Book Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Goodreads Synopsis: The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Finally! The conclusion to the Selection Series! AHHHH I love how the series ended. This last book is my favorite one from the series!!! It's perfect I just can't!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE ONE BUT IT'S OK IF YOU LIKE READING SPOILERS  BEFORE READING A BOOK

I understand why it was difficult for America to choose between Aspen and Maxon. Aspen is her first love and Maxon is the gorgeous prince (hehe) but as the competition progresses we see her falling out of love for Aspen. Things are complicated between Maxon and America. Maxon wants to be fair to every one so she makes sure he spends time with each one of the girls. This makes America kind of jealous and confused. It's a competition and she knows how much each of the other girls want Maxon and the crown. America loves Maxon but she's afraid to say it because she doesn't know if Maxon feels the same way because he keeps spending time with the other girls and doing things with them. And I just...sskdjsajdba

I just get frustrated every time Maxon and America almost says i love you to each other but holds back and I'm like get your shit together guys. And they do. I'm so incredibly happy because they're happy and ever body's happy. America will always love Aspen. Aspen is like family to America now. And they'll forever care for each other.

The attacks of the rebels are getting more and more intense. There's actually a difference between the Southern and Northern rebels. The Southern rebels are the violent ones and the Northern rebels want the caste system removed but they have never killed anyone and they want to support Maxon because they know Maxon has potential to set every thing right.

Unlike the other girls, America seems to be the normal girl but she possesses great qualities. She's brave. She stands up for what is right. Even if it almost caused her removal in the competition and the further dislike of the king towards her. I love her so so much.

There may be tragic things that happened towards the end that I didn't expect and I'm sad because of that but I'm also very very happy because Maxon and America are finally together. They deserve to be together after the things (both good and bad) that they went through.

Thank you Kiera Cass for the Selection Series! It was a great journey!

- Alex

All. The. Feels. - "If I Stay" Trailer

      

                                                                                                                                                   

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check twitter (and instagram) on my ipod. What I see first is this tweet by Gayle Forman:

Of course, I freaked out (in a good way)! I clicked the link and impatiently waited for the video to load. The trailer is perfect! It made me cry (that's how perfect it was)!!! Jamie Blackley and Chloë Moretz are perfect for the role of Mia and Adam just like what I first thought when I saw this exclusive first look photo on the Entertainment Weekly website in March:

I don't know about you but I think they share an amazing chemistry!
 And they still look amazing even with silly faces on!

A big advance congratulations to Gayle Forman, to the creators of the movie, the cast and the whole "If I Stay" team!

I can't wait for September 3!!! Find out when "If I Stay" will come out in cinemas in your country here: "If I Stay" Worldwide Release Dates

Have you read "If I Stay" and its sequel "Where She Went" by Gayle Forman? 

What did you think of the trailer?

 

 

Book Review: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

 

Goodreads Synopis: What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

“I knew how to die. It was the living that scared me.” - Alice

Side Effects May Vary is told in two different points of view and also in two scenarios (then and now). I found this a bit confusing but I managed.

At first I hesitated to read this book because I'm kind of tired of books with characters doing the bucket list thing but I decided to give it a try. I read it as an ebook. I ended up loving it. I fell in love with the way it was written. It was simple. Simple but beautiful.

I know some readers think that Alice's character is hard to like. She's stubborn and some would say "bitchy." I will leave it to you to find out why is that (if you decide to read it) It was interesting to read about a stubborn lead character because most of the books I've read deals with not so bitchy girls haha (if you know what I mean) Alice may be emotionally wrecked but she was still able to gather the strength to overcome the challenges in her life. I mean, she is informed that she has leukemia then she does the things she wants to do before she dies (written in "the list") then after all that she goes into remission...AHHH

Okay now, Harvey. I instantly loved him! He's the kind of guy who would do anything for the girl he loves. I kind of pity Harvey because he goes through a lot of effort to show Alice that he loves her but Alice is afraid to admit her feelings for him.


This is a book full of emotion and sass *cough* Alice *cough* Definitely worth the read!

- Alex

Cover Reveal: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Synopsis:  

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive. 

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.  

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together? 

Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

 About the author: 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.  

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Follow Jennifer!

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Website

The cover of Origin (the fourth book in the LUX series) is finally here! It's gorgeous!  I'm so excited for the release on the 27th of August under Entangled Teen! What do you think of the cover? 

- Alex