Review: Virgin by Radhika Sanghani

Title: Virgin
Author: Radhika Sanghani
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 5^th, 2014
Source: ARC from BEA

Summary: Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it.

Yet.

This is normal, right?  I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right?

It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed.

The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now?

Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun?

I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen.

Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

Review: This is what a New Adult novel should be. It’s funny, meaningful and perfectly describes the mind of a college student, at least the ones I’ve met. The best part? It doesn’t focus on the romance. Virgin focuses more on the friendships that the main character makes. It was something new and different to New Adult.

Judy Blume and Lauren Miracle help preteens and teens navigate the world of puberty. Radhika Sanghani helps the college student navigate other important questions one might have. This novel is not for the younger side of young adult. It is 100% for the older and more mature audiences. Virgin, as you can probably tell by the title, is a raunchy novel. Every reader needs to know that going in. Some parts did make me a little squeamish reading about, yet I expected that.

The only part of this book that I did not like was the ending. It felt rushed and there wasn’t much closure for the characters. I wanted to know a little bit more about that happens to Ellie and her friends. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to leave the world of this novel but I just wanted more.

There was one slight flaw in the book with the characters blog that she starts. I enjoyed reading about the blog in general because I have my own and can really relate to the whole part of the story line. The only thing wrong with it was the fact that Ellie called her blog posts vlogs. (Because they were about her being a virgin). She took the V and put in in blog to come up with vlog. BUT that’s the word for video blogging. It was really confusing at first.

Other than those flaws I really enjoyed Virgin and highly recommend it to any college student.

Sneak Peak Review: The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Lies We Tell Ourselves
By: Robin Talley
Release Date: September 30th, 2014
Source: BookCon


Sneak Peak Review by Marissa:

I am so excited to tell you guys about this book. I am not going to give a full review, more of a preview, because this book doesn’t come until October. But I wanted to give you guys a heads up about this one. I received this book at Book-Con.

In a brief overview, basically this book is set up in Virginia, late 1950’s public school. Like many white Southern schools during this time, many people were vehemently opposed to the impending integration of black and white students. Instead of taking this story from a grandiose, historical perspective, Talley sets the story from the perspective of the students. While they are dealing with all these larger scale issues, they are also dealing with typical high school things. Like friendships, love, peer pressure, which makes this story so relatable to me. The story is centered on two girls, Sarah and Linda, and their friends.

I don’t want to give away a lot, but another thing about the set up about the book that I really liked was the chapters are separated into literally the different lies we tell ourselves. It is a small detail that I really enjoyed.

This isn’t my typical fantasy, or romantic coming of age novel. I usually don’t get into novels that are so close to non-fiction. But I really enjoyed this one, and I think it will be a huge success when it comes out. Keep a look out for it in October! Have a lovely week everyone!


--Marissa

Review: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Finale (Hush, Hush saga book 4) By: Becca Fitzpatrick Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:

“Will love conquer all?

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.

Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.

But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.

As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.”

Alyssa's Review:

My first reaction is that this book was a million times more fantastic than I thought it would be. I really liked the first three books in the series, but I was so impressed by the series’ conclusion. The twists and turns in the plot were exciting and horrifying at the same time. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was thrown a curveball. I went through so much right alongside Nora during the whole story, and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

I’m a sucker for paranormal romances, so if you are as well, and you’ve read the first three Hush, Hush novels, this book is definitely for you. My attachment to each of the characters grew exponentially from the beginning, and I found myself smiling whenever anything good happened to my favorite characters. Actually I smiled when bad things happened to characters I hated so basically I just smiled a lot.

I also cried multiple times… there was a 30 page section where every other line I was just jolted by the events taking place and the action was insanity. My family members asked me if I was okay because I was so distraught at some points. Every time I think of some of the things that happened, I can feel the tears just sitting behind my eyes ready to spring. But since no one in my house understands being sad over “fictional characters” (they’re real to us, Mom, leave me alone), I must hold back my tears and stay strong!

There really were so many surprises (at least I thought so) and I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything was explained/came together in the end. I pretty much got everything I wanted in the conclusion to this fun yet intense and fantastical series. Remember that saying, “expect the unexpected”? That’s what I should have done… except you can’t really expect what you don’t expect… so… it wouldn’t have worked anyway….

I honestly believe that even if you aren’t hooked at the beginning of the series, you should stick around and trudge on until the end. I definitely enjoyed all of the books in the series but frustration may cause you to quit. DO NOT GIVE IN. Finale is definitely worth it, and is now one of my favorite books. And I’m in love with Patch Cipriano. So. There’s that.

Hope you enjoyed my first review!! I’d love to know if there’s anything I could do better, or change about the way I’m writing. This is just the beginning and I’m still getting a feel of how to do this so we shall see where I go from here!

