You Know What You Have to do by Bonnie Shimko

You Know What You Have to do by Bonnie Shimko
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: March 26, 2013

This quirky, appealing YA novel turns formulaic teen fiction on its head as funny, feisty fifteen year-old Mary-Magdalene Feigenbaum (otherwise known as Maggie) suddenly faces more than the usual typical YA concerns: a voice in her head that is telling her to kill people. Not just anyone—each time the target is someone who has done something terrible to a person Maggie cares for. You know what you have to do, the voice commands. Maggie struggles to resist, but the voice is relentless.

With rising suspense, this story of psychological horror introduces a narrator whose own unique voice and irreverent humor are unforgettable—an unlikely hero fighting a desperate battle against incomprehensible evil.

You Know What You Have to do was a weirdly psychological thriller type book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started it, and when I finished I was even less sure of my final thoughts. I don't really think that anything was actually resolved, or that there was any real moral to the story. Maggie kills several people throughout the book, and while you'd think that something would come from it, nothing ever really does. I found that to be endlessly psychotic.

Speaking of psychotic, Maggie was really psychotic. I didn't see her as funny or feisty like the description says...I just saw her as psychotic. First impressions really suck. But they stuck, for her. From the very beginning she's hearing the voice in her head that tells her to kill people...and she does it (that voice was way scary). And as we know from YA books, psychiatrists are very easily played. Which makes me feel bad for their profession, but whatevs. It seems like they're always made out to be quacks in YA books. All Maggie does is lie to her psychiatrist, and he never really seems to catch on. You'd think that Maggie would try and get help, but no, she doesn't want anyone to know that she's crazy. Valid reason. But if she hates the voice so much, why doesn't she ever take the help that's offered to her? Not only that, but she crushes on her 35 year old psychiatrist. Imagines what it would be like if they were married. Sometimes, older men are attractive. But fantasizing about curtains for a man that old is so gross that I made up a term for it: ickles.

I mean, a crush is okay, but I can't imagine having such advanced feelings for a guy his age at my age. Does that make sense? And then the guy her age? Well, he's crushing on her and stalking her and blackmailing her and what does she do? She blackmails and threatens him right back. The whole situation was downright freaky deaky.

That's probably an accurate description of the entire book. Maybe I'm being a harsh critic, but You Know What You Have to do just didn't sit right with me. All in all, it's not really a book I would recommend unless I knew that you were into that kind of stuff.

Sketchy by Olivia Samms

Sketchy by Olivia Samms
Series: Bea Catcher Chronicles, #1
Source: Bought
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: April 30, 2013

The first book in a series about 17 year old Bea Washington, an edgy, charismatic outsider and recovering addict, who discovers that with her new-found sobriety, she has a disturbing new skill. An ability to see, and draw, people's thoughts. Alarmingly, these visions are only getting stronger and increasing in frequency. As another girl in school is raped and left for dead, Bea must come to terms with her talent, learn to face her own truth, and try to help identify and stop the killer before he strikes again.

I liked Sketchy more than I thought I would, to tell you the truth. I hadn't really heard anything good about it, but it was an awesome deal, so I bought it. If nothing else, at least the cover was pretty, you know? But it actually turned out to be a good book!

I enjoyed the character of Bea. She was quirky and fun, and I felt that she gave the book a gritty feel. Mostly, she just wasn't afraid to tell it like it was, even if the way it was turned out to be pretty dang unbelievable. My only real problem with her is that she doesn't think before she acts, which puts her in several "unsavory" situations. I thought that her talent was wicked awesome-- who wouldn't love to be able to "draw" the truth out of anyone? And I mean literally, y'all. I could have all kinds of fun with that talent. But I could also get into tons of trouble with that talent, and from what I can see, that's all Bea really does.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily saying that it's a bad thing or anything...but, well, it would probably be better if she wasn't the kind of person that attracted trouble. Just sayin'. Now, before I get away from myself, I'd like to say that the mystery was handled well and that I enjoyed the supporting characters.

On a completely unrelated note, the story did have a few inconsistencies, and I found the use of excess exclamation marks to be distracting, but other than that, Sketchy was a good read.

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Bluefields
Publication Date: July 10, 2012

Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy's affection before. So when the hottest boy she's ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she's the center of his universe, naturally she's going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right? The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she's convinced he's a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he's the sweetest psychopathic killer she's ever met. Not to mention he's brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?

Serial Hottie was a weird read for me. I love everything that Kelly Oram has ever done, so I went into this with high expectations. Sadly, this book didn't really meet them. My first thoughts about Seth were pretty bad-- because he was creepy. And she still liked him, and wanted to be with him, even though he creeped her out so bad. I am really, really, really not like that. If someone creeps me out, I just can't stand to even be around them. So that just didn't ring true for me. I can't imagine wanting to hang out with someone who creeped me out-- no matter how hot he was.

Aside from that, though, Ellie really was a good character. She was really spunky and funny, and she did some unexpected yet hilarious things throughout the book. I liked that she always said what she thought (even if she didn't mean to) and that she was one of the guys. I love the idea of that. She takes hits and sexist comments, and that just made me love her more. Not only that, but I loved her interactions and relationship with the J's. They were such dorky, great guys, and they came off perfectly as her best friends. One of my big problems with Ellie (aside from the attraction to a guy she's skeeved out by) is that she goes back and forth constantly with said guy. You get  a few chapters from his point of view in the end, and it must've sucked to be him.

Speaking of Seth, I do agree with Ellie. He is pretty creepy. Sometimes he can be the sweetest guy ever, and I realize that something bad happened to him, but seriously. I am off-put by his creepiness. He's overly possessive and jealous too. It actually made me wonder if he was that way because he was used to getting what he wanted, being so hot and all? I don't know, but their relationship was a whole new definition of totally screwed up. Towards the end of the book, I was all kinds of freaked out, you don't even know. Especially because I did think that he was the serial killer. So I have to give Kelly props for that set-up.

For the sake of spoilers, I can't tell you whether Seth is the killer or not-- but let's just say that I was really surprised when I finally figured out who it was. Instant shock-factor. All in all, Serial Hottie was a likable read, but I just can't get over the fact that Seth was so creepy and she still wanted him?? Why??

Towering by Alex Flinn

Towering by Alex Flinn
Series: N/A
Source: Gifted
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 14, 2013

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.

Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

First off, I just want to say that I was really looking forward to Towering. I love fairytale retellings, and I also love Alex Flinn, so I was really expecting to be wowed by this one. And I kind of was... I was wowed at how much I disliked this book. I really wasn't expecting anything like what happened.

To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure what really happened. Because we happen upon this story.. a story about a girl who's been trapped a tower since she was a young girl by a woman she knows only as "Mama". Classic Rapunzel tale... but wait. Apparently, her tears heal people.  And get this? Her hair is a magical growth hormone or something, because when she needs it, it just grows and grows until she's tripping on it and how is that helping when you're running for your life? Someone needs to explain this to me. I mean, I realized that there would be magic, but I was hoping for some kind of explanation for why (and a better one than was actually given).

But. Let's actually start from the true-blue beginning. I was enjoying it in the beginning-- the first few chapters were enchanting and interesting, and the alternating points of view were nice. From this point on, I spent the whole rest of the book trying to get back to the feeling from the beginning. Because as I read on, I realized that our main characters (Rachel and Wyatt) weren't really growing any as characters. They continued being exactly the people we met... which is sad, because I believe that people change every day.

Rachel seemed to absolutely innocent-- having only read a select few classic novels, as well as living her life in a tower probably made her that way. So kudos to the author for that. But I felt like she just didn't know enough of the world, and was existing the way a little kid (before the questioning stage) might live. Just obedient in doing whatever she was told. Also, as I've said before, her hair irked me.

