Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Release Date:  February 1, 2009

Publisher: HMH Books For Young Readers

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 368

Summary:  The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

My Thoughts:   I had been looking forward to Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side. I remember being extremely excited when it was released.

I did enjoy Jessica’s Guide to an extent but I had wished I had liked it more.

We are introduced to Jessica who is pretty naive when it comes to vampires. In moves a boy named Lucius, a vampire who she was promised too as a baby. Come to find out, Jessica comes from quite the popular family and is destined to rule by Lucius' side.  This was a bit hard to imagine and to really catch on. For Jessica and myself. She didn’t really believe in vampires at first. And Lucius sure didn’t really fit in around her small town.

I liked Jessica and Lucius both. I liked both of their personalities and how they clashed. I also liked Jessica’s adoptive family and her real uncle.  Lucius family; not so much.

I liked the plot and how it was Lucius’ mission to make Jessica come into her vampire heritage and fall for him.

I did enjoy this one but I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped. I also liked Jessica’s friend and the nice guy she was seeing. Hated the girl Lucius was seeing. But that was kind of the point.

I will read the next one in the series!

Overall:  I’d say this is probably more of a 3.5 cupcake rating for me. I liked it, I finished it, but it didn’t hook me as much as I hoped!

Cover: Like it! This is what originally drew me to the story. Thought it was cute!

What I’d Give It:

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Publisher:  Farrar Straus And Giroux

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 304

Summary:  A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

My Thoughts:  I really really enjoyed this one!

We are introduced to Ella and Maddy. Ella is the quiet one and Maddy is the outgoing one. Ella has a small group of friends and a best friend named Josh. Maddy has a lot of friends and a boyfriend by her side. The two are pretty different from one another.

Ella does want her sister back. She misses the days where they were best friends, before Maddy became so popular.

One night, Maddy calls Ella for a ride home and they get into a car accident. One dies and the other one lives. Well, Ella decides to be Maddy and let everyone think Ella has died. This begins crazy emotions from friends and family.

I just loved Josh! Ella’s best friend. I liked him from the get go and wasn’t too fond of Maddy’s boyfriend. I loved seeing Josh learn things about Maddy and Ella. I liked seeing his emotions.

This was a very emotional read! I had to go back and reread a few paragraphs because they took my breath away. There were things were said that I couldn’t  believe or get enough of. I also liked figuring out all Maddy’s secrets and seeing all the things and problems she left behind.

I won’t say much else. I don’t want to give anything away but I really enjoyed this one. I thought it had great character development, great characters, and a great plot!

Overall: I really enjoyed it! I read it within a day! Yes, I liked it that much!!! I would highly recommend this for anyone who likes contemps!

Cover: Like it! It totally fits! And I like all the colors!

What I’d Give It:

City Love by Susane Colasanti

City Love by Susane Colasanti

Release Date:  April 21, 2015

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books  

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 336

Summary: Three girls are about to discover the meaning of city love. From bestselling YA romance author Susane Colasanti!

Sadie, a born and raised New Yorker, is hopeful and romantic and an eternal optimist who is ready to find her soul mate.

Darcy is a free spirit from SoCal with rebellious tendencies and unlimited financial resources, looking for summer boy adventures.

Rosanna leaves Chicago for NYC with a grand total of seventy-three cents so she can reinvent herself and forget about her past.

Sadie, Darcy, and Rosanna are living together in New York City the summer before their freshman year of college begins. With no parents, no rules, and an entire city to explore, these three girls are on the verge of the best summer of their lives. Told from alternating points of view, City Love captures the moments in each girl’s life when everything is thrilling, amazing, and terrifying all at once…in a way it will never be again.

My Thoughts:  City Love was another pretty neat book by Colasanti. I always enjoy her books and I love when a new one is announced.

We are introduced to three different girls. Sadie, Darcy, and Rosanna. And the chapters flip back and forth between different perspectives. Usually this does not work for me, but with City Love I had an easy time reading and knowing whose life I was reading about. My favorite girl was probably Rosanna. She was so real and down to earth. Next, I liked Sadie. I liked Darcy but I never really connected with her very well.

Each girl is navigating living in New York. They have their jobs, their love lives, and getting ready for college.  As for the romance aspects, I really liked them all. I think my favorite was probably Austin. He seemed so right for Sadie, and they had so much in common until things got interesting towards the end.  I also liked the guy Rosanna was seeing, D.  

