ARC Review: Before You by Amber Hart

Title: Before You (Before & After #2)

Author: Amber Hart

Release Date: 29th July 2014 

Publisher: K-Teen

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Some say love is deadly. Some say love is beautiful. I say it is both.

Faith Watters spent her junior year traveling the world, studying in exquisite places, before returning to Oviedo High School. From the outside her life is picture-perfect. Captain of the dance team. Popular. Happy. Too bad it’s all a lie.

It will haunt me. It will claim me. It will shatter me. And I don't care.

Eighteen-year-old Diego Alvarez hates his new life in the States, but staying in Cuba is not an option. Covered in tattoos and scars, Diego doesn't stand a chance of fitting in. Nor does he want to. His only concern is staying hidden from his past—a past, which if it were to surface, would cost him everything. Including his life.

At Oviedo High School, it seems that Faith Watters and Diego Alvarez do not belong together. But fate is as tricky as it is lovely. Freedom with no restraint is what they long for. What they get is something different entirely.

Love—it will ruin you and save you, both.

Detailed Review: *I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Many YA contemporary romance books I've read so far have been __________ (fill in the blank with positive adjectives)

Before You was phenomenal. 

I don't think I've ever been able to read a contemporary romance with as much enthusiasm and excitement as I did Before You.

I guess I just hadn't actually stumbled upon a book with a story as good as Before You's. 

Diego was one of my all-time favourite characters. I admired his strength and independence. I was really getting tired of stereotypes in books like this, where the boy is a nerd or person who people think is a freak or loser.

Amber Hart breaks all stereotypes.

I repeat, ALL stereotypes. Instead, she brings in issues to do with racism, violence, poverty, etc. into the story, which I thought was no easy task, yet Hart managed to deliver everything in one explosive debut.

Faith Watters is not the perfect girl she is either. She maintains her perfect facade, one only her best friend Melissa can see through, and Diego. She has to set an example for everyone, being the pastor's daughter and live up to everyone's expectations. She feels trapped within the image she's created for herself.

Again, the girl is the perfect one, leader of the dance team, but has a secret. 

But she doesn't exactly follow the stereotype. She isn't exactly perfect.  People just think she's perfect. See the difference? It's people's perception of you that contributes to your personality.

One lesson we all have to learn in the end is: people will always judge us wherever we go. 

Who would have also thought that this book would have a scare factor? I cried in the last few chapters. I didn't see that coming. 

This is my reaction through the last few chapters:

Gasp-cry-cry-cry-cry-double gasp-cry-sob-cry-cry

BUT.

This book has the most beautiful and heart-breaking ending ever. Just saying.

Brief Review: You want a contemporary that packs a punch? This is the one. Amber Hart  challenges society at a whole, challenges its views on racism, interracial relationships, violence, and so much more. When reading this book, expect ANYTHING. It's so easy to be caught up in her descriptive writing that goes to the heart, whether it's painful or beautiful to read. I really want to see what Hart brings up in After Us next!!!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

 

QUOTE: 

I would have liked to say this to Faith at the beginning of the book,

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not---André Gide

Your Reviewer:

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green
Release Date: 10th January 2012
Publisher: Dutton Books
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Detailed Review: I've read The Fault in Our Stars for the second time now. Somehow, it was worse because you know what was coming, and you feel dread as you moved along the book. No matter how prepared you are for what's coming, it still hurts as much as the first time.

That is the heartbreaking reality of reading The Fault in Our Stars.

This book never fails to make me laugh. With Hazel and Augustus' humorous exchanges, the atmosphere is always one of comedy and love. Even through their darkest days, their spirits were never weakened. Their humour never fades, nor their love for each other.

This is what TFIOS does: it highlights love in its strongest and most beautiful state. 

They say that this book is a 'sick love story'. The word 'love' doesn't just describe the love between couples, it describes family love (Hazel and her family) the love we have for our friends (Isaac and Gus), even the love you harbour for your idol (Peter van Houten).

That is why this book has touched so many people, after all. 

