Review- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Turtles All the Way Down on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. In his long-awaited return,

Release date: October 10th 2017

Published by: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW: 

Like most readers who have read and loved John Green's books in the past, I too was excited for Turtles All the Way Down. While it took me a really long time to get to it, when I finally did, I literally felt like I was at home with a John Green book in my hand. 

I have practically read every John Green book out there- The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. When I finally got to Turtles All the Way Down, it was like any other John Green book where the teens talk like extremely mature adults, the protagonist is hard to like but the writing is incredible. 

Turtles All the Way Down is the story of Aza whose mental health is portrayed terrifically. While I found it extremely difficult to get used to and like Aza because of her- as her friend rightly puts it "narcissism", I did connect to her on a mental level. Aza meets up with her childhood friend Davis whose billionaire father has suddenly disappeared. There is a reward for the person who finds him. So Aza's friend Daisy takes up the task of doing some investigation.  

For a plot that sounds quite mysterious and interesting, it was neither mysterious nor interesting. Had the summary not mentioned anything about detectives and mysteries, I would've liked the book more because clearly it lacked a strong plot. While it barely took me a couple of days to finish the book, Turtles All the Way Down didn't really have me pumped up or excited to get back to it like some other books by the author have in the past. I hate saying this, but I was really disappointed. 

Although not his most incredible book, I would still recommend Turtles All the Way Down to fans of John Green for his brilliant writing, the on point portrayal of mental health, the superb character of Daisy and for the moment where you realise why it's called Turtles All the Way Down. I wasn't impressed by this one, but I'm glad I didn't miss it. 

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- My Crunchy Life by Mia Kerick

My Crunchy Life on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

John Lennon fought for world peace, but sixteen-year-old hippie hopeful Kale Oswald’s only made it as far as tie-dying his T-shirts with organic grape juice. Now he’s ready to cement his new hippie identity by joining a local human rights organization, but he doesn’t fit in as well as he’d hoped.

After landing himself in the hospital by washing down a Ziploc bag of pills with a bottle of Gatorade, Julian Mendez came clean to his mother: he is a girl stuck in a boy’s body. Puberty blockers have stopped the maturing of the body he feels has betrayed him. They’re also supposed to give him time to be sure he wants to make a more permanent decision, but he’s already Julia in his heart. What he’s not sure he’s ready to face is the post-transition name-calling and bathroom wars awaiting him at school.

When Kale and Julian come face-to-face at the human rights organization, attraction, teenage awkwardness, and reluctant empathy collide. They are forced to examine who they are and who they want to become. But until Kale can come to terms with his confusion about his own sexuality and Julian can be honest with Kale, they cannot move forward in friendship, or anything more. 

Release date: June 26th 2018

Published by: Harmony Ink Press

Page numbers: 180

REVIEW: 

After reading It Could Happen and The Weekend Bucket List, I was really looking forward to reading author Mia Kerick's My Crunchy Life as I loved the author's previous works, and was looking forward to seeing what she had in store for readers this time. When I read the summary of My Crunchy Life, I knew it would be an interesting and pleasant read, and that's exactly how it turned out to be. 

Julian and Kale go to the same high school but never really meet until they bump into each other at a human rights organisation that helps create social awareness and lets people be. Julian is a biological male transitioning into female, while Kale is trying to figure out his chosen hippie lifestyle. When the two meet, some sparks fly all right, but there's so much they figure out about themselves and that was incredible to see. 

The most relatable and prizewinning part of young adult novels is the stress on family which played an important role in My Crunchy Life. Julian's mother works day and night to make sure her child's journey into the world is as easy and safe as it could be, while Kale's dad welcomes his nephew Hughie into his house and home with open arms. Neither of family is perfect, and that's what makes it super real and understandable. 

This is not a typical young adult high school drama novel, at least not completely. There is so much more to it than just friendship and romance. It's about the difficulties of life and how even the smallest incidents make someone lose all the confidence and faith that they have, but at the same time, it's about how even smallest positive and helpful voices help make it better. For a YA novel, it's very deep and raw yet fun and relaxing as its a short read sprinkled with humour. 

