Category: Contemporary - Jam and her TBR Jar

Too Late by: Colleen Hoover

6/16/2016

Too Late by: Colleen Hoover
Synopsis: Sloan will go through hell and back for her little brother. And she does, every single night.
Forced to remain in a relationship with the dangerous and corrupt Asa Jackson, Sloan will do whatever it takes to make sure her brother has what he needs.
Nothing will get in her way.
Nothing except Carter.
Sloan is the only good thing to ever happen to Asa. He knows this and he never plans on letting her go; even if she doesn't approve of his lifestyle. But despite Sloan's disapproval, Asa knows what it takes to get what he wants. He knows what he needs to do to remain on top.
Nothing will get in his way.
Nothing except Carter.

Alright... its review time!!

YAS COLLEEN YASSSSSSSS!!!!! ONE DAY, YOUR BOOKS ARE GOING TO BE THE DEATH OF ME.

From the very first page, Too Late had me clinging to the edge of my seat because I became so immersed in the lives of the characters. Out of the 14 New Adult books that I have read by this author, this one has to be one of the most addicting. It tells the story of a young girl named Sloan who is struggling to balance college and caring for her mentally disabled brother. In order to support her brother and keep them off the streets, Sloan has to rely on her abusive, possessive, and controlling drug dealer of a boyfriend, Asa, to pay for her brother’s care. Sloan is determined to do everything in her power to make sure her brother is cared for, even if it means enduring Asa’s abuse and torment. At least that is what she thinks until Carter steps into the picture. *spoiler alert, Carter is TOTALLY SWOON WORTHY*

The drama in this book was off the charts and I could not put it down. What I especially enjoyed was that not only getting to read from Sloan’s and Carters duel perspectives, but also hearing from the tormenter himself, Asa. Hearing his side of the story and childhood, while it in no way excused his actions, helped develop his character and add a new angle to the story. While you wanted to hate him, you couldn’t help but just feel sorry for him. I am so happy I read this and I HIGHLY recommend all of Colleen Hoovers to anyone who is a fan of more mature contemporary romances.

Happy reading nerds!

Maybe Not by: Colleen Hoover

12/30/2015

Maybe Not by: Colleen Hoover
Synopsis: When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.
Or maybe not.
Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.
Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?
Maybe.
Maybe not.

Alright... its review time!!

BRIDGETTE AND WARREN. BRIDGETTE AND WARREN. BRIDGETTE AND WARREN. BRIDGETTE. AND. WARREN. *SWOONS*

Im really starting to feel like I'm repeating myself these days when I say that Colleen Hoover is a QUEEN of a writer.

This novella was exactly what us Maybe Someday fans needed! For those of you who do not know, this little story follows the romance between 2 of the side characters from Hoovers original masterpiece. It was fun, fast-paced and sexy. While I absolutely loved Bridgette and adored Warren when I read Maybe Someday, I never totally connected with them because, obviously, we never got to be inside their heads. Bridgette especially is quite the tough little cookie so this novella really explained her actions and showed us why she is the way that she is!

Hilarious, entertaining and perfect in every way. I missed these characters so much.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with your opinion on this novella and its parent novel, Maybe Someday!

November 9 by: Colleen Hoover

12/28/2015

November 9 by: Colleen Hoover
Synopsis: Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Alright... Its review time!!

*1,000,000 stars*

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COLLEEN HOOVER HAS DONE IT AGAIN. SHE HAS SOMEHOW FOUND A WAY TO BOTH BREAK MY HEART AND MEND IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Okay, so this is the 11th book that I have read by Ms. Hoover (Yes, I do have a bit of a girl crush on her. No, I am not ashamed.) so I'd like to think that I have a pretty good grasp of her writing style by now. Thats why when I say that this is one of her best novels yet, I mean it.

It had everything that any fantastic New Adult novel needs... relatable characters, swoon-worthy romance, heart breaking betrayals, a healthy amount of sexy time and more. You put all of that together and add Hoover's signature humour on top..... PERFECTO! Because of all the crazy plot twists, November 9 managed to have me giggling uncontrollably, laughing out loud and screaming into my pillow all within the span of 100 pages.

What I find so special about Hoover's writing is that her plots and story lines are so unique and different. Sometimes I struggle reading books from the New Adult genre because they are always so similar. Average girl meets a boy who just so happens to look like one of the guys off an Abercrombie and Fitch bag and who always knows exactly what to say. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl fall apart due to some relationship drama. Boy and girl get back together. The end. These sort of stories are so over done and for the most part, I find them extremely unmemorable. Instead, in November 9, we get these two extremely complex characters with very unique and twisted pasts. What I love is that not only do we get to watch them fall in love blah blah blah, but we get to watch them combine their broken pieces to make one another beautiful and whole again. I don't want to say to much because I personally believe it is way better to go into this book blind, but I can promise you that the plot is unlike anything Ive ever read about before. :)

AND BENTON JAMES KESSLER. I DO NOT CARE IF THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY A FEMALE AUTHOR AND THAT HE IS 100% FICTIONAL. I WILL FIND SOMEONE LIKE HIM. I DO NOT CARE WHAT IT TAKES.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK OR ANY OF COLLEEN HOOVERS WRITING, PLEASE DO SO NOW. LIKE RIGHT NOW. LITERALLY, STOP READING AND GO BUY THIS MASTERPIECE!!

