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HOW can it be November already? How? Why is it that when you're a kid, time seems to last so long, and childhood seems like a lifetime, then once you're out of high school, time zips away in the blink of an eye? It's so weird!! (And scary.)
I used to love YA fiction when I was, you know, a young adult. As I got older, I stopped reading them. Then I got back into them again in my mid-20s, but usually only if they were part of some bigger plotline (and usually involving supernatural or dystopic worlds). However, recently, I've gotten back into reading straight YA that's just about teens going through their regular, non-supernatural lives, and have discovered a new genre, "New Adult," which I am convinced became a genre due to the proliferation of self-published fanfic. New Adult fits right in between YA and Harlequin on the romance level, wherein you have the fun of reading about first loves and teenage drama, but doesn't stop at kissing and hand holding.
I have been reading a lot of these lately. I don't know if it's the time of year, with Seattle gray weather making me feel depressed, or just the inexorable passage of time making me feel nostalgic, but suddenly I've been eating these up like candy. And due to the aforementioned self-published fanfic (with the names changed, of course), there are a ton of them out there, available very cheaply. Unfortunately, many of them very obviously started out as fanfic, with typical fanfic problems of grammar issues, stories that don't stop happening even long past their charm, typos, etc. That said, as we all know, certain kinds of fanfic also have a draw that can't be quantified, that are interesting and emotionally provoking even if not technically perfect, and I've run into those as well.
A lot of them are what I suspect to be ex-Twilight stories. I don't know how broad this knowledge is, but Twilight fic is almost all AU fic wherein the characters do not resemble the book characters at all, other than maybe in looks, with all the supernatural elements stripped out and only the names kept the same. It's a really bizarre phenomenon that I've never understood, and thankfully do not have first-hand knowledge of, but am well versed in, due to a friend totally being into it. Anyway, there are quite a few of these NA stories that make me suspect they started out as Twilight fanfic, and some I know for sure did.
Anyway, onto the list of YA/NA that I've read recently, some of which I rec, some of which I want to save you from if you'll let me.
Stories I rec!
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Synopsis: When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.
Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
Why I liked it: Great pacing, great characters. Almost 100% positive this did not start out as fanfic but is from a "real" writer with a real editor, etc. I don't normally like stuff involving gangs, but this manages to sanitize that aspect just enough while remaining believably realistic for the most part -- not easy to do. Alex Fuentes was portrayed particularly well (he is so my new book boyfriend!), and I liked Brittany, too. This book is the first of a trilogy. The next two books are not about Alex and Brittany, though they do make appearances. I liked the second one (Rules of Attraction) okay, but couldn't really get into the third. I mostly only cared about the Alex/Brittany stuff in them.
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The Accidental Movie Star by Emily Evans
Summary: How did Ashley spend her summer vacation? Imagine the hottest guy in Hollywood. Do you see the girl next to him, the one handing him a cup of coffee? Yeah. That’s her.
Interning on a major motion picture is not all bad. She gets to watch some of the scenes and even offer her opinion. “That kiss looked lame. Laughably weak. There’s no chance at an MTV award with that kiss.” LOL.
Until the director says, “Hey, Intern. Yeah, you. Ashley. You’re right. So, teach Caspian how to kiss. Oh, and get in front of the camera. We're going to need you in this next shot."
OMG.
Why I liked it: This is a completely guilty pleasure premise, so if you know that going in, you'll probably like it. It's much better than the synopsis. I was really in the mood for something like this and it delivered beautifully. The writer has a minimalistic style that really worked for the story (though I cannot write like that to save my life), and I liked how the relationship developed.
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The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
Synopsis: After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom Mackee watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can't forget. Shooting for oblivion, he's hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom's in no shape to mend what's broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper's Son redefines what it means to go home again.
Why I liked it: Still one of the best YA books I have ever read. Melina Marchetta is a well-known and well-respected YA author, and I think this is her best work. So incredibly well written and emotionally satisfying. This book is a companion story to Saving Francesca, but I actually barely remember that book so I think it's safe to say that you don't need to have read it to enjoy this one.
