Up In Lights

 

Published:  April 1st, 2013
That Time I Joined The Circus
By: J.J. Howard
Scholastic
ISBN-13:  9780545433815

Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose.

A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus.

When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions.

But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question.

With humor, wisdom, and a dazzlingly fresh voice, this debut reminds us of the magic of circus tents, city lights, first kisses, and the importance of an excellent playlist.

Review

 

     Self-proclaimed teenage music snob and outcast Lexi Ryan (formerly known as Xandra) is forced to leave behind her life in New York City to find her long estranged Mom, when her Dad dies in a tragic accident and she's left without money or options.  Due to a huge mistake Lexi made with her best friend Eli, she is more than happy to leave the city and start over again - even if it is with a broken heart.  Arriving at the circus where her Mom was supposed to be, Lexi finds out that she isn't there anymore and is left trying to scrounge a job and place to live from the ringmaster while she looks for her Mom.  Soon finding her niche as the resident fortune teller and friends in the ringmaster's teenage daughters, who are trapeze artists, Lexi is discovering who she is and what she wants to do with her life.  But it all might come crashing down when someone from her past finds her and she finally comes face to face with her Mom.  Can Lexi build a life for herself with the best parts of the new and the old? 

     Lexi as a character struck me as an odd mixture between self-hating, superior know-it-all and insecure outcast.   But surprisingly enough, she didn't get on my nerves as a main character.  Her snarky wit and jack-of-all-trades persona appealed to me and I enjoyed her voyage of self discovery throughout the novel.  Although I hated her romantic decisions and the guy she ends up with happens as an atrocious plot device/twist that really annoyed me as a reader.  Probably the worst thing in this entire book was the bouncy castle of romantic relationships and feelings!   Lexi's relationship with Eli really pissed me off.  He's supposedly her best friend, but as soon as he started dating Bailey he ignored and treated her like crap 99% of the time.  But because he still gave her little bits of his time, Lexi was convinced it was all 'evil' Bailey's fault as the shallow girlfriend.  It couldn't be because, I don't know, Eli is a complete douchebag???  The whole 'mistake' between them re-inforces this belief.  And the ending completely doesn't fit in with this obvious fact of his character.  Jamie, the guy on crew at the circus who shared a kiss with Lexi was described as a player, with a string of broken hearts behind him.  So color me confused when he immediately latches on to Lina (the girl who has been in love with him and he has ignored) and becomes a one-girl kind of guy!  Also the relationship with Nicolae was too similar to insta-love and never felt like it had any true depth.  It felt like the characters were going through the motions.

     If it feels like I'm mega focused on the romance, let me get to the actual plot and execution.  The book was very unbelievable in it's overall plot.  Yes, I can get behind a girl going to find her Mom at the circus.  It has awesome potential.  What made no sense was the complete lack of grief or any emotion resembling it from Lexi for her dead Dad.  Also, yeah right!  Like no social worker, school counselor or other officially inclined adult is gonna stop a 17 year old from dropping out of school, being evicted and traveling from New York to Florida by herself.  Can you say 'foster home'?  The resolution of the lifetime of pain, betrayal and anger sitting between Lexi and her Mom, along with the ease and quickness she accepts her Mom's version of the divorce/abandonment, pissed me off.  Plus, for a book supposedly about a girl trying to find her Mom it spends an awful lot of energy on a love triangle that is weak as a best case scenario.  I was more interested in the time Lexi spent and the circus and her friendships with the trapeze sisters Lina and Liska.  Both of those side characters intrigued me and they were fleshed out characters with dreams, disappointments and feelings of their own.  I felt like they were in and out of the plot, only there when it was convenient for Lexi to pay attention to them.  The lack of interest on Lexi's part towards finding her Mom after she gets to the circus, coupled with the fact that her Dad left all his money to his cheating ex-wife, with no provision for his supposedly beloved daughter, who he was a single parent to for over a decade, really took the cake and was almost more than I could take as a reader.  It just made no sense whatsoever.

