The Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares

Memorial weekend found me browsing the aisles of the Goodwill for some good finds. While, I didn't score in the furniture area... I was lucky to find a great beach read...
Ann Brashares (Author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) brings to life a perfect summer novel set in a quaint island. Two sisters in their twenties, Riley and Alice spend every summer at their parent's beach house. The story also introduces Paul, a close family friend to both girls who grows up in the same town. After three years he returns to the island, but his return marks a season of change, unspoken feelings, tragedy and deep secrets that will mix into this trio's adulthood. Alice and Paul begin a deep felt romance without letting Riley in on their secret. One day, their happiness ends when tragedy strikes the sisters and the story becomes very bittersweet. This is a great book  for fans of Brashares and the author Emily Giffin. I think a lot of older teens who have just finished high school would enjoy this as a summer read.

New books for summer!

My wonderful niece shared a link to cool YA books for summer. Take a look here readers!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2013/05/22/young-adult-summer/2352925/

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

I am going to post an unusual review by stating first that this is an awesome book. Ockler brings to her readers a delightful romance novel with a few twists. Hudson's world come to a towering turn when she finds out that her parent's are headed for divorce. Her life as an aspiring ice skater is no longer a priority, and she dives into helping out at her mom's diner creating delicious cupcakes. Although, Hudson enjoys baking she is pulled back into her natural world of ice skating and struggles with her future. While practicing at the outdoor lake, Hudson befriends a handsome hockey player who decides to make a deal with her. Things get interesting, when Josh sends Hudson mixed signals. As life begins to pull her in different directions; an ice skating scholarship opportunity, baking, friendships from the past, and family priorites... Hudson has to make a decision about who she really is and what she really wants. A must read for chick-lit fans! I was literally talking to Hudson outloud as I read.

Rocky Road by Rose Kent

Summer is almost here! With that said, I have been working through some chocolate themed books for our upcoming summer reading program. This year's theme is "Reading is So Delicious." Who would have known that there are so many tasty books with great food themes?
Rocky Road by Rose Kent, is a delightful read that deals with bi-polar disorder, being deaf, and learning how to pick yourself up time and time again.
Our heroine in the story is young Tess, who has just moved from Texas to Schenectady, New York with her mom and brother. Her mom's get rich quick schemes are always putting the family in hot water and Tess is tired of picking up the pieces. When her mom decides to open up an ice cream parlor, in a lonely part of town, Tess is reluctant and uneasy. Can the  family pull it together with helpful neighbors and a lot of hard work?  Find out in this great read by Rose Kent.This middle school delight will have you thinking about ice-cream, family, and friendship from beginning till end.

Vampirates-Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper

Spring is here and I have jumped into a bit of warm weather reading, pirate style... arghhh! Although this is not my normal cup of tea, I really enjoyed this adventurous read! Somper's writing style is very similar to Rick Riordan... so fans of the Lightning Thief will probably enjoy these great books as well. Two twin orphans, Connor and Grace  head out to sea in order to avoid an undesirable fate. A severe storm splits them apart and Connor ends up on a vast pirate ship while Grace gets caught up in what appears to be the old vampirate ship her father sang about in an old shanty. Will the two twins ever meet up again? Will they survive the fate of the seas or be doomed to live alone?  

The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad

I am slowly moving through Lauren Conrad's first book in her next series The Fame Game. It is similar to L.A Candy with Madison's perspective at the forefront.
So far... I am being introduced to the new characters and getting an inside perspective(fictional look or realistic view from a pro?) at what it is like to be a reality star. Once again, Conrad adds insight to the world of reality TV where things are not always what they seem to be. In this series, readers are introduced to an aspiring naive songwriter and artist; a young Hollywood starlet who is actually down to earth;and Madison's scheming sister who always has a few surprises up her sleeve. Will Madison still be able to own the spotlight, or will her two co-stars overshadow her presence? Read Lauren's new series to find out!