As always, author Mia Kerick's writing is meticulous. Her focus on her characters and what they are going through is what I love most about her books. Sometimes, I really don't care what a school or room or coffee shop looks like, I just want to know what's going on in the minds of the characters I eventually fall in love with as I read about them. Mia Kerick does just that, and she does it so well. 

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA LGBT reads. It is totally worth it. 

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by YA Bound and Mia Kerick in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park. 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? 

Release date: September 10th 2013

Published by: St. Martin's Press

Page numbers: 481

REVIEW: 

Since the past few years, most of my Potterhead friends who read author Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl have raved about it so much saying that they could relate to it easily and that it is a must read for Harry Potter fans. When I finally decided to pick up and read the book, I didn't have many expectations because very popular Young Adult books and I haven't gotten along quite well in the past. But now, I feel so proud to say that all my friends have been right all along. But really, there's no surprises there! Fangirl was one of the most comforting, gratifying and loveable YA book I've read in a long, long time.

To begin with, this book is basically an in-depth description of what my own teenage years looked like when all I cared about and all that mattered in life was Harry Potter. There really wasn't much else that helped me get through those adorable yet gruesome years, other than the fact that there was a Potter book or a Potter movie or Potter something to look forward to. Now in Fangirl, there is no direct reference to Harry Potter as such, but hey Rainbow Rowell, we all get the subtle Drarry hints, which was so cool because I ship that so bad.

I feel like this review is going to more about Harry Potter than Fangirl, so let's talk about the latter. The fangirl in this book- Cath- was such a relatable character. Honestly, I have never felt more close to and loved any other YA female character so much. Cath basically breathes Simon Snow, and she writes fanfic about the same. I personally never wrote fanfic, but I've had my fair share of it that I still go back to. I honestly really liked Cath'a character because she didn't have everything sorted out; she just went with the flow and figured stuff out.

Other than Cath, however, we have her twin sister Wren, her roommate Reagan, her writing partner Nick, her friend Levi, her professor Piper and her dad, who all came together to make this book fun and deep at the same time. Every character was well developed and portrayed in a very raw and excellent manner that made their individual contribution very important for the story to go ahead and also for Cath to emerge as someone better than what she started out with. Even thought this book was super long, which usually is the biggest turn-off for me, I still loved it so much that every time I stopped, I wanted to know more and even when the book finally ended, I wish it hadn't because I wasn't reason to let go.

Overall, I will say what everyone else has already said. Read this book if you belong to a fandom- any fandom really- and by belong, I mean if you are truly and entirely dedicated to it. If your fandom of choice basically defined your entire young adult life, please, please read this book because it will help you realise that you are not alone. We're all in this together and we are magic. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rainbow Rowell!

 

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Fallen Heir by Erin Watt

Summary-

These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence. His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to.

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life. She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up.

She might be right.

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough. He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall.

Release date: August 28th, 2017

Published by: Timeout LLC

Page numbers: 300

Review-

Fallen Heir by Erin Watt is the fourth book in the Royals series. If you didn't know, Erin Watt is a combination of the author duo Elle Kennedy and Jen Fredrick and their writing is amazing. You can definitely read Fallen Heir even if you haven't read the first three books in the Royals series. The first three books focus on one couple and Fallen Heir is Easton's story. I really enjoyed Fallen Heir.

Let's start with Easton. Easton is your typical Royal. He's rich, he's good looking and he always gets what he wants. Easton comes off as a self centred asshole who just always wants to have a good time and he is all of the above. But Erin Watt makes you see underneath the surface. Easton is struggling to find a place in his family. He wants love and affection and attention from the people he genuinely cares about and he definitely has his vulnerabilities. 

Then we have Hartley. Easton is totally intrigued by Hartley since the first moment he sees her. She's the first girl to actually refuse him and she has so many secrets. Fallen Heir completely goes from Easton's point of view but we still get a good picture of Hartley's personality. Hartley is a hard working girl who has her own family problems. Even though she knows the attraction between Easton and her is strong she also knows that he is trouble. I really liked Hartley's character but I do want to know more about her.

The chemistry between Hartley and Easton is present from the first page. Easton is a spoiled brat with drinking issues but he still manages to get his shit together for Hartley. Until he loses it. Easton definitely has some growing up to do. Like the previous Royals book this book is filled with high school drama and characters who would go to any length to obtain popularity. Everyone wants in on the Royal drama.

