ARC Review: You Were Here by Cori McCarthy

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks
400 Pages


Jaycee is about to accomplish what her older brother Jake couldn't: live past graduation.
Jaycee is dealing with her brother's death the only way she can – by re-creating Jake's daredevil stunts. The ones that got him killed. She's not crazy, okay? She just doesn't have a whole lot of respect for staying alive.

Jaycee doesn't expect to have help on her insane quest to remember Jake. But she's joined by a group of unlikely friends – all with their own reasons for completing the dares and their own brand of dysfunction: the uptight, ex-best friend, the heartbroken poet, the slacker with Peter Pan syndrome, and... Mik. He doesn't talk, but somehow still challenges Jayce to do the unthinkable-reveal the parts of herself that she buried with her brother.

Cori McCarthy's gripping narrative defies expectation, moving seamlessly from prose to graphic novel panels and word art poetry, perfect for fans of E. Lockhart, Jennier Niven, and Jandy Nelson. From the petrifying ruins of an insane asylum to the skeletal remains of the world's largest amusement park, You Were Here takes you on an unforgettable journey of friendship, heartbreak and inevitable change.

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Grief. It means something different to everyone. It's also something everyone handles differently. Because honestly, who's to say what's right and what's wrong? When Jaycee witnesses her older brother, Jake's,  horrific death it inevitably changes her and everyone around her. Her best friend stops talking to her. Her mother ends up in a mental ward of sorts and her father acts like he's going to lose her every time she walks out the door. Then there's Mik, Jake's best friend. He's the only one Jaycee can find comfort each year on the anniversary of Jake's death. But something is different about Mik lately. Something is different about everyone. 

This story follows 5 people: Jaycee, Mik, Natalie, Bishop, and Zach. Each one is struggling with something internally, whether it's grief or change or fear. They are 5 very different people who end up finding solace in each other - somewhat rather unwillingly. 

This book was interesting to me. Mostly because I didn't really like any of the characters. Almost all of them were horrible people who did horrible things to each other. The one who surprised me the most was Zach. He first comes across as the boy who doesn't want to grow up, he just wants to party all the time and make out with his girlfriend. But as the story progresses, he becomes the most interesting character of all and one with the most depth. 

Even though the story focused on Jaycee and how she was coping, or not, with her brothers death, I just didn't care for her. But I understood her, if that makes sense. Grief makes people do and act in ways people don't care for. And that's why this story was so different. It's about change and acceptance. In a way, it's a road map of the five stages of grief. And the way it's told - Jaycee, Natalie, & Zach with words, Mik like a graphic novel, and Bishop with just one piece of art (his own paintings) was a brilliant decision by the author.

This is definitely one to judge for yourself because I think everyone will get something different out of it. The writing style was done really well and I am interested in checking out more from this author.

 

I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Cover Reveal: The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

I am extremely happy to have been invited to join Jen Doktorski as she releases the cover of her upcoming novel, The Summer After You and Me. I really enjoyed (and reviewed) her other books Famous Last Words, and How My Summer Went Up in Flames. I can't wait to read this one as well--I'm sure I'll love it as much as her other books!

The Summer After You and Me 

by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: Spring 2015

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Sunbathing, surfing, eating funnel cake on the boardwalk—Lucy loves living on the Jersey Shore. For her, it's not just the perfect summer escape, it is home. And as a local girl, she knows not to get attached to the tourists. They breeze in over Memorial Day weekend, crowding the shore and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Lucy wants more from love than a fleeting romance, even if that means keeping her distance from her summertime neighbor and crush, Connor.

Then Superstorm Sandy tears apart her barrier island, briefly bringing together a local girl like herself and a vacationer like Connor. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm. And day after day, week after week, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and broken home. Now with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?

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I am stunned by the beauty of this cover. The coloring is phenomenal, and so eye-catching. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this book! What do you think of the cover?

Book Trailer Reveal: Night Sky (Night Sky #1) by Suzanne Brockmann

Hey guys, this isn't your typical Teaser Tuesday post (as you are probably aware).  But it is a tease of sorts. I am happy to bring you the book trailer for Suzanne Brockmann's new series Night Sky releasing October 7, 2014.

Looks good, right? If you are interested in checking this one out, Suzanne Brockmann is doing a virtual signing and you can order that here. Comes with an autographed hardcover book and a bonus exclusive!

So, here's the blurb as seen on Goodreads:

SHE’S THE ULTIMATE WEAPON IN FIGHTING DESTINY.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann and her daughter Melanie Brockmann have written a pulse-pounding novel of paranormal suspense set in a near future both fantastic and frightening. “Original and exciting, NIGHT SKY propels readers into a dangerous future. Loved it.” —Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Made For You and the Wicked Lovely series.

Skylar Reid is shaken when Sasha, the little girl she babysits, is kidnapped. Scared that the weird dreams she’s been having about Sasha are real—and even more afraid that Sasha is already dead. When a mysterious girl with extreme butt-kicking abilities roars into town on a motorcycle and, well, stalks Skylar things get even weirder. Supergirl Dana tells Sky that she also has abilities – that a hormone in their blood makes them stronger, faster, smarter. A hormone that the makers of a new drug called Destiny will murder to get their hands on.

Dana and Milo, her dangerously hot yet oh-so-forbidden partner in crime, want Sky to join them in their mission – to mold Sky into the ultimate weapon. She can sense there’s something about her abilities they’re not telling her. But the only way to save Sasha and stop other girls from being taken is to embrace the weird…and fight Destiny.

Special thanks to Heather Moore at Sourcebooks for allowing me to share this trailer with you.

