Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts

Sunday, November 19, 2017

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

I'm shocked. That is all that comes to my mind because this story is deeply real. This story sheds light on a boy, Matt, hopelessly in love with his best friend and his neighbor, Tabby. Tabby is basically apart of the family. She participates in Matt's family's Thanksgivings and Halloweens. Tabby and Matt are the greatest friends but Tabby gets a senior boyfriend and Matt feels Tabby's absence in his life but Tabby tries to fit both boys into her life and make it worth it. This story is about friendship and learning how to deal with life.

Before I continue this blog post anymore, I will be spoiling so if you have not read this book then read it and come back it is VERY good.

As a high school student I am perfectly aware of the teenagery behavior I see in this novel. The constant crush, the need of attention, and the losing everything to get what you want concept but this book truly took me to a place that I did not expect and reintroduced me to why I love reading so much. Jared Peck has written the truth. He legit wrote a moment so terrifying horrible and unexpected that  I can't deal.

The thing I love most about this story is how impactful it has been on my life. I am very fortunate to have not have not lost anyone extremely close to me yet but as I grow up I am noticing that the same people I have seen before are no longer there for my friends or parents. The world is constantly changing and I don't believe anyone will be entirely ready for it.

I don't cry when I read novels but Mr. Reck made me cry for the first time. He introduced me to a character that everyone in the story loved and that I grew to love. She meant something to everyone and I grew to love her simplicity. Never would I have expected to see her end in the middle of the story. Tabby's death was incredibly real to me and book-altering. I have never read a story where death is like it is. Jared Reck put Tabby's death in the middle of the story not the end but the middle which I think is incredibly profound. Not only did I get to read about losing someone close but I got to experience it through words. I had to set down the book in order to stop crying. Tabby's death is the realist thing I have experienced in literature and in life.

The scariest thing in this book for me is that I was waiting for Matt to confess his feelings to Tabby but he never got the chance. This story opens your eyes at the complete horrendous fact that life isn't perfect but you have to find ways to keep going and keep living. I love how we are able to see Matt's reaction and how he choses to continue on. I especially love the relationships in this novel. Everyone has a place in this book whether it is a passion or a friendship I feel like everyone was there for one another.
Mostly, this book has made me appreciate books and how they expose me to the world that I haven't experienced yet in my own narrative. I may have not actually known Tabby but I know what it is like to know a person that means the world to you and that you would do anything for them. I am overwhelmed with emotions because I know that this novel is too true and it has made me open to the fact that life is short so make sure to live in the present and experience every moment because you never know when it will be your last.

Shoutout to Jared Reck for his beautiful story and words. I can't wait to read your future work!

Thank you so much for reading!


Much Love,
Channy













Monday, August 14, 2017

Fallen Heir by Erin Watt

Hi Lovely People!!!


OH MY GOODNESS!! OH MY GOODNESS!! OH MY GOODNESS!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! This might be my favorite Royals book!! First of all, major thank you to Erin Watt for sending me an ARC of Fallen Heir! If you have seen any of my previous posts, you know how obsessed I am with the Royals series. Last summer and fall, I seriously fell in love with Ella and Reed and all the Royals! When I found out Erin Watt was writing Easton's story, I started crying because I love the Royals SO MUCH!! I am going to list my favorite moments/scenes!!

                       
                             ---SPOILER FREE---





FAVORITE MOMENTS IN FALLEN HEIR

1. Easton is such a mess but so is Hartley!
2. Hartley is so unique and ordinary it made the book so much more interesting!
3. There is a TON of drama which puts you on the edge of your seat!
4. Ella and Reed are present in the novel as well as the events in the past book!
5. Easton chases Hartley and it makes me smile!
6. Easton really cares for Hartley.
7. Easton and Ella are still good friends!
7. THE ENDING!! HOLY GUACAMOLE!!!!!
8. READ IT AUGUST 28, 2017!!!
9. Thank you again to Erin Watt!!!!

I hope you all read it and let me know if you agree with my favorite things or want to add to it!!

Much Love,
Channy




Saturday, July 8, 2017

Six Reasons Why I Loved Paper Hearts by Ali Novak

  Hello!

Two summers ago I read The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak and I absolutely loved it. It was such a perfect beach read. I found out the other day that she has written the second one to The Heartbreakers called Paper Hearts. I rushed over to Target right then and read it in one sitting!!! Super cute summer read!