The first part of this was a big slow even though it flowed nicely together. I never felt the shift between girls difficult to change perspectives.

Of course, the wrapping up of the story towards the end was the best part. I wanted to know more, and come to find out there is going to be another book, so that is awesome!

Overall:  I really liked the plot and the girls. I also loved all the New York references. I've never been there but I've heard of some of the things so reading about them was awesome! I loved the little things thrown throughout the story!

And the ending, I need the next one now! My mouth dropped open on Sadie’s story! OMG!

Cover:  Love it! I’m a sucker for the books that show a girl/guy on the front! Very cute!

What I’d Give It:

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

Release Date:  May 8, 2012

Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 416

Summary: Fans of Maggie Stiefvater and the hit television show True Blood will flock to this first book in the supernatural mystery series set in a town where werewolves live in plain sight.

Mackenzie Dobson's life has been turned upside down since she vowed to hunt her best friend Amy's killer: a white werewolf. Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country, and bloodlust is not easy to control. But it soon becomes clear that dangerous secrets are lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, Mac's hometown—and she is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her in grave danger.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling debut novel provides readers with a mystery that Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder, calls "clever and frightening," while Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author ofFirelight, raves: "Forget every werewolf book you've ever read. This one breaks the mold."

My Thoughts:   Honestly, I always find myself having problems with werewolf books. Give me faeries or vampires and I’m all for it. Werewolves, not so much.

But, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Hemlock.  We are introduced to Mackenzie who has a few best friends. Well, one of them is murdered pretty early pretty in the book. Her name was Amy.  Her other best friends Jason and Kyle both have a thing for Mac even though its a pretty well kept secret for a while. As readers we can see it, but Mac doesn’t really know.

When more people start showing up dead, Mac gets worried. She wants to find out what is really going on.

I must also point out that being a werewolf in Hemlock, and around the rest of the world isn’t a secret. People have the disease and its well known. If you have it, you get sent away to a rehabilitation camp. Of course a lot of people try to keep it a secret.

I liked the plot of this one, the friends trying to find out who killed Amy. I also liked the romance aspect of it. I loved the characters. Mac was so spunky and I really liked her personality. I also liked both Jason and Kyle for different reasons.  

I’m excited to read the next one in the series.

Overall: Read Hemlock pretty fast. I liked it. I’m excited to know what will happen next.

Cover: Its pretty. Like how she is sitting there and love her dress.  I think this one is more of a 3.5 cupcake rating for me. I liked it a lot for a werewolf book though!!!

What I’d Give It:

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 304

Summary:  When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.

My Thoughts: Man, oh Man I loved this one! Things We Know By Heart was a wonderful novel! I raced right through it! I needed to know what happened next!

We are introduced to Quinn who lost her boyfriend about a year ago. Over this time, while mourning, she has reached out to the people who got his organs. Feeling like he made a difference has helped her cope. It was a way to know it wasn't all for nothing.

There is one last person who hadn’t responded to her letters. His name is Colton and he was very sick until he got the heart. In Quinn’s eyes, the heart is the key to the soul, its important.

Quinn sets out to see Colton. She doesn’t intend to meet him or even talk to him but things don’t go as planned. She runs into him and things go crazy from there. The more time Quinn spends with him the more she realizes how wonderful he is.

I don’t want to say much about this one. I loved it so much. I loved how everything went down, and I loved the plot and the characters. I loved both Quinn and Colton and them together was just amazing. It was such a heartfelt novel but also very very good and deep.

Things We Know By Heart will probably make my favorites of the year, yes it was that great!

Overall: Loved this one! I can’t believe how fast I flew through it! It was such a good one! Oh Colton, I need a boy like you!

Cover:  Love it! It just fits perfectly. If I saw this in a bookstore, I’d pick it up. And once I read the summary, it would be going home with me!

What I’d Give It:

Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

Release Date:  April 28, 2015

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 304

Summary: Kody Keplinger returns to the world of The DUFF in this brand-new companion novel!

Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go.

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with -- secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross.

Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand -- a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

My Thoughts:  I enjoyed Lying Out Loud but I still liked The Duff a lot more! I connected more to the characters in The Duff.

In Lying Out Loud we are introduced to Sonny and Amy, best friends! Even though the girls are quite a bit different, they just click. When you see one you usually see the other. They have been friends a long time.

