March Wrap Up and April TBR

Read in March

It was very hit or miss month for me. I read some fantastic books. Two 10 star reviews and one 9.5 stars, books that will probably make it onto my best of the year list. But I also read some real stinkers. I DNFed my first book since blogging and gave a book one of my lowest ratings yet. But I did finish 9 books (one that is part of my April list)

Nil by Lynne Matson Rating: 9.5 stars

The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier Rating: 8 stars

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy Rating: 7.5 stars

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell Rating: 10 stars

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton Rating: 6 stars

These Broken Stars by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Rating: 10 stars

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Rating: DNF 

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray Rating: 8.5 stars

Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel Rating: 8 stars
(Full Review to Come)

To Read in April: Dystopia

For this month's theme I've decided to read books in the Dystopia genre. There is so much great dystopia out there and as much as I like it, I haven't read a lot of different books in the genre so this month I am taking the opportunity to read a bunch.

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
Amazon Goodreads
I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley awhile back and actually read between other books in March. The book comes out in a week so I've been waiting to publish my review but I also wanted it to be part of dystopia month despite my inability to wait to read it. Stay tuned for the review later this week.


The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Amazon Goodreads
I have been wanting this series for awhile. I've heard it's action-packed and suspenseful which I totally love. When I noticed in another TTT that a lot of other bloggers hadn't read this series I decided to make it happen this month and host a readalong. So if this book is on your list you should join us the last weekend of the month! Leave me a comment that you're interested and stay tuned for more info!


The Darkest Minds and Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
Amazon Goodreads       Amazon Goodreads
I have heard really good things about this series. I got a copy of The Darkest Minds awhile back when it was on sale for Kindle. So this month I am going to start this series. I'm about three-quarters of the way into The Darkest Minds and I really like it so far.



Taken by Erin Bowman Amazon Goodreads
Frozen by Erin Bowman Amazon Goodreads
I won a copy of Taken from Lynne Matson in December as part of the #NILtribe giveaway. The second book in the series, Frozen, comes out in a few weeks so I'm taking the opportunity to read both books this month. This is a series that seems to be flying under the radar a little bit with so much great dystopia and April releases so I'm excited to give it a try without a lot of hype surrounding it.



The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood
Amazon Goodreads
This book has been in my TBR pile for the longest time and as I said in my TTT a few weeks ago Atwood is one of the authors I have wanted to read for awhile now. I have heard amazing things about this book so I'm choosing it to read as my "classic" for the month.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Amazon Goodreads
I was immediately interested in reading this book when it first came out and I'm not sure what I've been waiting for. I think it's a little bit more Urban Fantasy but it's set in the future so I'm reading it as part of dystopia month and I'm pretty excited!

Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
Amazon Goodreads
I know this isn't dystopia but I was looking for a new audiobook this weekend and it is narrated by Kristen Bell so I couldn't help myself. I'm a HUGE VMars fan and I am so excited to continue with this series in a literary format, let's be real the best part of Veronica Mars is the writing!





What are you reading in April? Leave a comment and tell me your TBR. Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite Dystopian book? Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for my reviews. HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Title: Beauty Queens Author: Libba Bray Published: 2011 by Scholastic Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner. What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up? Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again

Libba Bray is one of those authors that continues to blow me away at how fantastic her books are. Every book I read by her is totally different from the last and so completely fantastic. Beauty Queens was no exception.

What Libba Bray does so well as an author is write a genius coming-of-age story but disguises it as something very different. In the case of Beauty Queens that true heart of the story is hidden under layers of campy and silly teenage beauty pageant contestants stranded on a deserted island. Like all good books in the Contemporary genre this one walked the line between lighthearted and funny moments with heavy moments that made you think. 

One of the biggest themes in this book is the idea of femininity and beauty. We of course have the backdrop of a beauty pageant where the contestants are judged on their appearance and their "platforms." Most of the characters start as cliché pageant stereotypes , but that was part of their charm. Many of them are ditzy and more concerned about winning and looking pretty than anything else.  But then as their plane crashes and they have to learn how to survive they realize that there is more to life and more to themselves. Throughout the book many of them have these amazing transformations and character arcs as they start to accept themselves for who they are and not what society or other people have always wanted them to be. They become more confident and determined. By the end of the book my opinion of the characters changed as they grew and developed.  

