Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Release Date: June 11^th 2009

Publisher: Speak

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 399 pages

Source: Purchased

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

As always, Sarah Dessen is capable of drawing a smile on my face every time I finish one of her books. As a reader I always grow up with Dessen's characters emotionally.

Auden, the main character, can't sleep at night. She spends her time reading in a café at night. She's not really girly, if I have to describe her, she is more of a tomboy. I loved how Auden is always engrossed in one of her books; zoning out from the world's problems. Auden is also different and complicated character. She doesn’t know that of course, but as a reader you notice that right away. I liked how Auden was not flawless …just like everybody else. She's not perfect.

Eli, the main male character, was different from any other Dessen's characters. It was so easy to picture him because Auden couldn’t stop from describing him( thinking of him).      

The pacing of the book was normal. Not too face or too slow. Auden was fun to follow anyways.

Overall, this book had taught me that my love for Dessen's work should increase every time I read her books. Along for the ride was a fun, edgy, summery, sad book that will make you bite your lower lip for being so proud that you had joined Auden's adventure from the first page.

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Release Date: March 31^st 2011

Publisher: Speak

Age Group: Young Adult

Page: 304 pages

Source: Library

A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school. 

There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School. 

And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

A girl who could only meet her soul mate while she is asleep

What I really liked about this book is the writing style. It felt like it was a historical fiction because of the great, deep description. It helped me sink into the book and into the character's mind; even though it was written in third person point of view. I also, liked the fact that the book took place in France and to be specific it took place in Southwest France. There were French words which added to the richness of the dialogue and the description.

The pacing of the book was slow and boring sometimes. I did make me lose connection with the main characters. I just felt it was so too wordy but I liked the style of it (as I mentioned before), so I am not really sure how I feel about this. I am basically mixed. I liked the writing style but I felt it was so wordy. So you decide, what I exactly mean!

The storyline wasn’t engaging at all. It got me confused a little bit. I mean there were so many little details that I had to follow in order to get the big picture.

But overall, this book was beautifully written in a sophisticated way. 

Book Review: If I stay

Heyhihello

If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

Release Date: April 9^th 2009

Publisher: Speak

Source: Purhcased

Series: Book 1 

The description of the book:
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands. 

My review:

I picked up this book because everyone was saying it is heart-breaking and everyone who reads it always ends up crying. I don’t normally cry but I did for this book. This book was beyond amazing. It is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2011. Even though it was great, I found it a hard read. I mean, could you imagine losing everything in one moment? It is hard on everyone.

Gayle did a phenomenal job in helping us get inside Mia's (the main character) head. Mia was a character that had it all. She even found the love of her life in a very young age. Then, this accident happens to her which sucks. For most of the book, we see Mia as a ghost because her body is living on machines.

The whole book takes place in 1 day which reflects the pace of the book(hint: very fast). But, also, there were flashbacks (which I always enjoy) to give the story depth and connect with the reader.

Can we talk a little bit about Adam? Can we? He is one of the most wonderful male characters. He shows us the definition of love, caring and respect. Did I mention that he is a rock star?

Overall, each element of this book was ….I can't find the right words to describe it… beautiful. And yes, you will cry because you will want Mia and Adam's love to survive.

There is in fact book 2 and it's from Adam's perspective so I can't wait to check it out.

Tata for now