Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

This is definitely a book I judged by it's cover, not a bad decision.

"A thousand moments that I had just taken for granted - mostly because I had assumed that there would be a thousand more"

Taylor Edwards' family might not be the closest-knit, but they get along just fine. Then Taylor's dad gets devastating news, and her parent's decide that their family will spend one last summer at their old lake-house. one Taylor hasn't visited in FIVE YEARS.
Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind, haven't actually gone anywhere.
as the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they're more aware than ever that they are battling a ticking clock.
Sometimes though, there is just enough time to get a second chance - with family, friends and with love.

The story might not be unique, but altogether this book was GREAT. I loved everyone in this book : Henry, Lucy, All of Taylor's family, Elliot, MURPHY the dog, EVERYONE.
Despite the "father dying" thing, most of the book was pretty light. though the ending......

Aside from the characters, what I loved about this book was that it wasn't focused on just one thing, or one relationship, there were many little stories, all equally heart-warming. I give this book

4 STARS

Anyways, If you adore the YA/ Contemporary genre, don't miss this one.

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The Selection by Keira Cass

I might as well be the last person in booktopia to read this book. I don't regret it.(reading it so late).
Every part of The Selection SCREAMS "hunger games ripoff" a definitely girlier ripoff.

For thirty five girls, the selection is the chance of a lifetime. The oportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth.

To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't wan't.Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself and realizes that the life she's always dream t of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I don't hate this book, I really don't, but it's similarity to the Hunger Games was just too much. Also, the romance was a bigger focus in this book while it could have been shifted to much more interesting topics like the caste system or the rebellion. Despite all this, I will read the second book in the series.

Pros: Maxon is such a great match for America and he's so good and yet America is confused between Him and Aspen. I don't see why. I ship these two for sure. The love triangle is introduced in the first book instead of being dropped like a bomb in the second book of the series, which is the case with the majority of YA novels. The relationship between America and the other girls was so realistic and well depicted, which reminds me that I hate Celeste with burning passion.

To sum it up, I liked The Selection, but for me, it didn't live up to the hype. I give it

3.5 STARS

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This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

How is it possible that I manage to find four books in a row that are definitely going to be favorites? No that I'm complaining.

This is Not a Test is such a cold, haunting and emotionally raw book. The opening was so amazing that it drew me into the book from the first page. I LOVED this book.

It's like a mixture of the breakfast club and some depressing zombie novel. Despite how bad this sounds, the combination actually worked.

Six months ago, Sloan Price's world collapsed when her sister left her with her abusive father. But the day she decides to give up, is when the world actually collapses. 7 days later, Sloan is left to witness the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse that shook the world, along with five other teenagers using their school as a shelter so that they don't become the undead.
This is Not a Test is not a standard zombie book, If you're expecting gore filled scenes, blood and extreme violence, you won't find it. There are a few parts, but the book doen't revolve around Zombies, It's not about them. It's more about the struggles between the teenagers and how they survive (or die).
I wish this was a series, because such a story should not finish in 300 pages, also because the ending left me totally confused. One of the many things I liked about this book is the characters, each one of them has depth and is completely different from the other. That's what makes their relationships all the more interesting. More people need to read this book. Because right now, I'm like ...

I'm really generous in giving stars but seriously, this book deserves a 

5 STARS

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The Impossible Knife of Memory

I have moved from one heart-wrenching book to another. Yep. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?
Laurie Halse Anderson is one of my favorite authors and TIKM reminded me why.

“The laws of the universe dictate that for every positive action, there is an unequal and sucky reaction.” 

Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road ever since he returned from Iraq, as a veteran, suffering from PTSD. Now they are finally settling in the town where Andy grew up.  Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over?

The protagonist is so damn tough! Hayley has gone through a lot and yet manages to be witty, humorous and sarcastic, and Finn is such an awesome, nerdy and refreshing character, who also has to suffer.

This book was everything you expect from Laurie Halse Anderson: Compelling, surprising and impossible to put down. For the majority of the book, things are mild, things might seem to go a bit too slow, but wait, the last 70 pages of this book are so freaking emotionally exhausting, I literally cried like a baby.And the ending is oh so good and satisfying.

5 STARS

for this please.
2014 is turning out to be a really good year in books.
  
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The Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

I thought I couldn't be more impressed by a Scott Westerfeld novel after reading the uglies series and then

came Leviathan.

If you're a fan of Alternate history or Steampunk, STOP READING THIS AND GET THESE BOOKS.

I'm doing a review of the series because I flew through the books and was way to immersed in them to do a review... Heck, it's not a review, it's an appreciation.

So to summarize these three books:

Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath are set in an alternate version of the World War I. There are the German Clankers who use mechanized war machines opposed by British powers, the Darwinists, who fabricate living creatures genetically. One of our main protagonists is Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist with the dream of joining the British Air Service, but to do so, she has to disguise herself as a boy (Dylan Sharp). The other protagonist is Prince Aleksander,son of the Archduke of the Austria-Hungary empire who is on the run. When Deryn's airship, The Leviathan, crashes at the same place where Alek is hiding, our story is set in motion.

Now, how COOL is that plot?

I loved every little thing about this book. Deryn and Alek are so likable and amazing characters, and Deryn is seriously the most kickass female in the whole YA genre, I mean, how can she be disguised as a boy so well that no one gets it? ( for the majority of the series). The Clanker and Darwinist technologies were infinitely creative and awesome. The relationship between Alek and Deryn was SO GOOD and I ship them sooo hard. The best thing was that Alek Didn't know that Deryn was girl, so there was friendship first and that's the best kind of love.
I know I'm gushing really bad but this series is totally worth it.

And If all this didn't win you over, this will: The books have ILLUSTRATIONS. Oh yes. Keith Thompson has done a wonderful job in illustrating this series.

This book trilogy has left me with a serious hangover. So now you have a reason if I don't post for a few days.

I think it's obvious I'm giving these 

5 STARS

Okay, I need to stop.

Btw, the final Divergent trailer just came out! watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpPqJyQSpo

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Choker by Elizabeth Woods

What. Have. I. Just. Read ?

This book was AMAZING.

The protagonist, Cara Lange, is a loner, has been ever since she moved away from her best friend, Zoe. But all this changes very soon when Zoe runs away and comes to Cara for shelter. Now that she has her best friend with her, everything becomes better: Cara is getting invited to parties, she's talking to her crush, but this doesn't last. After two mysterious incidents involving the two girls Cara hates the most, she begins to wonder, what does Zoe do when she's at school? 

When I started this book, I thought I was in for a very predictable read, and I was wrong (yet again).

After reaching to about the 30th page, I was definitely sure as to what was going to happen, the story seemed to be going as per my predictions but then the second last chapter came and OH MY GOD. I was shocked and I hope it's not just me who didn't see that coming.

This book is creepy, mysterious, thrilling, haunting and yes,creepy again. If you need another reason to read this book, Its like a teenage girl protagonist version of fight club or shutter island (think of the one concept they have in common). It was so insane that I can't say anything more, other than

5 STARS

NOW MOVE AND GET THIS BOOK!

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