Summary:

Paper Hearts is based on the bass player in The Heartbreakers band, Alec, and his new love interest Felicity! Felicity hasn't seen her troublemaker sister in years after she ran away from home. Ever since then, it has only been Felicity and her Mom. Felicity's dream is to go to Stanford and become a lawyer just like her father. Felicity works day and night trying to make the money necessary for her education and studying non-stop. Felicity works a shift at the CCA's masquerade ball and meets Aaron, a quiet yet lively boy. Only Aaron isn't some ordinary boy he is the bass player in the Heartbreakers named Alec. Felicity and Alec spend time listening to the playlists he makes and hanging out. Felicity, getting ready for her date, stumbles across an old guitar case in her Mom's room full of letters from her sister. Alec, Felicity, and her friends travel on the ultimate road trip across California and Washington in search for Felicity's long lost sister in hopes of getting answers. Along the way, the fall in love and have the best playlist!


Six Reasons Why I loved Paper Hearts:

1. An ordinary girl and famous band member fall in love.













2. There is an EPIC road trip.



3. The band member basically makes mixed tapes for her.


4. Alec inspires Felicity to find who she really is.


5. Alec and Felicity play a cute game of tag with the band.












6. Alec dedicates a song to Felicity and they dance together!





I love books that are super easy to read and you don't want to put them down! The Heartbreaker Chronicles is something everyone needs to look out for because they are perfect reads to get you out of a slump and hit the ground running from the first page! I strongly suggest picking this up for your day in the sun!


Much Love,
Channy












Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Channy's Summer Reads

Hello Lovely Readers, 

Summer is my favorite time to read books. I love experiencing so many places on those hot days. This summer I have read so many different stories, and I wanted to share my thoughts on all of them. My goal for these three months was to read as many stories as I could but to also try and read other stories outside of my regular genre. If you have any books to recommend I would love it. I hope you are having a lovely summer!

- Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca 
This book is so cute. It follows two good friends that were in love but he tells her at the wrong moment because she is moving. A couple of years later she finds him in her new school and life. It makes for a very stressful, romantic story. Super cute! All my friends really enjoyed reading it too. It is a quick read.

- The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
I'm obsessed with the couple in this book. Literally, it will make you so jealous and looking for a summer boyfriend. The story follows Andie, the congressman's daughter, she thinks she has her summer all planned out with her dream internship. Well, her Dad gets swept into a scandal that gets her internship revoked and she finds herself dog walking and happens to meet a super awesome stranger along the way. This book hits all your feels! I promise you won't regret it!!!!

- Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn
This is the first out of a trilogy and it really is so cute. It reminds me of a Gossip Girl/ Mean Girls/ Monte Carlo. Gemma comes back to the Hamptons for the summer but she hasn't been back since the falling out with her friend. Her summer starts off in a whirlwind with a case of mistaken identity and a cute boy. This book was really fun to read but also tragic. It kind of stressed me out about the things she did in her past. Hopefully, I will pick up the second one sometime this summer!

                                                       -  No Love Allowed by Kate Evangelista 
This wasn't my favorite book but it is cute! Caleb needs a girlfriend for a series of parties for his father's law firm or he doesn't get to tour the world with his friends instead he would go to Yale for a future he isn't ready for. When he meets Didi he is introduced to the best parts of life. It was good but it wasn't my favorite I don't know why.

- Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino
Okay this book has to be on your MUST READ LIST!! I went to a summer camp for the entire month of June and everyone in my cabin read this including myself. There was not one person who did not love it!! It follows Grace and Matt who were dating and Matt takes off across the world for a job and they lose touch. Years later Matt sees Grace leaving on the subway and she sees him but they don't speak, so he finds her with a blog post. EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS!! I promise it will be the best thing that has ever happened to you! It has love, cute boys, adventure, and written so well!! If you read it please comment! I would love to chat<3

- The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker
This is a book I am so glad to have read. It follows a girl who has a dream of going to Boston College to play field hockey. Her mind is set to go there, and she has the ability to. Suddenly, she meets a boy who changes everything. They are in love and want to be together. The book follows an abusive relationship and how this boy has changed this girl. I think this is a story that everyone should read just because I think as a teenager and even an adult you hear about abusive relationships but you never fully understand until you have experienced one. I think that this story was tragic but something that I appreciate because I now have knowledge over it with this beautifully haunting story.

- When We Collided by Emery Lord
This story follows a girl, Vivi, who is spending the summer in a small town. She has a mental health issue and is living life by the moment. Jonah meets Vivi and it is like a light has lit up his life. She teaches him new things and introduces him to the world. Honestly, I feel like this book was missing something large. It was a nice easy read but it didn't feel right to me. I do not know much about bipolar disorder but I did learn about it through Jennifer Niven's All The Bright Places. I feel like the relationship was not as captivating as I had hoped. It was a good read, though.

- The Last Boy and Girl in The World by Siobhan Vivian 
This novel follows Keeley, a girl who is living in Aberdeen, a small town that is rapidly going under. Everyone in Aberdeen must evacuate before the town completely floods, but Keeley's father is taking a stand to keep their home from washing away. I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It was very different from most stories I like but it was really interesting to think about. I mean these people had to give up a life and a home. Plus, 2 love interests. I was happy with the end but I had hoped for better friendships. The main character was a little hesitant but also you have to think that this was a really rough time for everyone. Beautiful cover!