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The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols
Synopsis: Lori lives for summertime on the lake. She spends all season wakeboarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends—including the two hotties in the house next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.
But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.
But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard...
Why I liked it: It is very rare for me to unreservedly love a heroine, but I loved Lori. She was funny and relatable, and her one flaw -- being in love with the wrong brother -- was a plot necessity. I also loved Adam. There are a couple of parts that I didn't particularly care for, but for the most part it was really great, with laugh-out-loud funny moments, and the writing is clever and draws you in quickly.
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The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Synopsis: His DNA came from El Patrón, lord of a country called Opium--a strip of poppy fields lying between the United States and what was once called Mexico. Matt's first cell split and divided inside a petri dish. Then he was placed in the womb of a cow, where he continued the miraculous journey from embryo to fetus to baby. He is a boy now, but most consider him a monster--except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself.
As Matt struggles to understand his existence, he is threatened by a sinister cast of characters, including El Patrón's power-hungry family, and he is surrounded by a dangerous army of bodyguards. Escape is the only chance Matt has to survive. But escape from the Alacrán Estate is no guarantee of freedom, because Matt is marked by his difference in ways he doesn't even suspect.
Why I liked it: Dude, how kickass a premise is that? Interesting and gripping, even though I think it would have been even better had it not been a YA book, actually. Still, well worth the read. The sequel just came out, but I haven't read it yet. This book can also stand alone; it doesn't end on a cliffhanger.
Recommended, with some reservation
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Synopsis: Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
Why I liked it: I'm normally not a girl who's into tats, but quite a few of the guys in the stories I've been reading have them, and I inexplicably have been finding them quite attractive. Anyway, this story. The way Abby and Travis meet is pretty cheesy, but the development of the relationship after that is great, I really loved it. I also liked Abby's unique backstory. What I don't like so much is that once they're together, Travis gets a little too whipped (this is a problem with many of these stories), but this story does it better than most.
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Falling by Tate Layman
Synopsis: Abby Lowe considered herself to be one of the biggest nerds in the junior class, if not the entire school. She didn't have much of a social life but dreamed of being noticed by the most popular senior, who just happened to be her best friend's older brother. Connor is constantly around Abby but he just sees her like a little sister. When Abby starts dating one of Connor's best friends things begin to change. Could Abby actually get her dream of being with Connor or will she always be seen as the little sister's best friend?
Why I liked it: I'm a sucker for girl-falls-for-older-brother-of-best-friend stories, maybe because Meg Cabot did it so well in The Princess Diaries, and this one was short and sweet. Actually that's my biggest problem with it; it's a little too short to be wholly satisfying.
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Her Best Friend's Brother by T.J. Dell
Synopsis: Libby has been in love with Tony Marchetti since she was seven years old. The problem? Tony is her best friend's older brother. Lately Tony has started looking at her in a new way and he emails her all the time. Could it be possible that he is starting to see her as more than his kid sister's best friend? Tony knows Libby McKay is off limits. She's his sister's best friend for crying out loud! But she is also smart, funny, and seriously hot. Plus she's not afraid to get a little sweaty-- on the track that is. Tony can't seem to help himself, besides what's a few emails? The occasional phone call? He can keep things light and friendly-- Can't he?
Why I liked it: I TOLD YOU I liked this trope! I enjoyed this story too, but I also found it to be a little too much of a tease -- too many interrupted moments. I can only take so many of those before I start to roll my eyes.
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The Boarding School Experiment by Emily Evans
Synopsis: There are three steps to taking revenge on the most popular, hottest guy in your senior class:
• Stealth
• Planning
&
• Execution
After Elena fails at all of them, she’s tossed into a government run boarding school in Alaska.
The worst part? Thane Trallwyn--her worst enemy and subject of her blown revenge--goes in with her.
Alaska’s not big enough.
