ARC Review: The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

Blurb

There is a secret organization that cultivates teenage spies. The agents are called Love Interests because getting close to people destined for great power means getting valuable secrets.

Caden is a Nice: The boy next door, sculpted to physical perfection. Dylan is a Bad: The brooding, dark-souled guy, and dangerously handsome. The girl they are competing for is important to the organization, and each boy will pursue her. Will she choose a Nice or the Bad?

Both Caden and Dylan are living in the outside world for the first time. They are well-trained and at the top of their games. They have to be – whoever the girl doesn’t choose will die.

What the boys don’t expect are feelings that are outside of their training. Feelings that could kill them both.

Sourced from Goodreads

Review

My rating:

Hello, everybody! I’ve just recently finished The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich and I really wanted to share my thoughts on this book! Even though I really liked the idea behind the book, structuring life based on story structures and tropes, but when it came down to it, I just couldn’t get as invested in it as I wanted to.

There were some things that I liked about this book other than the premise, like that fast-paced ending. That held me in suspense until the novel was over! I also enjoyed the beginning of the novel, getting to learn about the backgrounds of the Love Interests as well as the corporation they work for, how they were trained and whatnot. The background story is pretty interesting (no pun intended), and it made me want to know more about the corporation that employs them. Too bad their history is basically shrouded in mystery…

However, I did have some problems with The Love Interest, like in how the Chosen, Juliet, was treated. I couldn’t relate to her at all. I know that might have been the point, so that readers relate to the love interests more than the supposed protagonist. But it got to the point where I knew she was a person with her own feelings, but never really got to express them. In some cases, she became the scapegoat for the boys’ problems. Like she was the one who had the intention of killing them and not the company they work for… But even her best friend was more interesting than Juliet, and she was a secondary character as well…

Then there was my issue with the perspectives. While it was nice to see things from the view of the Nice Love Interest, Caden, it would have been even cooler to hear from Dylan, the Bad Love Interest. It’s not that Caden’s POV was too boring or anything; it just would have been nice to see how their perspectives complimented each other, in my opinion…

Well, that’s all I have to say about The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich. I loved the premise of the novel; I just didn’t fully enjoy the execution of it. I’m sure that anyone who likes a satirization of tropes will like to get into this novel, though! The Love Interest comes out on May 16th, 2017, for those of you who are interested! If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free free to leave them in the Comments Section below. Take care! And keep reading! 😉

–  Sumaya

I received an advance reader’s copy from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.

Book Bargain: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to let you know that Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is on sale for $2.99 (eBook) and you can find it on Amazon, Kobo and iBooks! If you haven’t gotten a chance to read the book before, now would be a great time to do so! 😉 Have a nice day!

–  Sumaya

Down the TBR Hole 6

Hi, everybody! You might have noticed, but every Sunday, I participate in the meme  Down the TBR Hole post, hosted by Lia @ Lost in a Story. This meme is dedicated to uncluttering your TBR pile, going through each book and choosing which one should stay or go. Slowly, but steadily, my TBR pile has decreased from what it used to be and I have a feeling that if I keep on doing this meme, it might actually be manageable! 😮 Anyways, here are the books I’m considering this week:

1. Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

To be honest, I thought I wanted to read this at first, especially because of the author. But I don’t want to base my interest in the novel sole because I liked an author’s previous books anymore. It should be because of the genre and subject matter of the book, and since I don’t really have a love of reading books with carnivals in them, this book has got to go!

The verdict: Go

2. Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas

I actually tried to read this book once, but I couldn’t get past the few pages and put it aside to pursue other books. Now that I think about it, though, I won’t be trying to get back into it anytime soon…

The verdict: Go

3. Auralict by Maggie L. Wood

If  I was making this decision a few years ago, then I would obviously keep this book on my TBR since I loved the first two books. But now, I can’t remember a single thing that happened in the books that made me love it.

The verdict: Go

4. The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

Definitely a go, mainly because of the love triangle. It’s just something I can’t get behind anymore…

The verdict: Go

5. Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

This one’s going off my TBR pile as well. While I really like the idea of prom-related novels, after rereading the premise, I don’t think I’d be interested in reading this book at the moment..

The verdict: Go

Well, today’s Down the TBR Hole has significantly cut down my TBR pile… I can’t believe I got rid of all of them! Oh well! How about you? Are there any books on your TBR pile that you’ve given up recently? I’d love to hear about it in the Comments Section below. Thanks for reading!

–  Sumaya

Review: Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Blurb

You probably think that Aled Last and I are going to fall in love or something. Since he is a boy and I am a girl.