- 26 Kisses by Anna Michels
 26 Kisses follows Veda, a girl who has devoted her summer to kissing 26 people in the order of the alphabet. It started with Adam and went from there. It starts to heat up when Veda falls in love. I really liked this story. it was a little strange but it was a fun read. I could never picture myself in Veda's shoes, so it was hilarious. The love interest was nicely written. It isn't a must read but it is something to laugh over. Definitely a summer book.

- This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
This story was by far the most interesting that I have read in a while. It takes place between August Flynn and Kate Harker both surrounded in a monster filled city. They are both on different sides but they come together to help fight against it. It is really hard to describe this book but it was super good. I am not one for scary stories or monster filled books but I found myself picking this up after hearing great things about it. I found myself unable to put it down. It was really amazing to get lost in this world and read something dark. It was a breath of fresh air. I loved the relationship between Kate and August because it wasn't romantic or anything but it was two totally different people coming together and helping one another. There were a lot of great quotes in this book, so I think that is another reason why I really loved it. I can't wait to see where this series goes.


- Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler
This was such a fun read. It takes places in NYC at a magazine internship where Harper is spending her summer as a dating blogger. Sounds amazing except for the fact she hasn't had a summer fling in her life. She decides to use her best friend's dating stories for her success. This was a great, fun, and hilarious read. I found myself laughing at parts and cringing at others. LBDLWL is a great novel to read by the pool. It is also, has a couple love interests (my faves). It was a quick read and really exciting. If you plan on going into journalism, traveling NYC, creating enemies, or falling in love pick it up.

- Sing by Vivi Greene
Sing is so cute! I read it in literally 3 hours it was such an easy read and perfect for summer. It follows, Lily, an actress ready for a break from her harsh world. She decides to take a vacay after her boyfriend breaks up with her. Her friends and her travel away to an island where she meets a super cute boy and has an inspiration overload. Sing really was really fun to read on this summer day. It wasn't even 300 pages and full of perfection. It was a story that dealt with heartbreak, friendship, love, and most importantly family. Lily doesn't have family with her on this vacation but you can tell who has inspired her and cared for her. Truly super cute and light. There was nothing heavy in this book, but there was a love triangle <3

- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
I already did a blog post for this because it was too good and screwed up that I needed to write all my thoughts down. Check it out if you are interested but I am so in love with this story. I loved the romance in this story but I loved it because it deals with something traumatic and it teaches you how to trust yourself and know that you are strong enough. This story had a great message and I am so amazed at how beautiful it was. It had so many flaws but it made the story so truthful and beautiful. It was definitely heavy, but I learned from it and am so happy I was able to. Also, ATLAS<3 (:


- Did I Mention I Miss You? by Estelle Maskame
If you follow this blog at all you know my love and appreciation for this trilogy. I was having a reading attack because I needed this book after DIMINY ( I posted a review on it earlier) so in the US it doesn't come out until December, but I am sneaky and went on Amazon UK and got it *high five* All I can say is what a beautiful way to end a long journey. Eden comes home to Santa Monica after being in Chicago at her dream school. She hasn't spoke to Tyler in a year and she believes she has finally fallen out of love with him. Tyler decides it is time to come back and visit. When he does he expects Eden to still be in love with him not the complete opposite. She goes with him to Portland and shows her what he has been working on all through the year. Now, this story is kind of strange when you first year about it but let me tell you it is probably the best trilogy I have ever read. I love stories that make you not be able to wait until the next, you can only think about it, and you order it from the UK. I mean I really, really love this story. If I had to chose which one out of the trilogy I liked most it wouldn't be this one BUT this last book was so necessary to tie up everything that was unleashed throughout the time. Honestly, I can't believe it is over but I really appreciate it and I can't wait to see what Estelle has next.

- The Paper Princess by Erin Watt
Cruel Intentions is one of my favorite movies, so when the cover quote says this is the next Cruel Intentions I bought it instantly. This story is about a girl who comes not a nice background and when her mother days she must find ways to make money. Until the Dad she has never met's best friend finds her to tell her her father has passed and he is her new guardian. She moves in with the Royals only to find that they are all keeping secrets and they don't want her there. This book was actually so AMAZING!! I mean truly it was so scandalous and an interesting read. I love the Royals at first I thought they were just rude but as they started opening up I fell in love with them especially Reed. He is such an intriguing character because he doesn't open up very much, so when Ella becomes someone he opens up to UGGGH I JUST LOVE IT!!! Probably one of the best books I have read. It sort of reminds me of DIMILY because it is sort of a stepbrother/sister thing, but it is SO SO GOOD!! Seriously, pick up this one. Excuse me while I go order the next one.


