Book Review: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Nick & Noraj's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, hardcover edition book cover

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

by Rachel Cohn and David Levitham

Genre: YA

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, Kindle,

library binding, international

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Source: own

Rating: ^^^^^

Summary (Goodreads):

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.


This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.


Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

My Thoughts:

How many times did I read the F-word? I don't even know. And if I counted from the very beginning, I might lose count. It's that many. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Well, the book presents the readers with humor, conflicts and romance. And I think if they didn't use the word, maybe it won't come as realistic or as its target humor and irony. If you know what I mean.

This is a one-day situation book, and I feel exhausted for them. So many conflict, so many holding back. But maybe those are the reasons why I loved it, along it's humor and romantic, happy ending (or should I say, beginning?).

This book was published years ago and already has adopted into motion picture. Am I late for review? I don't think so.

I haven't seen the movie yet (I'm not even aware that there's a movie til I saw movie stills and poster on Google), but I'm planning to. I've seen the trailer on Youtube and I realized that on the movie, it's Norah who asked Nick to be her boyfriend for five minutes. There were also scenes that were not on the book. Of course. What do I expect in movie adaptations? They change some scenes. But I'm still curious to watch it, anyway, and see which is better (for now, my bet is on the book).

Book cover comment/s:

The cover is just right for the story. Scroll down for two more covers.

Recommendation:

People who likes romantic comedy. Who likes urban taste novels. One-day situational story. Music. Those who are curious about the book upon seeing the movie.

Here are the different book editions cover ...

For paperback, ebook, Kindle editions. There's also an exact design, but in maroon--for hardcover edition.

And this is the book cover movie inspired.

-       Michelle

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Book Review: Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen, hardbound version book cover

Along For The Ride

by Sarah Dessen

Genre: YA

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ebook, audio CD,
international, Library Binding

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Source: own

Rating: ^^^^

Summary (Goodreads):

It's been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.


A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.





My Thoughts;

Another summer read from Sarah Dessen. I liked the story and the flow of events.

But the thing is, the main female character was like the other main female character of Sarah Dessen's books (that I'm aware of)--like Macy from The Truth About Forever and Annabel from Just Listen. They appear to be independent teens, but there's always their mom who control their lives and decisions. There's also a lot of problems that the female character tells in the beginning that made the story/book loonger.


What I wanted for Miss Dessen to do is to make a main character that wasn't familiar from her other books. She should also refrain from telling long stories about the character's problems; though it's appreciated for the benefit of understanding and meeting the character. She should also give more pages for the romance--if that's where she is aiming.


But still, I liked the book, and maybe just hoping for different set of characters for her future books.

Book cover comment/s:

I can't connect the cover to the story, because there isn't a time where Auden and Eli rode on a bike together. Maybe a bicycle alone will do for the cover or Auden and Eli [driving] together on a nighttime.


The title wasn't also ideal, because like the cover, it didn't connect the story. But then again, they do rode together--at nighttime--but on a car. I also thought the title would be the bike shop's name.

Recommendation:

Ideal for summer read. YA readers.

-       Michelle

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Book Review: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, hardbound edition book cover

Just Listen

by Sarah Dessen

Genre: YA

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ebook

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Source: own

Rating: ^^^^

Summary (Goodreads):

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened

the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

My Thoughts:

It should be a perfect school comeback. But no, it didn't happen that way. Because of what happened in the summer. No one would talk to Annabel Greene at school and if there's someone would, it's a word that you'd never want to hear. Even at home, Annabel has family issues that she's not have a clue on how to resolve.


Until there's Owen Armstrong. The loner, truth-telling music lover. Owen helped Annabel on how to face and tell her mom what she's feeling about modelling. He introduced music to her to drown all the problems she can't handle--like he did.


This book isn't just a love story. It's also about facing your problems and telling the truth. It might hurt someone else's feelings, but the important thing is: you tell the truth. Because it you don't, it could get worse. Everyone around will be affected and you will be the one who'll suffer.

Book cover comment/s:


Don't you think it's Owen who must be listening into the iPod?


Recommendation:

For people who wants to take a break from sci-fi and fantasy for a while or those who likes the combination of teen romance, real-life problems and music.

-       Michelle





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Book Review: Cross My Heart by Katie Klein

Cross My Heart by Katie Klein, Kindle/ebook version book cover

Cross My Heart

by Katie Klein

Genre: YA, romance

Editions available: Kindle, ebook

Publisher: Katie Klein

Source: own

Rating: ^^^^

Summary (Goodreads):

True love can blossom in unexpected places. This is Jaden pretending not to notice. . . .


Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past-a reputation-and the rumors about his mysterious habits abound. So there's no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have anything in common, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love.