Marissa will be here next week to do her first review, so I’ll be back in two weeks! Thanks for reading :)

--Alyssa

College Life and Blogging

Good Morning!

I know I've been MIA for about a year now, but I'm hoping this changes soon. I really miss interacting with other bloggers and readers. Now that I've been at college for a month (and it's been a great and exciting month) I think I got a pattern down for blogging, work, studying, and other activities. I've read a few books that I want to post reviews for, so hopefully I'm able to start making With A Book an active blog again.

Here's a little update on my life this past year I've been away. I applied to many difference colleges and decided to attend Rutgers University in NJ. I've been here for a little over a month now and have loved every moment of it. Classes are great, I'm actually going to try and take a writing class next semester all about blogging. I love how you can take classes that are for your own interests in college and you don't have to get a set schedule from the school. There's so many different classes to choose from and so many English classes that I want to take. Here's some pictures of my campus:

The brand new Barnes and Nobles on Campus!

I have a job here at school, it's in a library, but with the Archives for the University and not the library itself. Which is different from when I'm used to after working at my local library over the summer.

I've actually read a few interesting books for school so far and can't decide if I should review them or not. They are mostly non-fiction and historical. Any thoughts?

Another thing that I considered was reviewing more them books here on With a Book. Just other things I buy and run into that I feel like others would like to hear about, for example make-up, and beauty products. Is that something any of you would be interested in? Or should I leave With a Book strictly a book blog? This is something that I've considered for some time now. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Don't forget to follow With a Book on tumblr too! I can post more often there and reblog cute book quotes and pictures along with my own posts.

--Danielle

New Adult Book Sampler

If you read my review of Wait For You yesterday then you know I found it on a New Adult book sampler. I thought I should share that sampler with you.

Summary from BN: Presenting Between the Covers, a free eBook sampler from the hottest New Adult books by the most popular authors in this emerging genre. This free eBook sampler is a curated volume of excerpts from new and upcoming titles from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors including Wait for You by J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout); three books by Cora Carmack: Losing It, Faking It and Finding It; Dark Heroine by Abigail Gibbs; Foreplay by Sophie Jordan; three books by Molly McAdams: Taking Chances, From Ashes and Forgiving Lies; and The Registry by Shannon Stoker.

This sampler can be found on bn.com and amazon.com for free! I loved this because it gives you the first few chapters of these new novels so you can decide if you want to buy them. So far I've read the samplers for J.Lnn, Cara Carmack and Jay Crownover. All of them have been great and now I have a list of books to read! 

I've already read J. Lynn's novel and the first novel by Cara Carmack (review up soon). I have yet to be disappointed. I read love the New Adult genre because they are about characters that are my age. If you have any to suggest let me know! I would love to read some more New Adult novels. :) 

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

The Fault In Our Stars
by John Green

Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Review: On Goodread's The Fault in our Stars has 4.52 stars. That has to be one of the highest rating's I've seen on that site ever. Which must mean that it's universally like. Once I closed the last page I could see why. This is a story that sticks with you, it makes you think, makes you laugh and makes you cry. 

I put off The Fault in our Stars by John Green because I knew it would be an emotional story, and it was. With a story like this one you have to be in the right mind set to read it. When I finally got up the courage to pick this one up, I was glad I did. The character's are so likable. I was routing for the best, even though it's centered around Cancer patients. They had their flaws but that just made me like them even more. 

This is a novel that you won't be able to put down. John Green crafted a beautiful story that will keep you entranced until the very end. You will be dying to know what happen to Hazel and Gus. Green also keeps you on your toes. While you might think you know how this novel ends, I thought I did, but you're probably wrong (I was). 

No matter what age you are, make sure you pick this one up. Just make sure you bring some tissues with you. Because this will be you at the end... 

--Danielle

Review: Hunger Games Movie (Spoiler Free)

My thoughts on The Hunger Games Movie. 

When I watch a movie that was adapted from a novel, I'm usually bored. I already know the story, the plot, and the ending. Unless it was one of my favorite books, I usually do not enjoy the movie. Even then sometimes the movie is just not very entertaining. With the Hunger Games, I had read the novel first but I was nowhere close to falling asleep during the film. The action, excitement, and characters made the Hunger Games not only a great novel but a truly great film as well. 

The acting, in my opinion, is what makes The Hunger Games so great. Each actor was perfect for their parts from Effie who was just as quirky as I had pictured her in the novel, to Katniss and Peeta. Who really seemed to understand their characters and got the emotions from the book to the big screen perfectly. They were just perfect. 