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with your opinion on this amazing novel.

Made You Up by: Francesca Zappia

12/26/2015

Made You Up by: Francesca Zappia
Synopsis: Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.

Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.

Alright... its review time!!

This was just so disappointing.

So I joined my schools bookclub (nerdy, i know) and this was the first book that we picked. And when I say "we", I really mean everyone voted for this expect for me. I wanted to read Lets Get Lost by Adi Alsaid but what ever, I was outvoted 20 to 1. I was excited to give it a try though because a) it has a GORGEOUS cover and b) the synopsis sounded pretty decent. The main character in this book is named Alex and she has schizophrenia. I knew next to nothing about the mental illness so I must say, reading this book and talking about it in my book club has definitely educated me. I was just really disappointed when I finished it because while the plot had a lot of potential, I felt like it was executed very poorly.

I just really don't feel like I took anything away from this book. More importantly, I just didnt feel like there was a solid plot. Like I finished it a couple hours ago and I honestly don't think I could tell you how it ended, I was that bored while reading it. I just feel like the author was really trying to write a book that was philosophical and life changing but failed. It was sorta fun getting to know the characters in the beginning but after that, things became predictable, weird and just straight up confusing. Maybe this was meant to reflect the main character's schizophrenia but as a reader, it made the story hard to follow. As much as I wanted to love this book, I just couldn't get into it

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with your opinion on this novel!

Every Last Word by: Tamara Ireland Stone

12/26/2015

Every Last Word by: Tamara Ireland Stone
Synopsis: If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.
Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.
Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.
Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Alright... its review time!!

Wow. This was such an unbelievably beautiful story. So happy I decided to read it.

There has been quite a bit of hype around this book leading up to its release date a couple months and now I see why. This story is about a young girl who has to grow into her own person and really discover who she is, even if that means making some hard decisions along the way. Now I know a lot of people would laugh and make a comment like "oh wow, every contemporary book is about that these days" or "what a cliche storyline", but in my opinion, there was something that made this book extra special. I think it was because I saw myself in Samantha, CONSTANTLY. She would say things that would just immediately click with me. I just felt such a connection with her because she was going through so many things that I have gone through in the past. Also, this chick was super brave! There is this line in Harry Potter that I just immediately thought of when reading about Sam and the "Crazy Eights":

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but a great deal more to stand up to our friends."

I was so proud of Sam when she stood up to her friends and really embraced and came to terms with her inner crazy. I thought that was so beautiful. I also did not see that plot twist at the end. That was straight up crazy... I loved it. I think it was just what the story needed.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ERRRRRRRRR BODYYYYYY!!

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with your opinion on this novel!

Me Before You by: Jojo Moyes

12/26/2015

Me Before You by: Jojo Moyes
Synopsis: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

Alright... Its review time!!

All I can say is that you make me... you make me into someone I couldn't even imagine. You make me happy, even when you're awful. I would rather be with you - even the you that you seem to think is diminished - than with anyone else in the world.

I just can't even being to handle the feelings that I have after finishing this. Like I am really struggling to find the words to describe it. This story was just so beautifully written and the characters... my god, the characters were just flawlessly written. *huge round of applause for Jojo Moyes*

I must admit, I went into this novel with my "black and white YA mindset" which basically means I did the whole "omg that person is being a rude so therefore I hate them" and "wow so-and-so acted a specific way so therefore they must not care about their son". In Young Adult fiction (excluding most contemporary novels), there is almost always a villain, a badass hero, and the witty sidekick friend and for some reason, thats what I kept looking for in this novel. I wanted to hate Will's parents so much and I kept waiting for Louisa to be this person who saves the day. I don't think it was until we were given that chapter from Mrs. Traynors point of view that I had to slap myself. It really sunk in that these are flawed people in the real world and you never really can know what is going on in a persons head. This book challenged me to constantly be putting myself in other peoples shoes and I loved that.

My mom used to work at the hospital with patients suffering from spinal cord injuries so when I told her about the premise, she immediately starting telling me stories about her patients. And the thing is, a lot of those stories who extremely similar to Will's. I loved that this story was authentic. It was real and it shone a lot of light on something that I don't commonly see written about. I HIGHLY recommend!!!!!!

