Just One Year (Just One Day #2), by Gayle Forman

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

Equal parts romance, coming-of-age-tale, mystery and travel romp (with settings that span from England’s Stratford upon Avon to Paris to Amsterdam to India’s Bollywood) Just One Day and Just One Year show how in looking for someone else, you just might wind up finding yourself. 

After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem's story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near-misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson's own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.





I have been waiting for Just One Year from the moment that I finished Just One Day.  The latter completely blew me away and I couldn't wait for Willem's POV of their time apart and their reconnection.

So imagine my surprise at the disillusionment I felt throughout the novel.  Do you see the description above?  Where it says "picking up where Just One Day ended"?  Guess what I was expecting.  FOR THIS BOOK TO PICK UP WHERE THE PREVIOUS ONE LEFT OFF.

Guess what I got?  NOT THAT.

Allyson's story in JOD was empowering and full of self-discovery.  Willem's story in JOY was all wallowing in self-pity and shacking up with other girls while he was oh-so-in-love with "Lulu."  And I just didn't buy it.

Maybe I would have felt differently if there had been more interaction between the two protagonists.  But I kept anticipating their reunion (picking up where the last one left off!!!) and felt nothing but anxiety and disappointment with each chapter.

WTF, Gayle Forman?  Your previous works have left me bleary-eyed from too much crying, but were always worth the heartfail.  This?  Bleary-eyed from near-boredom.  Had I known that I wouldn't get a whole book--or at least part of a book--with Willem and Allyson together, I'm not sure I would have read it.  And I'm really glad that I borrowed this from the library instead of purchasing it; I would have rated it lower if I had spent any money on this sequel.  As it is, three stars is being generous.

Prozac Nation, by Elizabeth Wurtzel

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

"Full of promise" is how anyone would have described Elizabeth Wurtzel at age ten, a bright-eyed little girl who painted, wrote stories, and excelled in every way. By twelve, she was cutting her legs in the girls' bathroom and listening to scratchy recordings of the Velvet Underground. 

College was marked by a series of breakdowns, suicide attempts, and hospitalizations before she was finally given Prozac in combination with other psychoactive drugs, all of which have worked sporadically as Elizabeth's mood swings rise and fall like the lines of a sad ballad.

This memoir, both harrowing and hilarious, gives voice to the high incidence of depression--especially among America's youth.

Prozac Nation is a collective cry for help, a generational status report on today's young people, who have come of age fully entrenched in the culture of divorce, economic instability, and AIDS. 

"This private world of loony bins and weird people which I always felt I occupied and hid in," writes Elizabeth, "had suddenly turned inside out so that it seemed like this was one big Prozac Nation, one big mess of malaise. Perhaps the next time half a million people gather for a protest march on the White House green it will not be for abortion rights or gay liberation, but because we're all so bummed out." 

Writing with a vengeance (Nirvana, Joni Mitchell, and Dorothy Parker all rolled into one), Elizabeth Wurtzel will not go gentle into that good night. She wants off medication, she wants a family, and most definitely, a life worth living.




My Thoughts Prior to Reading Prozac Nation
I don't understand why this book gets such low reviews.  I bet those reviewers have never suffered from Depression and think it's all made-up.

My Thoughts as I Started to Read
Oh, wow.  She GETS me.  I wish I had read this book twenty years ago.

My Thoughts Halfway Through
The title is Prozac Nation.  Where's all of the talk about Prozac itself?

My Thoughts as I Neared the End
Oh, for the love of all that's holy.  This woman is so full of herself.

My Thoughts after Finishing Prozac Nation
Elizabeth Wurtzel is so annoying!  No wonder there are so many neutral and negative reviews.  I can't believe I ever had this at the top of my TBR.

The Girl You Left Behind, by Jojo Moyes

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

What happened to the girl you left behind?

In 1916 French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything - her family, reputation and life - in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.

Nearly a century later and Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting's dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened...

In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most - whatever the cost.





I love Jojo Moyes.  She makes her characters so real and imperfect and TRUE.  I love how she intertwined the lives of Sophie and Liv through the painting and went back and forth between their stories.

Like Me Before You and Honeymoon in Paris, The Girl You Left Behind is a heartbreakingly beautiful novel.   I cried several times, especially near the end.  Thankfully, I wasn't as emotionally overcome as when I read Me Before You; there is more of a sense of relief and hope in this story than in her previous work.

