My Library in the Making

Actual rating: 1.5(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Mia Kelly had just lost her father, and now she was flying to New York to take over the cafe he'd left behind while mulling over what she wanted to do with her life. But she never thought that Will Ryan, the man who sat beside her in the plane, was about to be a big part of that future.Sweet Thing was reminiscent of Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster, in the sense that they both started with a bang before going down Frustrating Road—they even had the same reason for being that way! Yep, I'm talking about the MC, and in this case, it was Mia. Let me warn you: Mia angered me so much more than Abby did, so if you hated the latter enough to make you abhor Beautiful Disaster, then you probably shouldn't bother with Sweet Thing. Heck, you probably shouldn't even bother reading this review.Now, I'll tell you why I disliked Mia:- She'd always known that she liked Will, but she refused to give him a chance because he was a "starving musician", and she wanted a man with a future. (Totally understandable, though, because Will was so alike her deceased father, and she didn't want to end up like her mom: knocked up after a week of a whirlwind romance.)- Despite her deepening feelings for Will, she continued dating a guy so boring, my eyes wanted to pop out every time he was on the page.- About halfway through the book, I became confused as to why Mia was still avoiding a relationship with Will; her goals became vague.- I especially hated how she'd get jealous when Will was with another girl, when she was the one who kept pushing him away.The whole time I was like "Will, baby, come to me!" because he was the perfect mix of sweet and hot. He confused me at first, probably because the story was so focused on Mia that he came across simply as her roommate and love interest. Soon, though, he became his own person: a neurotic man who could play the guitar, harmonica, drums, and several other instruments, if I remember correctly; someone who valued his musical identity so much more than fame.Aside from Will, what I liked about Sweet Thing was the music, how it overflowed with it, and I'm thinking of making a playlist with all the songs that were used/mentioned. And even though, overall, this book didn't amaze, the unhurried and sweet ending brought a smile to my face.MY FAVORITE PART was Mia and Will's first meeting.

Actual rating: 3.5(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Ariane Tucker had long ago mastered the art of blending in and being nondescript. Normal teenagers longed for attention, but not her—not when her and her father's safety depended on it, and that had always been her top priority. But mean girls had a way of getting under anyone's skin, and that certainly included a human/alien hybrid's.From page one of The Rules, Ariane's practical but badass and no-nonsense attitude was apparent, and I sure love practical but badass and no-nonsense characters. Even her sarcasm was definitely something. But even with her tough exterior, I really pitied her because it was obvious that all she wanted was a normal life, one lived without the constant fear of getting caught by her creators.Zane's perspective was a surprise, and it worked well with the story. His relationship with Ariane was cute and awkward and hesitant, but, oh god, do I ship them. Still, I'm glad that Zane didn't end up merely being Ariane's love interest; we got his full life's story, too.The Rules was a little hard to get into, particularly at first, and I guess that's mostly because of the author's sporadic use of parenthesized thoughts in her prose. It was disrupting and distracting. God, why did yesterday have to be the one day free of the small-town idiocy that normally dominated the paper, the day that someone hadn't stolen an entire neighborhood's worth of garden gnomes and arranged them in various sexual positions on the front lawn of the Methodist church?(Actually, I'd found that pretty funny at the time. You can't get better examples of hypocrisy than people confronted with blatant—albeit gnomish—displays of sexuality. They get red-faced and blustery all the while intensely wishing they could get their significant other to try what the red gnome was doing to the blue garden fairy. You can't hide thoughts like that from me, people, not without a lot of training and practice. Genius advancement or design flaw, take your pick.See what I mean?Surprisingly, this book was every bit a contemporary as much as it was sci-fi—and you know what? I enjoyed it. The contemp feel lessened the book's overall action-packed-ness, admittedly, but it hiked up the emotional factor because I really sympathized with Ariane.One thing I hadn't known was that the Rules were applicable not only to Ariane, but also to the reader, especially the first rule. Shocking twists came one after another towards the end, which promised more action, more thrill—just more in the sequel that can't come fast enough.MY FAVORITE PART was Ariane and Zane's first "date".