     While I did feel the magic and mystery of the circus setting, I felt that the author didn't give enough details or descriptive scenes/moments about the circus to really connect or picture the setting other than in a vague sort of way.  It wasn't at all like other circus books I've read where you can picture everything that's happening in high definition and Technicolor.  I guess it was ideal for those who want to insert themselves into the book, but to me it was lacking something.  I just am disappointed that this book really waffled between what it was aiming for and what it actually achieved in terms of plot and character development especially.  I actually felt like Lexi's character had taken steps back by the ending, instead of forward.  This book was like cotton candy, nice and fluffy with some fun moments and some feel good ones.  But it had no lasting effect on me and too many inconsistencies to really make my day.  The alternating between present day and flashbacks before the tragedy and the 'mistake' do add some extra development to the story, but can be jarring.  Sometimes right when you immerse yourself into a certain setting or event, the time and place shifts abruptly to something very different.  The quotes from songs and the songs used for chapter titles were a fun touch though.  They represented Lexi in a fun (sometimes cheesy) was that I loved.  Overall a fun read, but if you have hang ups about cheating or are expecting something really deep it may not be for you. 

 

VERDICT:  2.75/5  Stars

 

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published April 1st, 2013.*

Cool as a Cucumber

Published: October 11th, 2011
Deadly Cool (Deadly Cool # 1)
By: Gemma Halliday
Harper Teen
ISBN-13: 9780062003317

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.

Review

   Hartley is having a really hard day.  It seems like the school except for her knew about her boyfriend cheating with a member of the Chastity Club.  And to make matters worse, when she goes to confront him she finds the other girl, dead inside his closet.  Now the cops are investigating Josh as the killer, he's on the run and it seems like Hartley is the only one who can clear his name.  She can't do it alone though, but maybe with the help of best friend Sam and nosy, hot school reporter Chase she can crack the case.  But they better hurry, because someone will stop at nothing to make sure the truth stays buried.  Hartley might be the next victim if she isn't careful...  Hartley is funny, sarcastic and strong.  But she is also slightly insecure like any normal teenager.  So watching her go through the situation with the cheating boyfriend truly sucked.  But I loved the interactions between her and Sam.  Especially when they borrowed Sam's brother's car - which runs on VEGETABLE OIL.  It was freaking hilarious when they were talking about how he obtained fuel for the car.  I loved Chase's interference and total inability to butt out of Hartley's investigation.  It made for some major swoon and he sounded like a true literary hottie.  The murder investigation had a conclusion that I truly DID NOT see coming in a million years.  The reason for the murder was so asinine and the killer so crazy, that it actually made a sick kind of sense.  The snarky comments and fast-paced plot were a joy to read after so many mediocre books disappointing me this year.  Hatrley's Mom (who she calls the SMother) was just the right balance of parental crazy and loving understanding.  I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a witty mystery and doesn't mind a teenage protagonist.

VERDICT:  4.25/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*

One Moment Is Just Too Long

Expected Publication: June 26th, 2012

One Moment

By: Kristina McBride

Egmont USA

ISBN-13: 9781606840863

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.

Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

Review

   Maggie Reynolds was really happy with her boyfriend Joey.  They were in love and about ready to spend the summer before their senior year with a group of the best friends they could ever have.  Kicking off the summer with a party and hanging out at the gorge seem like great ideas.  Until Joey and Maggie climb up to dive off the cliff - and Joey ends up dead at the bottom.  Now Maggie has amnesia.  She can remember walking up the cliff with Joey, but nothing after that until he was dead at the bottom.  Trying to find out what really happened on the cliff, Maggie comes to the realization that Joey was keeping some big secrets from her.  They might not have been as happy as she thought and when she uncovers the truth, the hurt and betrayal threaten to consume her.  Can Maggie regain her memory, come to terms with whether or not Joey's death was her fault and forgive him for his mistakes - most important of all, can she forgive herself?  Maggie has blinders on for most of the book and I seriously wanted to crack her over the head.  How dumb can you really be???  I was disgusted with the idiocy and betrayals of most of her so-called friends.  I disliked that Maggie felt as if Joey was her entire life, that she couldn't live without him.  Maggie was completely pathetic to me and needed a guy to feel strong.  She was unable to be by herself, as evidenced by the romance that was crammed in last minute between her and Adam.  The conflict with Shannon felt extremely contrived, with the other girl painted as the villain and Maggie as the poor, helpless victim.  It made me gag.  The only thing at all that I really appreciated about this book was that it was descriptive and well conceived.  It just wasn't very well executed.  This book reminded me of a particularly annoying episode of The Secret Life of The American Teenager - only without all the pregnancy.  There was plenty of talk about sex though and that got on my nerves as well.  It was definitely NOT the book for me personally.  Perhaps fans of Lauren Barnholdt should give it a try?