There is one continuity problem between The Girl You Left Behind and Honeymoon in Paris regarding how Liv's husband purchases the painting, but it doesn't affect the story.

I will definitely purchase this book for my personal collection.

I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Eleanor & Park: Third Time's a Charm?

I'm not the brightest bulb in the bunch.

Self, I thought, there's no way you'll cry during Eleanor & Park this time.  You've already listened to it twice; you know what happens, so you're prepared.

Yep, I'm an idiot.  But I don't care.  I am so in love with this book that I will listen to it a hundred times and cry at every turn.  I'll be the blubbering fool at whom people stare with their eyebrows raised.  It's too well-written, too powerful, too amazing to hold back all the feels.

sigh

GIF created by the uber-talented Simini Blocker

Out of Play, by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.　

Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded Gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.

Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.




I have been in love with Nyrae Dawn's writing ever since I read What A Boy Wants.  So I jumped for joy when I was approved for this galley!

Like WaBW, the storyline is predictable (though there were a couple of surprises), but I didn't care.  Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry have created such a fantastic mash-up of characters that it really doesn't matter.  The characters are the most important, and they are perfect and perfectly flawed.

Penny is a kick-ass heroine: an ice hockey player who has always been on an all-male (except for her) team.  She's strong--both physically and emotionally--and is well-liked by her teammates and friends.  She's a tomboy and hates all of that "girlie" stuff, so we'd never be friends in real life.  But I'd admire her from afar and think she was really cool.  Scary--she could totally kick my ass from here to the next century--but definitely cool.

Poor Bishop just can't handle being famous and needs to chill with the drugs and alcohol.  He's a cocky asshole who gets taken down a peg in a place where no one knows his true identity.

I loved the snarky relationship between Bishop and Penny.  It was laugh-out-loud funny when they'd push each others' buttons.

And the make-out sessions?  Swoony.  Totally swoony.

I'm definitely purchasing the Kindle version for my personal collection.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

How to Lose Everything: A Mostly True Story, by Philipp Mattheis

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

One summer, an incredible discovery gives Jonathan and his three closest friends many things they so desperately want – but at what cost?

Jonathan, Sam, Schulz, and Eric usually spend their summers hanging out at the park, skateboarding and dreaming about the days when they’ll finally move out of the suburbs. But one summer, the four teenagers find a small fortune hidden inside a mysterious abandoned house, and that changes everything. The dizzying thrill of money and power makes the future seem irrelevant; the only question that matters is what they should buy next. It was a dream come true, but it couldn't last. What starts out as a blessing soon turns into a curse, as stress, drugs, criminal behavior, dwindling funds—and even death—raise serious questions about their choices, and their futures.




This coming-of-age novel is like nothing I've read before.  Due to the fact that it's based on a true story, I couldn't decide if I wanted it to be more memoir-ish or more fictitious.  I don't mean that in a negative way.  It's simply the fact that it scares the bejeezus out of me that much of what's in this book actually happened.  And I don't know which parts!

How to Lose Everything will appeal to teenage boys.  I think this would be a great book for parents of early- to mid-teens to read with their sons in order to launch discussions surrounding theft and drug & alcohol abuse.

I read this short book—only just over 200 pages—in one evening.  Mattheis doesn't use flowery language to move the story forward: he is concise and pragmatic and doesn't leave out any of the "good stuff."

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A Really Awesome Mess, by Trish Cook & Brendan Halpin

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

A hint of Recovery Road, a sample of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and a cut of Juno. A Really Awesome Mess is a laugh-out-loud, gut-wrenching/heart-warming story of two teenagers struggling to find love and themselves.

Two teenagers. Two very bumpy roads taken that lead to Heartland Academy.

Justin was just having fun, but when his dad walked in on him with a girl in a very compromising position, Justin's summer took a quick turn for the worse. His parents' divorce put Justin on rocky mental ground, and after a handful of Tylenol lands him in the hospital, he has really hit rock bottom.

Emmy never felt like part of her family. She was adopted from China. Her parents and sister tower over her and look like they came out of a Ralph Lauren catalog--and Emmy definitely doesn't. After a scandalous photo of Emmy leads to vicious rumors around school, she threatens the boy who started it all on Facebook.