Why I liked it: I loved the synopsis for this story, being both funny and interesting. The story itself left more to be desired. Partly it was that the characters were a little underdeveloped, and the relationship between the two leads happens a little out of nowhere, but it was also partly because the story had surprising elements given that synopsis. It was kind of like expecting The Notebook then getting The Island instead. I like both types of stories, but it's kind of jarring to go in for a romantic comedy and get a sci-fi drama.
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The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley
Synopsis: Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.
Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.
Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer?
Why I liked it: Sigh, this story. It has serious flaws -- the way everyone in the book is portrayed, other than the main cast, is really lame (there are crowds of cheering fangirls for the guys, as in Asian dramas), the heroine is immature, and the "traumatic stuff" that she goes through is really shallowly dealt with, but despite all this I started out reallllllly loving this story. Liam was awesome, and I really liked the dynamic he had with Amber. The problem is, once they get together, it all starts to fall apart. They become boringly schmoopy, but I was even willing to overlook that... then some crazy stuff happens and it got to the point that I couldn't even finish the story. Which is a damn shame considering how much I had loved it initially. Still, I'm putting it in the "recommended with reservations" list in case the stuff that bothered me wouldn't bother someone else.
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Remember When by T. Torrest
Synopsis: Years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class.
This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough. We were teenagers then, way back in a time before anyone could even dream he’d turn into the Hollywood commodity that he is today.
In case you live under a rock and don't know who Trip Wiley is, just know that these days, he’s the actor found at the top of every casting director’s wish list. He’s incredibly talented and insanely gorgeous, the combination of which has made him very rich, very famous and very desirable.
And not just to casting directors, either.
I can’t confirm any of the gossip from his early years out in Tinseltown, but based on what I knew of his life before he was famous, I can tell you that the idea of Girls-Throwing-Themselves-At-Trip is not a new concept.
I should know. I was one of them.
And my life hasn’t been the same since.
Why I liked it: Another story where I really loved the development of the relationship, done so well that it made my heart ache occasionally, even though I wasn't a huge fan of the heroine. The part where the two leads finally get together happens a little suddenly, but is still acceptable. The problem is the synopsis. You can tell, from the way it's written, that she's talking about someone from her past, which means he's not currently in her present. There are one or two books that follow this one, and while I'm sure everything will turn out well, I'm not sure I want to read about how things fell apart and they didn't talk for nine years or whatever it is. On the one hand, I should like this series because I think it'll span all the genres of YA, NA and adult, but on the other hand, I kind of just want my happily ever after without the years of separation.
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Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines
Synopsis: Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that...
Why I liked it: I'm not sure if Abbi Glines ever wrote fanfic, but all her stuff reads like fanfic, some better than others. This is one of the better ones, imho, even though it's pretty painful and cheesy in parts. I wish Rush were a better-developed character, and the relationship could definitely have been better developed, but it was fun and hot. It does suffer from Rush kind of being an oblivious dickhead sometimes, and once they're together, Rush becomes way too committed, way too fast. Ends on a cliffhanger, so you have to read the follow-up novels Never Too Far and Forever Too Far for the full story (which is another flaw)
Couldn't even finish:
- Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren (This used to be Twilight fic, and it shows. The opening comes completely out of nowhere. I can see how it would have worked as fanfic, but not as a standalone story. The two leads were total assholes -- and not in a fun way -- and there's no catalyst for their sudden relationship and no reason for them to continue it, and yet. Smut for smut's sake, and I couldn't get into it at all.)
- The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram (It's too bad that this goes in this column, because it's actually decently written. What I cannot get past is the over-the-top fairy tale aspect. When the heroine gets "dumped" by the hero's younger brother, the totally perfect and popular hero swoops in to save her, completely falling for her despite never having had feelings for her before. GAG. I'm not usually a fan of girls getting involved with brothers, but there are times it's done well -- see The Boys Next Door, above -- and times it's done in such an unrealistic way that I can't get into it at all.)
- Breathe by Abbi Glines (Wanted to love this because of the GP premise of a teenage girl having to work at a rock star's mansion as his maid, but it is so badly written and the characters have zero personality.)
- Just for Now by Abbi Glines (Another one I wanted to love because it has the trope of a girl liking her brother's friend, but it was awful, with unlikeable characters and poor writing.)
