Katie's Book Blog!!

New favorite book in the series. I love Isaiah! And Rachel. But mainly Isaiah!Review to come!

What a perfect ending. Full review to come closer to release date.

So perfect!!

The Theory of Everything, Kari Luna's debut novel, has definitely put her on my radar. It's an emotional, fun-filled story full of fabulous characters, sweet romance, and wonderful family dynamics.It can't be easy seeing things (especially a giant shaman panda) but Sophie Sophia is used to it. She can't escape the things she sees but she's mostly learned to live with them. This crazy life makes Sophie a very quirky character. She has this awesomely unique way of looking at life and a personality that never dulls or fades. She doesn't let anything bring her down. She reminded me a lot of Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door with her quirky attitude and fabulous sense of style. Then there were her few friends, Finny and Drew. Finny accepted Sophie from the start, no matter how odd she seemed. He was such a good friend to Sophie through everything. And he was a totally awesome science nerd! Then there was Drew who was a little more than just a friend to Sophie. He was so sweet! He had a harder time accepting Sophie's problems than Finny but he did accept her. They were adorable together. The science aspects weren't my favorite things about The Theory of Everything but they were not boring. I'm not a fan of physics but every physics reference was explained and easy to understand.The family dynamics in The Theory of Everything were very different from regular YA family dynamics. Sophie's mom knows what is going on with Sophie and all she wants is to help her. She's always there for Sophie and plays a huge part in her life. Sophie's dad isn't present physically but he does have a role in helping Sophie learn about her "episodes" and learning how to grow.Overall, The Theory of Everything is a fabulous read, unlike anything already out there. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster and will leave you smiling long after you've turned the last page.

Why, oh why, must I always wait to read books that end up being completely fabulous? I put off reading The Darkest Minds (I don't even know why) until now (because I had to read it for readers' choice) and I really just want to kick myself. The Darkest Minds is a new favorite of mine and by far one of the best dystopian novels I've read.Alexandra Bracken first won me over with her writing in Brightly Woven. I adored that book before I even became a fan of fantasy, which is saying something. That same style of writing is present throughout The Darkest Minds and it didn't take me long at all to remember why I adored it. Alexandra Bracken's writing really made Ruby, Liam, Chubs, Zu, and their story come alive. This isn't a book that you can read in a matter of hours but to me, I loved that about it. It's a slow building story that takes some time to get into but will have you completely hooked before too long.I can't gush enough about the characters in The Darkest Minds. Ruby may start off shy and afraid of herself but it's easy to see that she's a kick-ass girl who you couldn't help but want as a friend. She's brave and loyal and funny. She would be willing to die for her friends. She's a strong heroine who also has a majorly vulnerable side. It will make readers really come to love her. Liam is immediately easy to like. He's sweet, funny, smart, and a natural leader. He helps Ruby when he knows he shouldn't. Their relationship builds quickly but it is far from being a case of insta-love. As for Chubs and Zu, I adored them. Chubs has a prickly attitude at first but he's just looking out for himself and his friends. Zu is so cute and everything she went through just made me want to cry. I definitely want to know more of her story.The plot itself is a little slow but by the end of the book you will be dying to know what's going to happen next. There is enough action and suspense to keep everyone hooked and there's even a little mystery thrown in for good measure. There truly is a little bit of everything in this book which will make it easy for readers of all kinds to find something enjoyable about it.Overall, The Darkest Minds is a must-read for all readers. I cannot recommend it enough. I will be reading the sequel, Never Fade, as soon as I possibly can. Oh and you might want to have some tissues handy when you get to the end of this one. Just saying.