Wyatt was very mysterious at first, but he didn't really behave like a normal teenage boy, in my opinion. He's too... I don't know. Maybe too... something I just can't explain... but I didn't particularly care for him as a character. Or even a love interest, to tell you the truth. He was kind of boring.

Now that I've gone and mentioned it, I might as well tell you a little about the romance. So, here goes! There was none. They met, hey let's kiss and that was the only how-do-you-do that we got out of them as a couple. It was so awkward. They met each other and then they were making out with each other within minutes...I get it, she saved your life. But do you really need to? Eeeewww. There was a serious case of insta-love going on to, because there was quite the confession upon their second meeting. *facepalm*

On top of the insta-love, I feel like the plot was revealed way too early in. Almost everything was completely obvious from the beginning, except *SPOILER* the part where her hair is magical because of a crazy drug that her mother (and her mother before her) was doing...and the fact that all of the town's missing are being housed in a magical harvesting plant (location unknown) where this highly addictive drug grows. Oh, and they're apparently mindless freaks when they're on the drugs and the only way to stop it from growing is Rachel's magical hair (according to prophecy!) And it gives them freakishly inhuman strength, as well as hallucinations. And they're all still young (and kind of immortal), except for Rachel's mom who died for an unknown reason. *SPOILER END* And weirdly, all of that happened sometime within the last fifty pages. So, WEIRD.

The ending was okay... but how good of an ending could you hope for when you didn't enjoy the book? One point five stars for the beginning.

The Impersonator by Mary Miley

The Impersonator by Mary Miley
Series: N/A
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Publication Date: September 17, 2013

In 1917, Jessie Carr, fourteen years old and sole heiress to her family’s vast fortune, disappeared without a trace. Now, years later, her uncle Oliver Beckett thinks he’s found her: a young actress in a vaudeville playhouse is a dead ringer for his missing niece. But when Oliver confronts the girl, he learns he’s wrong. Orphaned young, Leah’s been acting since she was a toddler.

Oliver, never one to miss an opportunity, makes a proposition—with his coaching, Leah can impersonate Jessie, claim the fortune, and split it with him. The role of a lifetime, he says. A one-way ticket to Sing Sing, she hears. But when she’s let go from her job, Oliver’s offer looks a lot more appealing. Leah agrees to the con, but secretly promises herself to try and find out what happened to the real Jessie. There’s only one problem: Leah’s act won’t fool the one person who knows the truth about Jessie’s disappearance.

Set against a Prohibition-era backdrop of speakeasies and vaudeville houses, Mary Miley’s Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition winner The Impersonator will delight readers with its elaborate mystery and lively prose.

Off stage, we are not respectable, like gypsies or immigrants.

I requested The Impersonator on a whim, so I was pleasantly surprised when it was an enjoyable read. I don't usually read adult books, so it was a (sort of) new experience. Right off, I'll tell you that I liked Leah's maturity, because it's something that we just don't often see in YA literature.

Leah was a good character for me. She was spunky and smart - her sleuthing was amazing. Every idea that she came up with about "Jessie" was spot on. I could imagine every one of those scenarios happening, and that made me like her more. She had common sense! I can say, however, that I felt kind of bad for her. I got past it, but... her struggles in "vaudeville" were so honestly and openly portrayed. It wasn't all fun and games, though, and I liked that. She was very brave.

It really surprised me when she took the job, though. Henry was so creepy when he talked to her, and she seemed so determined to stay out of it. But I was glad that she took it, in the end. It made for a good story, and she was good for it.

I enjoyed the crime level - the suspense was balanced out perfectly with the normal, every day moments. I was never bored, neither was I bowled over by action. Like I said, perfect blend! I was constantly trying to figure out the who-done-it part of the mystery; and there were several times where I questioned myself about Jessie. Did I truly think she was dead? I had to hold out for the ending to see, and sometimes it was downright hard. But in the end, I was happy with it. Every little plot point added up. (Psst... what a surprise ending, though! Never saw it coming.)

