Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

13 Little Blue Envelopes (Little Blue Envelopes #1)

Maureen Johnson

Publisher: Harper Collin's Publishers

Release Date: August 23, 2005

When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.

I've heard a great deal of great things about Maureen Johnson and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I absolutely loved Girl at Sea and was looking forward to 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It was a cute coming-of-age-story, but I just wanted more.

Ginny, in the beginning, is a very quiet and reserved. Her life isn't very interesting. That all changes when she receives the letters and directions to take a trip to Europe from her late aunt. Ginny changes a lot over the book and grows a lot. 

Ginny always admired her aunt and her aunt's exciting life. We got to know Ginny's aunt Peg through the letters. Peg has always been flaky. Ginny learns a lot about her aunt and in the end, Ginny finds the courage that her aunt was never able to do. 

When I first started this book, I thought (in a way, hoped) that it would be more romantic than it was. But, even though I wouldn't deny more Keith, I'm glad it wasn't. This is the story of Ginny and how she finds herself. 

One of the things I was looking forward to in this book was the fact that it took place and traveled around Europe. I wanted all of the places to come of alive through the pages. They didn't. I still enjoyed the setting, but for the most part the book just lacked that extra something to make it come alive. 

In the end, I enjoyed 13 Little Blue Envelopes, but not as much as I hoped. I am looking forward to more adventure in The Last Little Blue Envelope, however. 

Awesome Road Trip Books

If you read my blog for any amount of time, it will probably come up that I love road trip books. I love the stories, the places. I know it's a good book when I feel like I'm traveling right along side the characters. 

So, today, I'm sharing some of my favorites. 

The book that started it all. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is my favorite road trip book, and one of my favorites period.

Read my review. 

This is a real emotional read filled with amazing characters. 

Read my review. 

I read this one recently and loved it. It's a fun ride and journey. 

Read my review.

This one is really fun. A really good Deb Caletti book. 

There are many more out there, but those are the ones worth mentioning. 

Do you like road trip books, or just traveling books in general? Let me know some of your favorites.  

Charming Covers [40]

Charming Covers is a feature here at Book Fanatics where I show off covers that have recently been revealed/ that I've recently found. 

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

January 2013

London, 1894. Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns her father is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations were true. 

Juliet is accompanied by the doctor’s handsome young assistant and an enigmatic castaway, who both attract Juliet for very different reasons. They travel to the island only to discover the depths of her father’s madness: he has created animals that have been vivisected to resemble, speak, and behave as humans. Worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island’s inhabitants. Juliet knows she must end her father’s dangerous experiments and escape the island, even though her horror is mixed with her own scientific curiosity. As the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father’s genius—and madness—in her own blood.

This book looks very intense and good! I love historical fiction and I can't wait to read this one. 

I like that this cover is pretty in a subtle, you-know-something-is-going-to-go-wrong kind of way. Seems fitting. I'm not a big fan of the font, though. 

Review: Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Getting Over Garrett Delaney
Abby McDonald
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: January 24, 2012

Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves upher trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.
Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

Getting Over Garrett Delaney centers around Sadie, who is trying to get over the boy she's been in love with for years. I really enjoyed Sadie's character, albeit she was pretty naive at first. She had based a lot of who she is on Garrett and his interests. In the beginning it bothered me that she was so obsessed with Garrett, but I was glad when she took the initiative to try to get over him. I also liked that while she wanted to get over Garrett, she didn't want to totally cut him out of her life. I think on some aspects that shows maturity, and she definitely grew a lot.

And Garrett. While he isn't my favorite character ever, I can see why Sadie liked him. To her, he was older and more sophisticated. Although, he was mostly just pretentious and selfish. But I didn't despise him despite that. Like I said, I can see why Sadie fell for him.

I also enjoyed the other cast of characters. The coffee shop crew, Kayla. They were all really fun and unique. And Jake. I do wish we could have seen more of him and gotten to know him more. But I still liked him.

Getting Over Garrett Delaney was a really cute read. It's a story about getting over someone you love and finding yourself along the way, complete with plenty of wit and humor along the way.

Trailer + A Giveaway: Once by Anna Carey

Hello! I'm here today to share with you the Eve by Anna Carey trailer and giveaway a copy of Once, the sequel!

More about Once:

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

Giveaway Details:

~Ends July 17, 2012

~Must be a resident of the US

~Must be 13 years or older to enter

~Must fill out the rafflecopter to be eligable

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Once by Anna Carey

Once  (Eve #2)
Anna Carey
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: July 3, 2012

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?
For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.
But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.
Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.
In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

I actually really enjoyed Once a lot more than I thought it would. Eve was a good read, but nothing super-fantastic. Anna Carey has definitely uped the ante with Once. 


Eve has grown a lot, even since the beginning of Once. She was very vulnerable and some of the decisions she made had me rolling my eyes. But she quickly grew up. I loved her passion and the loyalty for those she loves. She is definitely one to go to the end of the earth to save someone she loves. 


Once takes a different turn than before. I won't give anything away, but there were some twists and surprises along the way. And, there were also some heartbreaking moments as well. There were times that I just couldn't put it down.


We were introduced to this world and Eve, but I don't think I fully got into it until this book. In Eve, we got to see a lot of the outside world. But we see a different side of it in Once. 


Eve was good, but Once is a rare sequel that is even better than the first. Filled with heartbreaking and heart-pounding moments, I can't wait to read the conclusion to the trilogy.                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 In one scene, Eve and Caleb have a   conversation about visiting the 

stratosphere, Big Ben, Venice, and other places.

Series reviews:

Eve (book 1)

Book Haul and Week in Review (94)

This post is dedicated not only to sharing all the books I've received this week but also to share this week's happenings on my blog. This is inspired by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post. Also, the title Book Haul is provided by Katie's Book Blog.

For Review:

Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

Once by Anna Carey

Bought:

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Library:

Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

This Week's Happenings:

My reviews:

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin 

Also, I've decided to add a little something extra to my reviews. Find out more about it here.