This might be one of the hardest reviews I have tried to write. I honestly don't know what to say about City Of Bones. Also, I know that I am one of the last people to read this series so most of you don't even need a review for it. I guess I will start out by saying that my expectations for this book were very high and I wasn't disappointed even one bit.Clary Fray is a normal teenage girl with an unusual new ability. She has the Sight. She can see demons, Shadowhunters, vampires, everything. This new gift really helps out when her mother is kidnapped and Clary is attacked by a demon in her home. After that the Shadowhunters are forced to step in and help her. From there things only get crazier. With the help of some new allies, will Clary be able to get her mother back or will they be too late?The thing about City Of Bones that I loved the most was how unique it was. After reading so many novels that have similarities to others, it was refreshing to read a book that is all it's own. The world that Cassandra Clare created was beyond my wildest dreams. The crazy creatures, the awesome weapons, and the cool runes were amazing. I loved reading City Of Bones because I couldn't guess what was coming next or how it would end. Unlike with so many other books, I didn't know if this one would have a happy ending.Overall, City Of Bones is a new favorite of mine. If you haven't read the series yet, check it out! I know I am one of the last bloggers to cave and read it but it's totally worth it. The reviews are not lying. It's spectacular!

Starry Nights, Daisy Whitney's first non-contemporary book, kind of let me down. I was expecting the amazing writing, setting, and story from Daisy Whitney's previous books and I just didn't get that. I enjoyed Starry Nights but it's not something I'd ever read again.Starry Nights starts off slow and doesn't really pick up. There's not a lot of action or suspense and I found myself enjoying reading it but never really wondering where it would go or speeding through it to see what would happen. There's magic and curses and fun stuff like that but I never felt a sense of urgency regarding any of it.Another thing that was odd to me was the writing. It was a lot less fluid than the writing in Daisy Whitney's other books. Also, Julien just didn't seem as authentic as Daisy Whitney's other characters. She definitely got the male voice right but he was a little too romantic for any teenage boy I know. Maybe that's just because I don't know any French teenagers. Sometimes he just seemed a little fake to me.There were some good things about Starry Nights though. I've never been all that into art but I felt like I learned a lot and it actually made me really interested in it. There was also some really fabulous history thrown into the story which really intrigued me since I'm such a history buff. I know that won't appeal to everyone but to me, it was probably the best thing about the book.I also really enjoyed the setting. Anything set in Paris is fabulous and Daisy Whitney definitely didn't write about the typical parts of Paris. She showed readers a very different side to the city and I really enjoyed that. Paris came alive in Starry Nights.Overall, if you're looking for something quick to read on a rainy day, give this one a shot. It won't be for everyone but it is a pretty fun read.

A Little Too Far, Lisa Desrochers' new adult debut, is by far one of the best new adult titles that I've read. I can't recommend this one enough for new adult fans.A Little Too Far is one of the steamiest books I've ever read. Seriously, you guys. There are some serious sexytimes in A Little Too Far. And they are so perfect! You would think that reading about a girl sleeping with her stepbrother would seem wrong but that was definitely not the case with Trent and Lexie. It's easy to see how perfect they are for each other, even if there parents just happen to be married. They have serious chemistry but their relationship is just so comfortable. They are friends, above all else. That's the perfect kind of relationship to have.Trent isn't the only romantic option for Lexie though. While studying abroad in Rome, she meets Alessandro Moretti, a soon-to-be priest who is just as off-limits as Trent. He's smart, funny, kind, and did I mention that he's a sexy Italian? I must have forgotten that part. He's the perfect distraction for Lexie because she knows she can't have him. This really is one book where I was torn between the two guys. Both Trent and Alessandro were good for Lexie in different ways and I loved that Lisa Desrochers didn't make it an easy choice for Lexie or readers.I mentioned briefly that Lexie goes to study abroad in Rome. That's actually where most of the story takes place and let me tell you, Lisa Desrochers did a fabulous job making the setting really come alive. I can't tell you how much I want to go to Rome now. The food, the people, the places, the art, everything just seems so wonderful. A setting can truly make or break a book and in this case, it definitely made it.There was one thing that I didn't totally love about A Little Too Far and that was some of the dialogue. There were some scenes that seemed a little too cheesy. I've noticed this in quite a few new adult novels but it seems like the dialogue is always a little too immature for the age group. Most of the time, things were fine with A Little Too Far but there were a couple times where I wanted to laugh at some of the things Trent or Alessandro said.Overall, A Little Too Far is a great addition to the new adult genre and it gives me hope that this genre might get better for me. Definitely check this one out for a quick, steamy read.

