November 2013 - RENDEZ

Stacking The Sheves 20: ARC Madness

book haul Saturday, November 30, 2013

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Unputdownable: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Book Review Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Distance Between Us
by Kasie West
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Published: July 2nd 2013 by Harper Teen
Source: Won (Thanks Dianne!)

Author's website | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

I really truly certainly undoubtedly think… that I have found myself yet another one of the greatest contemporary novels of all time. And I’m totally not kidding you.

The summary on the book’s cover was vague and I totally have no idea regarding Kasie West’s style since I haven’t read any of her books until this one. But wow—she wowed me. Because… wow, oh God, all I can say right now is wow because wow… and… wow. The Distance Between Us rendered me speechless.

I realized I was in for something unputdownable when I turned the first page a blink too faster than normal. The writing wasn’t really special (don’t get me wrong), actually it was plain—and maybe that’s just exactly how I liked it. It didn’t waste any time saying this or describing that; it went straight to the story. I like the clear-cut structure of the writing. It was both efficient and effective for the novel.

Before anything more, can we just talk about the romance and the chemistry and the everything that made this book the perfect—yes, perfect—YA contemporary romance book? Of course we can.

I just loooove how Kasie set up the romance. It is not often that I encounter the issue of social status in YA books. In TDBU, this particular matter made the conflicts bitter but the fruit even sweeter. It tested the main characters’ ties and made them even closer with one another.

Also, undeclared love is just TOO MUCH TO HANDLE. Ahhhhh! It’s so… satisfying (for me, I guess) to see the main character deny and fight against what she herself obviously feels. Especially when Xander gets (accidentally or not) flirty with her and it just gets her all jittery and then bam every single promise she made to stay away from him explodes into tiny little pieces. It’s too many adorableness to bear! (Especially their habit of Xander pre-sipping every drink first before handing it to Caymen… !!!!!!)

I really really love Caymen. I like her dry humor and her sarcasm. It was absolutely hilarious. The humor didn’t feel forced, but rather natural. But what I admired most was how she selflessly helped her mom despite wanting to have an own life for herself. She stayed strong for her mother, and she stood as the foundation of their family. Caymen did what she knew best to salvage their family business. I think she’s the image of a perfect daughter.

Xander was as likable as Caymen. He was the rich guy who preferred not to boast about it. He’s humble and knows how to interact with others. I like him because he tangles Caymen’s intestines when he’s around her, and I like him because he’s always there to untangle the problems Caymen is facing. And he’s thoughtful, kind, funny, and all the possible nice things to describe a teenage guy. He definitely was the nice guy, but this time, nice guys don’t end up last.

I delayed the tons of works I have for school just to read this one. For so many times, I actually put it on the bedside table and tell myself that school is more important. But then, after hopelessly trying for a minute, I’d pick it up again and get absorbed in the story for hours. And I tell you, putting it off for just a minute is far worse than flunking a quiz I failed to prepare for.

Kasie West had something more than potential. It was a gift. There was no distance between her and talent; they were typically one entity. The Distance Between Us is for ALL the contemporary lovers out there. It’s one of the most bestest (yes, redundancies for emphasis). #KasieWestIsTheBest

THE NUB AND GIST: 6 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buy the book from: Amazon / The Book Depository

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Sweet Goodness: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

anna banks Monday, November 25, 2013

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy
Published: May 22nd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
Source: Gifted

Author's website | Goodreads

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

“It's easy to remember, because dating rhymes with mating, and they're almost the same [...] So your mom thinks we're ma— Uh, dating?”

Ohmysweetgoodness. Triton’s trident, why did I only read this book now! I loved it, I loved it, I loved it! And I’ll always do, even after countless rereads. Of Poseidon was superb in both fantasy and romance! This is honestly one of the best books I’ve read yet this year. It was thoroughly enjoyable as much as it was engaging. It had minimal to no flaws at all. I don’t think I could possibly justify how gratifying and pleasure-inducing the experience of reading this book was. Anna Banks. Is. Legend.

First, let’s talk about the story. It was unique and fantastical! I’ve never encountered anything like it before. It was a pleasant blend of well-known myths and stories and reality. Poseidon, mermaids—uh, I mean, Syrenas, Atlantis, and a lot more bizarre and awesome concepts from Anna Banks were introduced and presented in a very convincing manner. I also admire the world-building, like perhaps all the stories are really true. The plot was seamless. It was amazing to see the puzzle pieces fall into place one by one as the story went on. Even if I was able to guess a huge revelation by the end of the book, I still believe it was thrilling and suspenseful. I was put on the edge of my seat, filled with both anticipation and trepidation of what was to commence next. I was very much absorbed because there was a constant unfolding of events. Of Poseidon is what you call an adventure.