As they bond over Edith Wharton's tragic novella, Ethan Frome, the "bad boy" vibe Parker plays begins to dissipate. Soon, Jaden finds herself shedding her own "good girl" image: sneaking around to be with him, confiding in him, and ultimately falling hard for this leather-wearing, motorcycle-driving loner who plays into the rebel stereotype.


Still, Jaden can't shake the feeling that there's more to Parker than he's letting on. He's hiding something from her, and discovering the truth means reconciling the Parker she's grown to love with the person he really is. Because it's possible that his life inside the classroom-everything Jaden knows-is one, massive lie.

My Thoughts:


Where do I start? That's what actually popped into my head after I wrote 'Cross My Heart by Katie Klein' for review. It's a thought that I really asked myself, and did not intended to include it in here, but...

I'll start on the only negative I figured when I started reading the book. Cross My Heart has two main characters--Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen. Jaden is like, the perfect girl. Good grades, good friends, a boyfriend from the school basketball varsity, cheerleader, and a girl who 'saves the world'. While Parker, is the distant, mysterious, with bad boy reputation who wore black leather jacket every day. Good girl and a bad boy. Typical.
They became aware of each other was through a school project wherein they were unexpectedly paired up by their English teacher. Typical? Yes.


It bothers me when I read books with the same plot. It also makes me hard not to compare these books. But Katie Klein made sure to add her own flavor. Sweet, mysterious, emotional, and a twist that will make you stop for a moment and re-read to find out you read it right. Yes, I've been through that.


Although Cross My Heart might be similar to some books, I liked it. I like the romance, the thrilling parts and the twist. I've always been a sucker of fairytales and happy endings, and this book provided me those--in a modern way. A happy ending yet will leave you guessing... would they also be having a happily ever after?

Book cover comment/s:


The cover is pretty. And pink. I might ask for cover that's related to the book, but the blossoming flower is alright since the summary starts with: True love can blossom in unexpected places.


Recommendation:

Who likes teen romance on a high school scene. And who likes a hot bad boy protagonist.

-       Michelle







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Book Review: My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison, hardbound edition book cover

My Unfair Godmother

by Janette Rallison

Series: My Fair Godmother #2

Genre: YA

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Source: borrowed

Rating: 

Summary (Goodreads):

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only afair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

My Thoughts:


With the same mash-up-fairytale-plus-modern-story style, Jannette Rallison did not failed me to love her second book of My Fair Godmother series!

While the first book contains Cinderella, Snow White, the mysterious Black Knight, and Savannah and Tristan, here you'll meet Tansy Miller and her adventures with Robin Hood and the Merry Men, Rumpelstiltskin, and her unexpected visitor.

Like My Fair Godmother, this book is magical, funny, witty, romantic, thrilling and will leave you guessing. A movie-like adventure. I cannot say which book I liked better (first or second). Both are fun, full of adventures, had cute guys, and very nice magic. It was well written and I really enjoyed them.

And how's our fair godmother? She's still busy. No improvements, I guess. Maybe that's why Mr. Sagewick Goldengill asks to give Miss Everstar another assignment, though he says that he's seen potential. So... are we expecting a third book? ;)

Book cover comment/s:


Same thing with I commented on My Fair Godmother


Recommendation:

For people who loves fairytales (even the retold ones) like me. Who looks for books which is funny, light, and magical. And those who love the first book, My Fair Godmother!

Click here for my review of My Fair Godmother #1: My Fair Godmother

Book Review: My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison, hardbound edition book  cover

My Fair Godmother

by Janette Rallison

Series: My Fair Godmother #1

Genre: YA

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, audiobook

Publisher: Walker & Company

Source: borrowed

Rating: 

Summary (Goodreads):

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s onlyFair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

My Thoughts:

I've always loved fairytales--even the retold ones. I never get tired of reading them. And here's another one!
My Fair Godmother is a mash-up Cinderella, Snow White, and a tale of a girl--Savannah--who's been dumped by her boyfriend for her sister, and a fairy godmother trying to be a fairy godmother by doing this extra-credit project to raise her semester grade from Fairy Godmother Affairs--Chrysanthemum Everstar (such a cute name, by the way).
It is witty, funny, magical, and fun to read.
I should've hated Jane (the sister) for 'stealing' Savannah's boyfriend, Hunter. But no, I even had sympathy for her--them; you'll see when you read the book.
I hated the fairy, Chrissy, because of her dumb understandings upon Savannah's wishes, but I also liked her at the same time.
I also love the thrilling parts of the story. I kept guessing who the Black Knight was!
It's fun to read from the beginning til the end; I never got bored!


I'm so glad there's second book!

Book cover comment/s:


It's a cute cover, connects to the vibe of the book. I just hope the fairy be less serious. She could beam, grin, or be energetic on the cover--that best describes Miss Everstar.


Recommendation:

For people who loves fairytales (even the retold ones) like me. Who looks for books which is funny, light, and magical.

Click here for my review of My Fair Godmother #2: My Unfair Godmother