Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Summary: When Lane is diagnosed with an incurable strain of tuberculosis he is sent to Latham House, a part hospital part boarding school. He runs into a person he used to know, Sadie who has transformed since he last saw her and for reasons unknown, is ignoring him. When he falls into Sadie's group of friends and falls into like with Sadie.

4/5

I really enjoyed this book. It it differnt from the other new "sick lit" genre.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Summary: Sahar has been in love with her best friend Nasrin since they both were little girls. Unfourtatley, in Iran, being gay is illegal but being transgender is not. When it's announced Nasrin is betrothed Sahar thinks a surgery may be the only way to keep them together. 

3/5

I had a few problems with If You Could Be Mine. The plot was lackluster, average, predicable, slow and strung out, and didn't really keep my attention. I think the trans storyline was more focused on and forced than it should've been. I don't think it should really be the marketing point. The writing, like the last book I read of hers, Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel, was average but my main problem with that one wasn't as big of a problem in this one. 

However, I did enjoy the characters and the culture and I must admit, I did cry a little at the end. 

Empress of the World by Sara Ryan

Summary: Nicola is spending her summer at a Gifted Youth Summer Program to study archaeology. But what she digs up is a girl who makes her question her sexuality and a group of friends to last her a lifetime. 



3.5/5

I found this when I was looking for lesbian boarding school books (which the world is quite void of and this should be fixed asap) Good characters. Okay plot. A little annoying angst. Not very thought provoking. Didn't have many feelings on it. 

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

Summary: Only three survived the attack on cruise ship, Persephone. Two of them are lying. Frances was set adrift with her best friend, Libby, after escaping the attack. When rescued, too late for Libby, Frances, now a orphan, takes the identity of her best friend. And now she's coming for revenge.

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book and am anticipating the sequel. A mystery, it had an original premise, good writing, and kept my emotions for certain things jump around, like Frances' did. Very suspenseful, very entertaining.

My problems with the book were mostly with the character and plot. The plot was a little predictable and cliche'. The characters a little flat and having only one trait.

In conclusion, good book. Would recommended

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

3.5 Stars

Summary: Lucky is being bullied while his dreams are haunted by his POW Grandfather.

I read this a while ago and forgot to log it so this one is gonna be quick.

Pros: Feminist plays about vaginas, King's writing, funny

Cons:  annoying main character, not interesting magical realism,

I may add to this later.

Overall it was a pretty good read but not A.S. King's best. I have reviews fro every book of her's that I've read and I'll list them from best to worst. Glory O'Brien's History of the Future, Ask the Passengers, Everybody Sees the Ants, and Please Ignore Vera Dietz .

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: Everything changed when Cody's best friend killed herself. It changed when Meg swallowed a bottle of industrial strength poison in a motel room next to a 50 dollar tip fro the maid. When Meg's parents sent Cody to Tacoma to pick up Meg's stuff. After Cody met Meg's college friends and roommates. And when Meg's death gets turned upside down all the while Cody is falling for one of Meg's friend. 

It was average. The characters didn't stand out to me, the plot and mystery not as surprisings or out there as I wanted, and the writing not that great. It seemed mostly a reflection on suicide, which is great, but that wasn't what I wanted. I didn't really want to read this in the first place, as I feel like I've read so many books about it. There was also a section of online chatting I had to skim through because they were kinda triggering me. The characters were kinda flat and the romance unbelievable.  I It wasn't exactly insta love. It was we've known each other for an appropriate amount of time but I've never indicated the I love you but now I'm suddenly confessing my love for you - love.


tl;dr Okay read. Entertaining. Would recommend the other Gayle Forman books first.  

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Rating: 4 Stars
Summary: Dave and Julie are best friends. Their freshman year they made a list of all the high school cliches they would never do. A few month before graduation they find the list again and decide to do them all, especially rule number 7, Do not fall in love with your best friend. 

The last few books I've read haven't been outstandingly bad or outstandingly good. They've all been in that weird middle ground where I don't regret reading it at all, but I'm not like crying over how beautiful it is or no being able to sleep because Jessica Fictional Character might do this or that or... Maybe its because I've been reading romantic contemporary and i need to get back in my warm bed of science fiction fantasy...

Anyways, as you might've guessed Never Always Sometimes was mediocre. I enjoyed his other book, Let's Get Lost, a lot more. This one was slightly predicable, about thankfully didn't follow the typical romance book plot. I think the biggest thing that didn't make this book stand out to me was the characters. I didn't root for them, they were annoying and didn't have much depth to them. The writing sometimes seemed that there were holes in description/ narration and always left me a little distant from the book. It was difficult to fully engage myself in the book as well.

Overall, it was an okay read that was actually pretty funny. It's an fun, summer read that doesn't follow the usual romance book plot point but has lackluster characters.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Summary: Sydeny lives in the shadow of her brother. When she is greeted with open arms by a new family she starts to feel the sun.