Another fantastic theme in this book was the idea about friendship and acceptance. As you learn more about each character you start to appreciate and identify with their diversity. Libba Bray did an amazing job of packing this cast of characters with people from all walks of like. They weren't just racially and ethnically diverse we also had great LGBT characters. The book explores the idea of sexuality and identity but amid the backdrop of a beauty pageant gives the idea and the characters so much more depth. Throughout the novel as the characters spend time together they must rely on one another and develop these amazing and unlikely friendships. They must get over that competitiveness and learn to work together to survive and thrive.

As far as the plot of the book it was incredibly exciting. There was so much mystery and action. At the start of the book I was convinced that I had figured out the big twist, but in this case I was completely wrong (that is rare). As the characters try to survive on the island they find out that things there are much more sinister than they expected and so is the sponsoring company known only as "The Corporation." Everything builds to a thrilling and surprising conclusion that had me completely riveted. It had as much action and explosions as it had talk about sequins and glitter.

I experienced this book as an audiobook, which I think was a fantastic decision. Not only because it was narrated by the author herself and if you've read some of my other audiobook reviews you know that I love that because you really get the sense of the tone of the book. And Libba Bray was a fantastic narrator. Her tone and inflection completely matched the campy but serious aspects of the book. Plus her accents were fantastic! Her Texas accent was understandably wonderful but so was her Valley Girl, ditzy Southern Belle, and her sarcastic New England elitist. Each voice was so brilliant that it made me want to have Libba Bray narrate my life, and look she agreed to it (Twitter interactions are like an ironclad contract, right?). But the other reason that I was so glad I listened to the audiobook is the format of the book. It was completely perfect for an audiobook. With the alternating point of views, frequent "commercial breaks," and footnotes explaining Corporation products and television shows it seemed perfect for the audiobook format.

I give Beauty Queens by Libba Bray an 8.5 out of 10

I recommend this book to anyone who likes Contemporary books, beauty pageant parodies like Miss Congeniality or Drop Dead Gorgeous, and anyone looking for a book with LGBT characters. It was the perfect book to conclude my March theme of island adventure and escape. If you've read Beauty Queens leave me a comment with your thoughts and of course HAPPY READING!

Book Review: These Broken Stars by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: These Broken Stars Series: Starbound #1  Author: Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: December 2013 by Disney Hyperion Amazon Goodreads Synopsis:  It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help

I was very nervous about reading These Broken Stars. For one thing there was a lot of hype. When this book came out last December I saw practically every blog I follow raving about how fantastic it is. I'm pretty sure it made a lot of people's best of the year lists. That was my first fear, that it wouldn't live up to the hype. Based on the synopsis it sounds like there is a lot of traveling around a deserted planet and trying to survive, which if you follow my blog you know I hate. My second fear was that it would be full of boring travel montages. Boy was I wrong. This book lives up to the hype and is so much more than a book about survival. 

Now don't mistake me, it is a book about survival. Lilac and Tarver get (space)shipwrecked on a strange planet after their postmodern Titanic is ripped out of hyperspace and they must complete usual stranded passenger tasks like finding food, shelter, and a way of communicating to get rescued. But this book is so much more than that. There is much more mystery than I expected. I thought that the main reveal was going to be what planet this was and I was convinced I had figured that out. Wrong again. The mystery was much deeper than that and about halfway through the book I began doubting my theory and completely shocked by the twists and turns that the authors were throwing my way. As the book winded down and the secrets began to be revealed I had my mind blown by one event and revelation after another. This book was one big mindfuck (sorry I swore, but I had to do it, that's the only way to describe the feeling). This book was a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside in an enigma! 

What also surprised me about this book was how much I enjoyed the romance. At first I expected a clichéd rich girl falls for bad boy from "the wrong side of the tracks" kind of story but again this book proved me wrong again. It was so much more than that even though, yes, that was the gist of their relationship. At the beginning I was annoyed at their inability to act on their attraction but as they spent more time together and got to know one another better my feelings for them as characters grew and my longing for them to get together as a couple grew. I appreciated the subtle moments of romance where their relationship wasn't shoved down my throat. Even though there was insta-attraction their actual relationship was more of the slowburning kind of romance which I love. 

Gaius and Number Six get it! Do you?

The only clichés here is an underlying theme of the book which completely sums up my feelings about it, "there is more than meets the eye" and "don't judge a book by its cover." This book was full of surprises and thrills. Just when I thought I had everything all figured out it would throw me for a loop with another shocking surprise. The plot was full of surprises but so were the characters. What was so interesting is that because the chapters alternated perspectives between Lilac and Tarver we got to see the characters through each other's eyes but we also got to know them on a deeper more personal level. It helped to connect with them and root for their survival. 

