A little break...

Hello all!
I just wanted to let you know that I will be on vacation for the next few weeks.

For the first bit, I'm not allowed to use any electronic devices. (Camp)

I will be back after that though, even if it's briefly, before I go halfway across the country to see my brother get married. This time, there is no one restricting me from using my cell phone and the internet it may or may not contain.

I've been gaining so much momentum on my blog lately, I'm sad to be away from it!

I'll see you all in a few weeks!

The Blog Hop

Hello new friends!
And welcome to my blog.
As you know, the book blogger hop is hosted by Jen over at Crazy-For-Books. I've found so many really great blogs through this meme, and it's really given me a great chance to know those who read my blog!

So, if you are here for the hop, drop a word and let me know so that I may return the favor!

There are two books that I'm dying to get my hands on, even though one of them has been published for a bit and the other is not close to be released. However. I would really like to read Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs and What Happend to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen.
I'v heard many wonderful things about Forgive my Fins. It's plain and simple.
But Sarah Dessen has been such an inspiration to me. She opened my eyes to reading and the world of YA literature. Her beautifully crafted language never ceases to inspire me. Therefore, anything by her is a sure win!

So, what are you dying to read?

Jennifer Echols: Endless Summer Review

I honestly had high expectations for this book, especially considering all the wonderful things I’ve hear around the blogosphere about Jennifer Echols. However, it took me a while to get interested in The Boys Next Door. It just seemed a lot like The Summer I Turned Pretty (by Jenny Han). The plot was similar, as were the characters. But TSITP was deeper. This one, not so much.

Girl grows up around boys. Boys see girl as one of the guys. Girl acts like a girl and falls for boy. Boy sees girl as girl. Love is hard. See what I mean?

I did really enjoy the music references, as well as the humor interspersed. Jennifer Echols definitely has a strong voice. And I loved the setting. I could relate really well to the lake and everything that happened there. The whole story was very relatable. It also really picked up pace towards the end, something very much needed.

Even though I took a lot of harassment from my brothers about the cover if this book, I kept on pushing through.

I wasn’t even sure I was going to start reading Endless Summer. But I am sure glad that I did. Jennifer Echols’ writing vastly improved in the second installment. It no longer felt like a somewhat cheesy chick-flick that I had tuned in to. It felt real. And the alternating points of view definitely helped. Even so, there were some points that had me confused about who was narrating. That could be because the main character’s voices and personalities were all that similar.

And although there was still some dialogue that felt a little forced and pushed as before, everything picked up and amounted to lots of good.

This was the first book that I read by this author, but sometimes I wish it wasn’t. I have heard so many wonderful, positive things about Jennifer Echols. Her depth that really makes you think. This doesn’t really hold the same effect, but if you are looking for a beach read, this one is it!

In My Mailbox Part III

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. It's a great chance to show what you've received this week in books and other bookish things, and what others have gotton.

For me, it was another week of great books!


Bought:

-Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

-Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Won:

-The Mosts by Melissa Senate (ARC from Random Buzzers)

-The Starlet by Mary McNamara (from DelGal's Book Reviews)

-Damaged by Alex Cava (from Knitting and Sundries)



-101 Things I Learned in Film School by Neil Landeau and Matthew Frederick (from Shooting Stars Mag)


-Forgive My Fins fan art, bookmark, and tattoo (Alex @ Tales of a Teenage Book Lover)

So, what did you guys all get in your mailbox?

Review: Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler isn't your everyday read. And it definitely wasn't what I was expecting.

Tangled deals with four distincly different teenagers, all trying to make their way to a suitable life. We meet Jena, the self-conscious girl with a good head on her shoulders and a self-depricating sense of humor. We get to know Dakota, someone who at first seems like a total jerk, but because of circumstance and realtionships formed, we get to see a complete evolution of character. We see Skye, an aspiring actress who seems to have everything on a silver platter. Finding out later though, that she struggles with a lot of issues, herself. And lastly, there is Owen. The boy not sure of who he is or who he could be. It takes one week in Paradise to change them all.

This book focuses a lot on finding yourself and being comfortable with who you are. But nothing about it was pushy. It was a slow, subtle movement to get the point across, as it should be.

It really seemed like all the characters were developed. Minor flaws here and there. But that happens.

I really loved the four different point of views and how they all didn't depict the same incidents. It was told as a series of events over a few months. And how even though all the characters didn't have all that much to do with each other besides briefly being at the same resort as each other, they really connecting on a deeper level outside of that. I just love stories that somewhat blow your mind.

The writing stlye was catchy and had me hooked from the first few chapters. Perfect read for anytime, any mood. Well, unless you have a hankering for vampires.

I also adore the cover. It just makes me think that as humans, we are all connected on such a deeper level.

I have not read anything else of Carolyn Mackler, but I will definitely be on the lookout for other title!

Hoppity, Hop, Hop...

The Book Blogger Hop!

As you probably know, the Book Blogger Hop is to help show your blog and spread the love of books! Hosted over by Jen at Crazy for Books, this week's starter is:


Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

Sarah Dessen has been one of my favorite authors since I can remember. I fell completely in love with her in Someone Like You and I've been gobbling her stuff up ever since. Her books are the perfect balance of chick-lit and raw emotion. Light hearted, but still leaves you thinking and with a better sense of who you are.
I also really enjoy Lisa McMann's writing. Her style is very different from what I'm used to, but it's refreshing.
Other favorites: Jenny Han, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott.

Soooo, if you are popping through on the hop, leave a comment and let me know so that I may visit you! ;)

Gone, but back again.

Hey guys! I've been on vacation for a while, but I'm back now, with a review for a book I finished a few weeks ago. A lot has been going on with me, so unfortunately, this blog has been on my back burners. I'm going to try really hard not to let that happen again. However, I am going on vacation again in two weeks, and then once more shortly after that. Sometimes it feels like I need a vacation from my vacation! Anyone else get the same way?

And no In My Mailbox post from me this week. I didn't get any new books, but I guess the great haul from last week should cover that one!