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)From a young age, Lily Calloway and Loren Hale had always looked out for each other—or, rather, "enabled" each other—because they were addicts. Lily couldn't live without constant thoughts and acts of sex, and Loren drank alcohol more than normal people drank water. Over the years, they had gotten very good at covering up for each other, hiding their cases from everyone, including their families. They were like a well-oiled machine until, out of desperation, Lily took on Loren's offer to be her monogamous sex partner.Let me start off my review by saying this: Addicted to You was freaking amazing, and it's now one of my current top ten reads for this year and one of my top five NA reads ever. Lily's voice was captivating, and I was immediately curious as to why she and Loren had become addicts. All throughout the book, their lives centered on sex and booze, and watching them struggle to survive was troublingly fascinating.It was touching how Lily hadn't wanted Loren to be her "friend with benefits" because she knew it would complicate matters, and she really wanted to keep him, the only person in her life who knew about her addiction and yet didn't push her away in revulsion. But it was frustrating, too, because it was obviously a better option than her bathroom quickies and one-night stands with total strangers.Lily and Loren's relationship blurred the line between love and dependence. They were each other's escape and not their medicine, but I still wanted them to be together.Being in a real relationship was supposed to fix the kinks in our lives. It should've made our problems easier. We no longer have to pretend. We can be ourselves. We're free from one life. Isn't this the part where our love overcomes our addictions? Where our problems magically solve from a kiss and a promise?There were times when I'd think that they could work, even with their addictions.I start dreaming about having sex right here. Lo taking me across the bar in a sultry heat. Sex on a bar.It'd be like our addictions making love.I've said before that I hate whiny characters who don't do anything to solve their problems, but in this case, I didn't even feel the slightest dislike for Lily. First, she didn't exactly whine, just admitted over and over that she and Loren had problems—because they knew they had problems. And second, those problems weren't simple—they were real, honest-to-God, finger-twitching, need-a-shrink-stat addictions.Addicted to You reminded me of Gossip Girl, what with billion-dollar-rich troubled "new adults" as protagonists. Even the family drama was there. I imagine this is what could've happened if Serena van der Woodsen slept around a little bit more and dated an even-worse-alcoholic Chuck Bass. The ending was one-fourth expected and three-fourths shocking, and, holy moly, I need the sequel ASAP!MY FAVORITE PART was Lily's "I have a virus" episode in class :))

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)The Neptune Project caught me by surprise. I'd known that it was about a group of kids who were genetically-engineered to survive living underwater, but I had no idea that it was post-apocalyptic/dystopian. That actually made the story so much more interesting, knowing just how desperate the parents of these kids were: enough to risk subjecting them to gene-splicing before they were even born. And the reason for the demise of their world? Something that's already happening to ours.It was hard to connect with Nere, especially at first, because she sounded so mechanical. But nonetheless, I admired her. She got scared just like the other Neptune Project (I'll shorten that to 'NP' from here onwards) kids, yes, but she always put their safety before her own, even when they were mean to her.There was action very early on in the book, but the introduction to Nere's life and world confused me. It got even more mind-boggling when the other NP kids who were to become Nere's traveling companions towards the safe haven that her father had built for them were acquainted to the story; I couldn't remember who was who most of the time. And don't even start with the pod of adorable dolphins that, unfortunately, also had names.The Neptune Project taught me quite a lot about the ocean and the creatures in it. I'm actually scared of the big blue basin, but this book just made me fascinated with it. It also reminded me of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne because reading The Neptune Project also felt like going on an undersea tour. But unlike the classic, this book never got boring.Incredibly fast-paced and action-packed, The Neptune Project was a great adventure read. The high stakes were made known as soon as the NP kids set off on their journey, and reminders of the danger posed by both humans and sea creatures were constantly given. Although the ending was satisfying enough, it still left a lot of questions that I demand to be answered in a sequel!MY FAVORITE PART was this:Dai, I know you mean well, but why would I want to eat something that looks like a giant orange caterpillar, eats sludge all day, and can vomit up its own intestines?Sure cracked me up :))

