First Impression Friday: Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

Good morning Starlight-Readers. For today's First Impression Friday, I'm going to be looking at a book that I just got a few days ago, Perfect. It's one of Ellen Hopkins's novels, told in verse, and it's also the companion novel to her other book, Impulse, which I read a new years ago and LOVED. (It was actually my first Ellen Hopkins novel!) This post is also a perfect follow up to Monday's post, where I shared some other novels told in verse.

Cover:

I'd first just like to take a look at the covers of the two novels, Impulse and Perfect. As you can see in these pictures, we have a jagged, blotchy, and bright red cover for Impulse, which fits the theme of the novel, while Perfect is... different. While it has a delicate, pastel base color and pretty cursive letters, the ink seems to smear, suggesting that something is amiss. I'm sure that that'll be a point. If there's anything I've learned from the covers of my many Ellen Hopkins novels, it's that the covers give you a glimpse into what you'll find inside the novel.

Inside: 

Now, just flipping through, I see that we have brand new characters, who weren't in Impulse, which sets this up as a companion novel. I'm not sure yet, but I think the only common thread is that Cara, one of Perfect's protagonists, is the twin sister of Conner, a character from Impulse. I'm excited to see her fleshed out as a character, as we only got to see her through Connor's thoughts. I'd love to see her stand on her own now, along with the other character's we'll meet.
In typical Ellen Hopkins style, we've got a novel told in verse in a variety of interesting layouts. I must admit that I don't think that the formats as interesting as in some of her other novels, such as Crank and Identical, but maybe I've overlooked something. Looking back, I see that Impulse didn't really have them either, so I suppose that's why. In that case, it follows up as a... perfect companion novel for Impulse (no pun intended!)

Synopsis:

This synopsis has me so excited to finally read this book. I'm especially interested in reading Kendra and Andre's parts, as they interest me the most. I wonder if the different narratives will eventually overlap, as they did in Impulse and Fallout. I'll find out soon enough!

Final Impression:

All-in-all, I'm super excited to read this novel, and if this pre-review interested you, feel free to buy your own copy or check it out from your library. As usual, I'm expecting great things from this novel, and I'm sure that it'll live up to those expectations. It might even be... Perfect.

Happy Reading!

Are You Still There by Sarah Lynn Scheerger - A Review

Synopsis:

After her high school is rocked by an anonymous bomb threat, "perfect student" Gabriella Mallory is recruited to work on a secret crisis helpline that may help uncover the would-be bomber's identity.

Gabriella Mallory, AP student and perfect-daughter-in-training, stands barefoot on a public toilet for three hours while her school is on lockdown. Someone has planted a bomb and she is hiding. The bomb is defused but the would-be-bomber is still at large. And everyone at Central High School is a suspect. The school starts a top-secret crisis help line and Gabi is invited to join. When she does, she is drawn into a suspenseful game of cat and mouse with the bomber, who has unfinished business. He leaves threatening notes on campus. He makes threatening calls to the help line. And then he begins targeting Gabi directly. Is it because her father is the lead police detective on the case? Is the bomber one of her new friends. Could it be her new boyfriend with his complicated past? As the story unfolds, Gabi knows she is somehow connected to the bomber. Even worse she is part of his plan. Can Gabi reach out and stop him? Or will she be too late?

Date Finished: 3-3-15

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts:

*I received an e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed the manifesto’s sprinkled throughout the text. Sometimes they give hints as to what’s going to happen, or a different perspective on what just happened, but without giving away too many hints at all. In fact, the manifesto’s didn’t help me solve the mystery at all. That was all Gabi’s doing. I really loved being able to figure out the truth along with the characters, even if I did figure it out about four pages before Gabi did. ;)

I must say that I wish the book had used more of the thriller elements. The beginning and ending of Are You Still There were definite page turning parts, but there were parts in the middle when the narrative had a bit of a lull in my opinion. There’s a bit of relationship drama, which, while it does help to characterize the characters who play crucial roles in the story, such as Eric, Janae, and Miguel, I felt like it played down the threat of the bombing. At the same time, I think that playing down the threat was actually a good tactic. I’m torn, because I wanted more action, but that lull actually makes the end a bit more dramatic, because nobody is really on edge after the initial bomb-threat given that months have passed at that point. Perhaps I wanted more action because immediately after finishing this book (and before writing this review) I started to read This Is Where It Ends, a book that takes place during a school shooting. This book is more psychological, while the other book is more of an action-packed emotional thriller, which has biased my view slightly.

