anderson also intertwines Hook into the story as well, but putting more emphasis on his sidekick, Smee, who actually has a very dark nature in this version of events.

Tiger Lily also had the perfect mix of really interesting characters.  For example, there's Tik Tok, the village shaman and Tiger Lily's adoptive father who has a rather feminine side.  And then there's the murderous Smee who likes killing people and made the perfect assistant to Hook, the pirate who could be nice when sober, but mean when drunk.  Tiger Lily was more on the quiet and masculine side, and was little hesitant to approach Peter Pan, but was more brave and adventurous than her fellow boring villagers.  Sometimes she was a little rash though, making decisions that would obviously put certain relationships into jeopardy.  Of course Peter Pan was that cool character that we all have fallen in love with at some point.

I really liked this almost prequel to Peter Pan, but written about Tiger Lily rather than Peter Pan.  It had that perfect blend of heartbreaking moments and happy moments.  It mostly had heartbreaking moments because Tinker Bell does flat out say that this story isn't going to have the happiest of endings.  I definitely loved the writing and the story, combined with the variety of characters.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for any type of book really.

Cover Review:
I love Tinker Bell's orange and green dress that kind of represents a flower in a way.  Against the black background, it really emphasizes it.  I love the whimsical font for the title as well as the simple font for the author's name, which is also in the same orange color.  Overall, it's a really nice cover and I think it represents the book pretty well because I always wondered why a fairy-like person was on the cover and now I know why.

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy purchased for Kindle.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (49): Allegiant


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature, which is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine! This meme is where you can post about what book(s) you're really look forward to.

This week, I absolutely can't wait for...

Allegiant (Divergent, #3)

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
October 22nd, 2013

One choice will define you. 
What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected? 
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

I'm pretty sure that all of your Waiting on Wednesday's are going to be about Allegiant since the cover was finally released!  I was pretty excited when the cover came out... Who wasn't?  I don't think that this is the official, official description, because it's pretty short, but I'm so excited for its release!  I can't wait to find out what happens next to conclude the whole entire series... It's gonna be hard letting it go!  But then I guess I can just wait for the movie :)

What are you waiting for today?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2)Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Date Released: October 23rd, 2012
Pages: 544
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Description:
Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?


Review:
Between that period of finishing The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and waiting for the release of The Evolution of Mara Dyer, I forgot how intriguing and captivating the whole story was, and put off reading The Evolution of Mara Dyer until now, even though I've had it for several months.  Pretty much, I loved this book.  I loved everything from the mystery of what was going on with Mara to the amazingness of Noah (because you know, he's British), and just the overall intrigue that Michelle Hodkin managed to keep going throughout the whole novel.

Essentially, The Evolution of Mara Dyer picks up pretty close to where The Unbecoming left off, with Mara in the hospital.  From there, her doctor decides that it might be better for her to attend an outpatient program after her evaluation at the hospital.  Then things started picking up.  Mara finds herself seemingly going crazy as things such as her grandma's creepy old doll is constantly finding it's way back to Mara, and she starts sleepwalking and waking up to Noah being just as confused as to why she was sleepwalking.

Basically, the whole story kept me on my toes.  I mean like, strange things kept happening to Mara, and they were pretty creepy.  They get you thinking thoughts like "What the heck is going on?" and "How could that have possibly happened?"  I even had a slight suspicion that Noah was up to it at one point.  And then, Hodkin adds in some other pretty weird characters, like Phoebe, the very creepy patient at the Horizons Outpatient Program who quickly becomes Mara's "enemy".

The ending was what pretty much made the story.  It definitely took me by surprise, but one could say that it was a bit random and I could see where they're coming from.  However, it was the ending that definitely clicks everything together from both this book and the first book and still had a cliff hanger where it could continue onto the next book.

One thing that had me confused the most though was the relationship between Mara and Noah.  Because it had been a while since I had read The Unbecoming, I couldn't remember if there was something weird between Mara and Noah that prevented them from having like a solid romantic relationship.  Throughout the book, they seemed like girlfriend and boyfriend, but then there were certain events where their relationship just got very strange and awkward. But, I still love both Mara and Noah as individuals. I'm just not so sure about their relationship at this point.

