New Adult Review: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence #1)
Jessica Sorensen
Release Date: December 1, 2012

There are those who don't get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don't get saved.
Luck was not on Callie's side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it's all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it's a struggle just to breathe.
For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.
Now he can't stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. the more he tries to be a part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved. 

I was really surprised by this novel. When I first picked it up, I was expecting a cute, fun read. What I wasn't expecting was for this to pack such an emotional punch. 

Both Callie and Kayden have had painful pasts that they have yet come to terms with. Callie and Kayden were just so damaged. I definitely feel that I sympathized with them more than I empathized with them. But I just wanted them to be happy. Kayden was better at hiding than Callie, and it took me a good chunk into the book to realize how much he was hurting. Both of these characters came a long way from the beginning of the book, mainly with trusting others and letting each other in. They still weren't completely healed, though, which was very frustrating.

For a fairly short novel, I think it was paced well. The relationship between these two characters grew (for the most part) at a good pace. I thought that I had everything in this novel figured out, but I was wrong. The last fifty or so pages of this book really pack a punch. Sorensen through some last minute punches and killed me with this ending.

Overall, I was very impressed with this novel. It was an addicting read that had me rooting for the characters and screaming at the ending. I'm anxiously waiting for the next book in this series.

Most Anticipated Books of Fall

There are so many books coming out late summer/fall that I am so excited for and I wanted to share!

The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

I've become such a fan of Jessica Sorensen. The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden was soo good, and I need to know what happens next!

August 1, 2013

The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski

This is the sequel to The Edge of Never, which is such an amazing book. 

September 17, 2013

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

I am a huge Simone Elkeles fan, and I can't wait to embark on a new series of hers!

October 1, 2013

Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

I loved The Poison Princess, unexpectedly, so much! I can't wait for the next book!

October 1, 2013

There are more books that I am super excited for coming out later this year, but that about concludes the fall and late summer. 

What books are you most excited for?

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1)
Rick Yancey
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: May 7, 2013

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

The 5th Wave is a very unique story. I'll be the first to admit that I am not a fan of alien stories. But, the world that Rick Yancey created is unlike anything that I've read before. The premise is (to me, at least) extremely creepy which I love. But Yancey took an intriguing premise and turned it into an engaging read.

One of the thins that I appreciated most about this novel is the sense of humor that Yancey was able to weave into this novel. You wouldn't think such an intense post-apocolyptic novel could include humor, but there was comic relief at just the right times. 

The 5th Wave is told through multiple points of views, all of which were interesting. The main character, Cassie, was filled with fight and spunk. Remember the comic relief I mentioned? Yeah, most of that came from her. She was funny and sarcastic despite everything that was happening. She is very believable as a teenage girl who has lived through terrifying events and has endured many losses. 

Now, I'm not going to completely rave about this novel. There has been plenty of hype surrounding this novel, and I didn't love it as much as some others did. It's a very addicting, well-written story, but it's not making my favorites shelf. Regardless, it was good and I'm looking forward to the next chapter in this story. 

Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Slammed (Slammed #1)
Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: September 18, 2012

Falling in love can feel like poetry. Or it can feel like a slam to the heart.
Colleen Hoover’s romantic, emotion-packed debut novel unforgettably captures all the magic and confusion of first love, as two young people forge an unlikely bond before discovering that fate has other plans for them.
Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she's losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbor Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.
Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret.

I have fell in love with this novel. Slammed was a beautiful novel and unlike anything I've read before. 

Within the first few pages Slammed took a completely different direction than I was expecting. This story is unlike any other. There were several twists in this novel that may have not been completely surprising to me, but still left me in shock. 

Layken is a very feisty character. One minute she would make me want to scream at her and the next I was laughing at her. And could she act crazy sometimes. But she loved wholeheartedly and she was willing to fight for what she wanted. 

I also loved Will. He's not the macho love interest we see a lot of in books, but is just as swoon-worthy as anyone. He's smart and caring and has a lot of fight in him as well. He had been through so much and had to mature very quickly, but that's what made him so lovable. 

The other characters in this novel are also worth mentioning. Both Lake and Will's younger brothers, who were very humorous. And Lake and Will's friends were also entertaining. Heck, even Lake's mother was a great character. 

Slammed can be summed up in one statement: completely original. This novel is not only a story of love, but of loss, grief, family, friendship, and growing up. Colleen Hoover is a talented author. I can't wait to read her much-talked-about novel Hopeless, but I hope that Slammed is not over-looked. 

Review: The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

The Vincent Boys (The Vincent Boys #1)
Abbi Glines
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 30, 2012

There was something wicked about Beau that drew me to him. What was wrong with me? Why did I want to sin so badly?
Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it's his cousin Beau who catches Ashton's eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she's ever seen, and even though he's dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.
Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer's girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That's why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he's been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer's absence, Beau knows he should say no.
Ashton and Beau don't want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It's getting way too hard to resist...

I have been reading a lot of Abbi Glines lately, and I've been wanting to get my hands on The Vincent Boys for a while now. 

This novel contains some really interesting characters. I thought Beau and Ashton were really fun, especially together. Ashton drove me nuts sometimes, but, honestly, I was okay with that. She was so obsessed with how people perceived her, but I loved watching her really discover who she is despite what others think. And I fell in love with Beau, just as Ashton did. I will say I wasn't the biggest fan of Sawyer, although I'm sure that will change in The Vincent Brothers. 

I am not a fan of cheating stories, but The Vincent Boys is more than that. There were plenty of surprises throughout the novel. There was even an emphasis on family (or at least, family secrets). The Vincent Boys is well-paced and addicting. 

I didn't quite enjoy The Vincent Boys as much as I thought I would. It wasn't anything super-spectacular, but it was an enjoyable, fun read. I'm looking forward to reading Sawyer's story!

June Wrap Up

Long time no see, eh?

But, I am here, and today I bring you my June Wrap Up.

I've been in a reading slump for so long, not wanting to read at all, and not reading at all. I recently went on a road trip which gave me plenty of reading time. I am glad to say that I am finally reading again. I read a lot in June (Or at least a lot compared to other months this year). 

Here's what I read:

 Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

Pure by Jennifer Armentrout

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer

Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines

Crush by Nicole Williams

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Deity by Jennifer Armentrout

Oath Bound by Rachel Vincent

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey 

So, 13 books, not bad coming from about five books a month. I just hope I keep this up!

What are your favorite books this month?

Discussion: The Starting Line

As all of you know, I read many books. Many, many books. And as you also know, I quite enjoy reading those novels. But the thing about reading a book is you have to start it. Now, I may be the only one who feels this way but I'm just going to say it: I don't like starting novels. Nope. Never. Not at all.

I can see why people would like starting a novel. The mystery of what's to come and falling in love with the characters and just the newness of it all. But the truth is I would much rather read when I already like the characters and I have already gotten used to the author's writing style. I've discovered that I am way more likely to read when I have some down time if I'm in the middle of a book rather than starting a new one. And since I mostly read books in one sitting this has become a problem.

I don't know about you, but I put a lot of emotional investment into the novels I read. And I don't just develop that attachment on the first page right of the bat. It takes a lot of energy for me to develop that emotion. Again, I just like books so much more when I'm already invested in it. I also find the beginning of books to be boring more often than not. I probably shouldn't, but I do.

I know most of you probably haven't thought about this much, but I would love to know that you think about this topic!