I'm not the biggest fan of cutting or anorexic novels, since they tend to make me squeamish (I couldn't even finish Laurie Halse Anderson's WintergirlI'm not the biggest fan of cutting or anorexic novels, since they tend to make me squeamish (I couldn't even finish Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls, though I really wanted to), but Willow was different. Yes, she's a cutter, but she's also a compelling character with a very real voice. This one hooked me....more
Tangled follows the lives of four teenagers over a four-month period. Jena, Skye, Dakota, and Owen each narrate one month, starting with the month wheTangled follows the lives of four teenagers over a four-month period. Jena, Skye, Dakota, and Owen each narrate one month, starting with the month when their lives collided at a beach resort. It’s difficult to summarize this book, because I don’t want to give too much away, but each of the teens is dealing with some sort of insecurity or depression. Jena is concerned about her body, especially in comparison with skinny and beautiful Skye, who’s hiding some secrets about her perfect life. Dakota acts like a jerk, but maybe he doesn’t have to. Owen is more involved with the Internet than he is with his real life. After their time at the beach resort, however, all of these teens begin learning how to grow into the adults they want to be.
I’m becoming a devoted fan of Carolyn Mackler’s books. I read her debut novel first, Love and Other Four Letter Words (hooked me on the title alone), but my favorite is definitely Vegan Virgin Valentine, mainly because I identified with the Type-A protagonist in desperate need of a wake-up call. They’re all such fun reads. Tangled is a different sort of book, but I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. I love the different voices that Mackler conjures: they’re all so honest and quirky. You end up rooting for all of them, even if you didn’t think you would. I’ll be keeping a lookout for her next novel....more
Quinn has learned from her mother, grandmother, and aunt that there are warning signs when a man is about to break your heart. All have been burned byQuinn has learned from her mother, grandmother, and aunt that there are warning signs when a man is about to break your heart. All have been burned by love, and Quinn, who tries her hardest to make good, safe choices, When her dependable boyfriend dumps her and she discovers that her self-absorbed, Prince Charming father has been stealing objects from every woman he’s ever married or dated, Quinn snaps. She enlists the help of her younger sister, Sprout, and Frances Lee, the half-sister she’s only met once, to go on a karmic quest to return the items to the women and learn more about her father.
There’s just something special about Deb Caletti’s books. She doesn’t go for the obvious teen romance angle but instead gives her characters something more meaningful to pursue. Quinn is so used to being trampled on by her dad that it took me some time to sympathize with her, but her journey from passive to assertive feels very real. I love the supporting characters as well, especially the wonderful women who have fallen under the spell of Quinn’s father and learned how dangerous that could be. All in all, a great book about love, choices, and the definition of family....more
I made the mistake of starting this book at 10pm last night and was so hooked that I had to finish it before I went to sleep. Violet is such a compellI made the mistake of starting this book at 10pm last night and was so hooked that I had to finish it before I went to sleep. Violet is such a compelling character, and the suspenseful writing made this book a page-turner. I would have liked to learn more about Violet's ability to sense death, but that's only a small quibble. Highly recommend....more
One of the best books I've ever read. I didn't think I was going to be into zombies, but the white-hot romance--that I could get into. And the prose wOne of the best books I've ever read. I didn't think I was going to be into zombies, but the white-hot romance--that I could get into. And the prose was just beautiful. I wish I could write like that....more
Such a difficult subject to read about, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters.Such a difficult subject to read about, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters....more
