Envy by Gregg Olsen

Source: Publisher
New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with Empty Coffin, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.
Crime lives--and dies--in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen--and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits. 
Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out--and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.
Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge--and push you right over.
This book takes place in Kitsap County in Washington State. I have kind of lived there my whole life. So, I saw a lot of issues with the setting. The city of Port Gamble was well done, but there were just some issues that I had with mentions of other places in the county. There was also an insane amount of characters that I felt overwhelmed as I was reading. I love 3rd person-omnipresent, but this was too much for me. I constantly got confused between the characters. This definitely applied to the Ryan twins, because there wasn't anything overly distinctive about them. I wish that they had been developed more, because they seemed like cool girls. There were two things about the plot that didn't make sense for me. My younger sister was cyber bullied  The bully accepted a deal that included time in juvie and probation. This made the ending of the book really unrealistic to me, because it happened in the same . Another point is an espresso machine being in the bathroom. The espresso machine that Olsen describes is worth at least one thousand dollars and weights 30-40 lbs. I am sorry, but no one would move a machine of that quality, especially due to a risk of the well running dry. I did enjoy the suspense of the book and found it entertaining. There are a few other things that I found intriguing. I wish that there was more of a focus on just a few characters and I cared about them more. Olsen's writing is great and his voice is definitely unique. It just didn't feel right. I felt like this book was more slated towards adults, I mean there were teens, but the focus didn't remain on them for the majority of the plot.I think if it took place somewhere else, I might have enjoyed. Even with all of the issue, I might give Betrayal a chance. The premise seems a bit more interesting.  I recommend this book to fans of suspense that haven't lived in Kitsap County. Also, I would put this more as a crossover YA, so if you don't enjoy Adult, I would stay away.

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

Source: Borrowed
Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. He’d give anything to have just one more glimpse of her. But when Cam visits the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees an apparition. Her name is Nina, and she’s a girl from a parallel world. When Cam follows her there and makes an unbelievable discovery, it’s as if all his wildest dreams have come true. But things are very different in this other world. Nina is hiding a secret, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with the truth, he’s forced to make a choice that will change his life forever.
There are books that I am excited to read and then there are books that I AM EXCITED TO READ! This book came on the later category. I have been following Hainsworth on twitter for at least two years. When I heard about this book, I really wanted to read it. Sometimes, I get disappointed when I self-hype books. Luckily I didn't. I really liked Cam and that there was more to him than initial appeared. I also liked that it showed the difference in the alternative world. I also loved Nina. She was so caring and sweet. I also liked the devotion that she had to her brother. Viv was an interesting character and like with Cam, it was great to see how they contrasted. The plot had a few slow parts, but overall, I was sucked into this book and I couldn't read this fast enough. The book was full of surprises. I found this book to be very original. It had contemporary and sci-fi mixed smoothly together. The writing is also fantastic. Hainsworth has a unique way with words that made me want more. I can't wait for more from her in the future. I recommend her to people that want a captivating story that is full of intense emotion, while still balancing Sci-fi element gracefully. This is a must read,if you want a unique and epic story.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Source: Publisher
It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
I connected to Bria from the very beginning, because since I was a little girl, I have wanted to travel everywhere. I also liked that she was flawed and felt unsure about herself, because that is exactly how graduating feels like. She also has made mistakes and it is wonderful to see her develop in this book. Rowan is another amazing character. He has also made mistakes, but he is trying to fix them. I Starling was such a lively character and actually reminds me of one of my best friend. The setting of Central America is so rich and vivid that I felt that I was there at times. The plot was engaging, because while it was slow, I didn't mind with such detailed and realistic characters. The writing was absolutely amazing. There was a lot of humor mixed into a story about discovering who you are and what you want to be. I also enjoyed the pictures that Hubbard included, because they added to both the story and Bria. If you want to travel and think that it will be an amazing challenge, this book is for you. I would also reccomend Wanderlove, if you enjoyed Maureen Johnsons' 13 Little Blue Envelope or The Last Little Blue Envelope and also Jessi Kirby's In Honor. Overall, if you haven't read this book, I would suggest it.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Source: Publisher
Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.
I love Libba Bray. I love 1920's. I love anything to do with the supernatural. It would appear that this book is perfect for me and that is exactly what I found. The 1920's is like it's own character in the book. Bray captures the spirit of New York as it battles against prohibition, while for the most part battling for equal rights. I also enjoyed the actual characters in her.  Evie is a very strong character. She can be childish and over the top, but she is also funny, smart, and rather sweet on occasion. Mabel, Memphis, Theta, Henry, Sam, Uncle Will, and Jericho are all characters that added more to the story and many of them have secrets or stories that caused me to become attached to them. The plot is carefully crafted and intense. Near the end, I had a difficult time putting this down and when it ended I wanted more.  I found this book to be extremely original and I can't wait for more. As always, Libba Bray's writing is fabulous. The book is described so well and there are a few parts where I got chills and/or goosebumps from the creepy parts. I can't wait for more books in the future from Libba Bray. I highly recommend this book, if you enjoy Libba Bray's other books or are looking for historical fiction with a twist. 