Book Review: How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 1, 2005
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
417 Pages

Written in her wonderfully honest, edgy, passionate and often hilarious voice, Tiffanie DeBartolo tells the story of Eliza Caelum, a young music journalist, and Paul Hudson, a talented songwriter and lead singer of the band Bananafish. Eliza's reverence for rock is equaled only by Paul's, and the two fall wildly in love.

When Bananafish is signed by a big corporate label, and Paul is on his way to becoming a major rock star, Eliza must make a heartbreaking decision that leads to Paul's sudden disappearance and a surprise knock-your-socks-off ending.

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Well, it took me almost three months to finally write this review, but it seriously took me that long to figure out what I thought about it. How to Kill a Rock Star came so highly recommended to me that it was one that I ended up looking forward to reading a little too much. Maybe my expectations were too high going in. Maybe this just wasn’t the book for me. 

How to Kill a Rock Star is the story of Eliza and Paul. Eliza comes to New York looking for greener pastures. Her brother lives there and he sets her up living in an apartment with his bandmate, Paul. As you’ve probably guessed, Paul and Eliza fall into this epic love – epic, angst ridden love – with more problems than your average soap opera. In the midst of all their drama, Paul’s band, Bannafish, gets signed to a major record label propelling him into instant fame. 

What I liked:

-The writing. DeBartolo has a very smooth, lyrical style of writing. The imagery was just beautiful and the way she wrote New York in the 90’s was very much alive. You could almost reach out and touch it. Just superb. 

-Paul in the first half of the book. He was free-spirited and so alive when it came to his music. His passion bled through each page like a papercut. I instantly fell hard for this t-shirt folder from the Gap.

-Loring. Ah, sweet little Loring. Here’s a man who wore his heart on his sleeve. He was a musician, but he was also a father, a musician’s son, and a man who fell in love with the wrong girl. There were times where I wanted him to stop being such a pushover and really stand up to both Eliza and Paul, but it really just wasn’t in his nature.

What I didn’t like:

-Paul in the last half of the book. His passion became obsession and his love became dependent. 

-Eliza. She started out as a strong-willed character and grew into this selfish, co-dependent person who used people like it was nothing. The way she treated Loring was disgusting. She didn’t want to hurt Paul but didn’t care how much she hurt Loring. Eliza, you are officially a horrible person.

-The ending. I don’t believe it had a “knock your socks off” ending like the blurb says. I believe it had the potential but it copped out and I ended up feeling jipped. 

So many people loved this book and I can see why. But the way it ended really didn’t sit with me right and changed my feelings on the book as a whole. Would I recommend it? Maybe, depends on the person. 

Book Review: Where There's Smoke (Good Girl Series #1) by Karen Kelley

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
297 Pages

Sexy wannabe-demon Destiny Carter is in Ft. Worth, Texas, with one week to corrupt a soul. Or else. She slips into a slinky red dress, and heads straight for the delicious, corruptible looking cowboy at the bar. But Chance Bellew has his own agenda-saving souls. He's not your typical angel-he likes drinking and sex way too much, and not necessarily in that order. And then he meets Destiny...

WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATERIAL UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18. 

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

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Review:

This book… Dear God, this book. I honestly don't know how I finished it. 

Here's the plot: Destiny is dead. She went to hell, but she's not a demon yet because she didn't bring enough souls with her to hell (or something like that). So they send her back to Earth to convince someone to go to hell, and she'll get to be a demon. She's got a week to do so. Chance (aren't you loving these names?) is a nephilim, half-angel, half-human. It's his job to convince people, especially those who are about to become demons, to join the ranks in heaven. He's got one week to convince Destiny that she should give up her dream of being a demon and find happiness in heaven. Along the way, they have copous amounts of sex, and… That's it. They just have a lot of sex. That's the plot.

The characters are dreadful. I hate Destiny. She's nasty, and not just because she's trying to be a demon or because she has sexual relations in a public place within the first ten percent of the book, but also because she treats everyone around her like crap. I know, I know. Demons aren't nice, but she's not a full demon yet - she still has her soul! There are so many inconsistencies… Like, why, if she's been dead for decades, is she JUST NOW being forced to coerce souls to the dark side? Her past is a jumbled mess that was so unlike the times that she's supposed from (the 50's, I think) that I wanted to scream. And Chance… Oh, Chance, how I don't understand you. In fact, all of the male characters in this book were strange. I thought God preached abstinence, yet these half-angels are sex fiends. THIS IS WHY I HATE PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVELS WITH ANGELS. No more. No, thank you.

The writing is just as awful as the characters. The sex scenes were not, in fact, sexy. They were awkward and constant. The awkwardness ranged from clinical terms for part of female genetila to dirty talk that did nothing but make me cringe. In the first twenty percent alone, there were three sex scenes, the female MC went to a porn shop and the main characters watched a porno together. 

I know this is supposed to be erotica, but really? ...This is a joke, right? Give me something! I skimmed the sex scenes, because even though there were a lot of them, they were written awfully. The characters were awkward. It wasn't like they didn't work well together. They had chemistry, I guess. But they don't even know each other! The first sexual experience they have together is the first time they meet. In a bar. That still has patrons inside. And then Chance just leaves her there. Really?

The book could've been a lot better, if the plot had taken precedence, but no. This book isn't romance. The romance in this doesn't even make sense! The main characters don't even know each other, yet claim to be in love! I can't say it enough: this has the plot of a badly written porn flick. And not even one that gets to the point! This was so drawn out! If you took out the sex scenes and the book probably would've been about a third shorter. I kept looking at the percentage on my kindle and thinking, "REALLY? I'm only that far in? There's so much left! When will this hell end?"

I wasted too much time on this book. I kept hoping it would pull through, but by the end, I was just morbidly curious about how the the story would tie up. It was a cheesefest, of course. I do not recommend this book.

I received and e-copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest opinion and review.