When a new guy named Ryder gets the attention of Sonny, things go haywire.  But of course he likes Amy. That is usually what happens, right? As Sonny gets to know him she really starts to fall for him. The catch, he thinks hes been chatting with Amy. See, they have had deep conversations online and through texts, on Amy’s phone.

I thought Lying Out Loud was a funny one! Many times, I laughed and I understand where both Amy and Sonny were coming from on things they did and ways they acted. I liked Ryder too but I never really fell for him. I liked him enough.  At first, I enjoyed reading the chats between Ryder and Sonny but after a while, I just needed to know what was going to happen.

Am I happy the way things turned out? Yes! At parts it was a bit slow but if you're in the mood for something light and funny, try this one out!

Overall:  I liked Lying Out Loud but I didn’t really love it. I liked the plot and how things developed. I liked Amy and Sonny’s friendship most of the time. I think this one is more of a 3.5 cupcake rating for me!

Cover:  Like it! Its cute! Love how they are just hanging out!

What I’d Give It:

All The Rage by Courtney Summers

All The Rage by Courtney Summers

Release Date: April 14, 2015

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 336

Summary: The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out,All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

My Thoughts:  I really wanted to love All The Rage! And while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it as much as I have with other Summer’s books!

We are introduced to Romy who is sort of an outcast. She wasn't always this way. Its been a recent thing. She used to have friends and was always doing something but now things are different. Everyone thinks she is a liar.  She has started thinking of herself as the before and after.

A bunch of girls torture her basically. They steal her clothes and do mean things to her.She isn’t safe anywhere from their bullying. Except a small little diner she works at. Nobody there really knows her story. She goes to work and gets the job done. There is also a boy named Leon who works with her that she has an interest in.

I liked All The Rage. It was raw and emotional. But dealing with rape and all the feelings that come along with it, I had a hard time getting into this one. I think its just been my reading mood. Right now, I just need happy romantic reads and this one was very deep for me at the moment.

Overall: I did like Romy as a main character. I understood where she was coming from and I could relate to her anger and the way she looked at life. I also liked Leon and how he wanted to be more than what he was.  I liked the overall tone of this one but I think I liked some of Courtney Summer’s other books a bit more. I'd say this was between a 3.5 and 4 cupcake rating!

Cover: Like it! Its dark and haunting, I’d pick it up!

What I’d Give It:

Finding Paris by Joy Preble

Finding Paris by Joy Preble

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Publisher: Balzer And Bray

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 272

Summary:  An evocative and compelling story of two sisters who would do anything for each other--perfect for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and Speak. Joy Preble's stirring new novel explores the lengths to which sisters go to protect each other, and the winding road that brings two strangers into each other's lives.

Sisters Leo and Paris Hollings have only ever had each other to rely on. They can't trust their mother, who hops from city to city and from guy to guy, or their gambler stepfather, who's moved them all to Las Vegas. It's just the two of them: Paris, who's always been the dreamer, and Leo, who has a real future in mind--going to Stanford, becoming a doctor, falling in love. But Leo isn't going anywhere right now, except driving around Vegas all night with her sister.

Until Paris ditches Leo at the Heartbreak Hotel Diner, where moments before they had been talking with physics student Max Sullivan. Outside, Leo finds a cryptic note from Paris--a clue. Is it some kind of game? Where is Paris, and why has she disappeared? When Leo reluctantly accepts Max's offer of help, the two find themselves following a string of clues through Vegas and beyond. But the search for the truth is not a straight line. And neither is the path to secrets Leo and Max hold inside.

My Thoughts: I really wanted to like this one more than I did. I thought it sounded really cool.

We are introduced sisters Leo and Paris.  Leo is the down to earth one who saves money. Paris is the wilder one, the risk taker.  Paris and Leo go out late one night and Paris leaves Leo at the diner. Leo meets a boy named Max. I liked Max but I never really fell for him. He just didn’t seem like a well developed enough character for me.

Paris sends Leo out on a type of scavenger hunt.  Leo must find Paris before its too late.

I liked all the clues. I liked seeing what was next. Also, the ending, I figured it would be something along those lines. An actual story-line that would pop its head out and reveal a big secret to us.

I thought Finding Paris was interesting enough but I felt like I never really connected to the story very well or the characters. It was a fast read. I did like Leo but I never really liked Paris until up until the end of the story.