Next, the writing style. This book had a unique one. It had alternating POVs—from Emma’s and Galen’s. Where Emma’s is written first-person, Galen’s is in third-person. It was very effective because we got to see the story as a whole through more than one pair of eyes. It helped me familiarize with the story better.

My sort-of main problem lies with the main characters. Of course I liked them (very much, even) but I just had some issues. I actually liked the stubbornness and temperament of Emma. It became very useful (although sometimes dangerous, but still useful) on her side as a character. In fact, it was her. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the book as much as I did if she wasn’t hard-headed “sometimes”. I also admired her strength and willingness to know things. However, I’d say she’s a bit… moody? One moment she’s huffing smoke from her nostrils and the next, she’s all smiles and sunny radiance. Her mood shifts so fast when she gets what she wants. A bit childish, eh?

And then Galen. His innocence was totally cute and adorable. For instance, he’s trying to remember what dating—DATING!—means, and he links it with mating—MATING!—because someone told him it’s typically the same thing. Also, to top his innocence, he doesn’t get the sense of movies. I like how he gets jealous of others even if he’s practically not dating Emma. His overprotectiveness is also another trait that’s really endearing. Then BAM! Suddenly he mastered The Art of Flirting and Kissing. His overprotectiveness became a bit more like possessiveness. And worse, Emma consented to it like nothing, after she got all angry and enraged over him.

However, I still liked how their romance bloomed. The awkward scenes were… well, awkward AND definitely charming.

On another note, I loved the other characters as well. They were easy to identify from one another because they had individual personalities. GO RAYNA! GO TORAF! LOVE Y’ALL GUYS! LOL.

To conclude, it’s just safe to say that I fell in love with the world of Syrenas.

THE NUB AND GIST: 4 STARS

Buy the book from: Amazon / The Book Depository

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Messy and Complicated Love: How To Love by Katie Cotugno

Book Review Thursday, November 21, 2013

How To Love
by Katie Cotugno
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Published: October 3rd 2013 by Quercus
Source: Publisher

Author's Website | Goodreads

This is a love story. But it’s not what you think. This is not a first kiss, or a first date. This is not love at first sight. This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. This is the complicated route to happiness that follows.

This is real. This is life. This is how to love.

BEFORE:

Reena has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember. But he’s never noticed her, until one day… he does. They fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town, leaving a devastated – and pregnant – Reena behind.

AFTER:

Three years later and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter Hannah. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again.

After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer again?

Ohmygod. That’s the first thing I thought and literally said right after the book came to an end. And an ohmygod did it deserve.

Let me begin this by telling first the thing I didn’t quite like, so the book could redeem itself later on. The pacing of How To Love was slow. It took me some time (compared to my normal rate) to finish it. There wasn’t so much chemistry in here (that’s in the typical contemporary) to hook me and make me read nonstop, although, I still desired to see how the story would go. If you’re seeking the sweet development of a relationship, or the cute budding of a first-love, this one may not be for you. The description on the book’s cover described it perfectly—“This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. / This is real.” And yes, I agree, that’s what this is; it’s real.

Katie Cotugno’s writing was ahhhhhhhmazing. It wasn’t pretentious, wasn’t ostentatious; it was plain-spoken and straightforward. It stabs you right in the middle of your heart. It hits that spot. I love her play of words—it’s downright clever (Especially her paragraph/chapter enders. You’ll know what I mean once you read it). Also, the dialogue between the characters was both witty and funny; the exchange of comebacks was entertaining and smart, as well as the sarcasm in them.

“I think of how it felt to lose him, slow and painful and confusing, and how it felt to wonder if I'd ever really had him at all.”

The flow of the book was nicely put up. With alternating After and Before chapters, the current story timeline could be easily understood. The scenes were little threads being knit together little by little, and they ended up as one neatly weaved beautiful piece of cloth in the end.

The three-year gap of the Before Reena and After Reena (as well as Sawyer) was distinguished very well by the author. There’s this image of the current Reena in my head, and another totally different depiction of the Reena three years ago. It wasn’t difficult to separate their distinct attitudes. The great amount of maturity Reena went through after three years could be totally seen. In fact, I actually favored one over the other. I like the developed Reena better.

“The hideous thing is this: I want to forgive him. Even after everything, I do. A baby before my 17th birthday and a future as lonely as the surface of the moon and still the sight of him feels like a homecoming, like a song I used to know but somehow forgot.”

The best thing I liked about the current Reena was her development not only as a character but as a person. Her sense of maturity was admirable, like she acquired some—or maybe a lot—essence of wisdom after what happened. She used it as a tool to protect her daughter, herself, and to not make the same mistakes again. However, she sometimes failed to. She’d commit an unwise action now and then. But I adored how this book was constructed—it makes you understand. Understand that life is like that. That love makes someone do stupid things. That life is disordered, is a mess, is painful, is unpleasant. How To Love explains real love and real life in the most perfect and accurate ways.