All the characters- every single one of them fit into the story so well; they enhance its beauty. All of them had a degree of humour in them, except Peter Van Houten, who was made of bitterness and regret. Hazel and Gus weren't quite their usual selves either towards the end. I guess that's what life does to you- it changes you. This was certainly a good thing in TFIOS, because if all the characters were funny, then the book wouldn't be as good. If a book can make you both laugh AND cry, then you know that is a good book.

Don't even ask me what happens in the book that makes people cry if you haven't read it. Because it's EVERY SINGLE FREAKING THING. You know that feeling when you think of a very funny or good moment in the past and you want to cry because you'll never experience it again? That is why.

*I have just watched the movie, which was really good. It did make me cry, but honestly the book was still better.

Brief Review: TFIOS is a much a comedy as a tragedy. The ratio of laughter to tears when reading this book would be 1 to 1. I highly recommend it if you want a book that has you laughing in the beginning and crying at the ending!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

I decided to use a quote from the book itself and dedicate it to everyone.,

The marks humans leave are too often scars---John Green

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: One, Two, Three by Elodie Nowodazkij

Title: One, Two, Three
Author: Elodie Nowodazkij
Release Date: 26th June 2014
Publisher: -
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love. 

Last year,seventeen-year-old Natalya Pushkaya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present. Keeping him an arabesque away proves to be a challenge for Natalya and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell. 

When upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

Detailed Review: <<I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review>>

This book isn't light. It's a lot to take in. It has exactly the same effect as Never Say Goodbye by Bethan Cooper, where everything builds up to an explosive climax that shatters everything you know about the characters into pieces.

The author is unforgiving when it comes to breaking your heart. She is merciless when doing so. If you ask the author to spare you the heartbreak, she'll probably add in more heartbreaking parts. Not saying she is mean or anything but all authors seem to be generally evil when it comes to this.

The characters in this book were really well thought-out, as all good books must have. Nata had lots of character development throughout the book, which I liked because it showed how she coped with her father's death, the fact that she may not dance professionally anymore and the secret and lies she unearths about the accident. You can see that through her a strong facade, is also a girl who's desperate for someone to help and protect her. 

Tonio made a great pairing with Nata. They complement each other so well; you could already see the chemistry brewing between both of them from their first meeting. The romance was scrumptious, that I can guarantee. He also has some secrets that he's never told anyone; not even his family. So both of them are on the same level, making their relationship...hotter.

Tonio's sister, Karina was a cute and bubbly character. It's not hard to imagine her in real life, really. I'd wish I had a sister like that! She's just the cutest and most adorable character I've ever read.

I'd absolutely love it if I had a best friend like Becca (well, I think I do). She is the best support mechanism when you're about to fall apart. Becca's talented, caring, kind and selfless when it comes to Nata and I admire her for being such a good friend, even when Nata had pushed her away.

The story was actually quite simple, but there are layers underneath waiting to be discovered as the pages turn. It's just that the secrets are unpleasant- which is what causes Nata to lose herself to the alcohol. The author's writing style also makes the story more realistic as she hits you with sudden thoughts about the accident and basically, life. 

I could also compare this book to Words And Their Meanings by Kate Bassett. Both the main characters have lost someone and something precious to them; they discover that the person who they lost is not who they seem to be. Both authors use the same concept, but their writing style is noticeably different. Nowodazkij opts for the straight-forward method where she slams something into your face and Bassett chooses to reveal the truth and secrets to you in origami cranes.

The ending was beautiful and unexpected; I totally loved that. It was an ending and also a new beginning *cries*

Brief Review: With compelling characters and sudden musings, this book is sure to break your heart and make you sing at the same time. I don't know how the author does it, but that's just talent. In One, Two, Three, the author weaves a story about the art of moving on, and to be wholly yourself to be happy and to not let something we love or do wholly define us. Overall, a very good start for Nowodazkij!

QUOTE: 

To show how important family is in this book:

Family is not an important thing. It's everything---Michael J. Fox

Final Rating: 4.5/5 'Really Liked It!'