Justin and Emmy arrive at Heartland Academy, a reform school that will force them to deal with their issues, damaged souls with little patience for authority. But along the way they will find a ragtag group of teens who are just as broken, stubborn, and full of sarcasm as themselves. In the end, they might even call each other friends.

A funny, sad, and remarkable story, A Really Awesome Mess is a journey of friendship and self-discovery that teen readers will surely sign up for.




 
I shouldn't like this book.

I'm not a fan of stories where all of the action happens quickly.  I much prefer gradual progression because I have a hard time believing that anyone could form relationships that quickly.

But Justin, Emmy, and the other kids are thrown together into a situation where they are forced to become fast friends and confidants.  In an environment such as theirs -- where they are sent by their families to deal with personal issues -- the only people they can rely on are other "difficult" teens.

I'm not a fan of stories where the characters are self-actualized enough to figure out what's been plaguing them with very little effort.

But I had to remind myself that I was reading this YA novel as an adult.  Were I still an angsty, depressed teenager, I would have loved reading about their deepest, darkest secrets simply because it would have helped me discover my own. 

I am not a fan of stories where there is vulgar language thrown in just for kicks.  If it doesn't advance the story, it doesn't need to be a part of the book.

But I tend to forget that teenagers DO throw curse words around for no reason other than to shock and titillate.

And so--even though I shouldn't--I really like this book.

My adult self scoffs at how nicely the story is packaged.  But my teen self knows that--even though it moves quickly and neatly--this novel portrays an important reality that could help others get through some tough times.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Husband's Secret, by Liane Moriarty

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Release date: July 30, 2013

At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant to be read

My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died...

Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive...

Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.




I was first drawn to this book by its cover: it's a physical incarnation of what happens when you discover something that changes your life and your world falls apart.  The image itself is beautifully poetic.

I'm not usually a fan of women's fiction—and I don't particularly like Emily Giffin, so her quote wasn't really a ringing endorsement—but I'm really glad that I took a chance and read this novel.  Liane Moriarty is a brilliant writer and I'm kicking myself for not having read her works before.  I even won a copy of The Hypnotist's Love Story a couple of years ago; it's still sitting on my bookshelf, unread.

The Husband's Secret is more than just chick-lit.  It's full of drama and intrigue and I didn't want to put it down!  Moriarty merges the stories of the three individual primary characters into a whole; it's a fascinating journey from start to finish.  What is the truth?  As we find out, it's not necessarily an easy answer.  On the way, lives are shaken up, boundaries are tested, and firmly-held beliefs are forced aside.

Highly recommended!

I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Still Alice, by Lisa Genova

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

Alice Howland—Harvard professor, gifted researcher, and lecturer, wife, and mother of three grown children—sets out for a run and soon realizes she has no idea how to find her way home.  She has taken the route for years, but nothing looks familiar.  She is utterly lost.  Medical consults reveal early-onset Alzheimer's.

Alice slowly but inevitably loses memory and connection with reality, as told from her perspective. She gradually loses the ability to follow a conversational thread, the story line of a book, or to recall information she heard just moments before.  Genova's debut shows the disease progression through the reactions of others, as Alice does, so readers feel what she feels: a slowly building terror.



 
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to Alzheimer's.  My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with the disease when I was in my teens, but she lived halfway across the country and I never saw her health decline.  My paternal grandfather suffered from some dementia when he was in his 90s, but it was never very obvious.

Listening to this audiobook was not easy: Alice is a brilliant woman who loses everything about herself.  It's a heartbreaking story and one that I hope I never have to experience.

Lisa Genova narrates this audiobook and she does an amazing job.  Not all authors are qualified to read their own works; Genova is a rare exception.

There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes, by Robert Jacoby

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

You need your eyes, don't you?

So does Richard Issych. Two weeks ago he overdosed. Now he's fighting for his life, finding threatening notes like that one on his nightstand.
 
There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes is the story of 19-year-old Richard Issych, who wakes to a harsh new reality inside an inpatient unit. Now Richard's journey turns into one of revelations and struggling through his own reasons for being as he discovers new meanings for redemption, sacrifice, hope, love--and the will to live.

In the end, what are the reasons Noah packed no clothes? Richard can only imagine. But it has something to do with a size 3XL bowling shirt with the name "Noah" stitched over the pocket.