Overall: I can see where a lot of people will enjoy this one but to me, it was just okay. I just had a hard time with the writing and getting into the story.

Cover:  Like it! I’d definitely pick it up to see what it was about!

What I’d Give It:

Play On by Michelle Smith

Play On  by Michelle Smith

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Publisher:  Spencer Hill

Age Group: Young Adult
Pages:296

Summary:  In the small town of Lewis Creek, baseball is everything. Especially for all-star pitcher Austin Braxton, who has a one-way ticket out of town with his scholarship to a top university. All that stands between him and a new start is one final season. But when Austin starts flunking Chemistry, his picture-perfect future is in jeopardy. A failing grade means zero playing time, and zero playing time means no scholarship.

Enter Marisa Marlowe, the new girl in town who gets a job at his momma's flower shop. Not only is Marisa some home-schooled super-genius; she's also a baseball fanatic and more than willing to help Austin study. As the two grow closer, there's something about Marisa that makes Austin want more than just baseball and out of Lewis Creek -- he wants a future with her. But Marisa has a past that still haunts her, one that she ran all the way to South Carolina to escape.

As Austin starts to peel back the layers of Marisa’s pain, it forces him to look beyond the façade of himself and everyone he thought he knew in his town. What he sees instead is that in a small town like Lewis Creek, maybe baseball isn’t everything—maybe it is just the thing that ties them all together.

My Thoughts: When I first saw the summary for Play On, I was super excited! It sounded really good and it was also about baseball. When I was a teenager, I loved playing baseball! It was probably my favorite sport.

We are introduced to Austin who is one of the towns star players. Everyone also knows about his dad, who committed suicide a little while ago. Austin still doesn’t understand why. Everyone likes Austin, he’s popular. But in the process, everyone expects a lot of him.

We are also introduced to a girl named Marisa. Marisa is new to town and she ends up getting a job at Austin’s moms flower shop. This pairs them together quite often. Austin is also having trouble at school so Marisa starts tutoring him.

I liked Austin and Marisa. I liked them together. I liked their personality. And Marisa isn’t perfect and Austin understands that. They both come with their own baggage.

Once again, I also loved the sports angle of this. I loved getting to know his teammates and how they relate to things.

I thought this was a really cute contemporary. I liked how much they both have to overcome to have a relationship with each other and they don’t expect it to always be 100% perfect either. They were raw and real.

Overall:  I enjoyed it. I think this one rates between a 3.5 and a 4 cupcake rating for me.  There was a lot of depth to it, even though it wasn't very long. I really liked Austin!

Cover: Cute! I’d pick it up for the cover alone. Something about it just draws me in and I want to know what its about! 

What I'd Give It:

The Replaced (Taking #2) by Kimberly Derting

The Replaced (Taking #2) by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 368

Summary:  Romantic and action-packed, The Replaced is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.

Kyra hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year disappearance. Now, on the run from the NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with others who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler, the boy she loves who was also abducted—all because of her. When her group intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyra knows it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost?

Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the Body Finder series, The Replaced is both chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty, psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to be human.

My Thoughts:  I liked The Replaced but I do believe I liked The Taking a bit more.  We are back with Kyra and her father has gone missing, and so has Tyler. Kyra feels somewhat responsible for Tyler and she knows deep in her heart she must do whatever it takes to get him back.

In The Replaced, Kyra is basically on the run with a group of survivors that she met. I really liked the new guy Simon. He understood Kyra is ways that I liked, and I liked seeing them together. Even though it makes it a sort of love triangle, at the same time Kyra really isn’t that into him because she’s still stuck on Tyler. And we do see Tyler again but he’s changed quite a bit also. I just wasn’t as drawn to Tyler in this one as I was in The Taking.

I liked seeing what happened and learning more about the side characters. I liked learning more about the agent after them and more on his story. I liked The Replaced and I think it was a good sophomore novel but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did The Taking. Of course the ending does leave you with wanting that next book though!

Overall:  I liked it but I still enjoyed The Taking a little more. I’d probably give this one a 3.5 cupcake rating as I gave The Taking 4 so this one is a little lower! I’m excited to read the next in the series!

Cover:  Like it! If I saw this in a bookstore, I’d pick it up! It gives it a scifi look!

What I’d Give It: