Book Review | The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved the premise of this story, this is not a book about a superhuman teen sweeping in to save the world, this is about the kid in the background (Mikey). This is about the kid that no one notices. I drew comparisons between Buffy and The Scooby Gang - who wouldn't, what with all the talk of the Chosen One and being helpless to save the world again.

Each chapter begins with what is happening to the Chosen Ones, or as Ness calls them, the Indie Kids. Reading this in print format, these short asides would've made more sense. As I listened to this, I couldn't distinguish them from Mikey and his story and for the first few chapters I was wondering what the hell was going on. Luckily I'm not a complete idgit and I figured out what was happening.

I did like Ness' thoughts on mental illness, (Mikey suffers from OCD), and I can't remember where in the book this sentence is, but I just really like thought behind it. There are so many people struggling with mental illness and for the most part, are treated differently because of it. And you can bet that if they had cancer there would be sympathy and understanding instead of people laughing behind your back because you're a weirdo freak. Ness has created wonderfully diverse characters for his book and I enjoy that. I like his writing style and I don't feel like he's written them by numbers or to fill a criteria.

"It's when your emotions become too big. Medications won't get rid of it but it lets you manage it. If you had cancer, diabetes you wouldn't consider taking medication a failing."

Overall, this was a middle of the road read, I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it enough to keep listening. I can't quite put my finger on why it didn't wow me, maybe because the book centers on the everyday, the boring things that we all do, they aren't doing the exciting save the world, end the apocalypse things or maybe The Scooby Gang still has my heart.


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Until next time, happy reading :)

C.

Book Review | Shut Out by Kody Kelpinger

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was a bit disappointed with Shut Out. I remember reading The DUFF and loving it, I was a sweary, snarky teenager and that was the first time I'd read someone similar to me. But this time around, our main character, Lissa, was annoying AF. I understand that she had liked control and that she felt like it was her responsibility to take care of everyone, but if she was my sister or daughter I would've told her what was what. She grated, I don't know if it was the narrator. I can't put my finger on it. I will admit, in the end I grew to like her more and I loved the banter between her and Cash. Maybe I'm getting old. Scratch that - I refuse! I've already moved up an age bracket this year and I'm not having it.

This is loosely based on Lysistrata and I'me definitely going to check that out. This was closer to a 2.5 for me, I want to check out some of the authors other books, hopefully it was just this book that I didn't love.


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Until next time, happy reading :)

C.

Accidents & Incidents by Riley Graham

Accidents & Incidents by Riley Graham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm giving this book 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Accidents & Incidents, I'd been reading some heavy going books at the same time and this was perfect to pick up and just enjoy. Each of the characters was dealing with something in their life, but it wasn't too angsty or drama filled, which I liked. Just because a book is YA doesn't mean it has to be drama 24-7 for no particular reason...(I'm looking at you HoN)...

Leslie had an authentic teen voice and I felt like the school/party scenes were realistic, although Cain's father always being at his parties was weird; besides the drunken skeeze factor and rapey vibes he was giving out, I don't know of any parties I went to where Dad was playing bar master. That being said, it did give a little insight into Cain's future, especially if he keeps on the path he was when the book finished.

I was glad that Leslie didn't take things further with Cain, he was an asshat and I would've lost respect for her if she had. I feel for Leslie, it seems like the people who are supposed to care the most keep letting her down, so I'm glad that Dennis comes along. Despite his past (and the fact that he no longer drives), he seems like he's coping well with his issues - say compared to Cain. You do get a little information into his past, but not a lot, personally I would've liked more, but it didn't detract from my understanding or likeing of Dennis.

That being said, I would've like to have seen the storyline with Meredith's sister explored more, it may have ramped up the angst a little, but it would've been great to see that fully explored, to me it was mentioned in passing and it felt a little like it was wrapped up easily, tied up at the finish of the book with a bow and there's your HEA. I wanted more.

I am hoping that there will be more books with these characters to follow, I would love to find out more about Dennis and see how Leslie and him fare. I'd also like to see how her relationship with her mum develops (view spoiler)[especially as she is going back to school, I could see her mum being a much happier person if she followed her dreams, went back to school and rang her highschool sweetheart (hide spoiler)]

I'd recommend this to those who want a contempory YA that isn't too angsty, but that still has issues and an interesting story.


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Book Review: A Shade of Vampire (A Shade of Vampire, #1) by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed A Shade of Vampire a lot.  Yes there are the inevitable comparisons, but Twilight wasn’t the first teen vampa romance and I’m sure it won’t be the last.  I liked the idea of Forrest’ hideaway island, which on one hand is all very romantic, but on the other totally helps with the creep factor of Sophia not being able to escape after being kidnapped.

I thought the use of alternating POV chapters was a great idea; I love being let into the thoughts of characters.  Sometimes it’s exactly what you need to get that little extra on them.  I hope we get some more insight to other characters in the next book.

A few other reviews have boo’d the ‘instalove’, but I don’t mind it, sometimes you meet someone and you just click, game over - you get each other.  I don’t think Sophia and Derek loved each other straight away, but there was a connection, which turned to love.  I’m sure that’ll get explored more in the next book – which I’m going to have to get so I can find out what happens.  I hate me some cliffhanger – so it’s a good thing book 2 & 3 are ready to go!!  This was quite fast paced, which I enjoyed, I liked Sophia, Derek and Vivienne as characters, although I’ve got a feeling that when I finally meet Papa Novak, I’m not going to like him much.  I have soft spot for Lucas, I’m hoping he’ll redeem himself as the story unfolds, because even though I did love Derek and his tortured vampire, I do like me some bad boy (although a little less stabby would be nice).




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