Waiting on Wednesday

The Selection by Kiera Cass
(HarperTeen/April 24, 2012)

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself- and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Sounds a bit dystopian and since I'm a huge fan of dystopian books & movies, how can I resist something that sounds this good?! Nice cover too!!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 320

Joy is suffocating--yes, both literally and figuratively. Her every move has been watched over by her well-meaning but overbearing parents thanks to her two run-ins with death. Whether it's her parents or her asthma, Joy can't catch a breath and is being smothered. That doesn't bode well for a teenager who's trying to figure out who she is.

Then there's Asher. Her boyfriend who's both the most controlling but comforting thing she has. On the outside, it seems that Joy has it good; a wealthy, good-looking boyfriend, caring parents, a family and a school to attend. But no one sees how badly Joy is suffocating and Joy can't seem to pry herself away from it all--especially Asher--until one night when things spiral out of control.

Fleeing home after a quick bleach and cut job with only a bag full of Cliff bars and an extra inhaler, Joy tries to fend for herself on the streets of Seattle. It's not easy--no surprises there. There are more than a few unscrupulous people who are lurking, waiting for a chance to strike the new girl and one of them very nearly succeeds until a boy named Creed defends her. Taking her in to live with him and his crew, Joy begins a new life among the homeless. They teach her how to survive, how to get food and how to avoid getting caught. Yet despite the squalor she lives in and the trash she has to pick through to find food, Joy feels like she can breathe for once in her life. Joy has learned more than how to survive from Creed and his bunch--she's begun to learn about loyalty and family. Finally free from the immediate crushing presence of her former life, she's begun to take the first steps towards self-discovery.

But what happens when her journey's threatened to be cut short? The inevitable search for her by Joy's parents were only a matter of time, but what will Joy do with her new-found knowledge of her self and the world around her?

Wow. First book to catch my eye in my intimidating pile of books to review and what a way to re-enter the world of YA blogging! Don't Breathe a Word was haunting, mesmerizing and held me captive from the first page to the last. I literally did not put this book down until I was done! I was pulled into Joy's story from the start; her stifling home environment, her terrifyingly dangerous but somehow still soothing boyfriend, and her journey towards self-discovery on the streets with Creed and the others who take her in are all masterfully presented by Ms. Cupala in this novel!

I especially loved the way Joy's story was told; fragments of her past are presented between what is happening presently. Joy's character was believable and Cupala manages to capture the fear, overwhelming need for escape, and eventual hope Joy feels to heart-wrenching effect. Creed and supporting characters were also well-developed with their own fears and passions, making the story that much stronger and captivating.

One point that I noticed (and liked) was that Asher was a verbally and mentally abusive (and controlling) boyfriend. Don't get me wrong; I don't like the fact that he was an abusive boyfriend, I'm just glad that Ms. Cupala decided to make him a verbally abusive boyfriend instead of a physically abusive one. An abusive relationship does not have to be just physical to be abusive--verbal abuse can be equally crushing, if not greater, as demonstrated in this novel. It was frightening to see how damaging a verbally abusive and controlling significant other could be to a person's self-worth and self-image. Joy had her self-esteem and her individualistic qualities stripped away from her until she did not know who she was anymore.

Told in a raw and gritty way, Ms. Cupala does not shy away from more touchy subjects including homelessness and abusive relationships in her newest novel. A gripping and wonderfully written novel, I'd recommend this novel to readers (though not those who might be faint of heart) when it hits bookstores next month!

Overall: 5 out of 5
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Cover: 3.75 stars (love the font)

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season filled with good cheer, family & friends, festivities and a break from work!

Have a safe and restful holiday season!

Where have I been?

Hello everyone,

I'd like to offer my sincerest apologies for my complete lack of updates for the past few months. My life took many changes in the past few weeks, both with my academics as well as my personal life. To put it simply, there has been a lot going on and I have had quite a bit of trouble at times trying to deal with all of it. At the risk of sounding whiny, I have been under a lot of stress lately. I had a few bouts of bad news and that coupled with my academic worries have taken over my life as of late.

I apologize for not being active with book tours, reviews, interviews, giveaways and responding to your comments. I hope all of you have been keeping up with the amazing books that have been published lately!

For anyone who has emailed me recently, I am very sorry if I did not get back to you; I've been having the hardest time keeping up with all the messages and I know I've missed some. I think for the time being it would be a good idea if I did not participate in any book blog tours. I do not like putting anything less than my best efforts forward and I do not wish to give any review, interview or participation in a tour any less than 100% effort; with all the amazing authors and books out there, you all deserve better than that! I thank everyone who has asked me to participate in a book tour lately, but unfortunately, I will have to decline for now. I'll be sure to start up again in full when I get everything sorted out!

To everyone who has sent me books to review; I thank you and during this brief break I've had, I've been reading and reading. I really hope to get some reviews up soon!

Best wishes to you all & happy reading!