Book Review: Girl Online

Girl Online
Zoe Sugg
Format: eBook
Released: Nov. 2014
GoodReads

Summary:

I had no idea GirlOnline would take off the way it has - I can't believe I now have 5432 followers, thanks so much! - and the thought of opening up to you all about this is terrifying, but here goes...

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever.

Review:

The book was definitely targeted for the younger end of the teen/ young adult audience. The whole book felt a little younger and childish than other teen books I have read. The story felt like your basic teen romantic comedy, it didn't feel like an original idea. Which is sad because the idea is definitely a unique twist on the classic hidden personality story. Overall, it was not great but still enjoyable and light.
The premise of a girl with a anonymous blog following has so much potential for an awesome story especially from a You Tuber with a successful blog and knows what it is like to actually blog. She then meet a beautiful boy while on vacation and things get even better. However it was not realised it the book. The plot was definitely mainly focused on Penny's awkward life and didn't really introduces us to Noah until the story was already far along. It didn't leave much time for thing s to fall apart and deal with the aftermath, making it feel rushed and superficial.
In terms of the character, there were a lot of points where I didn't like or empathize with Penny. It felt like all these things just sort of happen to her and then she finally starts to deal with when something else happens without her fully dealing with things. One aspect of penny that I loved were her blog posts that were interspersed throughout the book. They felt real and honest and I could see why she was supposed to have a substantial following. that just didn't translate to her off screen life. The secondary characters were cool and definitely saved the book in some places. I felt like they all had these untold stories that were left out. It made them feel very one sided and undeveloped. This was especially true with Elliot, Penny's best friend. I felt like he had this whole story going on in has life and that because it wasn't about penny it was barely talked about unless it was needed for Penny's plot. I think this is part of the reason I felt like Penny was in her own world and oblivious to the problems in other parts of her life. I also felt like some of Bella, the little girl from new york, was the perfect dose of cuteness and comic relief in the book. She was bubbly and fun. Yet she had those moment little kids have where they give perfect advice that is wise beyond their years.

Overall The book was just okay. The premise sounded really cool but the book ended up feeling average and done before. The main character was unique and likable on paper but annoying in the story. I'm not sure I'll read the next one in the series unless the plot seems great or it gets amazing reviews.

Book Review: The Here and Now

The Here and Now
Ann Brashares
Format: E-book from Netgalley
Good Reads

Summary:

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

Review:

Going in to this book I had high expectations for this book because I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling pants series. They were and still are some of my favorite books (and movies). It also has a dystopian/ sci-fi feel to it which I generally love. That being said this book did not disappoint. 

One of my favorite parts of the book was the unique take on the recent dystopian-ish trend by creating a scary future that is riddled with illness but then setting the story in the present day. This was great because ten there was a clear connection between present conditions and the future. Rather than something happening in the not to distant future that causes most of the differences in the world. 

I also loved reading how Prenna's character develops and interacts with the current world. A big part of that was her relationship with Ethan. From the very beginning of the book you know that their relationship will play a crucial part in the book. I enjoyed their story because it wasn't just about Prenna falling for a guy but also about her interactions with the present world outside of her future refugee bubble. As Prenna begins to question the rules concerning Ethan, she also questions the the other rules and if the others have the futures best interest at heart.

Overall, I loved this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed other books by Ann Brashares or other popular futuristic YA novels like Uglies, Divergent, and Hunger Games.

Book Review: A Life in Stitches

A Life in Stitches: Knitting My Way through Love, Loss, and Laughter
Rachael Herron
Format: Book
Good Reads

Summary:

In these 20 heartfelt essays, Rachael Herron celebrated romance novelist by day, 911 dispatcher by night, and founder of the hugely popular blog Yarnagogo.com shows how when life unravels there s always a way to knit it back together again, many times into something even better. Honest, funny, and full of warmth, Herron s tales, each inspired by something she knit or something knit for her, will speak to anyone who has ever picked up a pair of needles. From her very first sweater (a hilarious disaster, to say the least) to the yellow afghan that caused a breakup (and, ultimately, a breakthrough), every piece has a moving story behind it. This beautifully crafted and candid collection is perfect for the knitter who loves to read and the reader who loves to knit.

