Dream Things True.

☆☆☆☆☆

dream things true.

marie marquardt.

PublisherSt. Martin's Griffin.

Publication Date:September 1,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance

Format|Pages:Hardcover|352

 Source:Goodreads|Library

A modern-day Romeo and Juliet story in which a wealthy Southern boy falls in love with an undocumented Mexican girl and together they face perils in their hostile Georgia town.



Evan, a soccer star and the nephew of a conservative Southern Senator, has never wanted for much -- except a functional family. Alma has lived in Georgia since she was two-years-old, excels in school, and has a large, warm Mexican family. Never mind their differences, the two fall in love, and they fall hard. But when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) begins raids on their town, Alma knows that she needs to tell Evan her secret. There's too much at stake. But how to tell her country-club boyfriend that she’s an undocumented immigrant? That her whole family and most of her friends live in the country without permission.



What follows is a beautiful, nuanced, well-paced exploration of the complications of immigration, young love, defying one’s family, and facing a tangled bureaucracy that threatens to completely upend two young lives.

 ☂

A touching, beautifully written love story.



When I first picked up the novel I didn’t know what to expect from it. The first time that I had come across the novel what had captured my attention first were the cover and the title. The cover of DREAM THINGS TRUE is filled with so many colors especially the title itself, and way that couple are standing and holding each other as if they don’t want to let go. As a reader you can’t help but wonder what is happening there, if there is a reason that they holding onto each other so tightly. You can’t help but be curious what is happening and what is going to happen. Title, I was curious about it from moment that I picked up the book, I wondered if there is a reason for the title, the meaning behind it. DREAM THINGS TRUE is unlike any title I came across before, it’s unique. Once I started reading the novel, the title of the book made sense. It fit perfectly. With what happened and what Evan, Alma and her family went through in the novel. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking.



If what Alma and Evan had not true love, then I don’t know what is. From moment that two of them met when he jumped into the car, I could tell that there was something there, even though Alma wouldn’t admit it at first. Their love, their relationship was unlike a typical teenage relationship that you read about. It was tough considering that she was an illegal immigrant and her dad was pretty strict, Alma didn’t have it easy. There few times that I found myself wondering that if her father would even let them date, but then he came to liking to Evan. I could tell how much the two of them loved each other; just way they were with each other, especially Evan. He considered all options including asking her to marry him, if it meant that she could stay in country with him. He went all way with Mexico at the end. How could that not be love? The two of them went through so much in this book. To me it did feel like a Romeo and Juliet, with a twist. I do hope that both of them find their happily ever after.



What I loved about this novel was fact that it dealt with Illegal immigrants, the process and what happens if caught. It’s a tough subject that will fill you with lot emotions, especially when it starts happening to Alma’s family. Just as you start to fall in love with them , they get discovered and in process of getting deported it. That’s when the emotions got the best for me. From that moment on I was on edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next. I loved how much Evan tried to help; he even attempted to bail out her father and brother out of jail. A story about love, family and sacrifices. An emotional roller coaster that you won’t be able to get out of your mind. A 2015 must read debut.

Between Us & The Moon.

☆☆☆☆

Between Us & The Moon

rebecca maizel..

Publisher  Harper Teen.

Publication Date:June 30,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance

Format|Pages:Hardcover|384

 Source:Goodreads|Library

A luminous young adult novel that evokes Judy Blume’s Forever for a new generation.

Ever since Sarah was born, she’s lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Scarlett. But this summer on Cape Cod, she’s determined to finally grow up. Then she meets gorgeous college boy Andrew. He sees her as the girl she wants to be. A girl who’s older than she is. A girl like Scarlett.



Before she knows what’s happened, one little lie has transformed into something real. And by the end of August, she might have to choose between falling in love, and finding herself.



Fans of Jenny Han and Stephanie Perkins are destined to fall for this story about how life and love are impossible to predict. 

 ☂

“You watch the world, I’m not even sure you live in it,”



What a touching story, a story that you can’t help but fall in love with. I felt sorry for Sarah, I felt in love with her story. Of course I wished that she hasn’t lied to Andrew but at the same time I could see why she did it. Sarah wanted to be noticed. What had caught my attention from start had been the cover and the title. The couple on the cover looked cozy and happy and I couldn’t help but wonder what’s their story. Once I read the summary of the novel, by then I was already hooked and I didn’t even start the book. BETWEEN US AND THE MOON is defiantly one of those books that will fill you with emotions from start till end of the book. Every page, every chapter had me craving me for more. I wanted to see what would happen with Sarah and with Sarah and Andrew and of course I couldn’t help but wonder if she tell him the truth, and what would happen when she finally did.