The atmosphere was what really took the cake, though! I love the little glimpses into 1920's society, and I loved that everything was just so... true sounding. I just couldn't get enough of it. All in all, I would definitely recommend The Impostor to you guys. It was a nice change from the norm, and I really enjoyed it!

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender
Series: N/A
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

I dreamed of small, curving streets paved with rough stones; and the perfume of flowers and sweet pastries in the air; and of beautiful buildings rising up on every side of me; and of a feeling of magic and history beneath my feet. And my dreams felt as real as a memory.

Before you read this review, I want you to read the synopsis. Breathe it in, think about the awesome premise and the possibilities of Marie Antoinette as a ghostly killer. Then imagine all of those hopes dashed. These are the feelings that I had coming out of Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer.

Colette didn't really have any personality to speak of. She upset me with her constant snobbiness, and her apparent lack of kindness. Shallow doesn't even begin to describe her. At one point in the book, she becomes "friends" with someone, only to tell them that they aren't good enough for her unless she needs something. What a friendship that was - but I can understand where she gets it from. Because her best friends, Hannah and Pilar? They irk me. They're terrible friends too.

I have to say, as much as I disliked her for most of the book, she does grow a bit towards the end. She becomes a better friend, and she does show some bravery; but it doesn't make up for the fact that she annoyed me through most of Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer.

The only truly bright part in this novel was Jules and his family. They brought light and happiness into this novel, which is why I don't get Jules. As a character, I truly liked him. He's not around very much, but when he is, he seems like a nice guy. So...why is he falling for Colette?

But lets move on to what you've all been waiting for. Marie Antoinette and the murders! Writing wise, I feel like the murders were done fairly well, if a little weak. But the ghost of Marie just didn't impress me; I felt like her character was shone too briefly, and that she just wasn't menacing enough. The mystery behind "why" she was murdering them was easily solved, and it was just lacking in the drama department.

So, if you're looking for a chilling book about Marie Antoinette, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a story about a girl in Paris trying to solve a mystery, though, this might be for you. It just depends on what you're looking for.

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike
Series: Life After Theft, #1
Source: Bought
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 30, 2013

Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Life After Theft was something new for me. I've never read The Scarlet Pimpernel, nor have I ever read anything by Aprilynne Pike. But so far, I can say that she's impressed me as an author. I really liked this one, even if there were a few moments that I was like "haha that would never happen."

Jeff seemed to be a really laid back kind of guy. He had his jerky moments, but most of the time I think that he was just being forced into doing whatever Kimberlee wanted, because he's just a nice guy. On that note, I wasn't expecting a guy narrator-- the cover confused me! But even though it was a guy narrator, I liked him. Guy narrators are so much fun, don't you think? Especially Jeff.

But let's move onto Kimberlee. I'm not sure, but Kimberlee might just be crazy. I know for sure that she really wasn't all that nice, and that she stole a lot, but we really don't get anything more on her. I would've liked to have seen a chapter through her point of view or something-- it would have helped with her development, I think. And then I would have been able to die happy. She made a really good impression on me with her "confession".

But let's move onto the story-- I thought that the storyline was really good! I liked that Jeff was helping Kimberlee return the stuff, and how funny it was that he has an entire inner monologue over it. That was great! My only problem was that Jeff got caught multiple times, and nothing ever comes of it? Something always happens that gets him off. I mean, all power to him, but that was kind of....it would never happen, you know?

The ending was amazing, though. I thought that everything was wrapped up well, and that it left it open enough that it'll be easy to continue. All in all, Life After Theft was a good read.

Ink by Amanda Sun

Ink by Amanda Sun
Series: Paper Gods, #1
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 25, 2013

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

It was my destiny. I was going to face it. It was my life. I was going to live it.

First off, when I began Ink, (based on some reviews and the info) I was expecting a paranormal-- one without much unique information, and with a wasted potential. I can't help it, but I am overly judgmental about paranormal type books in general. It's a side effect of not being impressed by one in a long time.