Also, I just want to say that i am SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR THE MOVIE. THE CAST IS SERIOUSLY JACKED. AND JOJO IS WRITING THE SCREENPLAY. ASDFGHJKLASDFGHJKL.

Happy reading nerds, sound off in the comments with your opinion on this novel!

The Casual Vacancy by: JK Rowling

7/10/2015

The Casual Vacancy by: JK Rowling
Synopsis: A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ...
When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Alright... its review time!!

Okay so I am in the middle of final exams right now so this novel took me a week or two to finish but oh my goodness am I happy that I read this!!! I was extremely hesitant at first because I have heard SOOO many mixed reviews about but I found the HARDCOVER copy at a local garage sale for $2 so I couldn't pass it up. I admit, when I first read the plot, I was not impressed. It sounded boring and more tailored to adults (politics aren't really our youths forte). This novel however, isn't about politics, the Casual Vacancy is simply about life. Basically, this book is about the death of one of the councillor/politicians dudes in a REALLY small British town and how this mans death effects all of the members in the community. The thing that I really loved though was the fact that it was written from the perspectives of the rich and the poor, the old and the young. It showed all the nitty and gritty drama and secrets behind of the pretty curtain that a lot of families hide behind and how it effected both the kids and the parents. It showed how Barry Fairbrother's death effected the rich people who knew him really well but also the not so rich people. It showed how easy it is for your life to fall apart but also how easy it is for someone else to come along and help you put it back together. Parts of it were hilarious while other parts were heartbreaking and extremely hard to read about but in the end, it was real life and I loved it. I can see why a lot of people struggle to finish it or get bored halfway through because JK Rowling is VERY verbose in this novel. There is a lot of dialogue and character building (which can get confusing at times because there are so many characters) but in the end, when everything ties together... my goodness... it is incredible. Rowling proves once again but an absolute badass she is.

Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinion on this novel!

Winger by: Andrew Smith

7/10/2015

Winger by: Andrew Smith
Synopsis: Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

Alright, its review time!!

WOW. I did not anticipate that this novel would do this to me. I had heard that it was really funny (and my god was it FUNNY!!) and relatable but I didn't think it was going to give me "the feeling". Do you know the feeling where everything seems to move in slow motion and you can almost feel like a blanket of sadness settle on your shoulders that you can't seem to shake? That feeling that makes you stop talking to those around you and instead you just sit there and stare at walls for hours on end (tears are optional)? Not a lot of authors can manage to make me feel this way but this author did. Times 100. Ryan Dean West isn't just a character. I believe that he is simply a reflection of myself and teenagers in general. I am a huge supporter of the LGBT community so this book just makes me sad and disappointed with people in our society. I can't even begin to put into words the anger that I feel towards some of the people in this book. Andrew Smiths voice and basically every part of this novel is pure genius and just... real. EVERYTHING about Winger is just simply, real. Im not going to write about any spoilers or the big events that occurred in this book but just trust me please when I say that every teen and adult needs to read this. Wow. Just wow.

Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinion on this novel!

Wait For You by: J. Lynn

7/9/2015

Wait For You by: J. Lynn aka Jennifer L Armentrout
Synopsis: Some things are worth waiting for…
Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.
Some things are worth experiencing…
Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.
Some things should never be kept quiet…
But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…

Alright, its review time!!

**I keep jumping between a rating of either 3.75 or a solid 4.5. One moment i love it, the next moment I hate it.**

I finished this book 2 days ago so I have had quite a bit of time to get my ducks in a row. This book is extremely hard for me to write a review for because I have so many mixed feelings towards it and the author. I just want to start off my saying that I really love Jennifer L Armentrout's fantasy books, specifically her Lux Series. This was the first romance novel of hers that I have read and to be honest, Im slightly disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I really loved the characters (especially Cam... *cue googly eyes*) and the romance was SOOO swoon worthy. It was funny, well written and I actually managed to enjoy reading from Avery's point of view. Typically, I always ending up hating the female character in New Adult books because they are so predictable. Avery was tolerable. My problem with this novel is that there was simply nothing that set it apart from any other romance book, and that the actions and decisions made by the love interest are just always so unbelievable.

Its so obvious that these new adult books are written by women. Somehow the guy knows exactly what to say when the girl is crying over something super personal? Omg he's always there to defend her and beat up any guy who tries to touch her? He is 100% completely devoted to her (even once they break up) and turns down the girls who throw themselves at him (EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING A PLAYER). He is always respectful and never tries to take advantage of her? Im sorry but this is not realistic in someone who is known to have slept with anything that walks.