You can see that there is connection between Sarah & Andrew, from moment that two of them met. Just by the way that two of them communicated with one another. I just wished that Sarah haven’t lied to him and maybe the outcome could be different. I can see why she did it, because for a chance she wanted be someone different, be noticed and be out of her sister Scarlett’s shadow. Maybe outcome could been different if she told him before they slept together. I felt like Sarah didn’t even think about what might happen to him if someone found out. I wished she figured out that part before. She let him believe all those lies too. Sarah was one of those characters that I loved and hated at same time, mostly based on the decisions. Two of them had a special connection, a real love, and she threw it all away because of her lies, that he eventually found out about.



I’m not sure what to think of her family; honestly the only person that I actually liked was Gran. Others seemed like they were pressuring her, it’s no wonder that she wanted something different. She needed an escape. Sometimes I couldn’t help but wonder if Scarlett even cared about her, at times it seemed that all she cared about, was herself. But when she came to her defense and when she was there for her when she needed someone, I knew she loved her, she just didn’t show it often. There were so many emotions that went through me while reading the novel. However, I wasn’t sure about the ending, it didn’t feel complete to me but that was only one thing that I disliked about BETWEEN US AND THE MOON .



BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. MUST READ.

Pretending To Dance.

☆☆☆☆☆

pretending to dance.

diane chamberlain.

Publisher  St Martin's Press.

Publication Date:October 6,2015

Genre:Contemporary Thriller.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|352

 Source:Goodreads|Library

Molly Arnette is very good at keeping secrets. She lives in San Diego with a husband she adores, and they are trying to adopt a baby because they can't have a child on their own. But the process of adoption brings to light many questions about Molly's past and her family--the family she left behind in North Carolina twenty years before. The mother she says is dead but who is very much alive. The father she adored and whose death sent her running from the small community of Morrison's Ridge. Her own birth mother whose mysterious presence in her family raised so many issues that came to a head.




The summer of twenty years ago changed everything for Molly and as the past weaves together with the present story, Molly discovers that she learned to lie in the very family that taught her about pretending. If she learns the truth about her beloved father's death, can she find peace in the present to claim the life she really wants? 

 ☂

EXTRADIONARY.



As you already guessed I am a big fan of DIANE CHAMBERLAIN . I have read few of her books and so far there hasn’t been a single one that I didn’t enjoy. To me it feels like every book that I read seems to get better. PRETENDING TO DANCE hooks you from the first page till the last one. DIANE CHAMBERLAIN did it again! Came up with a break taking story about love, family and friendship. There wasn’t a single page that I didn’t love about this book; I couldn’t get enough of it. A book that I had to force to put down and once I did, I was thinking about it and wondering what happened to the characters after. I loved that this novel had so many aspects of family and friendship, that’s my favorite type of books to read. You will find yourself invested in the character’s life’s and before you know you will fall in love with the characters. I am still thinking about it.



As always I loved the writing style, however unlike her other books this one was different. PRETENDING TO DANCE went back and forth between San Diego, her present life and Morrison Ridge, her past life. From start of the book, I couldn’t help but be curious what was the reason that Molly lied about her family to Aidan and of course plot thickened when she said that her mother killed her father. How can you not wonder what she meant by that? I was filled with suspense from moment that I have read that sentence. PRETENDING TO DANCE was filled with a lot of suspense, there were multiple times that you will find yourself wondering what’s going to happen next. It will have you turning the pages till the end. What you will find out is not what you expect it to be. Be Warned, you will need tissues by the end of the book.



I loved the relationship that Molly and her father had, despite his disability. I can’t even imagine having someone close to you, be disabled in that way. MS is a tough subject to write about and DIANE CHAMBERLAIN did amazing job writing about the challenges of disease, not just physically but emotionally. I was as surprised as Molly was when she found out truth why her mother did what she did. To me he seemed happy and he didn’t look like he was in pain. I do believe that he made it as long as he did because of Molly. She made him happy. I was heartbroken for her when he died. I loved fact that Aidan didn’t judge her based on her past, instead he supported her and encouraged her to go see her mother. That’s her true love that her father had been talking about all those years ago. I am glad that Molly finally found her happy ending.



One of best. A novel that deserves more than 5 stars. I can’t wait to see what Chamberlain will come up with next.

Slip(Slip,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

slip.

Slip,#1

david estes.

Publisher  David Estes.

Publication Date: December 1,2014

Genre:YA Dystopian | Thriller.