- The Broken Prince by Erin Watt
A great sequel to The Paper Princess. Reed and Ella are some of my favorite characters to read about. I think their story is really interesting and is a great plot twist to have in life. This is a great story regarding growing up and becoming who you are. I found it enlightening and sweet. Even though Ella and Reed's relationship was rocky due to the end of the previous book, I saw a lot of growth and realization between the two. I love when characters change each other for the better, and I believe Reed has been changed. He is more appreciative and notices the value in his princess, but also relationships. Ella is so used to being on the run that she couldn't help herself when things got bad to run again. I really loved that she ran away because it showed the perspective of how screwed up the Royals are without her. It shows how Ella has changed their lives. It is a mature book but it deals with high school at its worst. The book ended in a big cliffhanger, but I don't really mind because the story was so good that it makes up for it. I can't wait until October to read it!

- Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino
I read Before We Were Strangers at the beginning of the summer, and I finished off my summer but reading Carlino's newest story. This book is overall about saving someone and being saved. It is about learning from mistakes and changing. It is about growing up and finding a life. It is about trust and relationships. It is about overcoming a large obstacle. Swear on This Life is one of the greatest stories that I have read. It follows a girl who is reading a book by her childhood crush/ friend and she finds it is about her life. I loved the entire story but I truly loved the story inside the story. It made me so happy and sad. Most importantly, I loved what I learned from this story. I love how I saw two sides of life in this story. I loved the growth of the characters. Everyone should read this story it is worth it!






I can't believe summer has come to an end, but I have enjoyed reading this summer. I even finished my reading challenge on Goodreads! Overall, I read 22 books this summer!! I only posted the ones I loved, though! Thank you so much for reading, and I hope that I have guided you in some direction to read one of these books. Let me know if you do! I hope everyone has a great year!

Much Love,
Channy









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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

14 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD READ JENNIFER NIVEN'S HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE

Hello Lovely People!


I am so excited to inform you all that I had the privilege of reading Jennifer Niven's new novel, Holding Up the Universe. All I can really say is it is perfect and beautiful and everything!! I was super duper thrilled to receive this because All the Bright Places is my favorite novel and Jennifer is one of my favorite people ever!!! If you haven't read any of her books then you are missing out on life. If I have learned anything from reading ATBP is that Jennifer takes you on an emotional roller coaster, so here are a few things to get you hyped over HUTU.



14 REASONS WHY READING HUTU IS THE BEST EVER!!!! 

1. Dusty, Jack's little brother, will be your hero in every way. You will love him from start to finish and will want to kill some people who get in the way of Dusty's happiness.



2. You are going to want to twirl your heart out! <3





3. You'll be searching for a purple bikini because of Libby's inspirational showdown before her peers.




4. Jack is going to kill your heart and put it back together.
 

5. Libby's dance moves are to die for and will want to make you get up and shimmy. You will want to join the Damsels just as much as Libby and will want to show up Caroline too.




6. Libby and Jack go on a road trip it will hit your ATBP feels. Jack and Libby's road trip is so cute but also kind of scary.




7. Jack is the coolest person ever who is so loving that you can't help but want a Jack too. Jack's love for his family is beautiful and lovely. His dates with Libby will have you swooning.




 8. Jack names his car just like Finch and you might cry a little.




 9. You will find your Inner Libby! Libby's confidence is something that is so vibrant and beautiful. She is sunshine and awesomeness and will inspire you to be yourself.



10. You will feel Wanted and Loved!



11. All the "hypothetically" comments will have you fangirling to death because Jack and Libby couldn't be any more perfect!



12. Jack and Libby teach you to fall in love with flaws because thats what makes a person who they are.



13. Jack and Libby's date will have you on the floor because its too cute!!




 14. The end will kill you and will have you smiling so big!






Here is 14 reasons why I loved HUTU. This book was so lovely and beautiful. Jennifer does a really great job at describing Jack's condition in a way that you can understand and feel for him. Personally, I loved this novel because it deals with a girl who is known to everyone because of her weight and a boy who truly sees her, but can't actually recognize her. I love how Jack trusts her and befriends her. Their love story is one that will stick with me forever because of how different and amazing it is. Jennifer never fails to write an extraordinary work of art. I am so honored and pleased to be one of the first to read this. Please pick this up in October it truly is a book that everyone should read because it is so different and deals with flaws, love, friendship, family, and so much more. Thank you to Jennifer for writing another beautiful story that will be apart of my heart forever.

Much Love,
Channy



PS: BOY PARADE IS IN HERE AGAIN *SCREAMS*









PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS BEAUTY OCTOBER 4, 2016!!







- Thanks to www.giphy.com  for all the gifs.