I just wanted to say—we don’t.

Frances Janvier spends most of her time studying. When she’s not studying, she’s up in her room making fan art for her favorite podcast, Universe City.

Everyone knows Aled Last as that quiet boy who gets straight As. But no one knows he’s the creator of Universe City, who goes by the name Radio Silence.

When Frances gets a message from Radio Silence asking if she’ll collaborate with him, everything changes. Frances and Aled spend an entire summer working together and becoming best friends. They get each other when no one else does.

But when Aled’s identity as Radio Silence is revealed, Frances fears that the future of Universe City—and their friendship—is at risk. Aled helped her find her voice. Without him, will she have the courage to show the world who she really is? Or will she be met with radio silence?

Sourced from Goodreads

Review

My rating:

Hello, wonderful readers! Another day, another review, and this one is on Radio Silence by Alice Oseman. For the most part, I really liked it! There were a few small parts I had to skim through, either because I really wanted to know what happened at the end, or they were just too awkward to read, like the interview scene… But other than that, I enjoyed reading this book.

I really liked the writing style of the novel. It kept you on your toes, always second guessing yourself on what might happen or has already happened. It goes back and forth chronologically, but it works. Kind of like a jigsaw puzzle, Radio Silence forces you to question how all the pieces fit together in order to see the bigger picture. Honestly, that’s mainly the reason I read a 496 page book in about a day… 😉

Then there was the idea of  University City! I always love seeing fandoms being built into books and this was no exception! It’s great to read about all the creative energy that goes into University City as well as the creative energy that comes pouring out, like Frances’ fan art. It made me wish that there was even more representation of fandom creativity in the book, or at least more of Frances’ work…

But most of all, I loved Frances and Aled’s friendship! There was no pressure, no tension, no “will they, won’t they?” vibes going on from them. Right from the getgo, we’re told that they don’t fall in love, which is a pretty great way to set up their relationship early on. But I do believe that they love each other, just not in that way. I also really like how they are like two peas in a pod. Instead of that weird and awkward feeling they get with other people, Frances and Aled find their person within one another! Overall, it was just so refreshing to see a girl and a boy be friends and not end up together!

While there’s so much else I’d like to say about Radio Silence, I feel like I’m getting close to spoiler territory, so I won’t say anymore! Radio Silence is perfect for fans of This Song Will Save Your Life as well as anyone who likes a good contemporary about fandoms! If you have any comments or questions related to Radio Silence, feel free to leave them in the section below. Have a nice day, everyone!

–  Sumaya

Book Bargain: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider!

Hey, everyone! Just wanted to let you know that on Amazon Kindle, The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider is on sale for $1.99! I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good contemporary!😉I just adored this book as well as Robyn Schneider’s other contemporary novel, Extraordinary Means! 😊

Which Cover Wednesday 62

Hello, everybody! Welcome back to another Which Cover Wednesday! For those of you who don’t know, Which Cover Wednesday is a weekly meme I host. What happens is that I compare two different covers of a book and give my opinion of which cover looks better. And you can join in on the fun as well! Just leave your thoughts about these wonderful covers in the Comments Section! Anyways, let’s begin! 😁

1.  Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

 or 

This one’s a toughie… I love the orangey clouds of the first cover, but I really like the typography of the second. And then there’s the fact that the covers give off different vibes; One looks more like a romance novel, while the other looks like a fantasy  novel…  I guess if I had to choose, I’d go with the second one, mainly because of the typography, but also because it looks a bit more fantastical with the lighting surrounding the model holding a sword!

2. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

 or 

This one’s an easy choice for me! I’d go with the first one. It’s mainly because the second one looks really generic, reminding me of those free eBook classics. The first one has a bit more work put into it. Plus, I really like that dress! 😍

3. Solitaire by Alice Oseman

 or 

First cover again! I like how this cover fills its space compared to the second one. And while these covers are similar to each other, the second one is more word-heavy, which appeal to me as much as the first one does…

4. Oh My Gods by Tera Lynn Childs

 or 

This round goes to… the second cover! I like how it relates to the story more than the first cover, which seems a bit more random with the statue and its relation to the story.. is it about art, history, running? The second cover hints more at the story in comparison. Then, there’s also the fact that I like the placement of the author’s name in the second cover more than the first…

Well, that’s it for this week’s Which Cover Wednesday! Were there any covers that struck your fancy? Let me know which one is your favourite (if you have one)!  And if you have any other thoughts or questions about these covers, or suggestions for next week’s Which Cover Wednesday, feel free to leave them in the Comments Section below. Thanks for reading, everyone!