I also really enjoyed seeing the rest of the Royals and their friends. Ella and Val were sweet. Sebastian and Sawyer were present with their girlfriend Lauren. I am really hoping they get their own book because that is one complicated relationship. I missed seeing Reed though and I wish there was more of Gideon and Savannah. Now one last thing before I end the review is a major warning I want to point out- THIS BOOK ENDS ON A MAJOR CLIFFHANGER. If you know you can't take those or like those I would suggest waiting for the next book to come out. I truly enjoyed Fallen Heir and I can't wait for more by Erin Watt!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

When Dimple Met Rishi on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

Release date: May 30th 2017

Published by: Simon Pulse

Page numbers: 380

REVIEW: 

When When Dimple Met Rishi was about to be released, I kept seeing it all over my social media. Practically all the Young Adult readers and bloggers that I follow were talking about the book, which had me very curious. But I have this theory that the more popular and hyped a book is, the less it works for me. When Janhvi received a copy of it for review, I had to borrow the book from her and  even though the book has been reviewed on our blog by Janhvi, I had to pen down my own thoughts.

Essentially, When Dimple Met Rishi is a very cute and enjoyable read, but the problem with such reads is that the story seems very ordinary, predictable, typical and even boring sometimes, which was also the case with this book. While the romance and the story of Dimple and Rishi was very cute, there was too much of unnecessary drama which had me cringing. The book was almost like a Bollywood movie, which for me, isn't the best thing ever.

Coming to the characters, Dimple was likeable enough, but I would've really liked to see her step out of the conventionality that she herself wasn't fond of in the first place. Had she been more true to herself and stood up for what she believed in, I would've really appreciated that kind of twist. As for Rishi, while he was a decent guy, he did not seem even one bit like an eighteen year old. He seemed almost forty to me, which was really unrealistic.

Anyway, for a quick, easy and fun read, I'd definitely recommend this book. It's a very good book if you look at the surface and don't try to dig too deep into it. But I have been trained in such a way that I tend to look at the core of it, which is why, while I did enjoy this book, I found there to be many tiny flaws which made it a just about okay read for me.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- What Light by Jay Asher

 BOOK SUMMARY:

From Jay Asher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thirteen Reasons Why, comes a romance that will break your heart, but soon have you believing again. . . .
Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. 

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.

By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.

What Light is a love story that's moving and life-affirming and completely unforgettable.

Release date: October 18th 2016

Published by: Razorbill

Page numbers: 251

REVIEW: 

After reading Jay Asher's dark and daunting Thirteen Reasons Why, I was pleasantly surprised by What Light, which I thought would be along similar lines, but it ended up being a very nice read, which I'm surprised I liked so much because I'm not the biggest fan of romances. But then again, as much as I hate to admit it, I am a sucker for love stories set during Christmas. There's just something warm and welcoming about such stories which always leave me with a smile on my face.

In What Light, Sierra's family, who lives in Oregon, owns a farm where they grow and sell Christmas trees in California, which means every Christmas is spent there. Sierra basically lives two lives and she adores both equally, but this time, when she visits California for Christmas, there is a lovely surprise for her in the form of Caleb. Sierra was an absolutely well developed, sensible and very likeable character who I adored. Just like her, Caleb was a gem too, and their story was so dazzling that I ended up falling in love with it.

This book is so different from Jay Asher's previous book that it almost feels like it's not the same author who has written it. The writing, not very surprisingly, was smooth and clear. I was actually in awe of the slow burn romance that Jay Asher so brilliantly nailed. I really don't have much else to say, other than the fact that I highly, highly recommend this book to fans of Young Adult/ New Adult contemporary romances.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

An Abundance of Katherines on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life.

Release date: May 10th 2012

Published by: Penguin Books Ltd

Page numbers: 213

REVIEW: 

After having read The Fault in Our Stars, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines was the only unread John Green book on my shelf. So one day, when I was in a John Green mood (meaning I wanted to read something brilliant), I decided to pick it up and not so surprisingly, the book turned out to be super brilliant. There's just something so magical and addictive about John Green's writing and story-telling that it is both hard to put the book down and to finish it.