Overall, I was super glad I picked up The Evolution of Mara Dyer because I forgot how much I liked The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and after reading this, now I remember :)  It's just the mystery that really kept me captivated and intrigued to find out what exactly was going on in the world of Mara.  Hodkin preserves that suspenseful atmosphere throughout the book.  If you're looking for a light and fluffy book, this series won't meet that expectation - even Mara herself isn't all that bubbly.  I definitely cannot wait for The Retribution of Mara Dyer! Especially after that killer ending. Go try The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer now if you haven't!

Cover Review:
I LOVE the covers for this series!  Especially the one for this one!  It's a combination of the font, the dark background, and how the people in the cover are so close to reaching each other.  It pretty much sets the tone of the book.

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy won in a giveaway.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Cover Crush (13): The Infinite Moment of Us



Cover Crush is a feature here at Booklopedia that features covers that I currently have a crush on. I know that there are multiple features out in the blogging world that feature covers, but I thought that it would be nice for Booklopedia to feature something, especially something that I absolutely love about books, even though they always say, "You should never judge a book by its cover."

Today, I'm in love with the cover for The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle!


The Infinite Moment of Us

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now . . . not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are? 

Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be. 

And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .
Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.

Lately, I've been very into those pictures of stars and galaxies because they're just really cool and surprisingly colorful.  So, when I saw that starry background for The Infinite Moment of Us, I pretty much fell in love with the cover.  Then, there's the cute couple holding hands and looking into each other's eyes.  Even though sometimes I find it kind of cheesy when a couple are on a couple, for some reason it actually makes it pretty cute, probably because they're not exactly covering the whole entire cover, but rather, are covering just a small corner and are illuminated enough by the light coming from the light source.  While the font for the title is rather plain, I like how it's stacked and aligned to the right.  Overall, I think the cover really fits the story when considering the romance aspect of it and how in the description it says that "certain things are written in the stars", thus the stars make sense in the background.  It's a different cover from the detailed ones I usually like, but I think it's really cute and I love the stars in the background.

What do you think of the cover for The Infinite Moment of Us?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

April Favorites/Round Up


Lately, I've been into watching YouTube videos from beauty gurus.  Don't ask me why.  I just have been for some reason.  Anyways, a lot of them do videos on their favorites of the month.  So I thought, why not have a favorites of the month for book bloggers?  I'm going to mix in some other things like music and TV shows because there's only so much you can talk about for books.  But this is only a start, so hopefully for May I'll have a little more :)

Favorite Books:
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
So, I didn't review this book because I thought that it would probably be a little too spoiler filled, especially since it is the last one and I probably wouldn't have been able to contain myself if I reviewed it.  But it was amazing and everything I could have hoped for.  Everything just comes together and while the love triangle had me hooked, finding out how everything would end (and how Tessa carries on into the TMI series) really kept me captivated.  GO BUY IT NOW!  But start with the first book, Clockwork Angel.  Or better yet, just start with The Mortal Instruments series and then get into this series.  You will not regret it.  The movie for the first TMI book is coming out soon anyways, so I would get a start on the series now!

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2)The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
The review is in the works for this one, but in the mean time, let me just say that I forgot how good this series was.  It's been over a year since I read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so I forgot how much I really liked it and how there is just sooo much mystery!  It kept me on the edge of my bed the whole entire time.  And not to mention Noah.  Those British boys...  I should just write a post about all my favorite fictional British male characters, which would be just about every single one of them haha

Music Obsession:
A Silent Film
I kind of like bought their whole entire album "Sand & Snow" on iTunes, which I almost never do on iTunes.  But it was a must because I was playing their music nonstop on YouTube.  Their song "Cuckoo Song" is one of my favorites and you can listen to it down below.  It's on the alternative side, so if you enjoy that kind of music, definitely try A Silent Film.



TV Show Obsession:
Doctor Who (2005) PosterDoctor Who
I guess I kind of got on the Doctor Who train a little late.  My family recently got a subscription for Netflix and I found out that seasons 1-6 of Doctor Who was on it, and after watching an episode during a physics class (this is what happens when the majority of a class is made up of seniors and those seniors happen to have senioritis) I decided it was time to start watching the series.  So far, I really like it.  It's super interesting and really funny.  I can't say that I was the biggest fan of Donna from season 4, but I like the rest of the characters.  I don't know what I'll do when I'm finished with all the seasons on Netflix!  Any TV show suggestions?

