Top Ten Tuesday: Twist of Fate

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP UNDERRATED YA CONTEMPORARY BOOKS

Life can change in a second. I love how books reminds us to hold on because fate can switch back. All is never lost.

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

As if the death of a parent isn't devastating enough, imagine if your mom is being kept alive by a respirator so that your baby brother can grow in her belly!!

How can anyone say goodbye when the body is still there?

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

Bullying and euthanasia combine. Believe me, this is not a typical contemporary read that's for sure.

Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek


Profound, at times unexpected events, that tackled LGBT problems that can lead to suicide. Quite touching.

FRUIT by Brian Francis

Peter is gay but doesn't know it yet. Instead, the book becomes less of a sexual identity story and focuses on a boy trying to fit in, be the right weight (mom doesn't want her 200 pound teen to stop eating fast food), and lastly overcome puberty.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

I cannot say how much I loved this book. Maybe it was because it hit very close to home. Or because Deb Caletti has a really interesting way to warn girls about how to avoid getting sucked into bad relationships. 

Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham

I admit I was reluctant to read this story, due to the similarity of the plot with Bethany Lambert's life (I mean let her write the story, right?) But, the author wrote it all in a beautiful poetic verse with raw emotional feelings on every page. So yeah, I liked it!

A Blind Spot for Boys by Justina Chen

There is a huge #whyIstayed meme going on twitter today about abusive relationships. Sometimes words hurt more than fists and this book demonstrates how being told time after time that you are not good enough damages your self-esteem. 

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

After reading this love story gone wrong you will beg Levithan to write a thesaurus. And a grammar book....etc etc












Which book topped your list?

Review: A Blind Spot for Boys

The end doesn't always mean it's over, sometimes bad things happen to make us stronger.

Seven months later, Shana still can't get over her ex. He rejected her, so now she is rejecting others as a defense mechanism. To make matters worse, Shana's dad, a photographer, is going blind. This leads to a trip across the continent where he will be able to photograph beauty for the last time.

Instead of the before and after, Chen focuses her story and the most emotional part of a relationship: what happens at the end. Do you, like Shana, blame yourself for not having been good enough? Or like her father, push the ones who love you away?

A coward is the one who isn't afraid to stand alone, yet ask for help when needed. Chen provides us with several examples of this theory. Remember there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. And for Shana that light is named Quattro, and he is swoon worthy.

Highly inspirational!

Review: Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek

With fame comes responsibility -- and Riley Mae shows us how it's done. 

Becoming a spokesperson for a running shoe line was a dream come true, until Riley discovered just how much her life would change. Not only is her schedule completely full, but if she wasn't receiving the shoes for free, she wouldn't be able to afford them. Yet girls try to do anything for a pair. Except for her friend Rusty, who doesn't even eat now that her dad lost his job. Can Riley use her fame for a purpose and secretly help Rusty buy food without her parents or softball team noticing?

Riley is the kind of child any parent would dream off. She hates the schedule, but obeys it. Takes her friend's struggles to heart. Respects her family. With a girl like Riley -- what could possibly go wrong? But Osborne surprised me with a mystery subplot that I did not see coming. The last part of the book is filled with action, an assassin, and a humorous pair of siblings.

Prepare for a cliffhanger ending, literally.

Top Ten Tuesday: All Girls Lunch Club

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP CHARACTERS WHO WOULD HAVE SAT AT MY LUNCH TABLE

Mmm, lunch! I went to an all girl school, therefore no male characters would be mentioned on this list. Sad and sexist, I know!

Hermione Granger from Harry Potter Series

Straight A student, my Hermione friend was always prepared for exams and insisted on correcting all my essays. A huge thank you for that!!

Mia Hall from If I Stay

Artists stick with artists. My Mia friend was not a cellist but a singer -- all the while passionately dreaming of a music career.

Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey

My Anastasia was a good girl as well, and although the whole lunch table adored her, the on and off "do I stay with him" relationship dilemmas drove us crazy.

Lissa Dragomir from Vampire Academy

Very classy and etiquette wize, my Lissa (unlike me) was never tardy. Like ever! How is that humanly possible?











Finally me: Theater craze with an impulsive personality.





Which character would you be?

Review: Every Day

Meatloaf's "I would do anything for love -- but I won't do that" song finally makes sense.

A is a soul who wakes up in a different body every morning since he could remember. Boy or girl -- all aged 16 -- living within close proximity of each other. Although A has gotten used to distancing himself from the body, he can't help but fall in love with Rhiannon. It's the way she listens to him, her sweet side, the way she treats others that makes A want to be with her all the time. And so begins the quest, to use whoever's body to contact her. But when Rhiannon discovers the truth will she run toward A or away from him?

At first, the idea can either be seen as genius or extremely crazy. Not many authors would have been able to handle this rollercoaster of a story. Levithan not only wrote incredible love triangles, but tackled the themes of drug addiction, sibling rivalry, suicide and depression all at once. 

A must-read!