- The Distance Between Us by Kasie West (Couldn't get past the first five pages, wherein the writers tries too hard to make the heroine seem witty and droll, and perfectly distanced from the rich people who visit her mother's doll store, which is where she of course meets the hero. /rolleyes)
- The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (I can't stand stories where the girl has been through sexual trauma and is now totally messed up because of it. If I wanted to read stuff like that, I'd read the news, not escapist fiction.)
- Real by Katy Evans (I could not get past the super-cheesy opening.)
Reading now:
- Crush by Lacey Weatherford
Synopsis: Cami Wimberley has a plan, and that plan includes no room for boys—especially the big time party animal, Hunter Wilder, no matter how handsome and charismatic he is. She’s beautiful, a senior, extremely talented, gets good grades, and is working her way toward her dream college to be a musical theater major. Everything is perfect.
Hunter Wilder does not want a girlfriend—that would complicate his life way too much right now. He especially doesn’t want this girl, Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes, so how come he can’t keep his eyes off her? He tries to keep her at arms length, but fate seems to keep pushing them together. Before long, it’s obvious to everyone they’re crushing on each other.
As sparks begin to fly, Hunter finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. Soon he’s scrambling to keep Cami from discovering his dark secret—one that can destroy their entire relationship.
Comments: I really, REALLY want to like this, because due to Perfect Chemistry I'm into reading about good girls/bad boys, but so far I'm thinking it's going to go into the "Couldn't even finish" pile. Not only does it have a super cheesy opening (the girl drops her binder in class and the guy helps her pick up her papers, and they have this 10-min long conversation while class is still going on -- AS IF THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN), and the author doesn't seem to be able to create names that don't have "-er" in them (the hero's name, seriously), but she also has a total lack of ability (so far as I can see) to write someone edgy. Hunter Wilder is no Alex Fuentes, and not just because he has a really stupid name.
So, what have you guys been reading?
Off topic, breaking in my Docs has been going well. I did get a blister on my left heel, but it was my fault for not wearing a double layer of socks when still in the break-in period.
I used to love YA fiction when I was, you know, a young adult. As I got older, I stopped reading them. Then I got back into them again in my mid-20s, but usually only if they were part of some bigger plotline (and usually involving supernatural or dystopic worlds). However, recently, I've gotten back into reading straight YA that's just about teens going through their regular, non-supernatural lives, and have discovered a new genre, "New Adult," which I am convinced became a genre due to the proliferation of self-published fanfic. New Adult fits right in between YA and Harlequin on the romance level, wherein you have the fun of reading about first loves and teenage drama, but doesn't stop at kissing and hand holding.
I have been reading a lot of these lately. I don't know if it's the time of year, with Seattle gray weather making me feel depressed, or just the inexorable passage of time making me feel nostalgic, but suddenly I've been eating these up like candy. And due to the aforementioned self-published fanfic (with the names changed, of course), there are a ton of them out there, available very cheaply. Unfortunately, many of them very obviously started out as fanfic, with typical fanfic problems of grammar issues, stories that don't stop happening even long past their charm, typos, etc. That said, as we all know, certain kinds of fanfic also have a draw that can't be quantified, that are interesting and emotionally provoking even if not technically perfect, and I've run into those as well.
A lot of them are what I suspect to be ex-Twilight stories. I don't know how broad this knowledge is, but Twilight fic is almost all AU fic wherein the characters do not resemble the book characters at all, other than maybe in looks, with all the supernatural elements stripped out and only the names kept the same. It's a really bizarre phenomenon that I've never understood, and thankfully do not have first-hand knowledge of, but am well versed in, due to a friend totally being into it. Anyway, there are quite a few of these NA stories that make me suspect they started out as Twilight fanfic, and some I know for sure did.
Anyway, onto the list of YA/NA that I've read recently, some of which I rec, some of which I want to save you from if you'll let me.
Stories I rec!
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Synopsis: When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.
Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
Why I liked it: Great pacing, great characters. Almost 100% positive this did not start out as fanfic but is from a "real" writer with a real editor, etc. I don't normally like stuff involving gangs, but this manages to sanitize that aspect just enough while remaining believably realistic for the most part -- not easy to do. Alex Fuentes was portrayed particularly well (he is so my new book boyfriend!), and I liked Brittany, too. This book is the first of a trilogy. The next two books are not about Alex and Brittany, though they do make appearances. I liked the second one (Rules of Attraction) okay, but couldn't really get into the third. I mostly only cared about the Alex/Brittany stuff in them.
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The Accidental Movie Star by Emily Evans
Summary: How did Ashley spend her summer vacation? Imagine the hottest guy in Hollywood. Do you see the girl next to him, the one handing him a cup of coffee? Yeah. That’s her.
Interning on a major motion picture is not all bad. She gets to watch some of the scenes and even offer her opinion. “That kiss looked lame. Laughably weak. There’s no chance at an MTV award with that kiss.” LOL.
Until the director says, “Hey, Intern. Yeah, you. Ashley. You’re right. So, teach Caspian how to kiss. Oh, and get in front of the camera. We're going to need you in this next shot."
OMG.
Why I liked it: This is a completely guilty pleasure premise, so if you know that going in, you'll probably like it. It's much better than the synopsis. I was really in the mood for something like this and it delivered beautifully. The writer has a minimalistic style that really worked for the story (though I cannot write like that to save my life), and I liked how the relationship developed.
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The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
Synopsis: After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom Mackee watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can't forget. Shooting for oblivion, he's hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom's in no shape to mend what's broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper's Son redefines what it means to go home again.
Why I liked it: Still one of the best YA books I have ever read. Melina Marchetta is a well-known and well-respected YA author, and I think this is her best work. So incredibly well written and emotionally satisfying. This book is a companion story to Saving Francesca, but I actually barely remember that book so I think it's safe to say that you don't need to have read it to enjoy this one.
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The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols
Synopsis: Lori lives for summertime on the lake. She spends all season wakeboarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends—including the two hotties in the house next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.
But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.
But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard...
Why I liked it: It is very rare for me to unreservedly love a heroine, but I loved Lori. She was funny and relatable, and her one flaw -- being in love with the wrong brother -- was a plot necessity. I also loved Adam. There are a couple of parts that I didn't particularly care for, but for the most part it was really great, with laugh-out-loud funny moments, and the writing is clever and draws you in quickly.
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The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Synopsis: His DNA came from El Patrón, lord of a country called Opium--a strip of poppy fields lying between the United States and what was once called Mexico. Matt's first cell split and divided inside a petri dish. Then he was placed in the womb of a cow, where he continued the miraculous journey from embryo to fetus to baby. He is a boy now, but most consider him a monster--except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself.
As Matt struggles to understand his existence, he is threatened by a sinister cast of characters, including El Patrón's power-hungry family, and he is surrounded by a dangerous army of bodyguards. Escape is the only chance Matt has to survive. But escape from the Alacrán Estate is no guarantee of freedom, because Matt is marked by his difference in ways he doesn't even suspect.
Why I liked it: Dude, how kickass a premise is that? Interesting and gripping, even though I think it would have been even better had it not been a YA book, actually. Still, well worth the read. The sequel just came out, but I haven't read it yet. This book can also stand alone; it doesn't end on a cliffhanger.
Recommended, with some reservation
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Synopsis: Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
Why I liked it: I'm normally not a girl who's into tats, but quite a few of the guys in the stories I've been reading have them, and I inexplicably have been finding them quite attractive. Anyway, this story. The way Abby and Travis meet is pretty cheesy, but the development of the relationship after that is great, I really loved it. I also liked Abby's unique backstory. What I don't like so much is that once they're together, Travis gets a little too whipped (this is a problem with many of these stories), but this story does it better than most.