When the book was finished and my book hangover set in that I realized how fantastic and mindblowing this book really was. It is a great piece of young adult Science Fiction and I loved having my brain exploded in the process of reading. Never before have I been so glad that I was wrong about a book.

I give These Broken Stars a 10 out of 10

I recommend this book to anyone who likes Science Fiction, someone looking for a slowburning romance, or anyone who likes stories full of mystery and suspense. Definitely for people who are fans of Lost and Battlestar Gallactica.

Book Review: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Title: Pirate Latitudes Author: Michael Crichton Published: 2009, Harper Collins Amazon Goodreads Partial Synopsis: Jamaica in 1665 is a rough outpost of the English crown, a minor colony holding out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, Jamaica′s capital, a cut-throat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses, is devoid of London′s luxuries; life here can end swiftly with dysentery or a dagger in your back. But for Captain Edward Hunter it is a life that can also lead to riches, if he abides by the island′s code. In the name of His Majesty King Charles II of England, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking. And law in the New World is made by those who take it into their hands.

I wish I had enjoyed this book more than I did, I really do. It definitely had its moments. 

As far as the plot goes there was so much promise. The story of Caribbean pirates on a mission to highjack a ship full of treasure should be thrilling. There were definitely some interesting moments. Exciting battle scenes (pirate gun battles are always thrilling), daring escapes, and an arguably murderous rampage for revenge. But the central plot seemed to fall a little flat. This book was a surprisingly quick read and even when it tried to get mysterious couldn't capture my interest for very long. It is without a doubt historical fiction but feels more historical then fictional and while I am usually onboard (pun intended) for those kinds of stories but in this case I was hoping for a little more fictionalization and thrilling action.

As far as the characters go it was much of the same. There were some interesting and intriguing characters. I actually really liked the villains in this book. They were dark, mysterious, and devious. I found myself wanting them to succeed more than the heroes. I was not very invested in the story of the main character Captain Hunter. What I expect in a pirate story is a roguish anti-hero with an arguably dubious moral code sailing the seven seas looting and pillaging for personal gain. What we got here was a privateer who is fighting a more political battle. It felt more like the realistic sailors of the time and less like the fictional pirates that we're used to seeing in literature.  The other disappointing this was that the characters that were the most  interesting and engaging didn't last very long in the story. 

There were some good things about the book, however. The pacing was good and everything built to a slightly more trilling conclusion.  And the best part was probably the world-building. The pirates travelled around their little corner of the Caribbean to interesting and real locales from the period, even encountering an island of natives at one point. It felt well-researched as far as the history goes and I felt like I understood and could easily become immersed in this world of exploration and adventure. The interesting world and the hope for further excitement is what kept me reading to the conclusion. It's just a shame when everything was all said and done my only thought was "I'm glad that's over."

I will however cut Michael Crichton a little slack when it comes to this book. A draft of this book was found on his laptop after Crichton died and the book was published posthumously. It really does feel incomplete. First he created this world and then he was going to flush out the characters and the plot.

I give Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton a 6 out of 10

 I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to anyone. If you're looking for a Michael Crichton book read Jurassic Park, Congo, or The Andromeda Strain. If you're looking to read a quick book about life in the Caribbean during the time of piracy and privateering then by all means check this book out.

Have you read Pirate Latitudes? What were your thoughts? Leave me a comment. Thanks for stopping by and as always HAPPY READING!

Realease Day ARC Review: NIL by Lynne Matson

Title: NIL Author: Lynne Matson Published: Macmillan, March 4, 2014 Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die. Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field. Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly, in this thrilling debut novel by Lynne Matson.

My self-imposed wait is over and so is the world's... Happy Book Birthday, NIL!

 I was immediately drawn into NIL for its concept. Waking up naked on a mysterious island that you only have a year to escape from or you die. I was always a huge fan of the TV show Lost and was excited to read a book that was similar to the show. I won an ARC of this book in the first #NILtribe giveaway back in December but I do monthly themes on my blog so I couldn't read it right away. I wanted to wait until closer to release day and decided to do a whole theme around island adventures and escapes. And boy is that exactly what NIL was, an island adventure and escape (I mean escape in every sense of the word). 

