Review: How To Make Out by Brianna Shrum

Sixteen-year-old Renley needs three thousand dollars for the math club’s trip to New York City, and she knows exactly how to get it: she’s going to start a how-to blog where people pay for answers to all of life’s questions from a “certified expert.” The only problems: 1) She doesn’t know how to do anything but long division and calculus. 2) She’s totally invisible to people at school. And not in a cool Gossip Girl kind of way.

So, she decides to learn to do . . . well . . . everything. When her anonymous blog shifts in a more scandalous direction and the questions (and money) start rolling in, she has to learn not just how to do waterfall braids and cat-eye makeup, but a few other things, like how to cure a hangover, how to flirt, and how to make out (something her very experienced, and very in-love-with-her neighbor, Drew, is more than willing to help with).

As her blog’s reputation skyrockets, so does “new and improved” Renley’s popularity. She’s not only nabbed the attention of the entire school, but also the eye of Seth Levine, the hot culinary wizard she’s admired from across the home-ec classroom all year.

Soon, caught up in the thrill of popularity both in and out of cyberspace, her secrets start to spiral, and she finds that she’s forgotten the most important how-to: how to be herself. When her online and real lives converge, Renley will have to make a choice: lose everything she loves in her new life, or everyone she loves in the life she left behind.

Review: oh this was such a cute read. I absolutely flew through this one and read it in basically one sitting, that's how much I wanted find out how things were going to unfold for Renley and her friends! This book reminded me of a lot of teen romance movies and would make a great movie itself. It is very much a coming of age and self-discovery novel and I really enjoyed watching Renley as she made her way along the steep learning curve towards not quite adulthood but away from childhood that;s for sure!

I really loved the characters in this novel. I could definitely picture where they fitted into the social hierarchy of the American High school and they definitely met a few of the stereotypes I have leaned about growing up watching these teen films in the UK. Renley was an easy character to like, even when she wasn't always making the right choices. That is because we all have our faults and I liked her better because she was fairly open about those faults, she felt bad about them and knew that she needed to speak to someone about them. 

I have to admit, I totally fell in love with bad boy Drew. I know I wasn't entirely supposed to because we also have Seth to swoon over in this book but I just loved what a decent human and what a good friend Drew was throughout this novel, I really hope I get to hear some more from him soon! April fits into the role of best friend so well. She is the slightly rebellious girl that still attends math club and still knows how to do the right thing, and therefore I could really identify with her (I'm the teacher that ran math club with the tattoos and the coloured hair) so I would really like to find out what happens to her as well!

I liked the storyline, parts of it were slightly predictable, but reassuringly so, and I really like the fact that it features a blog and someone trying to make money off of a blog too. As I say, this really was a coming of age story with some seriously romantic parts to it as well. I think that if you are a fan of contemporary/romantic fiction then you will definitely love this one and I can't wait to read more from this author soon!

To order your copy now, click here!

Review: Here's Looking at You by Mhairi Mcfarlane

The new novel from the bestselling author of You Had Me At Hello. What if the last person you wanted to see was the person you needed? After the runaway success of You Had Me At Hello, Mhairi McFarlane is back with a new cast of characters in her second book, Here's Looking At You. In essence it's an ugly duckling tale. Our heroine Aureliana returns to school after fifteen years for a reunion. School doesn't hold happy memories for her, as being a roly poly Italian (known as the Italian Galleon), and always armed with a Tupperware full of pungent Mediterranean food, she was bullied incessantly throughout her years there. 

Now in her 30s, Aureliana wants to put the past behind her once and for all and face up to the bullies who made her life hell. But she is much-changed from the girl she once was - all curves and because I'm worth it hair - and no one recognises her when she arrives. Losing her bottle, she backs out on her plan for revenge and slinks off, hoping never to be reminded of her years at school again. But fate gets in the way, and after the reunion her path keeps crossing with James - major hunk and Aureliana's major crush back at school. But alas, as a cronie to the bullies, Aureliana to this day believes that his beautiful exterior hides an ugly interior. As they continue to cross paths a love/hate relationship ensues until eventually something shifts, and they both start to discover what the person underneath is really like...

Review: oh I loved this book. I enjoyed this authors first offering but for me, this one is twice as good. I raced through this book-wanting to find out what happened next. I loved the premise behind it and I could imagine myself in her shoes facing up to my school bullies and them not know who I was because I was hugely successful and gorgeous looking now! I out myself in Anna's shoes and I loved the ride that I had. 

