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Sister Book Swap: “The Vincent Boys” by Abbi Glines

Title: The Vincent Boys

Author: Abbi Glines

Published: October 30th, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Find the Author: Goodreads


I borrowed this book as part of Sister Book Swap! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased. 



Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.

Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.

Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist…

When Sophie gave me this book as our first Sister Book Swap, I was torn on what type of read this would be since my usual picks are YA that aren’t typically on the border of New Adult. I had heard great things about Abbi’s writing, so ultimately I had high hopes for The Vincent Boys. 

Ashton Gray is far from perfect, but that’s the destiny she chose to follow. As a kid, she was always causing havoc with her best friends Beau and Sawyer Vincent (who were cousins), but more closely Beau who she used to have the most fun pranking people with. Fast forward years later and Ashton is far from the girl she used to be. She’s carved herself into the flawless Preacher’s daughter who wouldn’t dare step out of line, and with the charming and ever-so-perfect Sawyer by her side, Ashton thought she had it all. 
Beau Vincent is the town’s bad boy. Aside from the occasional sentence and favour, Beau and Ashton strayed apart from their younger, wild days. Whereas Beau stays out drinking and hanging out with his girlfriend Nicole, Ashton felt neglected and alone since Sawyer was away. She knew he’d be back soon, but then she’d just have to keep up the act of the good girl for even longer. Beau was the only one who knew that she wasn’t really like that, and when they reconnect suddenly, she starts to peal away the layer of fake Ash and let the real one shine. . .but that lands her right in Beau’s arms. 
Ash and Beau’s romance is fiery and complicated. They both know they like each other, he can only be a better person with her and she can only be herself when she’s with him. They go to extreme measures to keep their sordid liaison a secret, but when Sawyer returns and heated Nicole catches on, everything comes crashing down. 
Complex, enchanting and lively, The Vincent Boys was a whirlwind of a novel. From the shocking twists to the fights to romance, there was never a dull moment. The characters seemed so real to me and both Ashton and Beau’s POV’s were both riveting and clear-cut to their unique voices. I loved getting to know the world of characters and can’t wait to see how this novel floods into the next in the series. A definite, unexpected five-star read. 
Older YA and NA romance fans!
Sophie from 23 Review Street sent over these questions to go with my review from what I thought about the characters to my thoughts on the plot! 
Both Beau and Sawyer are different in many ways, which one is your favourite and why?
I think Beau was my favourite by far, but that might change when I hear things from Sawyer’s POV when I read the next novel. To me, I think reading about Ash and Beau bonded them in my mind and Sawyer to me didn’t stand out as much. So definitely Beau.

The Vincent Boys is a NA, do you think it is a genre that you would like to read more of?
Even though I loved this book, not all NA appeals to me. I tend to stray away from the hot-paced NA romances and lean toward more sweeter novels, but it’s definitely a genre I’m inclined to read.

My favourite character would have to be Ashton, who would you say your favourite is and why?
I think I agree, Ashton was my favourite. She went through a lot trying to pretend to be this perfect Preacher’s daughter that everyone wanted her to be and the struggle that she went through to reveal what she had done and suffer the consequences and bullying at school was heartbreaking. Having the courage to dust herself off and be happy made her favourite character worthy by far.

Abbi Glines has wrote many series, The Vincent Boys/Brothers is one. Would you be more inclined to read more of her books now that you have read this one?
I loved Abbi’s writing so I would be up for reading another one of her books, more especially the next in the series. 

So that was our first Sister Book Swap!

Check out Sophie’s post here for Roomies. 

What did you think of The Vincent Boys?

Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs or hashtag #SisterBookSwap

happy reading!

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Waiting on Wednesday: “Biggest Flirts” by Jennifer Echols

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. 

Author: Jennifer Echols
Release Date: May 20th, 2014
Published by: Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary  

Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want. 
Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger. 
As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. 
They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…

Everyone who’s read anything by Jennifer Echols knows she is one of the best YA Contemporary authors out there. Biggest Flirts looks like the type of book that I love to read in the Summer or when my favourite shows are on hiatus and I’m craving some High School and Romance drama! Another must-get for my TBR list! 

Are you waiting on Biggest Flirts, like me?


If not, what are YOU waiting on? Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on Twitter!

 

happy reading!

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Waiting on Wednesday: “Let the Storm Break” by Shannon Messenger

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. 

Title: Let the Storm Break (Sky Fall #2)
Author: Shannon Messenger
Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Published by: Simon Pulse



Whirlwind romance and breathtaking action continues in the sequel to Let the Sky Fall, which Becca Fitzpatrick called “charged and romantic.” 

Vane Weston is haunted. By the searing pull of his bond to Audra. By the lies he’s told to cover for her disappearance. By the treacherous winds that slip into his mind, trying to trap him in his worst nightmares. And as his enemies grow stronger, Vane doesn’t know how much longer he can last on his own.


But Audra’s still running. From her past. From the Gales. Even from Vane, who she doesn’t believe she deserves. And the farther she flees, the more danger she finds. She possesses the secret power her enemy craves, and protecting it might be more than she can handle—especially when she discovers Raiden’s newest weapon.