There are reasons . . . everyone uses his own dictionary.

There are reasons . . . some new heavens come from some new hells.




Wow.

Just, wow. 

I just finished this book and I find myself searching for the right words to describe how I felt while reading it. 

As someone who has had suicidal tendencies for more than two decades, I feel very attached to Richard's story.  It hit home on so many levels, and I cried on multiple occasions (though, to be fair, it's not hard to make me cry), thinking about my own experiences: the heavy, black pressure on my heart; emotional pain at having to live through another day; believing that I wasn't good enough; and more.

The stream-of-consciousness writing fit the story perfectly: like in Jose Saramago's Blindness, or Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the stylistic use of language helped me to know the characters and believe their histories. 

The ending left me reeling, which is part of the reason I can't fully express myself.  I had to read the last few pages a few times to be sure that I actually read what I did.

This isn't a happy-cheery-fluffy book.  It's a powerful, thoughtful novel that should be absorbed slowly.  I'm really happy that I read it; it's given me a lot to think about.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jumping the Scratch, by Sarah Weeks

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

Jamie Reardon has always heard that bad things come in threes. So after his cat, Mister, dies, his father leaves, and his aunt Sapphy has an accident that causes her memory to develop a skip, Jamie hopes his life will go back to being as normal as cornflakes.

But unfortunately there's one more bad thing in store for Jamie -- something he'd give anything to be able to forget -- and this one leaves him feeling like a stranger to himself.

Jamie tries in vain to find the magic trigger that will help Sapphy's memory jump the scratch, like the needle on her favorite Frank Sinatra record, but in the end it's Aunt Sapphy who, along with a curious girl named Audrey Krouch, helps Jamie unravel the mysteries of memory and jump the scratch in his own life.

Sarah Weeks's poignant characters and powerful prose come together in a story that is both heart wrenching and inspiring -- another gem from the award-winning author of So B. It.





***Trigger warning: this review contains information about sexual assault that may be upsetting to survivors***

This was a hard book to listen to because it was so real.  Because it's a kid's book, there are no gory details (thank goodness) about what happened to Jamie, but it's painfully clear.  Well, at least to an adult.  I don't have 8- to 12-year-old children, so I'm not sure how quickly they'd pick up on the molestation.

I worry about how to talk to my kids about sexual predators.  I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of someone hurting either of them, but how do you bring up such a difficult subject?  Adults tend to forget about what they knew as children; I knew about "bad touching" when I was little.  We were taught by our parents, our teachers, and our daycare providers.  But as parents?  We don't want to expose our children to such an awful part of life.  We want to protect them!  Shield them!  Make sure no harm comes to them!

This book is a great way to help explain what happens when a child is molested, why he acted the way he did, and how he'll deal with it in the future.  I am adding it to the list of books to read with my kids in a few years.

The Twisted Window, by Lois Duncan

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

The new guy at Tracy’s school is handsome, intense, and desperately needs her help—but there’s something about him that isn’t quite right.

High school junior Tracy Lloyd is unsure about the new guy in school. Brad Johnson is attractive, smart, and polite, but Tracy can’t help but feel he watches her too closely.

Then one day Brad confides in Tracy a horrible secret: His little sister Mindy has been kidnapped by his stepfather, and he needs Tracy’s help to get her back. But even as Tracy commits to a plan to help her vulnerable new friend, details emerge that suggest nothing is what it seems.

The Twisted Window is a zigzagging thriller that keeps readers guessing up until the final page. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Duncan including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.




Lois Duncan's Ransom was one of my favorite books when I was younger, so I was thrilled when I was approved for this galley!  I'm actually surprised I didn't read this book when it was first published in 1987.  (Ouch.  Showing my age.)

This is a great book for Middle Grade readers.  There is enough suspense and intrigue -- without being gruesome -- to interest adults and kids alike.  And while the adult part of me is rolling my eyes at some of the goings-on, the preteen in me thinks that it's SO. AWESOME. that these teenagers are solving this crime themselves.

I don't quite understand the reasoning behind the pictures and extra commentary about Lois Duncan's life.  In fact, it froze my Kindle at 96%.  And it's still not working, even through several re-sets and charging it overnight.  Grrr.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Looking for Alibrandi, by Melina Marchetta

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

For as long as Josephine Alibrandi can remember, it’s just been her, her mom, and her grandmother. Now it’s her final year at a wealthy Catholic high school. The nuns couldn't be any stricter—but that doesn't seem to stop all kinds of men from coming into her life.