VERDICT:  2/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is June 26, 2012.*

You Can't Keep Me Down

Expected Publication: May 22nd, 2012
Unbreak My Heart
By: Melissa C. Walker
Bloomsbury USA
ISBN-13: 9781599905280

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

Review

   Clem should be getting ready to have a pretty good summer, but instead she's miserable.  She knows that when she gets back from her family's sailing trip she'll still be in social exile, without any friends.  Clem fell in love with her best friend Amanda's boyfriend and even though nothing ever happened, Amanda blamed her.  Now Clem is best friend-less and Ethan, the boyfriend, has been taken back like nothing happened.  At first she spends her days locked in her tiny room, being snarky and withdrawn.  Even her little sister Olive can't draw her out.  But then Clem meets James, an intriguing fellow sailor at one of their stops.  Can he convince her that what happened isn't the end of the world?  Will James be enough to heal Clem's heart - and can she heal his pain too?  I honestly liked Clem a lot.  She didn't give bullshit excuses and whine.  She took responsibility for her actions and the problems that they caused.  I honestly felt like Amanda had a right to be mad, but she was unnecessarily harsh toward Clem and not harsh enough toward Ethan (who seemed like a douche to me, I mean if you like someone else BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND BEFORE PURSUING HER!!!).  Clem's little sister Olive was so cute and hilarious.  I loved how she asked Clem to 'braid' her and all of the ways she attempted to cheer her up, including trying to discuss Huckleberry Finn.  Clem's parents were awesome in that humiliating, adult way.  You could tell they only wanted the best for her.  James was enigmatic and a great character, but I didn't connect much to him personally.  By the end of the book I felt like giving Clem a gigantic hug and I loved her family just as much.  It was a book worth reading and had all the greatness of a Sarah Dessen or Deb Calletti book.  My only real complaint would be the focus of 'cheating' when no actual cheating happened at all!  Seriously, they didn't even do anything.  GET OVER IT.

VERDICT:  3.85/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is May 22nd, 2012.*

Sometimes I Do Dumb Crap...Then I Justify It

Published: July 12th, 2011

Sometimes It Happens

By: Lauren Barnholdt

Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

ISBN-13: 9781442413146

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

Review

   Hannah and Ava have been best friends for a long time.  So when Ava leaves to be a summer camp counselor during the summer before their senior year, after Hannah is cheated on by her boyfriend Sebastian, Hannah is lost without a clue how to live normally.  Then Ava's boyfriend Noah forces her out of her pajamas and self-pity, and into a job at the diner he and their friend Lacey work at, Cooley's.  Slowly as the summer goes on, Hannah finds herself getting over Sebastian.  This would be great, except for her and Noah's growing feelings for one another. Then on the last day before school starts they do the unthinkable - they sleep together, before he breaks up with Ava.  Can Hannah get the guy, salvage all her broken friendships and survive the first day of senior year?  This book alternates between the start of the summer all the way through the end of it and the first day of school, beginning to end.  I do give Lauren Barnholdt credit for making me read all the way to the end.  Which I regretted, because it was an enormous waste of time.  Ava was a complete and total bitch, Hannah was wimp who couldn't even really defend her decision to cheat, Noah and Sebastian were total d-bags who don't deserve air or space and Lacey was an overwrought hypochondriac who made me roll my eyes a lot.  I did not care for this book AT ALL.  I liked Hannah at the beginning, but that didn't last folks.  The synopsis also gives the false impression that the ending won't be quite so predictable.  It was totally predictable which did nothing to save it's honor in my eyes.  Cheating is NEVER justified people, and it's not romantic.  NOT EVER.  You want a book with self respect?  Read Anna and the French Kiss, not this complete and utter trash.  Recommended only as an overly pricey chew-toy for pet owners.

VERDICT: 1.5/5  Stars and a good, swift drop-kick from my window (not really, but I wanted to...and that's being KIND!)

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*