I've read every single Sarah Dessen book out there. They re my guilty pleasure I'm not so guilty about. I was disappointed in her last book she released, but  it seems shes getting back on track with this one. It was definitely better than the last one she wrote, To The Moon And Back, but its not as good as her earlier books.

Overall this book didn't stand out to me in any way, the plot predictable the charters ordinary, but it was still an enjoyable read.

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson

Rating: 3.5 Stars 
    Andrew Brawley killed his family and then hid. At night he sleeps in a abandoned part of the hospital where his family died and during the day wonders around with lies as excuses for being there. Then, he meets a boy and people start to get suspicious. 
      Really can't remember much about my feelings for this book. I've had this tab open for like a month now. Wow this is such a great review. It made me think deeply about my mortality though, that wasn't very nice. The writing wasn't the greatest either. I should leave. No one is reading this anyway. 

Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

Rating: 3 Stars
Leila is a Iranian american high school student lesbian. Thankfully, she has gone through high school without crushing on any girls. That is, until Saskia shows up.

Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel  at first glance I thought was a good read but then I realized it felt like this book was written for a 12 year old. I liked the characters and it was surprisingly entertaining.  The story was also slow and I wish it had more depth. My major complaint with this book though is, Leila the main character is on the, as they said, theater tech crew, and I, as some body who is also on theater tech crew, was just cringing a lot by how wrong the author got it.

Overall, this book was an okay story with okay writing.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Rating: 4 Stars

Simon is being blackmailed. He's also exchanging emails with a boy he goes to school with with the code name blue. When he leaves an email open, revealing that he's gay, things start to change. 

This book was one of the cutest things I've ever read. Like, can't stop smiling even when it's over , giggling out loud cute. I read it in one sitting, a few hours in a long car trip spent well. There's also some special about a book that just came out and all the references are super current that I always love. Some things did annoy me, but it was just characters being stupid. Still super super cute. 

This book wasn't groundbreaking or thought provoking or monumental but it was sure as hell cute and for that is recommend it immensely. 

Ask The Passengers by A.S. King

Ask the passengers. 

4.5 stars 

Girl is stuck an unhealthy family and in the closet. 

A. S. King is a goddess. I've heard for a while that her books are amazing but never picked one up, but after Glory O'Brien's History of the Future I can't stop reading her. This one wasn't as good as Glory but still definitely great. I was surprised by how she was gay, which is the best. One of the best things is to be reading a book and then the main characters turn out gay and you never saw it coming. I know this isn't particularly right, but it automatically makes the book a lot better (Except you House of Hades, except you). 

My only problem with Ask The Passengers was the fantasy, magical realism aspect. It was inconsistent and I think there should've only been one, not too battling fantasy aspects. There are two, Socrates who follows the main character around, and air plane passengers that have a connection with her. 

I really enjoyed this story overall, it was a great read. 

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

3.5 stars 

Summary: Vera was in love with her best friend. Then he ditched her. Then he died. 

So far, this is my least favorite novel by A.S. King. But that isn't saying much. I have also read Glory O'Brien's History of the Future and Ask the Passengers by her. 

I'm writing this really late so I can't really remember it. I thought the mystery was kind of weak and the story was dark in a weird way I can't describe. Wow, this is horrible I need to get out of here. 

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

Summary: When lesbian, Lexi, is outed to her mother she goes to a pray-the-gay-away camp and falls for someone she shouldn't.

Stars: 4

I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 for little reasons. The writing isn't the best, it's a little cheesy, but I went into it knowing that. The ending was a little rushed, the beginning a little long but it wasn't a huge deal.  Also, the romance trope- angst-for-the-entire-book-and-then-they finally-get-together-and-the-last-page annoyed me. I wanted a sneak off into the woods, making out behind the bible, and in the church attic, passing dirty notes when pastor isn't looking type of thing but alas, I was let down. 

Overall, it was a great read. It was funny, touching, and the characters were great. Every single one of them were fledged out and intriguing. It was a quick read too. I read it in one sitting, refusing sleep until I finished it.  Some of the figurative language was so unique I did a double take, but it seemed like that only happened in the beginning chapters. I would definitely recommend this to someone who doesn't read much, as it was quick and easy, yet still really good. 

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva

Rating: 3 Stars

Summary: Kid gets left alone for the summer and falls in love with someone he doesn't expect to.

There were parts in this that were really good. So cute I have to smile, laughing, my heart is swelling moments. But then there were moments where I moaned out loud and/or had to set the book down out of annoyance. This book would get so preachy and cliche and cheesy it made me wanted to throw up. It was such a up and down roller coaster my feeling are so conflicted. This is so short of a review because I dont know what to say.

Was this a bad book? No? Was this a good book? I don't know? Did I like it? Who knows??