Well I could not have picked a better book for my first readers' choice review. If my recommendations keep being this awesome, I may just have to read nothing but recommendations from you guys!A Wounded Name is a retelling of Hamlet. I'm a huge Shakespeare buff so maybe that's why I loved this one so much but I know for a fact that that is only part of the reason. The story was part of the draw for me but that's not what really hooked me. The writing and the characters are what really got to me with this one. To be completely honest, there wasn't a single thing about A Wounded Name that I didn't like.First off, I have to mention the writing. It's absolutely gorgeous writing. Some of the best I have ever read, for sure. If nothing else about this book appeals to you, read it for the writing alone. It's worth it. Dot Hutchison is one of those writers who could write a phone book and I would read it. The second best thing about A Wounded Name would have to be Ophelia and the rest of the characters. A Wounded Name is told from Ophelia's perspective and you really see the story in a whole different light. Ophelia is a little bit crazy (literally) but I couldn't help but love her. She's been through so much in life that I just wanted something good to happen to her. She's one of those characters who truly deserves a happy ending. Same goes with Dane (Hamlet). He's a very messed up young man but you can tell that he really is a good person. He does so much to hurt the people he loves but he doesn't really mean any of it. He's lost and confused and mourning his dad. I felt so bad for both him and Ophelia. Really, the only character I didn't feel bad for was Claudius. Dot Hutchison made him into the perfect villain. He wasn't too evil but there wasn't anything good about him, that's for sure. Also, I can't not mention Horatio. I loved him. Ophelia hit the nail on the head when she said that he was the best of them all. The story is nothing new but like I said, you get to see a different side of it now. Like the synopsis says, you know how this story ends (if you've read Hamlet) but that does not take away from A Wounded Name at all. I didn't read this one because I expected mystery and suspense. I read this because I expected a true to the original retelling and that's exactly what I got. Overall, you must read A Wounded Name! I can't recommend it enough. I can't wait to see what Dot Hutchison does next!

The Chaos of Stars has brought me out of my mediocre reading spree. While I adored the Paranormalcy trilogy, I wasn't sure how I would feel about The Chaos of Stars. It's a very different story from Paranormalcy but I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it just as much!What do you get when you combine Egyptian mythology, a kick ass heroine, one of the most perfect guys in YA, and Kiersten White's sense of humor? The answer: perfection. Seriously. The Chaos of Stars surprised me in the best way possible. I don't think there is a single thing about it that I didn't love.First off, Egyptian mythology is something you don't normally see in YA. Greek mythology is the go-to mythology base for YA novels (there is some Greek mythology in The Chaos of Stars) and while I love Greek mythology, you can only do so much with it. Egyptian mythology has always intrigued me and while I knew all of the myths included in The Chaos of Stars, I was pleased with how they were portrayed. Isadora was the human daughter of Isis and Osiris and her family consisted of Set, Horus, Hathor, Anubis, and Nephthys. While they were your traditional gods, Kiersten White showed them in a unique way. All the Egyptian mythology was educational but very pertinent to the story.My second favorite thing about The Chaos of Stars was Kiersten White's sense of humor. The Paranormalcy trilogy always made me laugh and I wasn't sure if I could expect the same from The Chaos of Stars. While this one wasn't quite as humorous there were still quite a few moments when I couldn't help but laugh. Isadora was a very blunt girl who always said what was on her mind and she had a very sharp sense of humor. I really got her sense of humor and she was just really funny, even when she wasn't trying to be. Same with her friend, Tyler.The romance might actually tie for my second favorite thing about The Chaos of Stars. Ry and Isadora had this instant attraction that neither of them could really explain. Readers can really see the chemistry between the two of them. The banter between the two of them was great. Also, Ry is probably one of the most perfect guys. Maybe a little too perfect, but hey, I'm not complaining. Together, he and Isadora, were just fabulous.Overall, The Chaos of Stars deserves a read. I'll stop rambling and let you guys go out and get copies.

