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Lucky Girl by Amanda Maciel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
***WARNING: BOOK MIGHT MAKE YOU STAY UP ALL NIGHT READING***
What follows is not a review, but a fangirl-ish "episode". (I'm sorry, I'm just too excited!) I finished this book at 4am yesterday and had to forced myself to go to sleep, when all I wanted to write the review right then while things were fresh! So I went to bed and decided to sleep on it...
First, you've got Rosie. She's gorgeous, outgoing, and a flirt. Her best friend had it hard last year, and Rosie's made it her goal to make sure she's happy. :)
Then you've got Maddie: the best friend, book nerd, and at times overlooked sidekick. She's been away in Europe gettin' her soccer on, mingling with the guys. While over there she becomes "Britney." Do you understand? She returns home with toned legs, an exotic tan, and stunning blonde hair.... *FLIPS HAIR OVER SHOULDER*
Which brings me to the next character: Cory. Aka, Rosie's boyfriend, and a star football player. Worth mentioning: He's also the guy who takes a special interest in Maddie after seeing her transformation.
And finally....(I saved the best for last!) The new town celebrity: Alex Goode. A few years ago, Alex gained national attention after he stopped a school shooting.
WHY I LOVED THIS BOOK
1) It is VERY relatable, and I don't say that lightly.
2) It is diverse.
3) The lead protagonist, though described as perfect, is nowhere near. You can't help but root for her as she undergoes this "evolution" throughout the book. There were times when I wanted her to step up and really stand her ground, but then I realized that her strength was her patience.
4) Alex. Oh Alex. I liked everything about him. The person that Maciel created was so heartfelt. I just wanted to give him a big hug and pet him...and tell him it was going to be okay!
5) Lucky Girl pushes boundaries, and in doing so makes you question your morals.
6) The writing was impeccable.
7) The storyline SOLID.
8) I loved the main characters, as well as minor characters. (Ryan!!!!) To me that is the true test with a book. I felt like I knew Cory, Stephanie, and Ryan just as well as Rosie. (Even Gabe.)
IN CONCLUSION: 5 STARS***HIGHLY RECOMMEND***
Lucky Girl will be available on April 25th!
CLICK HERE to Preorder
Special thanks to HarperCollins for sending me this glorious ARC
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The F Word by Liza Palmer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Release date: April 25, 2016
Pre order THE F-WORD
First off, let me say this book is for all the ladies who cringe when reminded of their high school experience. (And I'm not talking "cringe" at the high school fashion either.) This is for every woman who wanted the "it guy" or was told she was "too fat" and mocked and ridiculed.
That's right.
This one's for you, boo.
Without knowing it, Liza Palmer has created a manual that every man (and woman) should be REQUIRED to read before stepping foot back into high school territory.
The goods:
Olivia was put through hell during high school because she was fat. 20 years later, she is in her prime, skinny, and rolls with the hottest celebrities in Hollywood. Her husband is a doctor...
After everything she endured, she finally has it all...
Or does she?
After seeing her former nemesis, Ben, at a coffee shop....Olivia is left trying to navigate through the terror that was her past life (aka, Ben's teasing, ect), while juggling the pitfalls Hollywood bestows on a client of hers.
I thought this book was HILAROUS. All of the characters were well-developed, and the tone throughout the novel was on-point. Olivia is so relatable, which in turn makes her extremely likable for readers. She doesn't sugarcoat anything. She's 100% no filter, and I loved that!
Readers who enjoy John Green's writing, will definitely appreciate this. TBR WORTHY
Cover: 7
Storyline: 9
Writing: 10
Love: 8
Humor: 10
Character Development: 10
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
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If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Release Date: March 21st, 2017
This is the second book in the "If I Run" series, and it didn't disappoint!
This book had it all:
Car chases, check.
Drug dealers, check.
Abuse, check.
Casey is still on the run (and at times it feels like that's all she's ever doing, honestly), but that's okay. Because the suspense in this bad boy feeds the reader. Just when you think you're ready to call it a night, the end of the chapter rears her nasty head and refuses to let you! Every time I thought I had the storyline figured out, I was dealt another piece of information that left me reeling.
Dylan....Oh Dylan. We got to see how PSTD can really hinder a soul! The way his chapters were written, so raw, really kept me engaged in the storyline. I've had previous books where I found it difficult to flip-flop from one character's story to another, but with this one it blended so well.
Casey and Dylan's stories complimented each other!! ♥
Like "If I Run" the "If I'm found is very fast paced and get's straight into the action.
I can't say enough great things about this book!
(Note: this is not the first book I've read by this author. I read the Restoration series back in 2009, and fell in love with Terri's storytelling! She really makes you feel for the characters.)
Cover: 10
Character Development: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 7
PEE-MY-PANTS-MOMENT: 50+
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Thriller or Suspense genres.