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Two stories, one about a girl who drops out of college to publish and rewrite her novel in NYC, the other story, the novel she's writing

     Rating: 4 stars

     After hearing about this books months ago, I was hooked. Even though I HATED Uglies, another book by Westerfeld, I knew a lot of people loved it and wanted to give him another chance, especially with this plot. This won't be a long review as even though I really liked it, I don't have many strong feelings.

  I really enjoyed Darcy's POV, the realistic one. I thought I was really real, relateable, and funny. Lizzie's however, i didn't like. It was kind of confusing and felt rushed. I think I missed something because the couple met and then their next meeting they were making out. Insta love on steroids. Although, the novel did have one of the best first chapters.

  Overall, even though one story was a lot better than the other, I still really enjoyed it, thought it was really cool and would recommend it.

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

         Two stories from the point of view of twins, one story from the point of view of 13 year old Noah, the other from 16 year old Jude. Rating: 5 Stars

Beauty in the form of a book. The whole entire book I was on the edge of tears, but only now as I am writing this do I actually begin to cry. This book is so beautiful I don't know where to begin. Reading most of it I was in 40 degree weather with barley a jacket on, but I didn't care. This book consumed me, and I am internally grateful.

   This book had dual-POVs, which I love in general, and only increases my love of this book. I would hate the current POV I was in a few pages into it, yearning to get back the previous one, but the hate was gone within 10 pages and it only restarted the next transition. I think overall I liked Jude's better, I think I related to it more. Both Jude and Noah were amazing characters and so relateable and when they were together my heart grew 10 sizes. The supported characters where also always so complex and fully fledged you couldn't help but fall in love with them, except a certain bastard I can never forgive, but let's ignore that.

  The mystery unraveled itself so slowly but so quickly it was breathtaking. The interchanging of knowledge switching between POVs was such a perfect example of dramatic irony that I've never seen before. I didn't think it was too obvious, but I think some of them you were meant to conclude.

  I think the thing I love most about I'll Give You The Sun, other than the beautiful characters was the writing style. Each POV was so much different from each other, not just in maturity, but in tone and personality and word choice.  Each twin had their own little quirk which made the writing different from the usual, which i loved. Especially how Noah would title situations like they were a painting. They're really good writing/ drawing prompts, my favorite being,

(Self portrait: Boy Rowing Madly Back Through Time).

To sum this up, go read I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Rating: 4 Stars
Final Anna and the French Kiss. Girl who attends a French boarding school starts dating her long term crush, a senator's artistic son.

I didn't really want to read this. I heard bad reviews, the synopsis didn't sound interesting, and I've read contemporary a lot lately. But I knew it was going to probably be good as both of Stephanie Perkins last 2 were amazing (although I didn't remember Lola I know I liked it) and I knew both Anna and Lola were in this and everyone needs more St.Claire in their lives. So I picked it up, put I down for a while and then one night I wanted to read for about 5 minutes before I go to bed. And then next thing I know I'm at the acknowledgments and it's one in the morning.

I fall for it every time. Its a problem.

I really liked Josh. He’s definitely my favorite out of all of the Perkins boys, but that might just be because of his art. My favorite part of the book was the graphic novel. It not spoilers if you haven’t read it, but you know what i’m talking about if you have. His art was really easy to imagine and I need fanart of his art right now. I wish the cover was something he did in the book, that would be sooo cool. I was very happy how they got together so quick, it was a good refresher to most contemporary where it takes seven years for the couple to get together.  

Although I really enjoyed it, but not as much as Anna (again, I don't remember Lola) I did have some problems with it. I liked her relationship with Kurt, her best friend, but I thought she talked about him too much to others (no wonder people thought they were dating) and after being friends for so long I thought it was rude of Kurt to cut her off after only a month of Isla being absent. I didn't really like Isla, I thought she didn't really have a personality or defining characteristic and I thought the whole insecurity trope in the end was out of character and out of the blue. It was a little long, I would something find myself skimming to see when things would start to happen.

Overall, really enjoyed it even though I had some problems with it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it without read Anna or Lola.

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Rating: 4 stars

Mysterious girl on a road trip on the way to Alaska meets four people, changing their lives forever. 

    I knew going in it was going to be cheesy and cliche and it was. I picked it up for the cover and only read it because I needed something for school. It was a lot better than I expected, most of the characters being very relatable. The writing was standard, nothing extraordinary, but not horrible. It was engaging and sometimes really funny. I'm also a really big fan of multiple perspective books and enjoyed the postcards at the end of each section.                                                                  Some of my complaints about it was I really hated Elliot, the third perspective, he wasn't interesting, he was whinny, and he had the whole "nice guy" persona. I thought all of the stories, except Leila's, were cliche and overused. I didn't think Leila was sincere about Hudson until later in the book when she talked about him and the postcards. Altogether, I really enjoyed it and thought it would be a good quick summer read.