The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Popularity, Prettiness & Perfection is a fabulous start to Jessica Darling's It List series. Fans of the original Jessica Darling series will love this glimpse into pre-teen Jessica's life and mind!Jessica Darling's It List series is very much middle grade. The writing is simple, the humor is aimed for younger readers, and the characters are not very mature. However, it totally works in this case. It's set in junior high and Jessica Darling and her friends are exactly how you would expect them to be. Megan McCafferty really captured the feel of junior high with this book. Jessica Darling is probably one of the most awkward characters I've ever read about. It's probably what makes me love her so much. She recognizes her awkwardness and while it does bother her sometimes, she embraces it most of the time. She's remarkably self-assured for a pre-teen girl. She cares very little about what everyone else thinks and worries only about what she thinks. She's a great heroine for young readers to look up to. Her friends aren't so awesome. Bridget, Manda, Sara, and Hope are quite a crew. Bridget starts off as a nice girl but that quickly changes once she realizes how pretty she is and how she can use it to her advantage. I didn't like her at all. Manda and Sara were even worse. They considered each other friends but they were terrible to each other. And everyone else. Hope was the only one I liked and I felt like there was very little of her in the book. I look forward to learning more about her throughout the rest of the series.The story is nothing special. It's Jessica's first year in junior high and let me tell you, she goes through some crazy stuff. There's friend troubles, boy troubles, cheer team, woodshop, and so much more. I'll just put it this way; everything that could go wrong, did. It's a quick read that definitely made me think of my own days in junior high. Overall, The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Popularity, Prettiness & Perfection is perfect for fans of the original Jessica Darling series or for readers looking to start it. Middle grade readers should greatly enjoy this one and I definitely recommend checking it out!

Nantucket Blue is probably the most perfect summer read I've read in quite some time. There's the perfect mix of fluff and romance but there's also some deeper stuff lurking just below the surface.I'll start off by saying that while Nantucket Blue was the perfect summer read, I wouldn't call it the perfect read in general. It had it's flaws and it did let me down in a few areas but if you're looking for a quick, fun beach read, this is definitely one I'd pick. The setting is the wonderful island of Nantucket (which I want to visit now.) There are boys in swimsuits, girls in bikinis, late night boat rides, and summer jobs. It's all a very fun mix that makes for an awesome setting. I don't know about you guys but it sounds like a pretty ideal summer.My main flaw with Nantucket Blue was the main character, Cricket (love her name!) She didn't really think things through. There were times when she was really selfish and inconsiderate of other people's feelings. Things that seemed really obvious to me were overlooked by her and it kind of annoyed me. Not enough to make me dislike the book but just enough to make me not love it.Also, another character that I had issues with was Cricket's supposed best friend, Jules. I never saw the supposedly fabulous friendship that they had. Instead I saw a really nasty girl who treated Cricket horribly even when she was just trying to do something nice. I could never tell if Jules was jealous or if she was just a mean person in general. As if it wasn't bad enough that she was mean to Cricket, she way overreacted to some of the things that Cricket did. I could understand that she might be upset but she really freaked out over some minor things. I can't stand friends like that in books and I was hoping for more from these two.The main thing that I loved about Nantucket Blue (other than the summery setting) was the romance. To be more specific, the love interest. I won't give anything away but let's just say that this isn't your typical love interest. He's not a perfect guy but he's perfect for Cricket. He has his flaws but his good qualities far outweigh them. I really loved him!Overall, Nantucket Blue is a really fun read and I could go into a lot more detail about it but I'll stop myself. Just know that I highly recommend it for fans of contemporary romance!