I think Anna makes for an interesting leading lady. She is clearly very insecure and so some of the choices she makes aren't ones she should be making or are rushed, but this makes for some very interesting moments in the book. Her sister provides the comedy in this novel, her ways with her finances and her fiancé are really entertaining and yet she comes through in the end, helping Anna and helping herself. Bully James seems totally cute, I can't believe he used to behave that way in high school, but like Anna, I found him difficult to trust initially...

There's something for everyone in this novel, interesting historical exhibitions, two weddings planned, a fabulous fabulous best friend and a will they won't they love story that will have you on the edge of your seat reading this one! The way this writer explains things an describes something is also a truly beautiful element of the book. She uses the most fantastical figurative language and I think I'm going to use some of her examples whe teaching similes at school from now one because some are deep and meaningful and some downright hilarious! I so enjoyed this book, it was a quick read, an enjoyable read and has stayed with me since the moment I put it down! 

Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try

Review: having read attachments a while ago, I was excited to begin this novel by Rainbow Rowell. iAd heard a lot of good things about this book and about the feels so I was ready to face the hype! I thought this book was a little slow to begin with and the storyline wasn't at all way I expected. The storyline as completely unwie though which is something I always value and so that's was definitely a good thing. I thought it was really interesting to have a main character to honest about their home life. Eleanor knows that things aren't right at home and she isn't happy there or with the bullying she receives at school but she knows that she has to carry on, coping somehow. 

I like the fact that park never necessarily felt sorry for Eleanor but she really appreciates Eleanor for who she is-I love him for it! These are both great characters and there aren't really a lot of other strong leading characters in the book, other than their families. So much is focused on them and because it is dual narrative, you really get a feel for how they are feeling and what they are going through. I really liked the length of the chapters as well, whatever length leant itself to the moment better, that's what ended up Boeing given over to that character-it really worked. 

The feelings of this book intensify and build up so much as the book goes on. Although I thought it was a slow start things were so intense right at the end of the book I was willing things to work out for both of our lovely protagonists! I was so involved that I found myself crying just from one of them touching each other. It was a really lovely book and I loved the totally realistic ending. I can't wait to get to the rest of my rainbow Rowell TBR pile! 

Review: Wonder by RJ Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Review: wow, I literally could not stop reading this book, unputdownable is a complete understatement. I actually started reading this with a group of children at school and then I made sure we all had a copy so we could all finish it over the holidays. The short chapters, the mystery behind what August really looks like, the situation with him  and his school had us all completely mesmerised and desperate to carry on reading it. 

Firstly, I loved the character development in this book. It's not just August who grows and learns over the course of the novel. This book is written from several points of view and all the other characters grow and change and I love that about the story. The point of view who we don't hear from is the one belonging to any adult. There are no teacher chapters or parent chapters, this is told entirely from the children's perspective, which I think is brave but brilliant! I particularly enjoyed seeing august's sister Via change over the course of the novel, the kids I was reading with agreed that intiallly she seems passive aggressive but that we do feel sorry for her having to deal with all she deals with, she really blossoms in this novel and the way she deals with her own problems in truly admirable! 

I loved the idea that whatever August has is an entirely new thing, it means that no one has the exact condition he has and so there's no risk of offending people with one of the conditions he has because he is completely unique, and indeed the novel teaches that it is completely ok to be unique, this is strong message throughout the whole book. I loved August sense of humour as well, we know that he sees himself as normal and why should no one else, but we see that he copes with the way he looks and the way he is different from everyone else with humour and courage and yet he can completely empathise with others, despite his being so completely unique! 

There are some very funny bits in this novel, it's not all moral lessons, there is a storyline and humour, action which will leave you breathless, and real life. Anyone starting a new school or a new situation will be able to identify with August and his fears, Via too! This also teaches a powerful lesson about friendship and bullying which is why I decided to read it at school, it is beautifully written too which also comes in handy at school but which adds to the fact that this book is completely addictive. Having just finished this book. I know that this is something I will want to reread again and again! 

As you can see from the beautiful picture in this post, I have the special edition copy of the novel which has some bonus material in the back. This includes some interesting discussion questions, information about the author and some fan reactions to the book and to August. It was well worth the extra money for this edition, and let's face it, the cover is lovely too!