An Abundance of Katherines follows the story of child prodigy Colin Singleton, who after having dated not one not two, but nineteen Katherines, is working on a theorem to help prove the longevity of a relationship based on a Dumper- Dumpee approach. Now all the math love aside (which is just incomprehensible gibberish to my brain), everything about Colin made me love him. He was like most of John Green 's characters- simple, ordinary, relatable but self-centred and way too intellectually developed and enlightened for his age, who is just trying to figure himself and the world out.

Colin, along with his friend Hassan, goes on a road trip where he encounters Lindsey Lee Wells while stopping to see the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Now Hassan and Lindsey were characters that I instantly liked because of how cool they were. Hassan was probably the funniest and most adorable character John Green has written, while Lindsey was a nice and smart girl who was the most relatable as well. Colin and Hassan decide to spend the summer at Gutshot, Tennessee when Hollis, Lindsey's mother, offers them work.

A story well told and extremely well made, An Abundance of Katherines is told in the third person point of view and has a mix of both the present and Colin's past with his many Katherines. If I were fond of or even the least bit interested in math, I would've loved the whole theorem inserted very cleverly and neatly in the book; but because I'm not, it didn't really matter to me. Which brings me to the most important point: in spite of all that, the book still managed to be fun for me, because it had so much else going on which was done in a lovely manner.

If, like me, you have read a couple of John Green books, keep in mind that this is a very John Green book, so if you, like me, have liked the rest, you're bound to like this one as well.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowksi and Lauren Myracle

How to Be Bad on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Three bestselling authors--E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle--bring you on the road trip of a lifetime in this dynamic novel packed with fun, friendship, and feminism.

Jesse, Vicks, and Mel each has her own reason for wanting to get away from their nowheresville Florida town. Add in a hot (and harmless) hitchhiker, an impending hurricane, and a close encounter of the gator kind, and the result is one sizzling road trip where the journey is far more important than the destination. Now in a fresh new package, How to Be Bad will take even more readers along for the ride. 

Release date: April 28th 2015

Published by: HarperTeen

Page numbers: 352

REVIEW: 

I was gifted a copy of How to Be Bad by my family, and somehow, whenever I saw that it was written by not one, not two, but three authors, I thought it was a collection of three short stories. When I finally decided to read the book in the hopes that it would break my very long and very boring reading slump (which it did, by the way), I realised that it is a road trip book written in three points of views, and my God, what a fun book it is!

How to be Bad is the story of three young girls who work at the Waffle House and are each facing their own problems, when one day Jesse convinces her friend Vicks to go on a weekend road trip to Miami and somehow new girl Mel becomes a part of the gang as well. Over the course of the book and everything the girls went through, I found myself growing fond of them, and both admiring and appreciating them because they are so real, raw and relatable.

The three girls were so different from each other, and somewhere, that is what made the book so fun to read. On the one hand, we have Jesse and Vicks, who have been close friends and even though they are the complete opposites, they complete each other in a certain way. Then we have Mel, who I thought was most relatable, and she just adds that extra something to not just the entire road trip, but to the lives of Jesse and Vicks.

There's so much that happens in this book over the course of one weekend during the road trip that it's hard to summarise everything. The authors E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle have written a spectacular book with a very fun yet moving and touching story. I've previously read E. Lockhart's We Were Liars, which was a very unique and heart-warming read and Sarah Mlynowski's Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) which again, I loved. So only Lauren Myracle was new to me, but man, was I impressed with the way this book was written!

All I will say is that How to Be Bad is a lovely coming of age story that is done so brilliantly. Coming of age stories are always a hit, and this one is no exception. I am in complete awe of this stunning and engrossing read that has so much to offer and teach, that has nothing to do with being bad, but learning how to accept both sides and live with it. I read this book over a weekend, and I had a great time doing it, so I would highly, highly recommend it, especially to fans of young adult contemporaries.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- All Signs Lead Back to You by Aniesha Brahma

All Signs Lead Back to You on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

2013.
As the final bell for the day rang on their last day in school, Diya Rai, had a chill run down her spine. The chill of not knowing what the future holds for her and her high school sweetheart, Ashwin Chowdhury.
So she does a preemptive strike.
She dumps him before he can hurt her.