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken is one of those books that I really don't even know why I didn't DNF it. To be honest, I'm not sure why a traditional publisher picked up this originally self-pubbed title. Fair warning: this review might get ranty.Let's start with the thing that bothered me most about Elite: the romance. Well, not really the romance but the love interest. Sure Nixon sounds sexy as hell but he's a total ass! Since when is it okay to treat someone like shit and then say that you were doing it to help them? Oh and by the way, you think you might love them. No. That is not love. Nixon is a grade A asshole and I could not get past how mean he was to Trace. Oh and the secondary love interest, Chase, (because we really need a love triangle) isn't any better. He helps set her up to look like this huge slut after one of his friends drugs her. Umm, no. So not okay. I thought I'd read about bad love interests before but these two take the cake.Then there's Trace. Where do I even begin with her? She figures she can't win against Nixon and Chase and the rest of the Elect so she decides she might as well make fun of herself and maybe people will think she's cool. Yeah, that doesn't really work out for her. As if that's not bad enough, she is the biggest cry baby I've ever had the misfortune of reading about. Every little thing sets her off. And she's not one of those people who cries in private, she cries in front of everyone. Like that's really going to make people like her more. Oh and the main source of her crying fits, Nixon, just happens to be the guy that she can't stop thinking about. Of course.The story makes no sense. This 20 something year old guy runs the school? Even though he's not actually in charge of anything, everyone listens to him? Even the principal? How exactly does that work? It's kind of explained later but it still doesn't really make complete sense to me. Also, what kind of school lets their kids get away with this kind of bullying? There's also segregation (for the good of the students) and other stupid crap like that. I don't know about you guys, but I would leave that school ASAP.There's a lot more that I could rant and rave about but I'm going to try to wrap this up. The writing is crappy, the characters are annoying, the story makes no sense, and the romance did nothing for me. I truly wish I could get back the few hours I spent reading this book because it was a complete waste of my time.Overall, Elite is one book that should have remained self-published. This is one book that I highly recommend you don't waste your time or money on. Oh and as if one book isn't bad enough there is going to be at least one more in the series.

If You Find Me was not at all what I expected and I mean that in the best way. I admit, after reading all the raving reviews, I was a little skeptical. I wasn't sure what could be so special about this book but after reading it, I can't help but agree with all the positive reviews out there.Now, if my review starts off that great, you might be wondering why I only gave this book 4 shoes and not 5. It's a small reason but it did keep me from getting into the book right from the start; the dialect. Carey's a smart girl but she speaks like she's stupid. She's grown up out in the country with no one to learn from other than drug addicted mother. It's clear that she's never had formal education just from the way she speaks. It bothered me and I couldn't get into the story for a little while because of that. It's a small thing though.I'll just go ahead and say that everything else about If You Find Me was fabulous. The writing, the story, the characters, every last detail. While it took me a little while to get into the story, once I was invested in Carey and Jenessa's outcome, I couldn't put it down. There was enough mystery and enough romance that I just couldn't stop turning the pages until the very end.First off, the characters are what make this book so fabulous. Carey, Jenessa, Melissa, Delaney, their dad, Ryan, they all had qualities that made them fabulous, even if I didn't like them at the start. Carey is so fierce and protective of Jenessa. She's also super smart, kind, caring, and polite. Jenessa is the cutest little thing ever. She may not talk but that doesn't take away from her character. Carey's dad and Melissa were fabulous parents, even with two kids they barely know, one of them not even biologically related to them. Delaney had some issues but she seemed to be a good person. And as for Ryan, he's the perfect love interest for Carey. While it may seem like this isn't a book with romance potential, it worked. It wasn't instalove and it didn't take away from the rest of the story.I won't give anything away about the story but I will say this; it's a lot darker than I expected. Carey and Jenessa had a hard life growing up and while things are looking up for them, they can't just forget the past. Things happened to both of them that should never have happened to anyone, especially children, and they have to figure out how to move on. There is quite a bit of mystery surrounding what exactly happened in the woods that made Jenessa stop talking and that was one of the big things that kept me on the edge of my seat. I had my guesses but I wasn't quite right. Sure, you can probably predict part of the mystery but I think a lot of it will leave you guessing.Overall, If You Find Me deserves every bit of praise it's been given. Emily Murdoch's debut novel left me satisfied but eager for her next book.