“I like him so stupidly much.”

I hate Sawyer LeGrande. I mean the younger one, not the older. Because Katie Cotugno transformed his former character into someone almost unimaginable. The cockiness wasn’t lost on him, but like Reena, he grew into a developed man. He changed and knew his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. Though I wished that we got to learn more about how all this commenced because it was definitely an enormous transformation.

As for the ending, I expected (perhaps wanted) another one. Even so, I still liked and believed in Reena’s decisions (trusted them, even). It was such a dramatic read, but very satisfying.

For those seeking another side of love—the messy, unpredictable, flawed love—you have to check this one. With the real elements of falling in love and breaking apart, and an astounding writing fit for its poignancy—this one’s a daring novel from Katie Cotugno.

THE NUB AND GIST: 4 STARS

Buy the book from: Amazon / Kindle

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Stacking The Shelves 19: Birthday Book Haul

book haul Saturday, November 16, 2013

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Steamy Latino and Tea: The Guys Are Props Club by Ingrid Seymour

Book Review Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Guys Are Props Club by Ingrid Seymour
Genre: New Adult
Published: May 13th 2013 by Pen Dreams
Source: Gifted by the author (Thanks, Ingrid!)

Author's website | Goodreads

During her senior year in high school, Maddie Burch promised herself not to ever fall for a cute guy – or any guy – again. Cute guys are players and not to be trusted, a fact she learned the hard way when her first boyfriend ran her heart through a paper shredder. Two years later, her promise is still intact, and she’s determined to make it through college without falling victim to another creep. She has her job, school and The Guys Are Props Club to keep her mind and hormones in check.

The club was founded by Jessica, Maddie’s best friend. It is a sisterhood of girls who have fallen prey to heartless jerks and who have vowed to turn the tables. Once a semester, Jessica requires members to “do onto others as they’ve done unto you.” Setting the example, Jessica’s next play is Sebastian Capello, a theater major with heartthrob looks and a flair for Latin dance, whose heart she plans to break the way hers was once broken.

What the friends don’t know is that Sebastian is different. Despite his perfect looks and popularity, he’s not a jerk. He doesn’t play games to get his way. Instead, he keeps it real and goes after what he wants with honest intentions. And what he wants is not a bombshell like Jessica, but a down-to-earth girl like Maddie – even if it causes a riff in the girl’s friendship. Even if it means getting Maddie to break her personal vow.

*** Due to language and sexual situations this book is recommended for ages 17 and older.

I have always been in search of good New Adult novels ever since my first (and amazing) encounter with Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens. And after reading The GAP Club, I can say that my search, so far, has been successful.

Can we just talk about how smart and unique this story’s concept was? I mean, it’s totally out of the normal and the tiniest bit absurd, but it totally worked! That alone had me in awe. It’s true, though: Damsels-in-distress wouldn’t survive today. Only bitches-in-heels would.

Enter Maddie, our protagonist, and the only flaw in my supposedly flawless theory of “Women’s Survival in the 21^st century”. She wasn’t bitchy at all—totally kind-hearted, even—but there was so much resolve and girl power inside her. It was so refreshing to read from a very benevolent character’s point of view. She wasn’t saint-like nor sinless to the point of irritating, but there’s just really genuine compassion in her heart. I really enjoyed reading the story thru Maddie’s head.

I also admired how she faced problems head-on. One of my bookish pet peeves is when characters tend to stall and prolong their predicaments and just let things be until it’s too late. But Maddie, she wasn’t that. She tries to think of ways to fix things and, most importantly, she acts. She doesn’t let problems get bigger, and that’s what I definitely liked about her.

The Sebastian-Maddie duo was totally endearing and just too cuuute!!! They were so shy and so funny and just romantic! The way things turned out for them and how the romance still worked out was … perfect. Sebastian seemed like the ideal guy (not to mention flirty) and Maddie totally deserved him and vice-versa. And, it wasn’t just lust lust lust or sex sex sex. The passion, love and intimacy of both characters towards each other were really palpable.

Another thing I liked was how Ingrid incorporated Maddie’s relationship with Hunter, a 10-year-old cancer kid. It greatly contributed to her character and to the story as well.

I’m so glad to have discovered this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I NEED the sequel in my hands right now! I couldn’t wait!!!

THE NUB AND GIST: 5 STARS

Buy the book from: Amazon / Kindle

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Pages

Stacking The Sheves 20: ARC Madness

Unputdownable: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Sweet Goodness: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Messy and Complicated Love: How To Love by Katie Cotugno

Stacking The Shelves 19: Birthday Book Haul

Steamy Latino and Tea: The Guys Are Props Club by Ingrid Seymour

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