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)I don't know what I expected from Addicted to You, but it certainly wasn't what I got. From their first chapters, I enjoyed Leah's and Will's voices, although I probably would have appreciated it more had the book been written in first person POV.From the get-go, we are introduced to Leah's tough and closed-off exterior, but I knew that beneath the permanent scowl was a girl who felt a lot, it scared her. And she's a budding writer! Now, she might claim to despise poetry, but I read enough to know that she's good at writing it. Anyway, I didn't like how Leah was so reluctant to own her feelings and pushed them away instead. She was so disbelieving of the whole concept of love—well, except for her brother and best friend—even though she knew it was what she felt for Will. But both of those she did understandably so when one spared a glance at her parents.Admittedly, a major case of insta-lust went on in here, and some might even argue that lust was all there was between Leah and Will—backed up by the fact that they couldn't keep their hands and mouths to themselves when they were together—but I saw beyond every glance and every smile. And really, who can blame Leah for wanting to hump Will at first sight? He was a gorgeous-as-hell Scottish with piercing blue eyes, but he was no bad boy! He was actually very sweet, considerate, and thoughtful, and he knew how to stop and rein himself back when a girl said no. Still, this boy sure knew how to flip his sexy and naughty switch.Although the book was mainly about Leah and Will, that didn't make the secondary characters uninteresting; in fact, their variety added flavor to the story and made the two MCs lives much more fleshed-out and real. Even the other sex addicts in Leah's sessions provided a lot of laughs, thanks to their ridiculously outrageous sex lives.I loved how the simplest thing prevented the story from dragging infuriatingly like other similar books: communication. Leah and Will used that basic tool like the adults that they were, simplifying everything that stood between them, and went after what and who they wanted instead of sulking in a corner.Funny, touching, and utterly realistic, Addicted to You had everything I love in a book. It portrayed "new adults" in a real light, with their frustrations, insecurities, and reluctance. And although the ending left quite a handful of opened doors, I don't mind it one bit because it just made the story live on longer in my head.MY FAVORITE PART was the moment Will first entered the group session. "I Knew You Were Trouble" much? XD

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Opal was one hell of a third book. It had immediate tension, making my brows furrow in frustration within a few pages. I was also sucked right back into JLA's crazy world of aliens. The ominous feeling was a constant in this book, and I worried for my beloved Luxens and hybrids the whole time.One thing I noticed was how there really hadn't been character development as much as character exposure. They haven't changed a lot from Obsidian until now; we merely see more sides to them that, probably, even they themselves didn't know about. Believe me when I say no one is to be fully-trusted in this series.Daemon was sweeter than ever, but he still had his controlling and possessive streak, wanting Katy to stay at home to keep her safe (like what I mentioned in my Onyx review above). Thankfully, Katy never backed down.I know you're upset because you worry about me, but I'm not going to be the girl who sits at home and waits for the hero to wipe out the villains.She worked hard and toughened up so Daemon would see her as his equal, and I appreciated that plus her getting him to respect her decisions because I believe those are essential in a healthy relationship.Here in Opal, we get two new somethings. There was Katy and Daemon's full-blown romance (finally!) which felt like the only respite from their universe of problems. Their sweetness make me sigh and giggle like a schoolgirl. And then there was Dawson. I loved seeing more of his dynamic with everyone: something we only got a taste of in Shadows.You know a book's good when you keep putting off reading it just because you don't want it to end, even though I really wanted to finish the characters' misery by turning that last page. Shit kept hitting fan, and the hard times brought out the worst in everyone. And that ending? Sure brought out the worst in me.MY FAVORITE PART was their prom. And after it, hee ♥