Personally, I do not like gory movies. I usually find myself hiding behind my popcorn if there is anything more than a paper cut. However, I was expecting this movie to be much gorier then it was. There were only a few times that I actually had to look away. The Tracker Jacker scene in my opinion was the worst, but that's probably because bees scare me. If you have yet to see the movie, don't worry about the gore. There is blood, stabbing and death but nothing to graphic and gushing blood. 

The Hunger Games is a movie and book that you don't want to miss. Let's hope they keep it up with the sequels! I'm very excited to see Catching Fire. 

What did you think of the movie? 

--Danielle

Review: First Date

First Date by Krista McGee
Source: Net Galley
Summary: The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President's son.

She's focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn't even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President's son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy's totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her all that she was meant to be.

Review: A book that has a religious aspect to it is not something that I usually read. I have nothing against it, but for some reason every one I've picked up hasn't been the best which in the end made me stop reading them. Yet, when I saw this summary I had to pick it up. My weakness has always been cute romance novels and that's what First Date was. A romance novel to make you smile.


The main character, Addy, doesn't want anything to do with this T.V. show but she was nominated anyway and can't get out of it. When she gets there he automatically attracts the attention of the media and the presidents son and gains every other girl their as an enemy. From this plot you get some funny reality T.V. moments and cute romance from Addy and the president's son. 


While this novel was cheesy and predicable, sometimes that's just want to need. This is the perfect book for rainy, gloomy days to cheer you up. Also, First Date is a Christian fiction novel and if that's not your cup of tea, maybe this isn't the book for you. The religion isn't over done and it doesn't take over the whole novel but it is there. 

Review: Tempest

Tempest 
By Julie Cross
Source: Publisher for Review


Summary: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Review: Time travel, adventure, romance, and action, Tempest had everything you could want in a book. That was the best part about this novel. It can appeal to everyone. Whether you are looking for a romantic book, a science fiction one, or an action- mystery, you can find elements of it all in Tempest. Another great thing, it appeals to both guys and girls. The narrator, Jackson, is a guy and while girls are usually fine reading from either gender, it seems like guys are usually more picky. So no matter what you are looking for to read, there's a good chance you will be able to find it in Tempest. 


Each character had there own personality and made the story more intresting to read. When you are able to connect with the characters it always makes a great book even better. My favorite, other then Jackson, has to be Holly. First we meet the 2009 Holly who is in collage, then after Jackson finds himself stuck in 2007 you see how Holly was in 007.  You can see how she's changed, in 2007 she's a teenager in high school a big difference from the one in collage. Then there was Adam who is a super smart geek, and I LOVED him. How he would ramble nonsense about time travel trying to figure out the science. The characters are what made Tempest such a great read. 


There was a few times throughout the novel that I was a bit confused. Mostly because I forgot to look at the beginning of the chapter to see what year Jackson was in. There were other times were I got confused with what other characters knew and how the time travel worked. Most of the time I would keep reading and catch on, so that wasn't such a big problem. 


When I first started reading Tempest, I didn't know it was going to be a series. I thought it was going to be a stand alone book. I'm very glad I was wrong. Tempest sets up this world of time travel that I just can't get enough of and can't wait to read more! 


--Danielle

Review: Songs For A Teenage Nomad

I actually found time to  write a review! Now I'm going to type up one for Clockwork Angel. Then I'll finish reading Wondrous Strange (which is very good so far). Then I can read Halo!

Songs For A Teenage Nomad

By Kim Culbertson
Amazon
My copy: ARC from publisher
Summary: After living in twelve places in eight years, Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Another new home, another new school...Calle knows better than to put down roots. Her song journal keeps her moving to her own soundtrack, bouncing through a world best kept at a distance.


Yet before she knows it, friends creep in-as does an unlikely boy with a secret. Calle is torn over what may be her first chance at love. With all that she's hiding and all that she wants, can she find something lasting beyond music? And will she ever discover why she and her mother have been running in the first place?

Review: Songs For A Teenage Nomad is the story about Calle who moves from town to town as her mom moves from guy to guy. She never stays in one place long enough to become close to anyone. The only thing that stays the same is Calle’s love for music.


While in Andreas Bay as Calle starts her first year of high school and she finally finds a group of people she can actually call friends, the drama kids. Throughout the story Calle helps work backstage during the plays. The friends that she makes were some of my favorite characters. They were exciting, fun and didn’t care what anyone else in their little town thought about them.

 Calle also attracts attention of the boy who seems to have just as many problems as her, Sam. He seems to be the perfect football playing popular guy. Throughout the book Calle isn’t sure what to think of him, and I didn’t either.


Songs For A Teenage Nomad was an addicting and emotional book full of romance and friends. It keeps your attention from the first to the very last page. While the plot was a little predicable I still found myself in tears as Calle was. This is a book I would highly recommend, especially to any music lovers.