My next point is that all the plots in these books are the same. Let us take a look at Wait for you:

-girl meets boy by clumsily tripping and just so happens to be caught by the hottest guy in the entire college.
-They then proceed to hold each other for 5 awkward pages while his eye color is described
-boy is super popular and every girl wants him. He also sleeps with everyone
-girl is the nerdy book worm who just so happens to be an innocent virgin
-boy has a reputation of getting in fights
-bad boy turns into a good boy for the girl
-good girl turns reckless and sexy somewhere along the way

Im sorry but I have read WAY to many books like this and its disappointing that authors seem to almost rewrite each others books. Maybe they get lazy? Or do they all get together and have sleepovers where they write one novel, put a variety of couples names in a hat and then they each choose one and publish it with those names? I really don't understand it.

I do have one huge piece of evidence that is driving me crazy though so I have to get it off my chest. For those of you who are still reading this, which Im guessing a lot of you aren't, thank you for sticking around but I must say goodbye if you have not read both Wait for me or Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I need to point out a few similarities between the two.

The following will contain spoilers for both so read at your own risk.

The moment Avery started getting emails and phone calls calling her a whore and stuff, I knew she had been raped. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, just like I found it very obvious in Hopeless. SIMILARITY #1. Then as we continue to read on, we find out that Cam has a reputation of getting into fights and almost went to jail. To me, that sounds ALOT LIKE Dean Holder. SIMILARITY #2. Then we find out that the reason Cam beat someone up was because the dude was hurting his sister. Wow, if I remember correctly, Holder beat up this kid cuz he was trash talking his sisters suicide. SIMILARITY #3. SISTERS. Then, the first time Cam and Avery try to have sex, Avery loses it because the memories of her rape start coming back and it all feels to familiar. Same happened with Sky and Holder (this is to be expected though with someone who has experienced sexual assault. im just pointing out that its similar). SIMILARITY #4. Then at the end of Hopeless, Sky decides she needs to go visit her dad (who used to physically assault her if you don't remember). Just like Avery feels like she needs to talk to her parents about what happened to her. So, both Sky and Holder, as well as Avery and Cam get in the car to go confront the girls past. SIMILARITY #5. Then, after the confrontation, (which I must admit each turned out very differently) they head back to the hotel and have sex for the first time and its this really romantic and incredible experience and everything turns out okay and all the stars align blah blah blah. SIMILARITY #6. Oh, I also just remembered, both main female main characters have gay best friends. Sky has Beckett and Avery has Jacob. SIMILARITY #7. LIKE IM SORRY BUT THOSE BOOKS ARE PRETTY FREAKING SIMILAR. Btw, Hopeless was published in 2012 and Wait For You was published in 2013 so I am in no way throwing shade at Colleen. She is queen. My problem is with Armentrout.

While the romance was totally amazing and Im kind of hoping I find my own Cam, this book had little to no individuality which left me kind of disappointed. I don't plan on continuing on with this series. Thanks for letting me rant guys. xoxoxo

Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinions and perspectives on this book!

Volition by: Lily Paradis

4/26/2015

Volition by: Lily Paradis
Synopsis: You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that stays with you, then tears you apart slowly at first, and all at once shreds every fiber of your being?
It’s because you’re contradicting the universe.
Everything lines up so perfectly that you couldn’t have imagined it to work out better, but then you have to go and do everything humanly possible to ruin it because you can’t stand to have it go right?
That’s what I did.

I did it because there’s a darkness that surrounds me, and I think I want it there.

My name is Tate McKenna, and my soul is blacker than my heart.

Alright, its review time!

I must admit, I enjoyed this book a lot more then I thought I would!! I read Lily Paradis' first book, Ignite last year I believe (which I thoroughly enjoyed) but I must admit, I liked Volition a bit more!! This book was such a great fast paced read that definitely kept me guessing throughout! I really loved Hayden (so freakin swoon worthy) and I loved how at the end of the novel, the writing started switching between multiple characters perspectives! The biggest part of this book though was obviously Tate. I can understand how a lot of people could really struggle reading about someone like her because of how dark and screwed up she was. Personally, I loved it. I could connect with her on so many levels and I honestly felt like I was listening to someone talk to me instead of just reading words off a page. I think its pretty difficult to find authors who can capture a characters voice as well as Miss Paradis did in this novel. She was just such an interesting girl and I loved watching her grow and mature. Especially when it came to Jesse. I kind of wish I could sit down and talk with her cuz I feel like I might have a Jesse of my own.

My only main problem with this book was the actual writing when it came to things the characters did. There were a couple times I found bits in which a character would pick an object up and then it would never be mentioned again or someone would clearly stop walking but then somehow arrive at their destination seconds later. I just picked up on a few flaws but besides that, this book was a fast whirlwind of a read that I definitely enjoyed! Im very excited to see this author continue to progress and write more novels!

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with your opinion on this crazy novel!