–  Sumaya

ARC Review: Paper Hearts by Ali Novak

Blurb

Felicity has her entire future planned. Ever since her older sister ran away, she’s had the full weight of her mother’s expectations on her shoulders. So she works hard to get straight As and save for college.

Except sometimes the best things in life are unplanned-like when Felicity meets a handsome, masked stranger while she is volunteering at a charity masquerade ball. She never thought he’d flirt with her. And she certainly never thought he’d turn out to be a member of the world-famous Heartbreakers band, Alec.

Then Felicity uncovers a shocking family secret. Suddenly, she, Alec, and her two best friends are off on a road trip to find Felicity’s missing sister. And she’s about to discover that unexpected turns have a peculiar way of landing her right where she needs to be…

Sourced from Goodreads 

Review

My rating: 

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hello there! It’s time for another review, this one being on Paper Hearts, the second book in The Heartbreakers Chronicles, by Ali Novak! When I first heard about this book on NetGalley, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! After all, I did read The Heartbreakers and loved it so much! I honestly thought Paper Hearts would pull my heartstrings in the same way… but it failed to have the same effects as its predecessor.

Don’t get me wrong! There were times when I seriously loved the book, like when it would go into Felicity and Rose’s relationship. I really liked the emotional and physical journey Felicity went through to understand her sister’s point of view. It was something she needed to do in order to move on with her life and not be so stuck, for lack of a better term. While the healing process in Felicity’s family is far from over, by the end of the book, you could tell that there is some effort to make amends, which sounds really promising!

Instead, it’s the romance that takes centre stage in this story. While I understand that the romance was meant to be a main part of the novel, it didn’t stop me from almost zoning out at times when all these misunderstandings would happen between Felicity and Alec. It also didn’t help that I kept comparing them to Oliver and Stella, who were so much more interesting to read in the first book! Or maybe it was the fact that while Felicity and Alec as a couple were okay, they didn’t make me want to happy dance or root for them…

As for the plot itself, it was really interesting at first, but then slowed down in the middle to the point where a whole evening took multiple chapters… I know that there was probably a point to what seemed like a huge filler, but I just couldn’t get on board with it, wanting to know what happens afterward.

Well, that’s all I have to say about Paper Hearts by Ali Novak! It wasn’t as good as the first book for me, but I’m sure anyone who loves a slightly lighthearted contemporary will like this book! For anyone who is interested, Paper Hearts comes out on July 1st, 2017. If you have any thoughts or questions about this book, feel free to share them in the Comments Section below. Have a wonderful day!

–  Sumaya

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2

Hey, everyone! It’s Monday again, which means I’m back with another “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” post, hosted by Kathryn @ Book Date. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet my weekly goals last week since True Born took so long to read. That’s probably why I’m a little less ambitious for my reading list this week… Hopefully it works out well! 🙂

What I Read Last Week: 

 

What I’m Currently Reading: 

What I’m Planning to Read Next: 

 

Well, that’s all I’m planning to read for now! I’m especially excited for Radio Silence and hope to read it soon! 😉 What are you reading this week? Is it any interesting? Let me know in the Comments Section below! And thanks for reading!

–  Sumaya

Down the TBR Hole 5

Hello again! It’s time for another round of Down the TBR Hole, which is hosted by Lia @ Lost in a Story! This meme is dedicated to uncluttering your TBR pile, going through each book and choosing which one should stay or go. So… let’s get this started!

The books:

1. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

I really want to continue this series! I remember reading the first book and just loving it! I just never got around to continuing the series… But I’m definitely keeping this book on my shelf for the future! 😉

The verdict: Keep

2. A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston

I don’t think I’m going read this book anytime soon, mainly because I got my 1001 Nights fix from The Wrath and the Dawn… 😉

The verdict: Go

3. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

I mainly added this book to my TBR pile because it’s by Rae Carson. However, since I haven’t read The Crown of Embers yet, I’m going to hold off reading this book, at least until I finish the author’s previous series (whenever that’ll be… 😀 )

The verdict: Go

4. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

This one is definitely going… I’ve already read two books by the author and didn’t really like them, so I’m going to take a break from her books until I’m in the mood for them…

The verdict: Go

5. The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

I liked the first book a lot! It was just so long that I really wanted to read other books before going back to it. But I will eventually!

The verdict: Keep

Well, that’s it for this week’s Down the TBR Hole! Any of these books on your TBR pile or have you already read them?By the way, I’d love to hear any thoughts you have about any of the books in this week’s post! Have a nice day! 🙂

–  Sumaya