Books Read:
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Eve by Anna Carey
Once by Anna Carey

This post was kind of a spur of the moment post, so I haven't quite got all of it together, but I just had to do one for April, especially since I wouldn't be talking about Clockwork Princess at all anywhere on this blog and this would be the perfect place to do it.  This month year (so far) has been slow anyways, so I'm hoping that when AP tests come to an end, I can pick up the pace a bit and read more books.  Have I mentioned that I haven't bought a book in almost two months?  Yeah, I think it's time to go on a book buying binge :)

Do you have any favorites this month?

Cleo :)

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (48): Fire with Fire


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature, which is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine! This meme is where you can post about what book(s) you're really look forward to.

This week, I absolutely can't wait for...


Fire with Fire (Burn for Burn, #2)


Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
September 3rd, 2013
When sweet revenge turns sour… Book two of a trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. 
Lillia, Kat, and Mary had the perfect plan. Work together in secret to take down the people who wronged them. But things didn’t exactly go the way they’d hoped at the Homecoming Dance. 
Not even close. 
For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there ever was a pact. But it’s not easy, not when Reeve is still a total jerk and Rennie’s meaner than she ever was before. 
And then there’s sweet little Mary…she knows there’s something seriously wrong with her. If she can’t control her anger, she’s sure that someone will get hurt even worse than Reeve was. Mary understands now that it’s not just that Reeve bullied her—it’s that he made her love him.

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, burn for a burn. A broken heart for a broken heart. The girls are up to the task. They’ll make Reeve fall in love with Lillia and then they will crush him. It’s the only way he’ll learn. 
It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn...
While this series is different from the romantic fluffiness of the Summer series by Jenny Han, whose books I'm more familiar with, I definitely really liked Burn for Burn and couldn't wait to find out what happens next, especially since in the ending where something really surprising happens to Mary and I want to know what's happening to her!  

Which book are you waiting for today?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

Friday, April 26, 2013

Book Truth (6)


When you think of paradise, what do you imagine?  A library filled with books? 
Or a beach filled with palm trees and books? 
(haha what else would there be?)

Cleo :)

Monday, April 22, 2013

Cover Crush (12): Tumble & Fall



Cover Crush is a feature here at Booklopedia that features covers that I currently have a crush on. I know that there are multiple features out in the blogging world that feature covers, but I thought that it would be nice for Booklopedia to feature something, especially something that I absolutely love about books, even though they always say, "You should never judge a book by its cover."

Today, I have a major crush on the cover for Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts!


Tumble & Fall
A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

Alexandra Coutts's TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world.
Not only does the story sound super interesting, but the cover is gorgeous as well.  While the cover doesn't seem to totally relate to the story, I still love it.  I like the bokeh effect (which are what the dots are called, I believe) which kind of shows the asteroid portion of the story, even though they don't look like chunks of rock, but it gets the idea across.  I also think it's cool how the two people's faces are inside the "&" because it emphasizes that, especially the face of the girl who stares directly at you.  I definitely love the exaggeration of the "&" as well as the font used for the title and author's name which are clean cut and keep the emphasis on what's going on.  Overall, this cover has me sold in wanting to read the book, even though they always say you should never judge a book by its cover. 

What do you think of the cover?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (47): Invisibility


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature, which is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine! This meme is where you can post about what book(s) you're really look forward to.

This week, I absolutely can't wait for...


Invisibility

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan
May 7th, 2013
Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.
I really liked David Levithan's Every Day and I loved Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series, so of course Invisibility is on my list of books I want to read.  It also sounds super interesting, with the whole concept of being invisible but only having one person that can see you.  It kind of reminds me of Every Day, but it still has its only original thing going on.  I love that cover, too, which of course is another reason why I should read it :)

What are you waiting for today?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com

Monday, April 15, 2013

Review: Romeo Redeemed

Romeo Redeemed (Juliet Immortal #2)Title: Romeo Redeemed
Author: Stacey Jay
Date Released: October 9th, 2012
Pages: 394
Rating: 3 out of 5

Description:
Seductive companion to the popular Juliet Immortal, in which former lovers—Romeo and Juliet—meet, not as true lovers, but truly as enemies.

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.


Review:
I never reviewed Juliet Immortal, the predecessor to Romeo Redeemed, but I remember really liking it and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.  However, I wasn't exactly feeling Romeo Redeemed.  I like the whole twist on the tale of Romeo and Juliet and how Stacey Jay weaved magic and supernatural elements into the story, but the characters faltered a bit in this story and it was just too much of wanting one another and confusion that I didn't enjoy it as much.

