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sara shepard

Book Review: Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet by Jennifer L. Armentrout & Various Authors

Title: Meet Cute

Authors:  

Published: January 2nd, 2018

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this book for review by the publisher. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


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Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors. 
Readers will experience Nina LaCour’s beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard’s glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon’s imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno’s story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick’s charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants. 
This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

First Thoughts…When I saw that these authors – these AMAZING writers – were coming out with a book together, not only that, but it was called Meet Cute (one of my favourite plot devices and all-round words), I flipped! I was lucky enough to get a copy on NetGalley and ordered my hardback copy alongside it to support these incredible authors. 

My Review...In the mood for a feel-good story (so, always) I picked up my iPad to read Meet Cute early this year, immersed in the New Year of books ahead. It’s clear from the beginning that these stories are full of whip-smart, lovable characters who are discovering something new and magical in the world with someone else: love. I won’t do a mini-review of every book in the anthology (gosh, can you imagine how long that review would be?!) but I will be saying my favourite things about the book as a whole, of which there were many. 

The stories, depicted as the beginnings of how they met, are the stories of YA dreams. Not only are they achingly beautiful – in particular Nina LaCour, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Emery Lord and Jennifer Armentrout’s stories – but they’re meaningful, frank and oh-so-realistic. I’m also super proud that Meredith Russo wrote a trans heroine for her story in Meet Cute, and that the authors showed the ups-and-downs of breaking up, that love had no bounds in futuristic tales and humorous romances that will make your heart swell. Now, because these stories are short and involve an “instant connection” meaning a Meet Cute, there is the dreaded insta-love. But you know what? It’s the good kind of insta-love. The kind that is really believable. I could honestly imagine this is how some people – soulmates and true love – actually meet and fall in love in an instant, fleeting moment.

Overall, Meet Cute is as magical as it sounds. Each story holds something momentous and epic, a love story for the ages. I couldn’t fault any of the unique spins on Meet Cute’s, or any of the ways that they panned out. This is truly such a breath of fresh air, the perfect weekend read and equally welcome book for fans of sweet YA romances with sparkling beginnings. A huge five stars!

Have you read Meet Cute?

What did you think?

Let me know on Twitter, Facebook or in the Comments!

happy reading!

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Book Review: “The Perfectionists” by Sara Shepard

Title: The Perfectionists

Author: Sara Shepard
Genre: Young Adult – Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: October 2nd, 2014
Published by: Hot Key Books 


I bought this book myself! As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 



In Beacon Heights High, Nolan Hotchkiss is king. His charm, wealth and good looks are deceptively seductive, and many are the students whose lives and reputations have been ruined by it. 

All while Nolan continues to reign, unquestioned and undisrupted. Until now, that is.

Mackenzie, Ava, Julie, Caitlin and Parker seemingly don’t have much in common. Each has their own friends, dramas and goals. But one thing they do share: they all have a deep hatred of Nolan Hotchkiss. And they all think it’s about time he paid for what he’s done. They come up with the perfect murder – a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s all wishful thinking … until they wake up one morning to find that their wish has come true. Nolan has been killed – in exactly the way they planned. The thing is, they didn’t do it. So who did?
Give me a Sara Shepard book and I’ll tell you a thousand amazing things about it. So when I saw The Perfectionists on Twitter, I went right to Amazon and pre-ordered. And the day it arrived, I read the WHOLE THING in a few hours. So, if that doesn’t tell you how much I loved it, I’m not sure what will!
Nolan Hotchkiss is your answer to everything egotistical and idolized for all the wrong reasons at Beacon Heights High. He’s loved for reasons he shouldn’t be, from bullying students to sending explicit pictures of girls to his friends. It’s for those reasons and so many more that Mackenzie, Ava, Caitlin, Parker and Julie, hate Nolan Hotchkiss more than life itself. Nolan is pretty much the only thing that glues them all together if they weren’t friends before, so when they’re paired together for a project, they plan his “hypothetical” and completely imagined murder as a talking subject. 
So when Nolan actually is murdered, exactly like they planned down to the small details, they’re all struggling to take the spotlight off themselves from the Cops when they come knocking. Now these five girls that couldn’t have more complicated personal lives if they tried, have another thing to add to their list: get away with the murder they never committed. Even if all the evidence points to them. 
I thought I loved Pretty Little Liars the most of all Sara Shepard’s novels – now, I am totally torn. The Perfectionists, whilst giving me that Little-Liar feel, is in a completely different world of secrets, lies and suspects. There’s no “-A” but there is a killer – one that is determined to pin everything on the five girls who didn’t even commit the murder – a sneaky, but not completely undetectable killer. It left on a pretty heart-racing cliffhanger that totally knocked the killer I thought was framing the girls, off the radar. 
Overall, The Perfectionists is a compelling, electrifying and chaos-filled read that took my breath away.  I loved the girls’ friendships and how Sara wrote the strong, female characters realistically. It’s part of what makes me love her writing, that no character is flawless, alike real life, we all have our flaws. I can’t wait to see what book two has in store for all the readers and how everyone else will adore it. You MUST add this to your to-read immediately – you won’t regret it.