Leap of Faith, Jamie Blair's debut novel, while entertaining, was not nearly as great as I was hoping. I admit, I was hooked from the beginning but I just wasn't fully satisfied by the end.Leap of Faith starts off with a bang and seems very promising. The synopsis intrigued me, I liked the writing, and while the characters weren't the best, I enjoyed reading their stories. It seemed like it would be an all around good read but there were just a few things that made this one miss the mark for me.First off, the whole reasoning behind Leah/Faith taking the baby from her mom was actually kind of petty. Sure, she mentioned that she wanted to take the baby away from the drugs, alcohol, and sex but that wasn't her main motive. The real reason was because she wanted to spite her mom. She didn't want her to get the money for the baby. I applaud her for getting the baby away from it all but really, she did it to get back at her? I lost a lot of respect for Leah/Faith after reading that.Second, Leah/Faith supposedly has this great relationship with her sister but for the life of me I could not see it. The only side I saw of her sister was a selfish one. Hope only cared about herself and it showed. She was so excited to get away from their mom and their crappy home life that she didn't even care that she was leaving her little sister behind to fend for herself. She was even worse later on in the book but I won't get into that. Suffice it to say, I wouldn't want her for a sister.The last thing that really bothered me about Leap of Faith was the ending. I was supremely disappointed with it. I actually thought my copy of the book was missing pages because I couldn't believe that was actually the ending. There was no resolution whatsoever. It was left completely open ended. It truly did not feel like it was a complete book.Okay now that I've ranted about the things I didn't like, I'll get to the stuff that I did like. I didn't love the characters but they were fun to read about. Leah/Faith was not the smartest girl but she was kind, caring, and she had a good heart. She meant well no matter what she did. Chris was a total sweetheart. He was a little conflicted with Leah/Faith because of things in his own past but he was always good to her and Addy. He may have only been a teenage guy but he knew how to handle Addy and he was so cute with her. His whole family was really great to Leah/Faith and Addy.Also, while there were some major flaws with the storyline, I liked it. It's something that hasn't been done before and I was thoroughly hooked. There were a few times when I was on the edge of my seat, sure that Leah/Faith would be caught and Addy would be taken away. I bit my nails down to the cuticles while reading this one. It was so suspenseful and so hard to put down.Overall, Leap of Faith is right in the middle for me. I enjoyed it but there were many flaws with it. If you think you can overlook the flaws and just enjoy the story, I say go for it.

Something Like Normal has been on my radar for a while but it's one of those books that I just kept putting off. I was a little scared to read it because my expectations were pretty high after reading all the wonderful reviews. I'm happy to say that my expectations were met and exceeded.Something Like Normal is a short book but don't let that fool you. It will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions in just a little over 200 pages. I laughed, I cried, and there were some times when I really just wanted to scream (I was on a plane at the time so I don't think that would have gone over well.) From the very first page I felt connected and invested in the characters and I was rooting for a happy ending. Something Like Normal takes no time at all to get into and you won't want to stop reading once you start.Travis has not had it easy the past year. His best friend is dead, his girlfriend left him for his younger brother, his dad hates him, and his mom has become a little obsessive. Everything changed for him when he joined the military. It's easy to see that he has post traumatic stress disorder but he doesn't want to deal with it. He does everything he can to forget about what happened in Afghanistan but he can't leave it behind. Travis is very emotionally messed up but I couldn't help but love him. His heart was in the right place, even if his head wasn't. He's an easy character to grow attached to and you won't be able to help loving him and wanting him to be happy. His family is really messed up but not one of the worse I've read. His mom was loving and supportive and awesome, no matter what he did. His brother was a little annoying. His dad was a downright ass. Just saying. As for Harper, she was everything I could have wanted in a love interest for Travis. She wasn't his typical style (like his crazy ex-girlfriend) and that's what he needed. He needed someone smart and stable and kind. Harper was perfect for Travis.The story is a lot deeper than most YA. In fact, this one could pretty much be considered NA. I really liked that Trish Doller didn't try to gloss over the gritty details. Travis has seen people die. In fact, he's been the cause of some of those deaths. Trish Doller doesn't leave out any of the details about what Travis has seen and done. She didn't shy away from the hard stuff and it made Travis' story so much better.Overall, I highly recommend checking out Trish Doller's debut novel. Contemporary fans will completely adore it.