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)The Fallen Prince opens a few days after the events in The Marked Son, as Dylan struggles more than ever to fit in the human world with his new, uncontrollable powers that endanger everyone around him. He and Kera also have their hands full, thanks to the weakened barrier between the human world and Teag, leaving deadly creatures free to cross.Let me tell you now: this sequel has outdone its predecessor—and to think that one was already really good. There was action right off the bat, something that other readers might have looked for in The Marked Son, and the stakes were higher than ever. When Dylan's power threatened to reveal his true identity to the humans in town, even his loved ones were on edge, wanting to keep him safe while fearing for their own lives.Something I didn't like was how Dylan constantly pitied himself and whined internally—yes, internally, but we still suffer it because the book was written in first-person. I also hated how Kera didn't trust him enough and kept secrets from him, thinking ignorance would keep him safe.Like in the first book, Shea Berkley's writing was as beautiful and descriptive as ever. I didn't have problems seeing every ripple of wind, slope of the land, or the fire that engulfed Dylan. And I hope that will continue on until The Bastard King, which, thankfully, will come without too much of a wait!MY FAVORITE PART was Dylan's first training with Wyatt :))

Review to come.

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)I opened My Friend the Enemy with much eagerness because I don't get to read historical fiction as much as I want to; I don't know why, it's not like I avoid them on purpose. And I also don't know a whole lot about World War II because the lessons at our school only focused on the Philippines' involvement in it. The only personal connection with it that I can think of is that my dad was born in 1939, the year it started, and my mom was born in 1945, the year it ended.You know something's wrong with the world when twelve-year-olds have to decide between doing what's right by their country or their morals, but it was both saddening and inspiring to see kids being more open-minded and sympathetic than adults. I also had fun watching Peter and Kim's friendship grow in the most uncommon circumstance of hiding a German soldier, all the while knowing that that would only forge a bond stronger and deeper than friendships normally are.My Friend the Enemy is one of those stories that blurs the line between right or wrong, enemy or friend—and I loved it. I loved how it made me question and look at both the good and bad sides of every decision made by Peter and Kim, and how I worried not only that the British soldiers might find the German hiding right under their noses, but also for everyone's safety because of the constant threat of Nazi attacks.This book wouldn't have been as good and effective as it was if not for the writing that was so descriptive, it was like I'd been the one running for the Anderson shelter when the sirens sounded, or the one sneaking off to the woods to tend to a wounded friend. And just like how a lot of moments in this book hit me straight in the gut, the ending is one that made My Friend the Enemy very memorable and will never fail to bring a smile to my face.MY FAVORITE PARTS were the last chapter and the letter at the end.

Actual rating: 4.5(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Onyx picks up a few days after the events in Obsidian. Immediately, I was pulled back in by Katy, Daemon, and their incredible out-of-this-world chemistry. Hell, I was swooning in less than ten pages! But that said, Onyx wasn't as swoon-y as I'd thought it would be; instead, it stocked up with the action that some people might have wanted the first book to have had.There was a lot going on in this sequel, what with Katy, um, "changing"; a new guy moving in on her, much to Daemon's rage; and the DOD becoming more of a problem for them. And there was also Katy trying to stay away from Daemon, trying to push down her feelings for him because she thought he only wanted her because of their alien mojo connection.While Daemon still had his douche-y side here in Onyx, we also got to see a little bit more of his sweet side that he often kept hidden. Unfortunately, there was also more of his controlling side—granted that he was doing it to protect Katy, it still wasn't fair that he'd keep his distance, though not for long, just because she wouldn't do what he wanted her to."He just doesn't want to see me hurt." And that actually hurt to say, because I knew there was a mile-long road of good intentions behind what he had been saying last night, but he needed to see me as an equal. Not someone who was weak and needed rescuing.Katy, on the other hand, became more of a badass in here (can't say more without being spoiler-y, I'm afraid), but she made a lot of facepalm-worthy decisions and actions, and sometimes she just irritated me.The crazy chain of events led to a shocking, heartbreaking, and totally risky ending. It made clear just how heightened the stakes were, and I get nervous when I think about just how much worse it could get for these characters in Opal.MY FAVORITE PART was Daemon joining Katy when she filmed a Stacking the Shelves video. Sweet baby Jesus, why don't I have a Luxen to do that with?!