Contemporary Books Giveaway

Hey everyone!
I have come in possession of two extra ARCs. One is a signed copy of Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook. The other book is Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan.
Here is what Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook is about:
Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.
They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.
Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.
Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.
I have actually already read this and it is amazing. A full review will come closer to the release date. 

And this is the description for Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan:
Michael Hassan’s shattering debut is a tale of first love and first hate, the story of two high school seniors and the morning that changed their lives forever. It’s a portrait of the modern American teenage male, in all his brash, disillusioned, oversexed, schizophrenic, drunk, nihilistic, hopeful, ADD-diagnosed glory.
And it’s a powerful mediation on how normal it is to be screwed up, and how screwed up it is to be normal.
I am really excited to read this book soon. 
Anyways, to enter, just fill out the form below. US Addresses only. Ends on December 10th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando

Source: Publisher
An all-day scavenger hunt in the name of eternal small-town glory
With only a week until graduation, there's one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win.
Mary lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed "it" bully Jake Barbone, and she's not about to lose again. But everyone is racing for the finish line with complicated motives, and the team's all-night adventure becomes all-night drama as shifting alliances, flared tempers, and crushing crushes take over. As the items and points pile up, Mary and her team must reinvent their strategy--and themselves--in order to win.
I adored Dreamland Social Club and was really excited to read this book. I found it to be a really fun and realistic read. Mary is a great character. She is about to go off to college and wants to have that last hurrah before going off to university. Like myself, Mary doubts herself and if her dreams are grand enough or if she is good enough for a boy that she likes.  I loved her friends. Her best friend Winter, her best guy friend Patrick, and Dez,  all have their own motives and reasons for participating in the Scavenger Hunt. They also each have an importance to the scavenger hunt. Winter reminded me of several girls that I know that didn't value themselves as much as they should have been. Patrick was sweet, but he didn't understand why some of his actions were bad. Dez was so funny and made me laugh so much. This book was an extremely fast read for me. I ended up reading it in two hours in one sitting. The plot is very quick and fun, but still has a mix of seriousness too. Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be very funny and enjoyable. Tara  Altebrando is a great writer and I am excited to read more from her. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Source: Publisher
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Karou is an awesome character. I liked that she was really creative and fierce. She was just a very lively character that thrived on her independence and strength. She doesn't compromise herself, but challenges people. Avika was also an awesome character and I liked that he was strong and evolved over time.
Zuzana was a great friend. She challenged Karou, but still wanted the best for her.  The plot was epic. By the time that I finished this book, I wanted more. Part of the reason is that Taylor created a complex story in a very imaginative  world that I felt immersed in from the first page to the last page. This story was extremely original and spectacular.  Taylor's writing was amazing.  It is just so beautiful and honest and hard to explain without making it me sound like more of a fangirl. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more. If like me in July, you haven't read this book, even though you have heard great things about it. You need to forget everything else on your To-Read Pile and read this like now. 