This time, the point of view is from Romeo.  He was given a so-called second chance by the Ambassadors to make Ariel, who Juliet formerly inhabited in Juliet Immortal, fall in love with him in three days, and in return he would join the Ambassadors and leave his decaying Mercenary body behind.  Eventually, the two fall in love (as is evident on the cover), but forces try driving the two apart to create a different outcome.

I really liked Ariel in Juliet Immortal, but I guess that's because it was actually Juliet who was just merely using Ariel's body.  Ariel is a rather strange person, and I guess I can wonder why her classmates call her a "freak".  When she gets angry, she becomes murderous, which was the exact opposite of what she seemed like the other half of the time, which was sweet and loving, although a bit mistrusting, especially of Dylan/Romeo.  I did like Romeo's improvement as a character.  He became a lot more kind and was very sweet caring of Ariel which definitely made me fall for him, despite his tumultuous past.

The overall story line did seem to drag on for a bit.  Mostly it was just made up of, "I need her", "I love him", skipping school a lot to be with each other, and just a lot of mushy stuff like that.  You do see the development of the relationship, but it was just too much and actually started to get a little bit boring!  And I'm a sucker for romance so that was saying something.  The book then finally throws something else to the reader, which actually confused me for the remainder of the book.  The magical elements definitely come in at this point, which left me confused and not understanding why there was a sudden switch in personality in Ariel and finding it rather odd.  I will say that the ending was pretty cute.  It was a bit confusing, but it was definitely a twist to the story that ended off on a sweet note :)

Romeo Redeemed seemed like such an intriguing follow up because it wasn't necessarily continuing the events of Juliet Immortal, until you reach the ending, but could almost have been a stand alone since it was told in a completely different point of view and had a completely different story.  However, the story didn't really capture my attention once I realized it was just solely about Ariel and Romeo for a majority of the book, and Ariel didn't really win me over either.  I still did like the romance, to a certain extent, and Romeo was pretty cool throughout the story.  The ending was probably one of the cutest endings I've ever read and it definitely left me satisfied, although I had one huge question, but that would spoil everything ;)  If you're into romance and magic, then you should definitely try out Juliet Immortal and Romeo Redeemed!

Cover Review:
This cover is definitely says a lot about the book.  There is a lot of kissing and stuff like that, but it never happens on the beach.  Although, it does give a romantic setting  and they are situated in California close the ocean.  My parents would probably definitely question what I was reading if they saw this cover.  But, I do like the blue, which kind of emphasizes that this is about Romeo since blue is just stereotypically associated with guys, and the typography adds to the romance that's going on on the cover.

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy borrowed from library.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Review: Hallowed

Title: Hallowed
Author: Cynthia Hand
Date Released: January 17th, 2012
Pages: 403
Rating: 4 out of 5

Description:
For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves 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.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Review:
I didn't really know what to expect in Hallowed since Unearthly ended off with two cliffhangers, one of which could have gone in any direction.  So, I just went into the book going with the flow, partly since it had been over a year since I had read the first book in the series, so I didn't really remember much anyways.  Anyhow, it was a great follow up and kept me hooked until the very end.  There were so many surprises that intrigued me into reading more and more until I pretty much devoured the whole book.

Essentially, Hallowed follows Clara and continues into her senior year of high school.  On top of having to keep up her grades and apply for college, she's trying to figure out what her new vision could possibly mean, and when she finally does, it's heartbreaking.  Meanwhile, she's learning more and more about herself as an angel along with Angela, Christian, and her brother, Jeffrey.

I can't say that I liked Clara as much in Hallowed as I did like her in Unearthly.  For some reason she just seemed different, like she was more self-absorbed or just a little bit shallow.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but she just wasn't as likable.  I think it was her indecisiveness between Tucker and Christian.  She just seemed different when I started getting into Hallowed.  I did really like Angela though, and her quirkiness and inquisitiveness pertaining to her visions and just learning more about angels in general.  Tucker and Christian were both great, although Tucker was rather overprotective of Clara this time and that was a bit annoying.  Christian was just pretty much like the perfect angel that he is throughout the whole book ;)

The overall story kept me super captivated.  I loved how it was a mixture of intensity, surprises, and relaxing moments where I just got to learn more about Clara as an angel and see her build her relationships with others.  If you have read Unearthly and haven't read Hallowed yet, then I suggest you do because there is one... No, two things in the book that are bound to shock you.  They both definitely caught me by surprise.