It’s got to be the beginning of the book – the calm before the almighty storm – the part that reeled me in!



YA Contemporary/Mystery/Thriller readers to Adult readers alike. If you loved Pretty Little Liars, you’ll love this no doubt.



Have you read The Perfectionists?


What did you think?


Tell me in the comments, on twitter or by using the hashtag #ThePerfectionists


happy reading!

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COVER TWINS: Red vs. Flawless



COVER TWINS
Red vs. Flawless
 

I was looking around Goodreads.com for my next ‘Waiting On’ post, when I stumbled on the book “Red” by Alison Cherry. I knew it looked familiar right from the cover, but just couldn’t place it. A few hours later, I was looking through my real-life book shelf, (not my Goodreads one…) and when I saw “Flawless” by Sara Shepard, I was like…
 
COVER TWINS?!
 
What do you think? I’m pretty sure it’s the same girl, maybe the hair colour is altered in Photoshop or this may possibly be from two different shoots, but…there it is.
 
happy reading,
xo Becca


Top Ten Tuesday: Most Intimidating Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish, where bloggers come up with their TTT Lists on different questions.

This week we’re talking Intimidating books; like maybe the size of a book, the popularity of it, or just because so many people love it that you’re worried you won’t. Onwards!

I made this image on Picmonkey.com if you’re wondering! xo

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
I chose this because, well…the book is iconic. I’ve attempted to read it before but I’m always shuddered that I’m not going to love it as much as everyone else; which is ridiculous, because…it’s an awesome book and I’m praying to fit it into my TBR this Summer.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephenie Perkins
This book is loved by so many that it just makes me wonder if I’ll be the odd one out if I don’t love it. Romantic YA novels have always been on my radar but I’ve always headed into the more paranormal side of things, but nevertheless, it’s been added to cart.

3. Keeping The Moon by Sarah Dessen
I just bought this after much deliberation. I heard some people didn’t like The Moon and More as much as Sarah’s other books, but that this one was amazing, so this one “was” intimidating, but now it’s not so much.

4. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
This book is huge! That’s pretty much why I put it on this list, because it took me almost a whole week to get through it. But, it was a great finish to the series.

5. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
I’ve had this book forever but after reading The Fault in Our Stars, I am so afraid to read a book that’s going to make me cry!

6. Imposter by Susanne Winnacker
This book reminds me so much of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James, so it’s just one of those books that I’m afraid I will find too similar.

7. The Lying Game by Sarah Shepard
The thought in my mind with this one is; “I love Pretty Little Liars, and Sara is a God at writing, but what if I don’t like The Lying Game?”

8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie is an amazing author and I’m just so intimidated by her old series, which I read a while ago, because it was one of the first Wolf series’ I read, so I’m afraid this one will be better because it looks amazing!

9. Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff
I see this every time I go to the bookstore and I never pick it up! I’m not even sure why…I need convincing!

10. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
I make it 6 chapters in, get distracted, read that it’s amazing, get enthralled in another book, and I never find time for this little gem of a book. I must, though!


*I love all these books, regardless, so I’m not “hating on” them, because I adore them!*


I hope you loved my TTT list, and please do post your links below and tell me what you think of my list and I’ll stop by your posts, too! I also follow back on  bloglovin! (GFC went yesterday, didn’t it? I’m so confused…)
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happy reading,
xo Becca

Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish, where bloggers come up with their TTT Lists on different questions.
 
There are tons of books on my TBR List this Summer, but here are the 10 I’m most looking forward to reading, or re-reading again.
 
 
 
1. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
2. Crushed by Sara Shepard
3. Flawless by Lara Chapman *re-reading; ’cause it’s that good.*
4. How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler
5. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
6. Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
7. Adorkable by Sarra Manning
8. Looking For Alaska by John Green
9. The Selection by Kiera Cass
10. Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
 
 
Please write your TTT Post links in the comments bar so I can check them out, tell me what you think of my list & I always follow back!
 
happy *summer* reading,
xo Becca


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