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Falling by Tate Layman
Synopsis: Abby Lowe considered herself to be one of the biggest nerds in the junior class, if not the entire school. She didn't have much of a social life but dreamed of being noticed by the most popular senior, who just happened to be her best friend's older brother. Connor is constantly around Abby but he just sees her like a little sister. When Abby starts dating one of Connor's best friends things begin to change. Could Abby actually get her dream of being with Connor or will she always be seen as the little sister's best friend?
Why I liked it: I'm a sucker for girl-falls-for-older-brother-of-best-friend stories, maybe because Meg Cabot did it so well in The Princess Diaries, and this one was short and sweet. Actually that's my biggest problem with it; it's a little too short to be wholly satisfying.
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Her Best Friend's Brother by T.J. Dell
Synopsis: Libby has been in love with Tony Marchetti since she was seven years old. The problem? Tony is her best friend's older brother. Lately Tony has started looking at her in a new way and he emails her all the time. Could it be possible that he is starting to see her as more than his kid sister's best friend? Tony knows Libby McKay is off limits. She's his sister's best friend for crying out loud! But she is also smart, funny, and seriously hot. Plus she's not afraid to get a little sweaty-- on the track that is. Tony can't seem to help himself, besides what's a few emails? The occasional phone call? He can keep things light and friendly-- Can't he?
Why I liked it: I TOLD YOU I liked this trope! I enjoyed this story too, but I also found it to be a little too much of a tease -- too many interrupted moments. I can only take so many of those before I start to roll my eyes.
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The Boarding School Experiment by Emily Evans
Synopsis: There are three steps to taking revenge on the most popular, hottest guy in your senior class:
• Stealth
• Planning
&
• Execution
After Elena fails at all of them, she’s tossed into a government run boarding school in Alaska.
The worst part? Thane Trallwyn--her worst enemy and subject of her blown revenge--goes in with her.
Alaska’s not big enough.
Why I liked it: I loved the synopsis for this story, being both funny and interesting. The story itself left more to be desired. Partly it was that the characters were a little underdeveloped, and the relationship between the two leads happens a little out of nowhere, but it was also partly because the story had surprising elements given that synopsis. It was kind of like expecting The Notebook then getting The Island instead. I like both types of stories, but it's kind of jarring to go in for a romantic comedy and get a sci-fi drama.
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The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley
Synopsis: Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.
Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.
Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer?
Why I liked it: Sigh, this story. It has serious flaws -- the way everyone in the book is portrayed, other than the main cast, is really lame (there are crowds of cheering fangirls for the guys, as in Asian dramas), the heroine is immature, and the "traumatic stuff" that she goes through is really shallowly dealt with, but despite all this I started out reallllllly loving this story. Liam was awesome, and I really liked the dynamic he had with Amber. The problem is, once they get together, it all starts to fall apart. They become boringly schmoopy, but I was even willing to overlook that... then some crazy stuff happens and it got to the point that I couldn't even finish the story. Which is a damn shame considering how much I had loved it initially. Still, I'm putting it in the "recommended with reservations" list in case the stuff that bothered me wouldn't bother someone else.
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Remember When by T. Torrest
Synopsis: Years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class.
This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough. We were teenagers then, way back in a time before anyone could even dream he’d turn into the Hollywood commodity that he is today.
In case you live under a rock and don't know who Trip Wiley is, just know that these days, he’s the actor found at the top of every casting director’s wish list. He’s incredibly talented and insanely gorgeous, the combination of which has made him very rich, very famous and very desirable.
And not just to casting directors, either.
I can’t confirm any of the gossip from his early years out in Tinseltown, but based on what I knew of his life before he was famous, I can tell you that the idea of Girls-Throwing-Themselves-At-Trip is not a new concept.
I should know. I was one of them.
And my life hasn’t been the same since.
Why I liked it: Another story where I really loved the development of the relationship, done so well that it made my heart ache occasionally, even though I wasn't a huge fan of the heroine. The part where the two leads finally get together happens a little suddenly, but is still acceptable. The problem is the synopsis. You can tell, from the way it's written, that she's talking about someone from her past, which means he's not currently in her present. There are one or two books that follow this one, and while I'm sure everything will turn out well, I'm not sure I want to read about how things fell apart and they didn't talk for nine years or whatever it is. On the one hand, I should like this series because I think it'll span all the genres of YA, NA and adult, but on the other hand, I kind of just want my happily ever after without the years of separation.