You Wish (Review)

You Wish

By: Mandy Hubbard
My copy: ARC from publisher
Amazon
Summary:What if all your wishes really came true? Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.


Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink
My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend.

Review: Before I start this review I have a confession to make, I always forget to make a wish before I blow out my candles. I can actually only think of one time that I remember making a wish. I was six and I wanted a puppy (I guess that won’t come true now since I just told everyone).

Forgetting to make my birthday wish was the first thing I thought of when I read the summary to You Wish so I thought I should mention it. I’m going to start remembering to make a wish every year ( and a really good one!) just incase this ever happens to me. I know this is fiction and won’t really happen, but you never know. Anyway I really enjoyed reading You Wish. It was funny and addictive. Kayla was very relatable. She just wanted to be different as her best friend wanted to fit in.

I was hooked throughout the whole book waiting for a wish to happen everyday. Most of the wishes were hilarious and I had so much fun reading about them. Another thing I like about the book was the romance. Sure there isn’t much but the guy Kayla liked was actually believable. She actually knew him and he knew her. In so many YA novels the main character is obsessed with a guy she barley knows. So it was nice to see something different.

You wish is a book that I would recommend to everyone. I can’t wait to read more by Mandy Hubbard. Her next book was my Waiting on Wednesday this week. So scroll down and check it out if you want. It looks very good and also very different.

--Danielle

Tweet Heart (Review)

I’ve been busy with band camp and finding time to read Mockingjay. So here’s a really fast review on Tweet Heart. I’ll be posting my review of Mockingjay tomorrow, but if you want to talk about it with me now contact me! I NEED to talk about this book, I still have some missed feeling about scenes and characters. So tweet me on twitter (@withabook) or just email me at withabook@gmail.com.

Tweet Heart

By: Elizabeth Rudnick

Received from the publisher

Amazon

Summary: Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

Review: When I first saw Tweet Heart automatically I thought back to TTYL books by Lauren Miracle. When they came out IM-ing was the big thing. So it’s not that big of a surprise for a book in Tweets, emails and Blog posts. I have my own Twitter that I become slightly more obsessed with everyday, so I was excited to read Tweet Heart.

The tweets between the different characters were very easy to understand. I loved how they had a profile picture (well most of them anyway). It’s nice to put a face to the character when their not described in the book. It made me feel like I knew them a bit more.

The plot of Tweet Heart is fun, light, and predictable yet I still flipped through the pages just like I would in an intense paranormal story. I loved each character, but Claire did get a bit on my nerves with her obsession with JD (her dream guy). She thinks she’s in love but knows nothing about him.

If you haven’t read Tweet Heart you should. It would be a great book to read now, as summer ends. Take it with you to your last trip to the beach or just sit on your deck reading before the weather gets to cold. The lighthearted plot is a great way to end summer.

--Danielle

P.S. If you’re an Iron Fey fan, like me, go check out THIS excerpt of the Iron Queen. It’s so funny. Plus it has Ash in it, and if you’re not a fan of Ash I’m going to have to ask you to slowly back away and leave. Nah I’m just kidding… or am I?

Infinite Days (Review)

This review should have posted around the day Infinite Days was released but Blogger's schedule post thing didn't work and I just noticed. So sorry it's a bit late.

Infinite Days
By: Rebecca Maizel
My Copy: ARC from publisher
Amazon
Summary: Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm? (Good Reads Summary)

Review: When I received an ARC of Infinite Days I was beyond excited.  I had heard great things about Rebecca Maizel’s book and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. This new vampire novel definitely didn’t disappoint.

Vampires are the ‘hot thing’ in YA fiction right now (and TV/Movies). If you step into a bookstore you are almost guarantied to find them. Some are so unique that you don’t want to even categorize it with the other blood sucking novels and some just feel like they’re trying to hard to ‘fit in’. Infinite Days, without a doubt, belongs with the first group.

Rebecca Maizel took a completely different approach in her YA vampire novel. I’ve can honestly say I’ve never read a book about the main character turning into a human after being a vampire for centuries. It was nice and refreshing. Lenah herself was such a great main character to read about since she had lived for so long she was tough and smart. It was also very amusing to read about Lenah adjusting to the new century's technology, clothes, and slang.

There was only one problem I had with Infinite Days and that was the romance between Lenah and Justin. It just didn’t feel like that heart stopping connection was there. I also didn’t care much for Justin himself, I’m not sure if it’s because he dropped his girlfriend extremely fast or because I just like Rhode (The vampire that turned her) too much. I don’t know if you can find anyone better then him. Rhode loved Lenah so much that he DIED to give her what she wanted.

So whether you’re sick of vampires or not, you should go read Infinite Days. You won’t regret it. The action and romance will keep you hooked. Then the cliff hanger ending will leave you needing (not just wanting) the sequel.

--Danielle