What this book does a great job of doing is setting the tone of being trapped on a (mostly) deserted island. The world-building was great and didn't at all feel overwhelming. I really felt like I could visualize this beautiful and terrible island and the society the kids had created.  It is part fear, part confusion, and part pleasure. There were moments of pure elation followed by moments of gut wrenching sadness. Lynne's writing and the plot really does a great job of helping the reader feel that dichotomy. The writing and the island lulls you into a false sense of security and then rips your heart out. It's a fickle beast who loves to remind you that life and time is precious. The island is as much a character as anyone else in this book. It is the real villain of the story. The other characters refer to the island as a she and speak about her with a sense of fearful respect and that's exactly what it deserves.

And besides the mysterious island, there was a host of interesting and diverse secondary characters that I was totally intrigued by and loved reading about. But I also loved our main characters and narrators Charley and Thad. I immediately connected with Charley and wanted her succeed. She is 6 feet tall and loves maps, I mean that's me! But she's also resourceful, intelligent, and strong in a subtle kind of way. What I liked most about her is that she has these critical thinking skills that no one else seems to have. She really wants to try and figure out the island and how to escape from it. We are constantly reminded that there is no luck on the island, but Charley doesn't look at escape as fate. She views it as a problem with a solution and tries to find the solution scientifically. Then there was Thad. He is an amazing leader, funny, and kind. He thinks about others before he thinks about himself. He also really feels the contradictory nature of the island and treats her as the one in control. I loved the romance between the two of them. I have heard a lot of people refer to it as insta-love but I didn't really feel that way. There was an instant attraction but their love seemed to grow over time and I totally see why Charley likes him. Their relationship was so sweet and it made me swoon and gush many times.

The plot and pacing was great as the book seemed to flow in a consistent and interesting way. Everything built to an amazing conclusion that totally surprised me. But what interested me the most was that even though the island is mysterious and I had so many questions and wanted explanations for what was going on, I never really seemed to try and solve or predict these answers. I do wish we had received a lot more answers about the island. The characters bring up a lot of questions about what the island is, where it came from, why they were there, and whether or not it is all for a reason but very few of these questions are really answered. I have so many unanswered questions! But despite this fact when everything was all said and done I was so satisfied by how thrilling and wonderful this book was, I had no regrets!

I give NIL by Lynne Matson a 9.5 out of 10

 

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of YA Thrillers, the TV shows Lost of Survivor, or is looking for something different to read. If you ask me NIL is a must read and one of my favorite books so far this year. Have you read NIL? What were your thoughts? Leave me a comment and of course Happy Reading!

March TBR- Island Adventure/Escape

I'm pretty excited for this month's theme. It has been a very long and icy winter here in Pennsylvania. I thoughts when I moved away from New England I wouldn't have to deal with New England winters, but the universe has a sense of humor and the polar vortex struck and struck hard. So I am official fed up with winter and need a little escapism. Therefore, this month I will be reading books that take place on tropical islands, books about adventure, and books about escape. I shall live vicariously through these protagonists! For more information on the books click on the title.

The Classic

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
How it Fits the Theme: It doesn't get much more island adventure/escape than this book. It is one of the most classic stories about deserted island survival. The title character gets attacked by pirates, shipwrecked for seven years. This book IS the theme.

Recent Adult Fiction 

The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier
How it Fits the Theme: It doesn't really. This book is a historical mystery about The Amazons, and I mean that in the Greek mythological sense of female warriors. I received an eARC of this book ages ago and it releases in March so I'm reading it now.




Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton 
How it Fits the Theme: When you think tropical adventures I hope that pirates come to mind. This book has been in my TBR pile since it came out five years ago. I love Michael Crichton and haven't read anything since I read Jurassic Park when I was twelve. 

Young Adult Standalones

Nil by Lynne Matson
How it Fits the Theme: This book inspired the theme. It is about a mysterious island that you have to escape from after 1 year or you die. I won an ARC of it back in December and the book releases in just a few days. I decided to work the rest of my books around this one because I am just that excited about reading it.





These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meghan Spooner
How it Fits the Theme: This is more adventure/escape and less island themed. I have heard this book called Titanic in space. I have wanted to read this book since it came out in December so I'm making the stretch and including it in this month's theme.

The Audiobook

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
How it Fits the Theme: This book is about a group of beauty pageant contestants who get trapped on a deserted island and have to fight for their survival. I love Libba Bray's writing style and I am really excited to read something else from her. She narrates the audiobook, which I love so I'm excited for that as well.




There you have it, the six books I have planned to read this month. I'm trying to be a little conservative because I had to push myself to finish all the books I planned to read for February and that's no fun. So I will read these six to start and if I need another book I will start another. What are you planning to read for March? Have you read any of these? Did you like them? Stay tuned for reviews and HAPPY READING!