Format|Pages: E Book|418

 Source: Author sent copy, for review

*I received an E copy of the book from author, in exchange of honest review*

Someone must die before another can be born...



As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.



But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone?



And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?



In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.

 ☂

Another trilling addition by DAVID ESTES . I met David back in 2012 and since then there haven’t been a single book of his that I didn’t like. Since then I had become good friends with an author, but this in no way affect my review. SLIP wasn’t what I had expected and unlike any books that I have read. Through the years I have read quite few dystopian novels but none were anything like this one was. It was original and I thought that concept of the story was amazing. Getting permission before child is born? Killing ones that are born illegally, how can that not make an interesting story? I couldn’t get enough of story, I felt invested in each of character’s life’s and needed to find out what is going happen to them next. How could I not? To me, those characters became like my friends.



I loved Estes’s writing style in this book, it fit the story well. It was interesting to follow each of character’s life from start when both of them were little kids. Of course I loved the name Benson and out of all characters, besides his mother Janice, I felt like he changed the most. I saw him changed from an unconfident child which is not what I saw in Benson as teenager. I never saw as thief while I watched him grow up but I think that one of things that helped him gain some confidence. I loved the connection that he and Lucy had, I knew there was something there, even before he kissed her and she freaked out. I do think that he should tell his first soon, because if he doesn’t soon, it’s going to blow up in his face I feel like.





Harrison was another amazing character, and so much different from his twin brother Benson. I knew that Benson must been his brother but them being twins never crossed my mind. I can’t even begin to imagine how it must felt like to find out that you had twin. I do wonder what’s going happen now that they know each other, how their relationship be like. Characters and the storyline wasn’t only what I loved about the book. Did you see the cover? Just the cover itself will want you pick up the book even if you don’t know what the book is about. You will be able to figure by cover alone that it’s going be an intense, adventure filled novel. I love fact that the boy on cover that I am guessing is Benson has two different eye colors. Eye capturing cover, title.



Do you love dystopian novels? SLIP is a novel that you should check out; it’s unlike others out there. Once you pick it up, be ready to spend hours reading it. That’s what I did. Be ready for a thrilling adventure.

The Night We Said Yes.

☆☆☆☆☆

the night we said yes.

lauren gibaldi.

Publisher  Harper Teen.

Publication Date:June 16,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance

Format|Pages:Hardcover|304

 Source:Goodreads|Library

Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life.



But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan.



And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.



Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future. 

 ☂

“It was my favorite part of the night - when the evening's events were still unknown and unpredictable. It was the sense of possibility that I loved, the idea that anything could happen next.”



That’s the feeling that I had through this entire novel. What an incredible story, an amazing journey. When I came across the book while I was surfing through Goodreads I had a good feeling about the book, that it would be an interesting story. I was right. I always loved books about friendships, love and adventures and THE NIGHT WE SAID YES had that and so much more. It wasn’t book just about friendship and love but a night of chances, choices, and second chances. It ended up being a night that none of them be able to forget. A story that makes you wish that you were party of story and could go along for ride with everyone else. THE NIGHT WE SAID YES was such beautiful, heartfelt story that you won’t be able to stay away. It portrays friendship, first love so well. Be ready to stay up because once you pick it up, you won’t put it down.



I loved the style that LAUREN GIBALDI wrote THE NIGHT WE SAID YES the Then & Now that took action in one night worked well, and as reader you can tell how the characters changed through story. I felt like the only characters that didn’t change as well were Ella & Matt. Of course I loved the story of Matt’s & Ella’s love the most which a huge chunk of novel was based on. A story about first love, first heartbreak and of course second chances. I know what Matt did hurt Ella especially once she found he lied the reason he left, but I could tell that after all this time he loved her. I knew that Ella did too as much as she tried to deny it. Matt & Ella are the couple that belongs together and I was rooting for them the whole way. I hoped that Ella would give him a second chance.




The friendship between Meg & Ella, how could you not fall in love with it? How can it not remind you of your own best friend? It reminded of mine and had me missing her since she lives far away from me. I loved despite everything, despite the choices that they made; they were always there for one another in end. Even if Ella didn’t always agree when Meg kept going back to Jake even after he hurt her, she supported it because she wanted her best friend happy. Actually all of them supported each other. I loved idea of saying Yes to everything because that way you could get experienced that you never had before or never had courage to. Like Ella singing live with the band. I went through so many different emotions while reading this book, so will you. A story that I still can’t get out of my mind.



LAUREN GIBALDI wrote an incredible debut book. I was amazed and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.