All in all, I still enjoyed reading this. The characters are complex, and the plot is thrilling. I’d recommend this to fans of Caroline B. Cooney’s thrillers, or of any thriller in general. It’s a page turner, and I feel that anyone could enjoy this. :D

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn't

Hello Starlight Readers! Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is courtesy of The Broke and The Bookish!

1. Queen of Shadows

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses

3. Six of Crows

4. The Boy Most Likely To

5. Carry On

6. Illuminae

7. Instructions for the End of The World

8. Alexa Crushed

9. Never, Never

10. Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined

Thanks for reading, Starlight-Readers!

Book Browsing Monday: Poetry Books

Hello Starlight Readers! It's time for Book Browsing Monday! Last week, I looked at a variety of novels that interested me. Today, and likely every other BBM following today, I'm going to keep it to a specific theme. Let's get to it!

YA NOVELS TOLD IN VERSE

Many of you might be familiar with the works of Ellen Hopkins, who has written novels such as Crank, Impulse, and Tricks, all of which tackle difficult themes. Because I just received a copy of her novel Perfect, I figured that I should for other novels told in verse and share them! 

1. Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

Synopsis: Twelve year old girl Hope's life is turned upside down when her older sister Lizzie becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself.

With raw and haunting writing reminiscent of Ellen Hopkins and Elizabeth Scott, Carol Lynch Williams is a promising new YA voice.

2. Fault by Amy Ellis

Synopsis: Liz is a regular teenager with a best friend who can get her into the best parties which is great until Liz gets roofied and raped one night at a party and when she starts to speak up, things get messy. When no one, including her best friend, believes her story, she finds herself absolutely alone and the target of bullies, threatening her to “stop lying.” Just as Liz is giving used to getting milk poured down her shirt and being called the school slut, mysterious letters begin appearing in her locker and Liz learns that there is more power in number s and words than she ever imagined. Told in haunting verse, Fault is a story of power and taking back control when all seems completely lost.

3. I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

Synopsis: Ava can't see him or touch him, 
unless she's dreaming. 
She can't hear his voice, 
except for the faint whispers in her mind. 
Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson. 
The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. 
He's back from the dead, 
as proof that love truly knows no bounds.

4. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Synopsis: A novel in verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

5. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Synopsis: One moment can change everything.
Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him.  And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last. 

6. Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Synopsis: Romantic and bittersweet, Love and Leftovers captures one girl's experience with family, friends, and love. Dragged to New Hampshire for the summer, Marcie soon realizes that her mom has no plans for them to return to Marcie's father in Idaho. As Marcie starts at a new school, without her ragtag group of friends called the Leftovers, a new romance heats up, but she struggles to understand what love really means.

Perfect for fans of romances like Anna and the French Kiss and those by Sarah Dessen as well as readers of poetry, Love and Leftovers is a beautiful and fresh take on love.

Well, that's all for this week! I'll see you tomorrow with a brand new post for Top Ten Tuesday, same time, same place. Happy Reading, Starlight-Readers!

Currently Reading: Jekel Loves Hyde

Hello Starlight-Readers! It's Sunday, and that means that I get to catch you up on what I've been reading. Recently. I just finished the book from last Sunday, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, so expect a review up on Wednesday! Now, here's what I just started:

Jekel Loves Hyde

Synopsis: 

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad. 

My Thoughts:

I've heard mixed reviews about this book, mainly because people compare it to Beth Fantasy's other novel, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, which I have not read. I'm willing to push all that aside and form my own opinions about the novel! I love the cover, and the fact that it involves the story of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! I've really only read the first page, but I'm excited to read the rest! Expect a review soon!

Thanks for Reading, Starlight-Readers!

Book Spotlight: Debt by Rachel Dunning

99c Pre-Order Sale
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
New-Adult Romance / Sports Romance

DEBT

By Rachel Dunning

Expected Release Date:

March 2016

What’s it about?

The Debt Collector

I pay my debts, and I expect others to.

I was raised in the slums of London, I knew nothing of privilege. My father was murdered when I was seventeen. Morty figured my father's passing meant I would automatically take on dad's debts. I refused.

And I paid for that refusal.

So did my sister.

So now I fight. All I know how to do is fight. The best cash is in the states, so that's where I am now. A big fish called Vito came along offering me a "favor" when I arrived.

Another debt.