But anyway, back on subject. I was fairly surprised by this one. Because the premise of Ink was done very well-- lots of details and wonderful Japanese myths. But...I felt like it was too much sometimes. I liked the fact that we got so much insight, but...well, it was just too much. For one, I am not a native speaker of Japanese. All of the interlaced phrases and random words just weren't ever explained to my standards. Because of the large culture differences (American and Japanese) I couldn't even deduct into what context the phrases were used. This was quite aggravating to me, as you can tell! I just....ARGGGHHHH. I wish that I could have understood them!

But before I go on a rampage, I'll move onto something else. The gang thing. The way to know gang members in Japan is by whether or not they have tattoos...it seems like they're being very obvious, but that's their customs. Anyway, the gangs were at times very prevalent then at other times barely there. I could not get a feel for that. It's either a part of it or it's not, right?

Some of the facts just didn't add up. *SPOILER*Like this one: only Kami or people with "ink" in their blood can see Kami drawings move, according to the man in the temple. But...Ishikawa saw the dragon and now the Japanese gang is after Tomo because he can draw things into reality...BUT IF THEY CAN'T SEE IT HOW DO THEY KNOW IT'S THERE? Hello? Are you listening to me? No one but the Kami/ink in their blood folks should have seen. *SPOILER END*

Ahem. Anyway. Katie seemed like a very hesitant character to me. Sometimes she was just so brave, and she took charge of her own destiny and I liked her for that; but other times...she was different. Sometimes she wasn't courageous. Sometimes she was all careful and such. I guess that makes her a normal girl, though, so I applaud her for that one.

Tomo was very strange-- I don't even know that by the end I even liked him. Sometimes he was such a jerk-- and he was doing it on purpose. Other times, well, he was all sensitive and sweet and I just wanted to give them this huge hug. But then he'd be a jerk again and I'd want to hit him. (That doesn't sound like I have a dysfunctional relationship with him at all.)

Speaking of which, the relationship between Katie and Tomo came too soon. In my opinion, of course. It seemed like they weren't friends for very long before it got all awkward and romantic like. It was introduced way too quickly.

All in all, in spite of my issues with Ink, I really do think that it was a good read. A definite change from the norm...I just...well, you know.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Antithesis by Kacey Vanderkarr

Antithesis by Kacey Vanderkarr
Series: N/A
Source: Blog Tour
Publisher: Inkspell
Publication Date: July 21, 2013

My name is Gavyn.

Liam doesn’t care that I only have one arm. He actually likes my red hair and freckles. I might forgive him for kidnapping me.

My name is Gavyn.

I lost my Liam. I’ve lost them all. And now it’s my job to make sure they don’t show up again.

My name is Gavyn.

I had a life with Liam, but he couldn’t give me what I need. Then I killed his father. I don’t expect he’ll forgive me for that.

My name is Gavyn.

Antithesis was a new kind of read for me-- I'm honestly not into science fiction, but this one just sounded so good that I couldn't resist. The idea of alternate realities is something that I've puzzled on and thought about for days on end, to tell you the truth. Just the idea that someone out there who's the same as me but somehow different just...astounds me.

So anyway, having jumped at the chance to read this, I was hesitant about not liking it. But it turns out that I was worrying about all of the wrong things, because I actually did like it!

Gavyn turned out to be a character that I could strangely relate to. I mean, obviously I have two arms and a girl's name instead of a boy's, but I related to her in a totally different way. I know what it's like to be weird. And for all intents and purposes, hey, Gavyn is weird. But she's also totally fun and awesome and sarcastic. I would totally be friends with her, and her friends Drake and Lena. They seemed like a cool trio.

