Rules of Attraction

Author: Simone Elkeles

Summary: (goodreads:) When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Review: After finishing Perfect Chemistry, I was dying to get more of Elkeles' amazing writing. Finally, I have been able to read this book which I have been anxiously awaiting to get my hands on since before it came out!

So, I want to start off by saying that it isn't Perfect Chemistry. I loved it, but not as much as the first. I think I had the expectation that Alex and Brittany were going to be like in Perfect Chemistry, but it is really its own story.

The new starring characters are Carlos and Kiara. Similar and different to the Alex and Brittany match up, but I really need to stop comparing them because they were so much their own personalities. Carlos has a really strong, flirtatious personality, but really doesn't think that much of himself. He doesn't feel like he really deserves anything out of life since he is conscious that he doesn't put all that much effort into getting anything.

Kiara's personality is described as shy. But shy people aren't so shy when they are with people they love or by themselves. Everyone has an actual personality, thoughts and much more than what shows up on the surface. Kiara was a wonderful representation of that because when she was with her friend, she really opened up and was rash, courageous and fun.

Rules of Attraction is a great book on its own. No need to read the first one and you will still love the story and the characters.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 4.5 5

Waiting On Wednesday 14

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at BreakingTheSpine on the books we cannot wait to read. Check out her site!

Title: Tiger's Voyage

Author: Colleen Houck

Release Date: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Splinter an imprint of Sterling's Children's Books

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the tiger series and I just finished reading the second book, Tiger's Quest which left me breathless. My review will be up on Monday for that book. I actually borrowed Tiger's Curse, which is the first in this series, from a friend and was skeptical about how good it could be, but it was amazing. I love these books! I really, really, really want to read the third one :( I am really curious as to what the cover is going to look like too!

TIGER'S CURSE (book 2) will be released JUNE 7th, 2011

Visit the author's site: http://www.tigerscursebook.com/

So what are you anxiously awaiting the release of?

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Author: A.S. King

Summary: (goodreads:) Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.

Review: This down-to-earth novel combined some really unrealistic elements together to weave an amazing thought-provoking story about facing reality and moving on. The interjections of other characters were funny, quirky, conversational; all those qualities provided comic relief in a dark manner for all the other emotional stuff Vera was going through.

The main character was dealing with a lot of stuff in her life that she hadn't gotten past and usually I find myself disliking characters like this. Vera was different. She was in denial, but she her personality was strong and she tried to make things right on her own terms. Vera is one of the most realistic personalities I've ever read about because, although dramatic at times, she didn't want to be seen suffering. Vera was strong in that she knew how to keep up appearances and even when she was alone, she managed to try to get herself back on her feet, even if she did use methods that were drowning her more in problems.

The writing was wonderful and all the characters were very engaging. The way in which everything panned out was surprising and there were so many things that made me raise my eyebrows, but the informal, conversational tone of the book kept it grounded and real. I really recommend it.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 4.5 5