Dreams vs Reality of the Future

In two weeks, I start my second year of University. I am majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing and I often get asked the question that many liberal arts major hate: So, what do you plan on doing after college?
There is the practical Sarah that says she going to get a Masters Degree in Library and Information Studies, which will most likely give me a job with probably benefits and not be paid in monopoly money. There is also the dream Sarah that would like to get a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, where practically Sarah says I will probably freelance write and not have important things like insurance and such. Even though I would enjoy either career. I love reading books, but I also love writing. I am not torn between them, since they aren't exclusive to one or the other.
One of my university friends suggested that I should stop thinking about this, because I don't graduate for three years and technically I could always do both or just apply to both and see where I am accepted.
Either way, I am thinking about this especially when I fill out loan applications and they ask what I am going to do two years after graduation. The truth is that like most people I don't know what I am going to do. If I asked fifteen year old or seventeen year old Sarah, she would have a different image of where I would be. One would think that I would be Pre-Med and the other Finance(I don't like Math or Science as much now).
Anyways, I was wondering if anyone else felt this way or didn't really know what they were going to do as a young adult.
Best Wishes, Sarah.

An Explanation and Apology

So, I have had somewhat bad news for the past few months and I have been processing it.
It isn't new news that I am sick.
I have been open about it for the past six years.
I finally met with a specialist that understands my disease and was able to tell me everything that happened.
Pretty much I had a bone infection that would have disappeared instantly, if it was treated right.
It wasn't. It took over a year to start a treatment to get rid of this. Bone and infection aren't good friend.
As a result, there is a lot of a damage. My right hip joint is severely damaged.
My right sacrum joint doesn't show up on x-ray  or MRI and the left is severely eroded. Like when your bone breaks, the left side is trying to repair it. So I have bone spurs causing pain and inflammation. This is what has been causing my immune system to be overactive.  A lot of the muscles are  on Level 3 on the weakness scale, which means that they move, but not as well as they should.  So there is a lot of work to do,  to get as well as possible. I also have other health issues as a result and I am dealing with those too. I am also on some medicines that should begin to work in the next few weeks.
I am not angry or sad about this. It was just a lot to accept and writing it out, made it seem well real. At the same time, it feels really good to know what is going on
Anyways, I apologize for not posting regularly. I meant to explain why a while ago, but life got really crazy. I was close to finishing writing a book and the end of a year of college, when I found this out.
I hope that everything is going well and reviews soon.
Thank you for your patience.
Sarah.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Source: Bought

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.
To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.
But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. 
When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

It is now secret that I have loved Courtney Summers' other books and when I heard about This Is Not A Test, I got really excited to read it. Sloane isn't the usual survivor of the Zombie Apocalypse and the back story that Summers added. It made the story more vivid and I became further invested in the story. There are several other characters that added to the story. Rhys was strong, but his instinct to survive didn't over shadow his humanity. Grace was a sweet and kind character, but still wanted to live. Trace was angry and frightening, but mostly he wanted to protect Grace. Since she is the last that remains of his family. Harrison was afraid. Cary was a leader and wanted the best for everyone. I felt a connection to all of the characters and felt that I could honestly be any of them.
The plot was really exciting and I kept on thinking would I do that? The details that Summers add to the story were frightening and made me visualize it. Also while the book is about survival, it doesn't make survival boring. I didn't want to stop reading and that feeling lasted with me long after the ending.  This story was original for a zombie novel, because it added a feeling of suspense from Sloane's past. I also liked the idea of a school, because for most teens, they dread school. Now they are forced to either survive in a place that they hated or contend with zombies that want to murder them. The relationships were also different in the book. It wasn't the usual need for intimacy that is in a lot of survival novel, but something more realistic. Summers' writing style is sharp, fierce, and sparse. I enjoy her writing and find it to be amazing. Even thought it is during a Zombie Apocalypse, it remains realistic. As always, I can't wait to read more from Summers and highly recommend  that you read This is Not a Test as soon as humanly possible. I promise that you will not regret reading this book.