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Our Song was a very nice surprise, what with three mysteries that kept me turning the pages. First, what really happened the night of Olive's accident—the night that she tried so hard to forget, I'm surprised she didn't end up having selective amnesia. Second, the song that kept playing in her head which came to her with complete lyrics and melody. And lastly, there was Nick himself—the British boy who shot golf balls from the roof of his car, holding the club like a baseball bat, and said things like 'We're defined by the risks that we take.'Although I couldn't quite connect with her at first, I really cared about Olive and rooted for her. Her every up and down tugged on my heartstrings. Admittedly, I wanted to shake her until she realized that she should move on to better things, especially from her ex-boyfriend who was so obviously better off left in her past. But suddenly, with the cliche haircut ceremony, Olive changed into someone who dressed differently and walked like she could face anything. To some, she might come across as giving up and not giving a damn anymore, but I knew that she was just finally owning what she'd always had.I liked how Olive was intrigued and, undoubtedly, attracted to Nick at first sight, but she refused to give much more meaning into it that early on, knowing just how naive that would be. Also, their slow-developing romance wasn't the swoon-y type, but something that inspired hope for both of them: two people who spent time with one another as they tried to escape their pasts that brought them to their life-changing encounters with death.Before, I would have been embarrassed or felt like a fraud. But when I was with Nick, I felt like could be or do anything.Lyrical and poignant, Our Song is the perfect read for a rainy day; there was something hopeful in Olive's voice that can reassure the reader that by the time the last page has been turned, he would find the sun to be peeking through the clouds, and if not, that life would still go on even with the rain.MY FAVORITE PART was when Olive finally realized that she had to let go of the life that she'd been clinging to.

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Because I read this prequel novella after Obsidian, I knew how it would go. I knew that Dawson Black fell for a human, and that love became the end of him. Still, watching firsthand just how instantly and utterly smitten Bethany and Dawson were with each other—well, that just made the whole thing more depressing.But enough of the sad. There were also a lot of fun times here, particularly when the Black triplets were together: something we didn't get in Obsidian. Dawson was the toned-down, boy version of Dee, but also the carbon copy of Daemon... Yep. And the last chapter was the ultimate explanation of Daemon's douchy-ness in Obsidian, so I think people who hated him in that book will like him, even a little, because of this. MY FAVORITE PART was Dawson's first visit to Bethany's home XD

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Phoenix picks up a few weeks/months (I'm not sure because I flew through those details, lol) after the events in Black City, and immediately there was action and suspense. Purian Rose has threatened Natalie's life if Ash doesn't vote in favor of Rose's Law, but if he does, he would fail the same rebellion that he is the face of.This sequel was 368 pages of adventure, as Ash and Natalie worked with the rebellion while trying to keep themselves out of Purian Rose's hands. With their lives at stake, they only found solace in each other's arms, and even that love was tested, revealing just how much these characters have grown. Natalie has developed into a strong and practical person, always thinking of the greater good rather than herself, and I just really loved—and pitied—her. Ash, on the other hand, started out really well, and I thought his death and resurrection had made him mature even more. Well, no. He soon, although only in bouts, reverted back into his testosterone-induced self. To his defense, Natalie also had some faults, but I hold him responsible for his actions.Here in Phoenix, we reunite with and bid farewell to a lot of old characters while meeting new ones. Ash and Natalie's mission to save everyone from Purian Rose's greed for power brought them outside Black City, and we finally got to see so much more of their colorful world as their every step left flames behind.More eventful than Black City—and that one was already brimming with happenings—Phoenix was also full of surprises and revelations; there was at least one of them in every chapter, so my eyes were just glued to the pages. This book tired me out, in a good way, because I felt like I was running for my life alongside Ash and Natalie. It was shocking until the end, but it left me feeling like nothing was resolved. Still, you don't know how desperate I am for the third book! 2014, please come sooner.MY FAVORITE PART was Nat's birthday.