Your Reviewer:

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Release Date: April 2, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Find On: Goodreads and Amazon.

Quick Review:

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

Detailed Review:

There’s this lump in my throat every. single. time. I read this book.

Tears start prickling in my eyes and all I want to do is bawl up and cry until I can't cry anymore tears.

I first got a copy of this book in July (2013) after hearing that there would be a movie coming out later this year.

Believe it or not, it took me 5 months to read this book.

But it wasn’t because this book was dead-boring or because I didn’t have the time to.

It was quite the opposite actually.

I literally could not read this book because… well… I guess it was because I just knew this would be one of those books.

The ones that make you want to curl up in a ball and do nothing for days afterwards because you’re too sad to.

I guess I wanted to deal with the aftermath of this book on my own. When I had the time to.

First published in 2009, “If I Stay” by Gayle Forman is different. I’ve never read a book quite like this one.

… And I like that.

It also poses a very good question: What would you do if you had to choose?

For me, the main character is refreshing. It feels like she could be my best friend. I relate to her not because of the tragedy in her life or anything of that sort. It probably sounds incredibly stupid but I’ve always had a soft spot for main characters that play classical music – be it the cello or the piano. It just happens.

I guess it’s because I’m a pianist and all that jazz.

Stupid, right?

There’s this suddenness about how everything falls apart so quickly. It’s like those moments you hear about all the time – where if you blinked, you would have missed it.

I can’t imagine going through what Mia did.

I guess I’m lucky that way. I hope I never will.

One minute, everything is going magnificently – the whole world is at your feet and the next… your whole world has been flipped upside down.

”You wouldn’t expect the radio to work afterward. But it does.

The car is eviscerated. The impact of a four-ton pickup truck going sixty miles an hour plowing straight into the passenger side had the force of an atom bomb. It tore off the doors, sent the front-side passenger seat through the driver’s-side window. It flipped the chassis, bouncing it across the road and ripped the engine apart as if it were no stronger than a spider web. It tossed wheels and hubcaps deep into the forest. It ignited bits of the gas tank, so that now tiny flames lap at the wet road.

And there was so much noise. A symphony of grinding, a chorus of popping, an aria of exploding, and finally, the sad clapping of hard metal cutting into soft trees. Then it went quiet, except for this: Beethoven’s Cello Sonata no. 3, still playing. The car radio somehow still is attached to a battery and so Beethoven is broadcasting into the once-again tranquil February morning.

At first I figure everything is fine. For one, I can still hear the Beethoven. Then there’s the fact that I am standing here in a ditch on the side of the road. When I look down, the jean skirt, cardigan sweater, and the black boots I put on this morning all look the same as they did when we left the house.” 

Oh, but the fragility of life.

It is the reality of things.

The sad, bitter, harsh and incredibly cruel reality of things.

The author has this way with words. He’s so descriptive, but not overly so. He has that natural balance that so many of us could spend a lifetime trying to perfect, but without talent, we would probably never quite get there.

If you had to choose between living and dying what would you choose?

For many of us, the answer seems simple.

“I’d want to live, duh.”

But it isn’t always.

Imagine having lost your loved ones, your blood relatives, the people you have known your entire life.

Would you still choose life?

I know this sounds crazy stupid but I wouldn’t.

Dying is easy… It’s living that’s hard.

I’ll be honest. Brutally and totally honest.

My family means the world to me.

My friends do too.

I probably don’t tell them this enough but they are the most amazing people in the whole entire world.

And I feel blessed to have them in my life.

I would take a bullet for my family and my friends.

They are the support system that keeps my head above the water when I think I’m about to drown.

And to lose even part of that support system?

To lose my family?

I think I’d fall apart.

This is one of those books that make you cry and laugh. I've read this book over a hundred times and I swear, after I finish reading this, I hold onto my family so much tighter and remind myself just how blessed I am.

If you haven't read the book, you definitely should and you should also check out the trailer and consider going to see the movie when it comes out in August.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

Your Reviewer:

The New Kid On The Block,

Linda AKA Inno.

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