Review:

I read this book in about a day in a half when my wrist was hurting. It was the perfect antidote for my inability to knit for a while. I guess reading about another knitter's experience was a good substitute for knitting. I loved that most of the essays take place in Oakland, CA. I live and grew up in the area and my local yarn shop is the same as in the book. It was really interesting to see the local community though the eyes of someone else and relate to the stories. Some of my favorite of the essays were the ones where Rachel Herron talks about the online community of knitters, specifically those who read her blog. I definitely could relate to the closeness and realness of online friends even those you haven't met. One of my favorite thing about the book was that each essay was distinct and complete and perfect little snippet that could be read my it's self or in the book. I would recommend this book to any fellow knitters especially those who like Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books.

Book Review: Dear Mr. Knightley

Dear Mr. Knightley
Katherine Reay
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

Summary:

Dear Mr. Knightley is a contemporary epistolary novel with a delightful dash of Jane Austen.

Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self and encountering more pain.

After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous “Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress.

As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.

Review:

I first heard about this book when Peace Love Books reviewed it. I have wanted to read it ever since, so when I saw it at the library I grabbed it up right away.

One of my favorite things about the book was the format. The story is told though Sam's letters to Mr. Knightley. I am a total sucker for books that are a collection of letters, diary entries, or emails. I love that it breaks up the normal story telling and tells you what the narrator thinks of the situation.

The book is chalk full of references to classic literature, mainly Jane Austen. While the book reference books I have yet to read (like Jane Eyre) I could still understand what was meant by the reference. I especially loved that even Sam's anonymous benefactor is a reference to Jane Austen. Another thing I loved about the book was the premise of the book. I loved getting to see Sam change as she went through the Journalism program and struggle with the real world. Most of all what I loved about the book was the characters, especially Alex Powell. He is a real down to earth person despite being a best selling author. He genuinely cares about the people in his life including Sam. As he and Sam continue to become friends and sam gets to know him he become more and more perfect. I also loved the other characters in the book including Sam's classmates at Mendill who help to keep her honest and build new friendships outside of her books. Overall I thought this book was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Jane Austen or books about college life.

Book Review: Fangirl

Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell
Format: Hardback from the library
Good Reads

Summary:

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Review:

I have heard great things about Fangirl and Rainbow Rowell for along time especially when Eleanor and Park was really popular. Then when I read the summary on good reads I knew I had to read it.

I love the basic premise of the story. As a girl who loves several fandoms especially Harry Potter. This book was right up my alley. Add to that the awkwardness that is the first year of college and I loved the book before I had even read it. That being said the book did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this book and all the characters in it. I especially enjoyed Cath and how she seemed genuine in all her emotions. I also loved Cath's roommate, Reagan. She was exactly the kind of roommate I would have wanted in college and was a great catalyst for the transition Cath goes though in the book. She has a great sense of humor without feeling like she was only there for comedic relief. I also loved Cath's Dad and the whole storyline between Cath and him. I thought it really helped explain Cath's past and what her life was like before college.

Besides the characters of the book, I also loved how the book portrayed internet fandoms. I think their are a lot of active fandoms on the internet and that they are generally a really awesome place where people from all over the world can connect and talk about their love for a specific thing. I think in pop culture they are often portrayed as only for socially inept nerds and generally pretty lame. It was refreshing to see a book really bring out the positive light and true nature of fandoms.

The one thing I didn't enjoy about the book were the excerpts of Simon Snow books and Cath and her sisters fanfics at the beginning of each chapter. I thought they were unnecessary and didn't really add much to the story since there was no context for the scenes and they were from all over the books. They didn't really add anything and the book would have been the same without them.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read more books by Rainbow Rowell. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in fandoms or books about college life and coming of age stories.