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)I first read Obsidian more than a year ago, and even then I'd already loved it to bits. Everything about it—from the plot to the setting and especially the characters—was very addictive, and I was hooked from start to end.Katy was kind and calm but feisty when provoked, and I could relate to her not only because she felt like such a real teenager, but also because she's a book blogger! Yep, she's not just the stereotypical bookworm goody-two-shoes. She spazzes about books the way I do—the way we do, blogger friends! Anyway, her halo got thrown to the corner every time Daemon, her hot alien neighbor, was within interacting distance, and it was amusing to see Katy be both repulsed and attracted to him. Daemon was, unarguably, a douchebag, but his backstory was reason enough for that. And really, their hilarious and sexual-tension-filled bantering just entertained me. The other characters also added so much to this story. There was Dee, Daemon's sister, who was kinda desperate to have a human friend. She was so perky, and I'm pretty sure we wouldn't get along too well if she were real. And then there were the other alien triplets: Ash, Andrew, and Adam. The first two had attitudes that were worse than Daemon's, but Katy was tough enough to handle them. And finally, Katy's mom and human friends, Lesa and Carissa, who were worthy distractions for when the aliens next door became too much for her sanity.This take on aliens was very fresh and unique, and it worked well with the story because I don't even want to imagine Katy falling for an innards-eating monster! But I'll shut up now and let you discover for yourself the type of alien that JLA has written—types, actually, because their enemies were a different species.An incredibly fast-paced book that was equal parts sci-fi and contemporary, Obsidian never bored me, not even for a second, and has made this one of my favorite book series ever!MY FAVORITE PART was Daemon's sleepy fondling =))

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)I don't know what I expected from Secret for a Song, but it was definitely not this. Not for me to tear up over a guy playing the guitar and singing, nor for me to be a blubbering mess when he stumbles over his own two feet. And yes, I'm not even talking about the main character.From the get-go, it was obvious that Saylor self-harms—and it's not the 'slit your wrists with a razor' type, but the 'inject yourself with your saliva' type because, as Saylor said, people with her condition don't do it to die—not only to attract attention, but also as a revenge to her parents for their lack of concern. Now, I am vehemently against self-harm, but I felt for Saylor because she wasn't exaggerating when she said her parents couldn't care less about her (not her exact words, but that's the gist of it).Seeing as how Saylor craves for attention, she would, of course, find solace in a support group—except one that's not for people with Munchausen, but for those with terminal illnesses and degenerative diseases. Before you think she's so evil, let me tell you that she didn't actually plan to join the group. Drew, the group's leader, thought she was a new member and before she could correct them about it, they'd already made her feel at home. So what I don't understand is how she could go on making herself sick when she was surrounded by people who would give anything to be healthy again, even more when she was already falling for Drew.What came as a surprise to me was how well the real members of the TIDD group handled their situations. They had their low days when they sulked and ranted about how unfair their lives were, sure, but for the most part, they were really accepting and they faced their illnesses head-on. They were all realistically inspiring.Secret for a Song is a quick read that will make you rethink how you're living your life. It reminded me to be grateful for my imperfect life because a lot of people still have it worse. The writing flowed smoothly and hit me in the right places, and the unexpected open ending has me wishing all the best for the characters.MY FAVORITE PART was when Drew performed Secret for a Song at the Sphinx. Tears, I tell you.

(This mini-review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)Ah, this book. I shall remember all the feels it gave me until the next time I read it, because Outcast is one of those books I'll never get tired of. And thinking about it now, it's really similar to Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, not because of the angel aspect that both books have, but because of the addictive quality that will make me remember the stories for a long time.Riley's voice was captivatingly entertaining. Hers was the brand of sarcasm and wit that I've always enjoyed, and she felt like a real teenager with insecurities and a hidden want for attention. Meanwhile, to say that I loved Gabe would be an understatement. He had the typical bad boy thing going on, condescending and womanizing, but then he also enjoyed putting up Christmas decorations and singing old songs.I admit, what kept me turning the pages was my curiosity and concern for what would happen with Gabe rather than the angels and whatnot, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. The mystery was nice, actually, and the story took a lot of totally unforeseeable turns—the most predictable of which might have been the ending. It was bittersweet—well, more bitter than sweet, as I could tell with my tears—but inevitable and realistic.MY FAVORITE PARTS were the last lines. *cue tears again*