P.S I also added a pic of Lauren with this month's post, since yes... I am a fan! Love the pink tint LC :)

The Girls by Koss

Happy New Year fellow readers! Here's to 2013!
This month, at the Library, we created an anti-bully display for young readers featuring books and booklists to stomp out bullying. In doing so, I came across a great title "The Girls" by Koss. It takes an in-depth look on the social pressure of bullying and how it can unravel. Although, bullying is not a new trend... social pressures of family and belonging are different in today's day and age. This book puts a great spin on things and explains the cycle in a realistic fashion.

Each chapter features a different girl's point of view from Candace the leader of the group to Maya the girl who has been treated like an outcast. I hope this book helps teens realize what part of the cycle they play... even if they are simply an outsider.

Break My Heart a Thousand Times and Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes

Hello fellow readers-

This month I am working on two books. Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters and "Sweet Treats and Secret Crushes" by Greenwald. More to come as I finish up reading.

My September Update

Ahhh! Back to school...is here. I truly miss the sound of middle school feet and energetic voices. With that said, I have been diving into a few reads at once that are geared towards Middle School gals.

 I try not to double dip, but sometimes it happens.

The fun fiction I am working on is pictured within this post, and perhaps you will be able to finish off these books before me!

 Prada and Prejudice is about a not so cool chick that goes back in time with a pair of Prada shoes she picks up on a trip to Rome. Coffeehouse Angel is an easy read about a young girl struggling to help her grandma save their family owned coffeeshop. With the help of a guardian angel, Katrina hopes to save the day and keep her friendships in tact. Keep your eyes open for updates as I finish off these books.

Both great reads for older middle school gals!

The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenny Glatzer

I came across this book in both my search for books that are Lifetime Movies, and a box of donations at work. I have not had the chance to watch the televised version of this story, but the book drew me in simply with its title and idea.
Gaby Rodriguez is a high school teen in the state of Washington who can easily become a statistic. Her family has a history and lineage of teen moms. Her own mother had her first child at the young age of fifteen. All her life, Gaby has been told that she too would become a young parent despite her scholarly reputation and the high goals she has already set for herself. She decides to test out the waters by putting herself in the shoes of what it feels like to truly be a teen mom. Will the rumors around campus spread quickly and become unbearable? What friends and family members will truly stick by her? Even though she is a honor student, will a pregnancy tarnish her reputation and her future? What exactly causes a teen father to bail on his girlfriend when she is pregnant other than the normal fear and anxiety patterns?As a senior project, she creates a fake "belly" and pretends that she is pregnant. She learns firsthand the severity of all this pressure. This book is the story of her journey.

I thought this book was a great eye opener to any woman, especially teens who can relate to this issue; either by becoming a teen mom themselves, have friends that are; or are pressured by the realities of sex. Gaby takes us on a journey of what it is like emotionally, spiritually, and has researched a bit of the physical side of pregnancy as well. Although some of the book comes across as "preachy" it is a powerful story that is sure to leave an impact on teen readers.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Corrinne is a true to life New Yorker who enjoys spending time shopping at Barney's and attending social events with her best friend Waverly. Any GossipGirl fan will surely enjoy the beginning of the book and Corrinne's obsession with New York. All that changes when her father is hit hard by the recession and she needs to become a recessionista quickly by moving to the town of Broken Spoke with her grandparents.
At first, I thought this read would be a run of the mill Prada to Nada story, but I was mistaken. Corrinne manages to create a new life in Broken Spoke, Texas while still remaining the spunky girl from New York that we met at the beginning of the book. With the help of friends like Kitsy and Bubby, Corrinne finds new ways of coping and "going with the flow." Her new love interest Rider keeps things interesting and helps Corinne forget about moping around at home watching GossipGirl reruns and gets her out into the Texas social world of rodeos and football games. She manages to keep it together even when her New York life ( and her NY bestie Waverly) comes to town to challenge her true self.
A great summer read that helps you make the best of things even when the chips are down.