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Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines
Synopsis: Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that...
Why I liked it: I'm not sure if Abbi Glines ever wrote fanfic, but all her stuff reads like fanfic, some better than others. This is one of the better ones, imho, even though it's pretty painful and cheesy in parts. I wish Rush were a better-developed character, and the relationship could definitely have been better developed, but it was fun and hot. It does suffer from Rush kind of being an oblivious dickhead sometimes, and once they're together, Rush becomes way too committed, way too fast. Ends on a cliffhanger, so you have to read the follow-up novels Never Too Far and Forever Too Far for the full story (which is another flaw)
Couldn't even finish:
- Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren (This used to be Twilight fic, and it shows. The opening comes completely out of nowhere. I can see how it would have worked as fanfic, but not as a standalone story. The two leads were total assholes -- and not in a fun way -- and there's no catalyst for their sudden relationship and no reason for them to continue it, and yet. Smut for smut's sake, and I couldn't get into it at all.)
- The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram (It's too bad that this goes in this column, because it's actually decently written. What I cannot get past is the over-the-top fairy tale aspect. When the heroine gets "dumped" by the hero's younger brother, the totally perfect and popular hero swoops in to save her, completely falling for her despite never having had feelings for her before. GAG. I'm not usually a fan of girls getting involved with brothers, but there are times it's done well -- see The Boys Next Door, above -- and times it's done in such an unrealistic way that I can't get into it at all.)
- Breathe by Abbi Glines (Wanted to love this because of the GP premise of a teenage girl having to work at a rock star's mansion as his maid, but it is so badly written and the characters have zero personality.)
- Just for Now by Abbi Glines (Another one I wanted to love because it has the trope of a girl liking her brother's friend, but it was awful, with unlikeable characters and poor writing.)
- The Distance Between Us by Kasie West (Couldn't get past the first five pages, wherein the writers tries too hard to make the heroine seem witty and droll, and perfectly distanced from the rich people who visit her mother's doll store, which is where she of course meets the hero. /rolleyes)
- The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (I can't stand stories where the girl has been through sexual trauma and is now totally messed up because of it. If I wanted to read stuff like that, I'd read the news, not escapist fiction.)
- Real by Katy Evans (I could not get past the super-cheesy opening.)
Reading now:
- Crush by Lacey Weatherford
Synopsis: Cami Wimberley has a plan, and that plan includes no room for boys—especially the big time party animal, Hunter Wilder, no matter how handsome and charismatic he is. She’s beautiful, a senior, extremely talented, gets good grades, and is working her way toward her dream college to be a musical theater major. Everything is perfect.
Hunter Wilder does not want a girlfriend—that would complicate his life way too much right now. He especially doesn’t want this girl, Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes, so how come he can’t keep his eyes off her? He tries to keep her at arms length, but fate seems to keep pushing them together. Before long, it’s obvious to everyone they’re crushing on each other.
As sparks begin to fly, Hunter finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. Soon he’s scrambling to keep Cami from discovering his dark secret—one that can destroy their entire relationship.
Comments: I really, REALLY want to like this, because due to Perfect Chemistry I'm into reading about good girls/bad boys, but so far I'm thinking it's going to go into the "Couldn't even finish" pile. Not only does it have a super cheesy opening (the girl drops her binder in class and the guy helps her pick up her papers, and they have this 10-min long conversation while class is still going on -- AS IF THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN), and the author doesn't seem to be able to create names that don't have "-er" in them (the hero's name, seriously), but she also has a total lack of ability (so far as I can see) to write someone edgy. Hunter Wilder is no Alex Fuentes, and not just because he has a really stupid name.
So, what have you guys been reading?
Off topic, breaking in my Docs has been going well. I did get a blister on my left heel, but it was my fault for not wearing a double layer of socks when still in the break-in period.