Hallowed was a great followup to Unearthly, although it was a rather depressing sequel with a twist that just completely breaks your heart.  This book definitely leaves you wanting more and wanting to find out what happens in Boundless because there were so many loose ends.  Thank goodness Boundless is already out!  If you haven't read Unearthly yet, then I suggest you do!!  Especially if you're into reading about angels.  It won't disappoint :)

Cover Review:
I absolutely love this cover.  I love the overall blue color scheme that the designer decided to go with, as well as the faint traces of the background that you can see of the lake and the mountains which really creates the setting for the book.  Of course, I'm a big fan of the intricate detailing of the title with the addition of the feather which completes the cover.  Overall, I think that this is a pretty gorgeous cover that fits the the story.

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy borrowed from library.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Review: Requiem

Requiem (Delirium, #3)Title: Requiem
Author: Lauren Oliver
Date Released: March 5th, 2013
Pages: 391
Rating: 4 out of 5

Description:
They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.

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 fiancĂ©e of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

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.


Review:
I don't even know what to say!  It's sad having to finish a series that was so good and so captivating throughout all three books.  Requiem definitely carried on the amazing-ness of Delirium and Pandemonium and I'm so sad that there won't be anymore books about Lena's world :(

Requiem pretty much follows Pandemonium, especially after that killer cliffhanger that left me wanting more.  This time, the chapters alternate between Lena and Hana, with Lena in the dangerous Wilds as an Invalid and Hana, who has been cured, in Portland where the Resistance keeps growing.  The whole story kept me intrigued and wanting to know what could possibly happen next to Lena and her group and Hana and Portland.

When you put the Delirium Lena side by side with the Requiem Lena, you see how much she has developed into a completely different person.  She has become stronger, more aware, and even a bit cold at times, but I guess living in the Wild just transforms a person.  I didn't read the novella Hana, but from reading Requiem, I think I kind of got the gist of what probably happened.  Hana changed to since we last saw her in Delirium, but she's different from the other ones that have been cured.  Obviously I'm not a big fan of any cured person, but Hana changes throughout the course of the novel and becomes a little more open and aware of what's going on and how the system actually is kind of corrupt in a way, and I liked her more for that.

The ending was a bit open ended, when considering the actual rebellion that the whole entire series was building up to, and I could see why people were upset with the ending.  But overall, I think that Lauren Oliver did give her fans one thing that they wanted to know, which was who Lena would end up with, because that was what was pretty much killing me throughout the book.

This might be a bit of a spoiler if you haven't read the first two books yet, but I just had to address this.  So, the love triangle (I know) was a bit crazy in this book.  I wanted to know so badly who she would end up with, but it was kind of painful actually reading about it because you could see that she favored one more than the other and it just sort of broke my heart because the other one was still kind of vulnerable, but I was rooting for who she *vaguely* ended up with anyways :)

Overall, Requiem was a great follow up to Delirium and Pandemonium.  While it did leave some things open ended, you could only hope for the best, if you're an optimist like me anyways.  It's not going to have The Hunger Games ending where you know Lena's future, but I liked it nevertheless, although my sister disagrees with me.  I love Lauren Oliver's writing so I can't wait to see what she has next.  I'll probably have to start reading her middle grade stories until her next novel comes out and the TV show will have to suffice :)

Cover Review:
I'm still stuck on the fact that they changed the whole cover concept with Delirium and I always wonder what the covers for Pandemonium  and Requiem would have looked like.  Nevertheless, I do like this cover.  It doesn't quite fit the story because it just seems too peaceful for such a action-filled book, but I do like the flowers though and the overall dark color scheme.  It's a very eye-catching cover.

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy purchased.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Cover Crush (11): Siege and Storm



Cover Crush is a feature here at Booklopedia that features covers that I currently have a crush on. I know that there are multiple features out in the blogging world that feature covers, but I thought that it would be nice for Booklopedia to feature something, especially something that I absolutely love about covers, even though they always say, "You should never judge a book by its cover."

Today, I'm in love with the cover for Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo!


Darkness never dies. 
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long. 
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
I absolutely love the design for the cover of Siege and Storm. The intricate detailing of the castle, the waves, and the sky are really cool, as is the detailing of the title with the dragon coming off of the S. I think it's also pretty cool how the center is all lit up with the red of the castle and the light gray clouds in comparison to the darker edges of the cover.  We also don't see many completely graphic designed covers so it's also really cool how the designers went this route.  I don't think that anything else could have captured the story any better.

What do you think of the cover?

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com