But back to the alternate realities thing: how weird would it be to meet yourself? Because Gavyn does. A couple of times, actually. And I just can't get over how strange that would just, you know, be. I think that I would seriously freak out. Then, to make things more confusing, I started wondering how it is that all Gavyn's are friends with Lena's and Drake's. Isn't there some sort of paradox or something that should be against that? Statistically speaking, at least one of the Gavyn's never would have me Lena and Drake. Does that make sense, or am I just crazy rambling?

But back to the point: she met herself, and yet when she refers to the other Gavyn's as Gavyn, well, I never got confused. Which I honestly think should count for a heck of a lot. Just like the fact that Liam, well, seems to see the real Gavyn. I think that should count for a lot too. It seems like not very many people see her, and she deserves to be seen for who she is, because she totally kicks ass. Even if she does puke afterwards.

All in all, Antithesis was a fun, philosophically challenging read for me. I can't believe how weird that just sounded, but it's true.

About the author:

Kacey Vanderkarr is a young adult author. She dabbles in fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, complete with faeries, alternate realities, and the occasional plasma gun. She’s known to be annoyingly optimistic and listen to music at the highest decibel. When she’s not writing, she coaches winterguard and works as a sonographer. Kacey lives in Michigan, with her husband, son, crazy cats, and two bearded dragons. Visit www.kaceyvanderkarr.com for more information.
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Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor

Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor
Series: Prep School Confidential, #1
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: July 30, 2013

In this breathtaking debut that reads like Gossip Girl crossed with Twin Peaks, a Queen Bee at a blue-blooded New England prep school stumbles into a murder mystery.

Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne couldn't care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school.

When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder.

The best way to describe Prep School Confidential would be intense. It was intense from beginning to end. But sadly, intense doesn't mean that I loved it. I liked it's extremely action driven plot, but I found the characters to be a tad lacking.

Anne herself was alright, if a tad complicated. She was really very smart, and I liked that she was as tempestuous as me. What really bothered me was the lack of development of the secondary characters. I would have liked to have known more about all of them, and for them to have had a few more appearances throughout the story. I feel like the mystery is ruled a little too much by Anne. We're limited through her vision, because all we get are her opinions. Plus she has a bit of a tendency to jump at every twig, if you catch my drift.

The mystery itself was well done, though. There were so many clues, but they all pointed to different people, which kept the story interesting and entertaining. Towards the end it became obvious, though.

My biggest problem was probably that Isabella (the murdered gal) didn't get to live longer in the story. She seemed like a nice type, which is why it was so disappointing to find out what she was really like. You'll never guess, believe me. This school has more secrets than a cat.

All in all, Prep School Confidential was a charming, if underdeveloped beginning to what I hope will be an awesome series. Gotta love open endings, y'all.

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne
Series: N/A
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: July 2, 2013

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

For whatever reason (there's none I can come up with right off) Truly, Madly, Deadly is destined to live in my memory as a mediocre book. It's disappointing, sure, but there's not a thing I can do about it.

I just couldn't identify with our main character, Sawyer. She's being stalked and threatened, and when she goes to the police, she's too afraid to tell them. So she comes out of the police office no better protected than when she went in. Speaking of, the actions of the killer didn't really make sense. I can only assume that the killer is supposed to come off as maniacal and crazy, but it could have been better done. I am really proud that it took me so long to figure it out, but once I did, I realized how dense I am...all signs pointed right to 'em.

I also thought that the suspense seemed forced and faked. There was too much going on for me to ever really get immersed into the story. The other problems included just funky stuff, so I'm not even going to mention them. It's just not for me, you know?

All in all, Truly, Madly, Deadly just didn't work out for me. The plotline was intriguing, but the execution was sadly lacking. I wish I could have liked this one a bit more.

Whatever Doesn't Kill You by Elizabeth Wennick

Whatever Doesn't Kill You by Elizabeth Wennick
Series: N/A
Source: Won
Publisher: Orca Books
Publication Date: March 1, 2013

Jenna Cooper was only a few days old when her father was murdered and her family was shattered. Now fifteen, she daydreams of a picture-perfect sitcom family as she struggles with the gritty realities of her life. When Jenna finds out that Travis Bingham, the man who shot her father, has been released from prison, she becomes obsessed with tracking him down and confronting him. But her search reveals that there may be more to her father's murder than she has been led to believe--and will her relationships with her family and friends survive her obsession?