2015.
Two years later, Ashwin and Diya, cross paths. Each holds grudges, feelings and only one half of the story that completes them.
Told from alternating points of view, through a non-linear timeline, this is the story about first love, second chances and ALL the SIGNS THAT LEAD BACK TO YOU.

Release date: November 18th 2016

Published by: BEE Books

Page numbers: 131 

REVIEW: 

After reading and thoroughly enjoying When Our Worlds Collide, I was waiting for and really excited to read another Aniesha Brahma book. So when I heard of All Signs Lead Back to You, I knew I had to read it. While it wasn't as good as When Our Worlds Collide, I still enjoyed reading All Signs Lead Back to You, which was a cute read with a beautiful ending.

All Signs Lead Back to You is the story of high school sweethearts Diya and Ashwin, who are the exact opposites and make for a perfect pair. Diya is the storm to Ashwin's calm. Ashwin was an absolute gentleman for his character was very kind, gentle and understanding. Diya was the kind of character who loves to light a fire, but doesn't quite know how to put it off. I find it difficult to like such characters, but in some way, Diya managed to make a place in my heart, because sometimes- and I really mean, very, very few times- she reminded me at little of myself.

There were parts of the Diya Ashwin story that I really liked, like how they connect over books and can sit talking about them like they're real. That was very relatable and extremely adorable. What I didn't quite like was the sometimes very unnecessary drama that they created, but when I really think about it, they are so young and they've so much to learn, so all is fair and forgiven.

All Signs Lead Back to You was a very cute read that had its ups and downs, but was a very entertaining and enjoyable read overall. The characters were well thought of and portrayed. I could easily ignore the many typos because Aniesha Brahma's simple and lovely writing made the story very easy to understand and follow. Like I said before, I didn't like this one as much as When Our Worlds Collide, but I would still recommend All Signs Lead Back to You because it's a short, simple and sweet read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by author Aniesha Brahma and  DDS @ B00k R3vi3ws in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe on Goodreads

Hi, everyone! As this book is LGBT, I'm putting it under The Literary Others: An LGBT Reading Event, hosted by the lovely Adam @ Roof Beam Reader. 

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Release date: February 21st 2012

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

Page numbers: 359

REVIEW: 

I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe as part of The Literary Others: An LGBT Reading Event 2016, hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader. I'm so glad I saved this book for last, because it ended up being an absolutely incredible read that I devoured thoroughly. In spite of me being in my twenties and Aristotle and Dante being teens, I could relate to them so well that they now seem more like my friends than characters in a book.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe goes from Aristotle's point of view and his voice was both deep and innocent at the same time. Author Benjamin Alire Saenz's writing is so unique, poetic and velvety in the sense that it was so smooth and simple. I adore short chapters and small sentences because I feel those are the most difficult to write and magical to experience and easy to understand, which is why I loved the writing in this one.

Aristotle was an adorable boy, who reminded me of myself far more than I care to admit. He just seemed so real and raw that I couldn't help but go back to myself a few years ago and remember feeling the same. He was confused, damaged, lost, angry, kind and decent, and these qualities are so real and they made me love him so much. When he meets Dante, his life is turned completely and it makes him more acceptable of himself.

Speaking of Dante, he seemed too unreal to be true, but he was such a unique and one in a million type of guy. Dante, unlike Aristotle, always seemed sure of himself, but deep down there, there lay a lovely boy who wanted nothing but happiness for himself and others and who kept trying. Dante is one of those characters that stay with you forever because of his individualism. Even though I loved Ari more, it was difficult not to appreciate, accept and adore Dante.

Overall, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was an incredible read about two boys who could very well be you and I for they are so real and true. Not only did I love reading the book, but I also had a lovely experience doing it because it was truly unputdownable because of the catchy writing and capturing storytelling. An absolutely magical read, this book demands to be read for its way too adorable to be missed.

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- When We Collided by Emery Lord

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Meet Vivi and Jonah: A girl and a boy whose love has the power save or destroy them.

Vivi and Jonah couldn't be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi's zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there's something important Vivi hasn't told him.

Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Jandy Nelson, When We Collided is a powerful story of two teens whose love is put to the test by forces beyond their control.

