What I’ve Been Reading: Summer 2015

Okay so it is August and I haven’t posted anything since May. Not very good blogger behavior. I apologize.

I’ve been having some crazy months. I graduated from college. Moved home. Started a job. I’m trying to adjust to this new life. It’s weird to be back here, but it’s awesome getting to read whatever I want. I loved most of my required reading at school, but being an English lit minor meant there was a lot of it. I didn’t get to read nearly as many of the books that I wanted to read. And I just minored in it.

That being said, the first thing I did when I got home was go to Politics and Prose and stock up.

Here’s what I’ve read so far:

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston. I’m struggling to remember this one because I read it in June, but from what I recall, it was pretty cool. The premise is that this girl and her family were placed in the Witness Protection Program and she doesn’t know why. When she moves to Nowhere, Louisiana, she’s just hoping it sticks so they don’t have to move again. The book details her attempts to solve her family’s mystery, and it includes a sexy farmer. So, win. It’s a series, which I think is a bold move for contemporary, sort of reality YA lit (I’m sure there’s a term for this and I just don’t know it because I’m a terrible blogger). I liked this book, but did I love it like I love my favorite books? Nah.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. Jenny Han is a big deal in the YA book world, so this has been on my list for a while. But can I just say, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” was too cutesy—even for me. And I like a good cutesy book! I think 13 year-old me would have liked this, but—dare I say it? I think I might have grown out of this particular flavor. But you should read it if you want a warm and fuzzy read.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. (PSA: NOT YOUNG ADULT. So proceed to my mini review with caution). Ugh, WOOF. Stop trying to make “Gone Girl” happen, Paula Hawkins! It already happened! I don’t know, a lot of people liked this book. I thought it was a cop out of a plot. Exactly what you think is going to happen happens. A truly boring plot construction. She had something going with the nonlinear storytelling technique, but that basically didn’t matter given the cliche-ness of the overall story. Am I totally off-base? I need constructive feedback, so lay it on me.

And drumroll plz….

The Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin. Considering this is required reading for fans of YA, it’s shameful that I am just reading this fantastic series now. I read them all in quick succession, so I don’t think I could adequately review each one. I’ll just dump a lot of thoughts right here. Let’s talk about how twisted this story is. I mean, Paula Hawkins wishes she could get this twisted. Hodkin wrote a layered, smart and captivating story with a plot to kill and characters I won’t soon forget. Mara’s personal journey gets more interesting as her and Noah’s relationship gets more complicated, which makes their ultimate search for the truth about who the heck they are all the more stressful, yet so satisfying. If you haven’t read this series yet, forgo whatever is at the top of your to-read pile and read this. It’s so good. Like leave-you-crying-for-no-reason good, you know? Of course you know. If you like books like I like books, you know. Which you all do. Come on, you know you all do. OMG JUST READ THESE BOOKS!

General things:

I re-read “Anna and the French Kiss” for probably the tenth time. Stephanie Perkins, willyoupleaseadoptme. Or I can like be your assistant. Or clean your house. Or take care of your pets or cook your dinners or whatever you want hello I love you.

ALSO!! Sequel to Libba Bray’s “Diviners” is *finally* out! I’m currently reading, I cannot deal. AND a new Huntley Fitzpatrick book is about to come out. YOU GUYS KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS.

“Isla and the Happily Ever After” is about to be released in paperback, which means I’m about to complete my collection and take so many instagrams. Speaking of, why don’t you follow me on Instagram?? @colette_whitney. I’ll follow you back if I think you’re cool enough! Jk I’ll just follow you back.

(But only if you’re cool enough).

What are you guys reading? Tell me tell me. And anyone considering going to Yallfest? I’m thinking about making that journey.

Peace n blessins.

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“My True Love Gave to Me” REVIEW

Hi there. So you all know how I feel about Stephanie Perkins; I adore her. And when I found out she was compiling and editing a collection of holiday-themed short stories, I was like give that to me right now. RIGHT NOW. It’s going to be a big book, so I requested an e-galley on NetGalley with very limited expectations. AND THEN I GOT APPROVED. AND THE WORLD WAS A LITTLE BIT ROSIER. 

“My True Love Gave to Me” is just like “Let It Snow,” except that there are more shorter, stories by a greater variety of authors. They were each pleasant and entertaining. Some were more comical, like Matt de la Pena’s and Gayle Forman’s, while some were more fantastical and dramatic, like Laini Taylor’s and Kelly Link’s. And while each story was individual and ranged in matter of theme and content, a festive, romantic tone is constant throughout. 