I paid for that one too.

I knew Kyla Hensley would be trouble when I met her. But I wanted her. I could see through the falsehood of her wannabe-slutty clothes and her sexy legs. So I chased her.

Besides, trouble is my middle name.

Kyla Hensley

I was brought up in privilege, but I lacked everything else. My father is a business tycoon who buys and sells and doesn't care who gets rolled over in the process.

I never knew my mother, and all I have of her is a photo with a note scrawled on the back in French saying "I'm sorry." The only Female Figure I had growing up is my dad's wife who is a bleach blond with seven boob jobs. We never bonded.

I drink. I party. I meet guys.

But I wasn't always like that.

I've had a string of lovers in the last few years, the worst and most recent of which was Vince Somerset. My best friend Vera was dating a guy called Rory Cansoom who is the opposite of Vince in so many ways, and yet so the same.

She and I hit the road for spring break, getting away from the two college psychos and just trying to have some fun.

But there's a funny thing about trouble, the more you run from it, the more it finds you.

Which is when I met the Debt Collector.

It was only supposed to be sex. He made that clear. I made that clear.

That's all it was supposed to be.

I never expected to fall in love. I never expected to fall so deeply, madly, uncomfortably in love with a man who is wrong, so wrong for me.

And yet...so unbelievably right.

Content Warning

Not intended for readers under the age of seventeen.

Genres:
New-Adult Romance
Sports Romance

Links:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A02LNLC

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A02LNLC

Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01A02LNLC

Amazon Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01A02LNLC

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/debt/id1071559413?mt=11

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/603988

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28400056-debt

About Rachel
Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.

A prolific writer, she sticks to stories where Alpha Males aren’t pricks and where women have guts.

She’s lived on two different continents, speaks three different languages, and met the love of her life on the internet. In other words, romance is in her blood.

Get Rachel’s Newsletter

Sign up for Rachel’s Newsletter and never miss a release or a special.
You can sign up here:
http://www.rdunning.com/p/non-spammy-news.html

Where Else to Find Rachel
Blog / Website: http://www.rdunning.com
Facebook: http://bit.ly/RachelDunning
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False Idols by Alexis Grove - A Review

Synopsis: 

When Sarah Fenton is recruited out of her orphanage into a mysterious government program, she doesn’t realize she’s becoming a central figure in a three-way civil war.
When Nick Lal receives a powerful brain implant for his birthday, he doesn’t realize it will make him a social outcast and enemy of the state.
The world Sarah and Nick grew up in is transforming at catastrophic speed as neurally enhanced youths called Aeons rise to become global oligarchs. The Aeons quickly use their superior intellects and technology to dominate the world economy.Soon Sarah and Nick find their lives revolving around Laura Mayer, the charismatic and brilliant leader of the Aeons. But is Laura working to save humanity from self-assured destruction, as she maintains to Nick? Or is she a manipulative psychopath, as Sarah’s military handlers insist?
The United States is torn three ways by a power struggle between the decrepit political institutions in Washington, the destabilizing technology of the Aeons, and a religious revolution in Texas. Soon, Nick and Sarah find themselves serving opposing factions. Will they be able to bridge the chasms of distrust that separate them and save the country from collapse?
False Idols is the first novel in the Aeon science fiction trilogy by Alexis Grove.

Rating: 4/5
Review:
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
False Idols by Alexis Grove is a novel that originated on Wattpad before being published. I’m usually a bit weary of reading Wattpad novels, as many of them are written by young teens who have yet to perfect their writing skills, but sometimes their are hidden gems just waiting to be plucked up by a publisher. False Idols is one such novel. 
I found myself flipping pages all night (digitally, of course, as I read it on my Kindle) desperate to find out what event would next befall our heros. There’s plenty of action, both physical and digital, as the characters deal with the two worlds they must traverse. In addition to the action and scifi elements, there’s also a bit of romance, religion, economics, and politics thrown into the blend, which helps to create a more realistic story. Every action has consequences, and Grove managed to explore the different facets of the topics without getting too preachy or condescending. The characters are easy to fall in love with, even the villains, some of whom are more anti-heroes in my eyes. I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next!
Fans of the science fiction genre will love this, as well as people who’d love a bit of drama-tinged action in a novel. You’ll find yourself flipping pages until the end, and then you’ll be longing for the sequel, which is available on amazon HERE. I know that I’ll be reading it soon, and I highly encourage you to read False Idols, and then the second book.