I was six days old when Travis Bingham murdered my father.

Honestly, Whatever Doesn't Kill You just wasn't a book for me. I probably knew this in the first chapter, but I read on, because I had started it; and I just have a hard time not finishing books that I start. So, as I did that, I learned many things.

I learned that I don't connect with Jenna as a person. She felt very flat to me, and I didn't understand 98% of her problems, because I haven't come from a home like hers. In general, I have problems believing most books about people who are teased, their dad's dead and they can't let it go when it happened at six days old.

You see, that just seems a little far-fetched to me. Chances are that Jenna would've never even had the chance of "meeting" her father's murder.

Not only that, but I hate that Jenna blames all of her problems on one pivotal moment that happened when she was six days old. Oh, Travis Bingham killed my dad and that's why I'm teased. Oh, Travis Bingham killed my dad and that's why my sister's on drugs. Oh, Travis Bingham killed my dad, and that's why my mom is in a nursing home and my brother is stuck in a dead end job.

Do you see what I mean? She just goes on and on blaming him for everything that has ever gone wrong in her life. I don't understand that mentality, to be honest with you. Nobody is responsible for anything that happens to you except you. Sometimes situations are different, but most of the time it's all you.

I liked the mystery of why Travis killed her dad, but it was resolved in such an anticlimatic way-- I didn't feel like we really got the whole story there. I was very surprised about what he had to say, though.

All in all, Whatever Doesn't Kill You just wasn't a book for me. I think that maybe you should give it a shot, though!

Crush. Candy. Corpse by Sylvia McNicoll

Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll
Series: N/A
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: James Lorimer & Company
Publication Date: February 17, 2013

Paradise Manor is depressing - the smells are bad and the residents are old. Sunny would much rather be doing her volunteer hours at Salon Teo, but her teacher won't let her. Who says volunteering at a hair salon doesn't benefit the community?

But working with the Alzheimer's patients has a surprising effect on Sunny. Along with Cole, the grandson of one of the residents, she begins to see that the residents don't have much more choice about their lives than she does: what they eat, how they are treated by staff, even what they watch on television. So Sunny does what she can to make the residents happy - even if she has to sometimes break the rules to do it.

But when tragedy strikes at Paradise, Sunny's left to make the decision about whether or not to honor a promise that Cole made to his grandmother about her life and her death.

"Sonja Anna Ehret, you stand accused of manslaughter. How do you plead?"

From the cover, I thought that this was going to be some kind of paranormal. Even the title, Crush. Candy. Corpse. hints that there's going to be some made up creatures. I'm not sure what my final classification will be, but without a doubt, there was no paranormal activity in this one.

It was actually kind of a mystery-- did Sunny or didn't she kill Helen? It wasn't what I was expecting at all.

I actually liked Sunny-- I feel like she made a lot of bad decisions, and that she definitely could have done better for herself than Donny, but she's a teenager. We're prone to screwing up. I loved her interactions with the old folks-- she was very patient with them, and she did her absolute best to please them all.

I liked Cole too, but I felt like he could have had some more development. For half of the book I was trying to figure out where he went and all, so I was really surprised by the ending, to say the least. I wish that we had gotten to see more of him, and more development on his part.

My favorite part of this story was definitely the flashbacks, though. I love it when books have a present/past kind of thing going on. It gives me better insight into the characters, then and now.

All in all, I enjoyed Crush. Candy. Corpse., but I feel like the characters could have had more development. It's a quick read that's definitely worth a look, though.

One second of enjoyment didn't seem enough for a lifetime. Same as those last few minutes of Helen Demers shouldn't have destroyed my life either. ~Pg. 42, E-ARC