With the Gale Force weakened by recent attacks, and the power of four collapsing, Vane and Audra are forced to make a choice: keep trusting the failing winds, or turn to the people who’ve betrayed them before. But even if they survive the storms sent to destroy them, will they have anything left to hold on to?
– Goodreads description

Let The Sky Fall has been on my wishlist for so long and with each piece of new info I find out about this series, the more I just want to delve in. There aren’t many premises alike Shannon Messenger’s series and I think it’s unique-ness makes it all the more coveted. Waiting on this one a lot. 

Are you waiting on “Let The Storm Break“, like me?


If not, what are YOU waiting on? Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on Twitter!

 

happy reading!

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Book Review: “Afterparty” by Ann Redisch Stampler



Title: Afterparty

Author: Ann Redisch Stampler
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary 
Release Date: December 31st, 2013

Other Books Author: Where it Began 

Published by: Simon Pulse

With thanks to Simon Pulse for the copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

GOODREADS  | TWITTER  | WEBSITE

Emma is tired of being good. Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother — whose name her dad won’t even say out loud. That’s why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her…and the most dangerous. 
Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she’s everything Emma is not.

And it may be more than Emma can handle. 
Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It’s more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. 
And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop…

This explosive, sexy, and harrowing follow-up to Ann Redisch Stampler’s spectacular teen debut, Where It Began, reveals how those who know us best can hurt us most.

 After having Afterparty featured as my “Waiting on Wednesday” post a few weeks ago, everyone seemed to adore the summary and that beautiful cover just as much as I did. And I was so lucky enough to get a copy through Edelweiss and Simon Pulse thanks to Ann to read before it’s release, so that was my lucky Wednesday! I was excited to get started reading Afterparty right away.

I was intrigued right from the first page. I mean, when on the first page when it starts with an ending one-liner as enthralling as that, I think everyone is going to turn that page and keep going. 

The book opens and introduces Emma and her father to us. They’re moving from Canada to California and right away the difference in lifestyle is a big change for both of them, but people tell them that they’ll love California, so they keep that in mind. Emma is and has always been the “good girl” stereotype that she prides herself on being, and knows that if she gets good grades and follows the rules, life will work out great for her. She’s started quite a lot of new schools before, and knows the drill and the motions like it’s second nature.

Within a short time of starting her new school, Emma meets a girl called Siobhan, who is noticeably the opposite of everything Emma prides herself on; she doesn’t follow all the rules, and does what she wants, when she wants to. But to Emma, this doesn’t matter at first, and they become really fast friends, quite close right away. 

 The plot for Afterparty was striking and unique. Not only did it have the power to hold my attention, but it surprised me and threw me into a roller-coaster of complex situations, the fear of rebelling and not being accepted, and being in a self-destructive, yet fragile friendship. The thing I loved the most was the way that Ann had written that makes stopping reading almost impossible. It’s a tie between the characters and the overall plot that kept me reading for hours and countless chapters in just one sitting. Both were immensely addictive and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I connected and could reflect upon the story in a ton of aspects.

Emma was a very reliable and relateable main character. I feel that I could relate to a ton of things she was going through and the situations she was put in by Siobhan and the places she put herself in by changing and slowly breaking away from that “perfect” girl she always thought she should be. Changing for her was a huge thing, because she was tearing that reputation of hers away, but I think that being herself was something she had never completely done and maybe Siobhan brought that out in her for the better.
Siobhan…well, she was like a firecracker. Some would even say she was the star of the story. She was so unexpected and when she came into Emma’s life, she changed everything for the bad and the good. I’ve read a lot of novels with characters like Siobhan, but none as great as she was in Afterparty. There was always an alluring and intense atmosphere about the moments when Siobhan’s wild side came out, which really set the tone for the book. 

Emma and Siobhan’s friendship is a really tight-knit thing that is very rocky and at the same time, so strong and vulnerable, and a small hint at the future and conclusion was how much keeping promises or pacts, actually meant to them. And importantly, if a person were to come between them, how that could potentially break them.

Afterparty was a huge hit for me. I can’t even put into words how much I loved it or even pin-point the amazing parts, because it was literally the whole thing. Before you’ve had a chance to take in one surprise, another comes in and takes your breath. It was gripping, one-of-a-kind and incomparable. A must for everyone’s book shelf.


You can read the first three chapters at the moment here.



Have you read Afterparty?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading!

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Waiting on Wednesday: “Afterparty” by Ann Redisch Stampler

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. 






Emma is tired of being good. Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother — whose name her dad won’t even say out loud. That’s why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her…and the most dangerous. Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she’s everything Emma is not.

And it may be more than Emma can handle. 

Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It’s more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop… 

This explosive, sexy, and harrowing follow-up to Ann Redisch Stampler’s spectacular teen debut, Where It Began, reveals how those who know us best can hurt us most.

Expected publication:  December 31st 2013 by Simon Pulse 

Now this sounds like a book I couldn’t put down! I will be digging into this one as soon as I get it; and it’s out pretty soon, so not long to wait! YAY. It sounds so different to the usual contemporary I usually read, and that COVER; so unique! I love the bohek effect of the lights and how simplistic it is. Adore this one all round!


Are you waiting on “Afterparty“, like me?


If not, what are YOU waiting on? Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on Twitter!

 

happy reading!

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