Release date: April 7th 2016

Published by: Bloomsbury Children's

Page numbers: 344

REVIEW: 

When We Collided is another book I received in the Bloomsbury Bundle giveaway that I won on Instagram. Most of my fellow bloggers and reading buddies who took part in the contest were supremely excited for this particular book. That made me curious, yes, but seeing as I don't read summaries because I like my books to surprise me, I had no idea what was in store for me when I finally decided to give When We Collided a go. I now understand why so many people wanted to read it so bad. This book- to put it simply- is beautiful. 

The book goes from alternating female and male protagonist points of view. So on the one hand we have the chirpy, cute but sometimes totally unbelievable for her age and very reckless voice of Vivi, our female protagonist. Now Vivi was somewhere between the same old YA girl and a very fresh and new character. While she was extremely unique and beautiful in her uniqueness and while I did get the fact that things were difficult for her, I did feel that she was careless and reckless sometimes; which is neither a turn on nor a turn off, but it's just stupid sometimes. 

Nonetheless, Vivi's character brought so much of colour to the rather black world of our male protagonist, Jonah. A complete contrast to Vivi, on the other hand, Jonah was a responsible and sensible seventeen year old, but it is his situation that has made him that way. He was mature enough to understand the priorities that came his way, rather than focus on creating them. I found him to be extremely adorable, sweet, kind and beautiful. Jonah's family played a very important role in the book, because it just as much about them, as it is about Vivi and him. His family was probably the best part about the book. 

Together, Jonah and Vivi painted this beautiful picture of contrasts. A book that started out as adorable and cute, When We Collided went on to become beautiful and shattering. And it is this transition that made reading the story so amazing. Add to that author Emery Lord's crisp and wonderful writing and storytelling. This book made me laugh and cry, and it was beautiful in every way. It's one of those books that help you realise that irrespective of all the struggles people go through, they are kind, and sometimes, that's really all that you need to know. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz

Not Otherwise Specified on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Etta is tired of dealing with all of the labels and categories that seem so important to everyone else in her small Nebraska hometown.

Everywhere she turns, someone feels she's too fringe for the fringe. Not gay enough for the Dykes, her ex-clique, thanks to a recent relationship with a boy; not tiny and white enough for ballet, her first passion; and not sick enough to look anorexic (partially thanks to recovery). Etta doesn’t fit anywhere— until she meets Bianca, the straight, white, Christian, and seriously sick girl in Etta’s therapy group. Both girls are auditioning for Brentwood, a prestigious New York theater academy that is so not Nebraska. Bianca seems like Etta’s salvation, but how can Etta be saved by a girl who needs saving herself?

The latest powerful, original novel from Hannah Moskowitz is the story about living in and outside communities and stereotypes, and defining your own identity. 

BOOK COVER:

Release date: March 3rd 2015

Published by: Simon Pulse

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW:

I had initially read Hannah Moskowitz's Gone, Gone, Gone, and it was a pretty good book that I still remember sometimes, mainly because the two main characters were very well portrayed, making them unforgettable. The same stands true for Not Otherwise Specified, because even though the story was good, the characterisation was even better. I don't know how she does it, but Hannah creates and writes about characters that stay with you, and that, I feel is very beautiful. 

Not Otherwise Specified is the story of Etta from Nebraska who dreams of going to New York or basically anywhere that's not Nebraska. She is a girl with some issues and that makes her real and hence, relatable. She is always herself, although she is trying to figure out exactly who that is. And that is what makes the book a true coming of age story, because in spite of all the important things going on and the important characters standing out, this book is about figuring out oneself while trying to not break down even when it seems like the easy way out. 

Like I mentioned before, the side characters in the book stood out really well, as well. So while Etta is the protagonist, her story itself is shaped by everything that goes on around her and everyone around her. Each secondary character moulds themselves perfectly to fit into Etta's story and for that again, I must commend Hannah's beautiful characterisation which really makes the reader feel belonged. 

Overall, while are some bits of Not Otherwise Specified that I didn't necessarily like or even understand at sometime, it was still a really different, enjoyable and very good read that I would recommend to fans of young adult LGBT stories that take up the whole coming of age theme. 

Buy the book: AMAZON