I wish I could review each story individually, but that would give away too much. “My True Love Gave to Me” is equal parts holiday story and cute romance with a sprinkle of cheesiness. Let the cheesy happen, it’s Christmas and holidays are about being lame and happy. 

If you liked “Let It Snow” or want a quick little snippet of perfect YA lit, “My True Love Gave to Me” is a good place to start. Plus, it’s a good way to experience new authors without the commitment of an entire novel. It’s like a YA wine tasting. Although, when you’re, done you’re going to have a shit ton bottles of wine because every author is pretty great. But that should surprise no one because the queen edited it and she can basically do no wrong. 

Also, THAT COVER. Damn. 

On sale October 14, 2014.

10 stars out of 10!!!

Isla and the Happily Ever After SNEAK PEEK YO (FOR ME…SRRY)

So I read an extended sneak peek of Isla and the Happily Ever After (courtesy of bae, NetGalley) and it was awesome. It’s by Stephanie Perkins, so its sheer perfect balance of cute and funny and awkward should be of no surprise to you. You all know how much I love Stephanie because I’ve dedicated a number of posts to her but, no matter how many times I read her books, it still gets me how good they are. She somehow manages to take what should be a cheesy, shitty, teen romance novel and turns it into this contemplative, adorable, comical and engaging work of fiction that keeps you thinking while simultaneously — I’ll admit it — swooning. What couldn’t you love about this book? Let me tell ya, NOTHING. I LOVE ALL OF IT. At least the first few chapters that I got to read.

I think we all knew that something was going to happen between Isla and Josh right when Anna caught her sketching his tattoos in her notebook (this scene struck me as kind of ridiculous, like everything about it, but that’s not the point). AND the book says, right there in the title, “HAPPILY EVER AFTER,” so it’s not like we don’t know how it’s going to end. To borrow from the world’s steadfast book of cliches, “Isla” is not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

And that much is inarguably true. The first 60 pages or so set the scene with realistic and thoughtful new characters, issues and dialogue. This is going to be a good one, I can’t wait for more!

 

PEACE, PPL

 

I love you, Stephanie Perkins

Today, I thought I would try something new. I just finished Stephanie Perkins’ delightful novels “Anna and the French Kiss” and “Lola and the Boy Next Door.” There are quite a few reviews on these books out there already, so I decided to make this post less of a review and more of an author spotlight.

John Green recommended “Anna” a while ago, and while I rarely question that dude’s book recs, I was really putting off reading it because of the frankly lame title. LIIIIKE, I was totally judging the book by its cover. I am unfailingly cliched at times. It’s QUITE embarrassing.

Long story short: I walked into Barnes and Noble, $25 gift card in hand, dreams of Tahereh Mafi’s “Shatter Me” clouding my thoughts. I rode the elevator to the second floor where the woefully limited YA section was located. But there was no Mafi. Then, there were no recently added books on my Goodreads to-read list. I mean, NONE. When I spotted “Anna,” I picked it up and trusted my precious gift card to the wise words of John Green.

Four hours later, I WAS STRAIGHT WIGGIN’. It is SO GOOD, you guys! If you have ever considered reading Perkins, but then decided against it because of the weird titles like I did, I implore you to reconsider.

Perkins beautifully wrote a quick read that has all the romance of a YA novel, but with no cheesiness or cringeworthy mushy moments. She created a world in which I felt I naturally belonged. Her characters are deep and you can just tell that so much love and care went into bringing them to life. It’s witty, lovely, so thoughtful and honest. It’s not at all overdone or cliched, but rather, a serious meditation on a young person’s pursuit of finding oneself and redefining the personal meanings of home, love and friendship.

This all goes for “Lola and the Boy Next Door” as well. Though they are different stories with completely individual people, Perkins brings the same heart and depth to this second novel.

Her characters are so complicated and real that it’s easier to get lost in their lives than it is to get lost in your own. It’s exciting and hard to find characters that you can connect with on a deeper level. Perkins’ Anna, St. Clair, Lola and Cricket become so real to me (and I’d say other readers as well), sharing the same thoughts and emotions that everyone has at some point, that they almost stop being people on a page and become real (and I’m probably not crazy).

I love when an author’s passion for her characters emerges in her words so much that it almost becomes a separate entity. Like there’s the book, and then hovering somewhere above it is the love that Perkins’ has for her people. It’s so big and consuming that it can’t be contained to a mere page! I think that’s really difficult to get across to readers, and she did it from the beginning. I was taken with her from page one.

DISCLAIMER: Don’t read these books if you have like a bunch of work to do. Wait until the weekend. There’s not a warning label, but there should be. “Warning: You will be unable to put this book down until you’ve finished. Do homework first, trust us.”