Caught between the old-world values of her Italian grandmother, the no-nonsense wisdom of her mom, and the boys who continue to mystify her, Josephine is on the ride of her life. This will be the year she falls in love, the year she discovers the secrets of her family’s past—and the year she sets herself free.

Told with unmatched depth and humor, this novel—which swept the pool of Australian literary awards and became a major motion picture—is one to laugh through and cry with, to cherish and remember.

Things that I love:

1. Realistic YA fiction.  It's true and honest.  Even better are coming-of-age novels where you see how the characters grow and evolve into the adults they're going to be.  
2. Australian accents.  Marcella Russo did a fantastic job with the narration.  I especially love how Nonna said Josie's name: "Jotzie."  Totally endearing.
3. How books written in the early 1990s don't have to feel dated.  This may have been written 20 years ago, but it's still perfect for today's teens.
4. Melina Marchetta.  Seriously.  She is so talented and I've loved every single one of her books.  As I neared the end of this audiobook, I kept thinking don't let it be over yet, don't let it be over yet.

If you love any of the four items above, you will love this book, too.

Moloka'i, by Alan Brennert

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai'i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place---and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end---but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

With a vibrant cast of vividly realized characters, Moloka'i is the true-to-life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death. Such is the warmth, humor, and compassion of this novel that "few readers will remain unchanged by Rachel's story" (mostlyfiction.com).

Dear Alan Brennert,

Aloha!  I must apologize for not having read this book sooner.  It's been on my To Read list for quite some time, and I even own the audiobook.  I should have listened to my friends and read your novel sooner.  

I am in love.

Rachel is my new favorite person.  I don't care that she's a fictional character.  She is strong.  Caring.  Quick-witted.  I can't imagine being a young child separated from my family and sent to live in a new place with complete strangers.  Though Rachel's first few years are tough, she is tougher.

I was completely captivated by her life, by the Hawai'i you described (I miss it!), and by the clash of cultures throughout Rachel's time in the settlement.  I cried ugly tears (stupid onion-cutting ninjas!) at several points, but the heartache was soon replaced with understanding.

What a powerful novel.

Review and GIVEAWAY: Burning, by Elana K. Arnold

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It's good timing since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky: he's headed to San Diego, where he's got a track scholarship at the University of California. But his best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, don't have college to look forward to, so to make them happy, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447. 

Lala: She and her Gypsy family earn money by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash--especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala's been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben's cards is the day that everything changes for her. . . and for him.




I freely admit that my main reason for requesting this NetGalley was the cover.  It completely captivated me and is the kind of artwork I would put on the walls.  (Not that I ever could, since The Husband and I have completely different tastes in art and it's nearly impossible for us to agree on anything.  Hmph.)

I also freely admit that I know a girl named Lala.  And I can't stand her.  So I had a big ol' frowny face when I started reading.  It's unfair to the story, but I do have to say that it colored my opinion of the character.

The other reason I requested Burning?  I wanted to learn something new.

The Burning Man Festival--during which this novel takes place--is an event I didn't know too much about.  I pictured it as a place where a left-wing, alternative, radical crowd gathers for a week of drunken, naked activities.  Which it is, but it's also about art and community.  (PSA: be careful when Googling pictures, even if Safe Search is on.)

Arnold's writing is beautiful, even when it ventures into a more historical narrative than a contemporary novel.

Ben and Lala -- the protagonists and love interests -- stayed true to their characters throughout the story.  I questioned a couple of moments, like when Ben discusses not having sex with his ex-girlfriend.  What teenage boy is going to say no to getting laid the moment his girlfriend says she's ready?  But overall, the characters felt real.

I've read in other reviews that a lot of people don't like the ending.  I'm going against the grain here: I loved it.  It's not an outcome that I expected, which upped my review from three stars to three-and-a-half.  

And now for the fun stuff!

The good people over at Random House are offering a copy of Burning to one of my friendly readers!  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  The winner will be chosen at random and will have three days to respond with contact info.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Confession #1

I had to unfriend someone today after she said that Fifty Shades is the best book she's ever read.