This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith Review

Name: This Is What Happy Looks Like
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: April 2nd, 2013
Format: Library Book
416 pages
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Summary:
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

Goodreads

My Review:
I'm not going to lie, I went into this book with very high expectations. I mean, I LOVED The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (also by Jennifer E. Smith), so I thought I would like this book as much as that one. Sadly this book didn't live up to my expectations. While this book was an okay read, it definitely didn't match the magic of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

Here's what I did really like about this book: the writing style was AMAZING. I seriously love how Jennifer writes; how she is able to capture the emotions of the characters and write it so fluently onto the page. I also really like the basic plot premise of this book; how two people could form a relationship through email-and then have them meet in real life. I find it interesting to see how the pair's relationship grows throughout the novel and I really liked Ellie and Graham together!

One thing that really bothered me in This Is What Happy Looks Like, is how I felt that the book ended so unresolved. It just didn't feel like a happy ending to me, it felt more like an okay ending of a book-nothing special that made me want to re-read this book over and over. I also wasn't a huge fan of how Ellie never got to really meet her father...and for some reason that just bothered me throughout most of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed This Is What Happy Looks Like! Was it the best book ever? No. But it was a fun, and enjoyable romance that was a great beach read!

My Rating:

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson Review

Name: Strands of Bronze and Gold

Author: Jane Nickerson
Publisher:  Random House
Release Date: March 12th, 2013
Format: E-Book ARC
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352 pages

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Summary:
The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.

Goodreads

My Review:
What a really great book! When I started Strands of Bronze and Gold I had no idea it was a story retelling..but it definitely isn't necessary to know anything about the "Bluebeard" fairy tale myth before read this book! I had no idea what it was about and I still really enjoyed this book.

The plot of this book was really really interesting. Jane Nickerson is so descriptive in her writing that I could really picture all of the characters and settings in my head. The plot wasn't too fast paced, but it still kept me on the balls of my toes and I really didn't know what to expect next. I also liked how Jane Nickerson was able to weave together all of these different plot lines with different characters and made them all come together at the end which was really great.

The growth of Sophie throughout the book is really great to see. At the start, she is a naive, innocent girl. Once she gets settled into Wyndriven Abbey, she starts to shed that innocence and becomes a very strong character. I really liked seeing her growth throughout the book and it was great to see a strong female lead.

Overall, I really enjoyed Stands of Bronze and Gold! It was a great myth retelling but you definitely don't need to know anything about the "Bluebeard" myth to enjoy this book (I had no idea what it was until I started this book!). If your looking for a Gothic mystery look no further!! I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

My Rating:

Divergent by Veronica Roth Review

Name: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher:  Harper Teen
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Format: Borrowed from Jaime
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487 pages

Summary:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Goodreads

My Review:
I have heard such amazing things about Divergent but I never got around to reading it. When I came home for college break I had to give this one a shot, especially since I have been a little bit of a reading slump lately. Boy, am I SO glad that I read Divergent!! Definitely a great dystopian read.

What I really liked about this book was the plot. It was really interesting to learn about the different factions and how this dystopian world works. I really liked the different action scenes in Divergent! As the book goes on, the action really picks up which is really great! I also love how there is somewhat of a mystery in the plot...nothing is as it seems and Divergent definitely isn't predictable! The world building that Veronica Roth writes is so amazing, I really felt like I was seeing things going on through Tris' eyes and I could actually imagine what was going on.

I LOVED the main character Tris. At first, I wasn't really sure what to expect of her..she seemed a little bit boring. As the book progressed, however, Tris really started to discover who she is and progressed SO MUCH as a character. The Tris from the beginning of the book is so different then the one at the end. I really loved seeing her grow as a character. I also loved reading about Four!! Everyone this past year in the blogging community made a huge deal about Four, and I hadn't read the books so I had no idea what to expect when starting this book. After finishing Divergent, I could see why so many people love Four. He is so great, he is really a tough guy and can be a little bit scary..but his moments with Tris really make my heart melt.

Overall, I really enjoyed Divergent! I'm really glad I finally picked this book up, and if you haven't you should check this book out.

My Rating:

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen Review

Name: Scarlet
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Format: Received as an ARC fron Netgalley and Walker Childrens!
Buy the Book on: Amazon
304 pages
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.-Goodreads

My Review:
I'm not going to lie, the first few chapters of this book were really hard for me to read. I really didn't like the writing style and I wasn't sure where the plot was going. After putting this book down and going back to it after a few days, however, I was able to get more into Scarlet and I was able to enjoy the last half of Scarlet.
Like I mentioned above, one of the hardest parts of this book for me to read was the writing style. I liked how the author made the book more authentic by making the characters speak like they actually did during this time period, but at times it was SO hard for me to understand!


Once the plot picked up, I really enjoyed seeing what would happen between Scarlet and Robin Hood. It was fun to see a different side of Robin Hood and see a different perspective on the story. I also liked the little added bit of romance to this book..it was very nice to see that added bonus to this book!


Overall, this wasn't the greatest book for me, but if you like retellings of classic stories, try giving Scarlet a shot!


My Rating: Three out of Five Stars