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You Were Here by Gian Sardar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Release Date: May 16, 2017
4 stars--Shewww, what a ride! The beginning dragged a bit at times, but the middle-end was so full of drama and suspense that I couldn't stop reading!
Death, accidental and early, has always been Abby Walters's preoccupation. Now thirty-three and eager to settle down with her commitment-shy boyfriend, a recurring dream from her past returns: a paralyzing nightmare of being buried alive, the taste of dirt in her mouth cloying and real. But this time the dream reveals a name from her family's past.
Abby has bad anxiety. So much so that she could be riding in the car and obsessing about how she could die via a car crash. Her boyfriend, Robert, has promised to "upgrade" their life and fulfill her dreams as soon as he sells his next script, but Abby is starting to wonder if that will ever happen...And she feels stuck in a way.
Her best friend, Hannah, has moved forward and bought a house; meanwhile, Abby is being drawn back 10 years by a nightmare that won't go away.
The writing was spot-on, along with the delivery of creative metaphors that, at times, had me close to pissing my pants. The narrative is told from a third person POV and tends to stay in a dark tone throughout the book, but there were descriptions of memories and previous wants that lightened the mood and evened everything out.
Although the romantic plot of this book didn't play as big of a role as I would've hoped, I still walked away from this SATISFIED. (Which for me is a BIG thing.) I hate finishing a book and feeling like pieces are missing or that there should've been more.
Final thoughts
Cover: 7
Writing: 10
Character Development: 10
Romance: 7
Suspense: 10
I definitely plan on reading more books from this author in the future. I would recommend this to anyone who loved "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. The plot's are different, obviously, but I felt similar tones throughout.
LINK TO PREORDER: Amazon
Many thanks to Putnam/Penguin Random House for sending this to me. :)
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It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
WARNING: Spoilers will follow. Booklish Reviews ©2016
First off, I think it fitting to tell you/those reading this, that I am in no way, shape or form a Colleen Hoover supporter. I wasn't that impressed with Hopeless or Someday Maybe. (And yes, I am fully aware that there are people out there who will swear a testament to Holder and Ridge's greatness *SWOON*)
But I'm not one of those people.
In fact, it would 100% accurate to say I'm the most Anti-Colleen Hoover Reader out there. Anytime someone praises her books, I dust that shit right off and try to jump into another conversation ASAP.
I don't have anything against this author. But I have nothing for her either.
MOVING ON....Here's the review of It Ends With Us. :)
You've got Lily Bloom, the female narrator of the book. Over the course of 23 years she's witnessed her father's ill-abuse toward her mother, and she's glad he's dead. So glad that she won't say anything nice at his funeral. She likes Gardening and Ellen Degeneres...
Then you've got Ryle Kincaid. Aka, one of two love interest in this book. (Yes, there are 2 male leads!) Ryle is a neurosurgeon with a haunted past that he can't escape. He meets Lily and sparks fly, but he only wants a one night stand.
And last BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST....You've got Atlas Corrigan. The 2nd love interest, whom Lily has known for a long time. He was homeless at one point and she took care of him. :) They shared a special connection during their late childhood, and haven't seen each other in years. But he's always thought about her, always tried to better himself to be the man she deserves. (I have inserted a Johnny Depp GIF, because that is how I envision him lol. It was the best I could find on short notice!)
The Good, Bad, and Ugly...
1) I really enjoyed the diary segments of this book and the Ellen Degeneres witty banter. I know some probably think it's immature, but it really flowed well with the story and toned down the overwhelming drama. Nice touch!
2) Ryle. I am so OVERJOYED that Colleen showed who he really was (an abuser), but justified WHY he was the way he was, while not making excuses for his behavior. That earned brownie points from me! Ryle became the EXAMPLE of a bad significant other, instead of the bad boy most author's spent 3+ books trying to defend. I respect Colleen Hoover for that!
3) Atlas. Though he wasn't in the book as much as Ryle, I feel like his presence was strong enough to really show the readers why he was the better man; to show them what a Good man could be if given time and the opportunity. :) He really was the underdog of this mess! At one point I was absolutely certain he was going to get the shit-end of this deal...But he came out of this with guns blazing!
4) The abuse. I didn't really like the explanation given regarding Ryle's abusive behavior: He shot his brother by accident as a child and killed him, ect...That's why he blacks-out and goes into tantrums. I would've rather read that he was Bi-polar? I'm not saying the killing couldn't happen, but obviously he isn't psychologically stable, yet somehow managed to get a medical degree? That didn't add up to me.
He's around death all of the time at the hospital, and never "blacked-out" then? After all, death was what brought him to the point of abuse in the first place. (His brother's death...) Yet he can do surgery, witness people die, and walked away from it unscathed, with no nurses needing stitches...
I just couldn't believe that.
Overall, I thought it was a solid 4 stars. It kept me entertained and sucked me in from the start.
The characters were very well developed. The plot was on-point.
I really enjoyed it.
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