Review: DOAWK: Old School

It's not me, it's you.

I'm a huge fan of Greg and his awkward life moments. He has a quirky family that means well, and the most amazing best friend. But this time (book 10) I feel like Kinney is running out of ideas and just adding things to fulfill his novel deadline. 

We get some deja vus as Greg and his Dad end up in a camp thanks to a one week school break that is not clear(I mean, is he on vacation). All the campers are unsupervised and fed weeks old food, even forced to live without showers. Don't get me wrong, the giggles are there, but barely in plausible situations. 

How long can this series last?

Top Ten Tuesday: Exploring the unknown

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP NEW AUTHORS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR

Did a small twist on the today's topic, mainly because when I like an author, I tend to devour the series right away. Like I did with the Locke & Key series. Here is the list of authors that caught my eye in 2015.

Susan EE (author of Angelfall)

Angels are not my favorite fantasy/paranormal characters. Particularly, after the disappointing results of the Fallen series. But Susan was able to mix the right amount of tension to change my mind.

August Strindberg (author of Miss Julie)

Misogynistic yes! But so were the men in that period of time. Strindberg added so much drama, and had me gasping in horror at the horrible way men treated women then (sadly, some still do).

Lena Dunham (author of Not that Kind of Girl)

Her sense of humor always gives me the giggles, but I found Dunham's latest book to not only be humorist but also very down to earth and blatantly honest. Loved it!

Joe Hill(author of Locke and Key)

Devoured the first four volumes. Waiting for the last two to arrive this Christmas. 

Tamara Ireland Stone (author of Eevry Last Word)

Plot twists are not easy to do. However, Stone managed to draw me in and gave her book an unexpected ending. 

Sabaa Tahir (author of An Ember in the Ashes)

Not a fan of historical fantasies, but An Ember in the Ashes was off the hook. I need to read the next one. 

   

S.K. Tremayne (author of The Ice Twins)

The Goodreads nomination was not in vain. This book is a psychological thriller with well done characterizations. 

Amy Ewing (author of The Jewel)

This is actually the first book I read in 2015. I was glad to start off the year with a great novel that maintained my interest right away.

Which authors did you discover this year?

Review: Never said

Annie never said what troubled her so much. 

Instead, she just started eating junk, turning her beauty pageant body into the unrecognizable twin. Her parents are devastated and can't stop telling her how "ugly" she looks. But her twin sister, Sarah, suspects more. Why does Annie seem so preoccupied with wanting men to consider her undesirable? Why doesn't she complain about the bullying at school? What is Annie not saying?!?

Told in dual point-of-view, the premise seemed a bit misleading. Although, Sarah was in fact an introvert, the anxiety disorder that her parents constantly criticized didn't seem fit. Sarah stood up for Annie constantly, had a boyfriend and had no problem leaving the house. As for Annie, her story was very slow paced. From the beginning to end, we just saw her eat and want to create a club where everyone is equal and friendly, even though her eating disorder was caused by something traumatic that she refused to get help for. How could she possibly help others in her state? 

Not my favorite Lynch Williams. 

Review: Finding Audrey

In many ways, it's impossible not to relate with Audrey's character

After a bully incident left Audrey under clinical stress, she finds herself unable to leave home. Just the thought of talking to a stranger gets her in a panic. She even wears sunglasses to shield herself from her own family. But can her brother's new friend Linus, and a video project help Audrey get better...and fast?

Kinsella's debut in YA doesn't mean she'd leave her roots behind. She's used to writing quirky, at times over the top, female characters and she certainly has lots fun with Audrey's parents. The whole bully incident is quite covered up. As Audrey suggests, this is a personal matter and she doesn't need to let us know the details (except that it hurt, a lot). Although I found it frustrating at times of quarrels, I'm glad Kinsella never revealed that secret. It would only have caused readers to judge Audrey unnecessarily: Why did she break down just for that? I've seen worse, bla bla bla. 

A large welcome to Sophie Kinsella in the YA realm.

Review: Vanishing Girls

Sisters share many things... but a boy shouldn't be one of them.

After a traumatic car crash, Nicole (Nick) wants to get close to her sister Dara again. But it won't be easy. Dara is not accepting any of her invitations, even framing Nick for a party faux-pas. If only Dara would understand how much Nick cares for her. If only Nick could remember what happened that crazy night of the crash.

Told in a dual point-of-view between Dara and Nick, as well as with after and before the accident chapters (yes, this gets confusing at times), we get a glimpse at both sides of the coin. Dara comes out as an extrovert and makes it easy to relate to her emotions. But Nick is the opposite. She hides her true feelings from Parker (her crush), Dara, and even her parents. Therefore, Oliver focused more chapters on Nick, piercing the mystery even more. Add a case of a 
missing nine-year-old neighborhood girl and you get a thriller. The book includes emails, photographs and diary entries to serve as clues.

Although, some of the ending revelations were too coincidental, the book left me guessing until the end.