Lucky, Lucky, Lucky

Nicholas Sparks is known for making girls' standards for boyfriends insanely high. I mean, there's "The Notebook", "Dear John", and "The Last Song"...Spark's most popular books turned into movies.

On April 20th, girls everywhere got another love story from Nicholas Sparks in the form of his seventh book turned movie, "The Lucky One", starring Zac Efron.

The book was published in 2008 and has been in the hearts of people ever since.

Sparks writes another war/solider story, aside from Dear John. The novel surrounds Logan, a US Marine who while fighting in Iraq, finds a picture of a beautiful, young woman in the sand, with combat going on around him.

On the back of the photograph, the words "Keep Safe" are written.

After escaping death a few times while he held possession of the picture, Logan believes that this photograph is a good luck charm. He believes that there is a reason he has found it and that it is meant to protect him.

He feels this longing connection to the woman and wants to thank her for keeping him safe.

Logan travels across the country to find this woman and with some luck, finds her in North Carolina.

The book deals with the relationship that blooms with Logan and Elizabeth, the woman in the picture, and how he keeps the secret from her.

The book's message is about fate and destiny, which I love. It shows that there is a purpose for everything that happens in life, there is a deeper meaning for all that occurs.

In true Sparks fashion, the book is filled with trials and tribulations of their growing relationship and relationships that are already established, between Elizabeth and her son, her ex husband, and her mother.

Also, there are twists and turns, things you couldn't see coming from a mile away, sub plots and endings that were so shocking and sad that you couldn't help but shed a tear.

This is another remarkable love story from Nicholas Sparks. He never fails to amaze and even though some parts are cheesy and unrealistic, it gives readers a chance to escape and fantasize about their own love story.

Books to Ban

The purpose of this blog is to review and give my opinions on the latest Young Adult Novels but this  week, something has happened in the YA world that I want to talk about.

This week, the American Library Association released it'slist of the top 10 YA and children's books that parents and adults feel should be banned. They feel that some of the books contain content that is far too racy or mature for young people to be reading.

Some of the books that are on the list have been extremely successful and it's surprising to me that the ALA would want to ban a book that has grossed an enormous amount of money.

For example, The Hunger Games is number three on the banned list because it's "anti family, satanic, and violent". I've read the books and seen the movie...in my opinion there is nothing anti family or satanic about it. Yes, it's violent but it's a book.

"What My Mother Doesn't Know" is ninth on the list, which  surprised me. I read this book a few years ago and found truly nothing wrong with it. It's a coming of age novel, written in letter or verse form, and from what I remember, really has nothing explicit about it from what I remember.

The "Gossip Girl" series is 10th on the banned list, right before "To Kill a Mockingbird". I've read all the Gossip Girl books and yes, they are racy and explicit; there are drugs and alcohol but once again, these are young adult books. The people who read these books are looking for entertainment or escape, not to model their lives after the characters in the books.

The Number 1 book on the list?

It's a series written by Lauren Myracle called "The Internet Girl"- Series", "TTYL", "TTFN", "L8R, G8R".

I never read the series but I've heard of it and I was very shocked when I saw that these were the books that adults want to prevent kids from reading. The books revolve around three teenage girls and instead of a regular novel, they are written in text message form, depicting the text messages between the three girls.

According to the article, the reason it's banned is because of the way the author shows experiments with drug, sex, and alcohol.

The author, Lauren Myracle, did an interview with "The Daily Beast" and explained her viewpoint on the the ban.

She said, "I understand why parents worry about books—they’re worried about their kids. They want to keep their kids safe. But parents aren’t always realistic." 

In the last year or so, critics have been very censorious of YA novels, saying that they have made a bad turn and are too dark. 


An article for the Wall Street Journal written by Meghan Cox Gurdon said just that. "Darker than when you were a child, my dear: So dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18."

I strongly disagree with this and everything in the article. Yes, the YA section of book stores have a darkness over them but this is what teens today are responding to. There is more bullying in the past few years than there ever has been and if a book about bullying or suicide could help teens get past their own dark time, then why shouldn't they be able to read it?


All teenagers have their own problems; these authors are not writing about anything that isn't uncommon. A teenager somewhere in the world is dealing with sexuality issues, sexual, physical or emotional abuse, and bullying. These writers write these books to help kids, to give them a little hope, a little light at the end of the tunnel.


When you want to ban a book that could save someone's life or comfort someone in a time of desperate need, I think it's just plain wrong.


No book should ever be banned. Reading is for the world and everyone has a right to read and to write what they want. No one should be able to say "this is too racy, this is not appropriate for you to be reading". 


Unless a six year old is reading something that is 100% way too racy or inappropriate, there is no need to tell a 17 year old girl she can't read The Hunger Games.


I will read what I want and I will be pissed if someone tells me otherwise. 

No Faulted Stars Here

As I have mentioned here before, John Green is one of the best Young Adult writers of our generation. He writes raw stories. He never holds anything back.

I've read two of his books, which have blown me away, "Looking for Alaska" and "Paper Towns".

When I heard that Green was going to publish another book, I was completely ecstatic.

The Fault In Our Stars was published January 10th and has been getting rave reviews since then.

The fact that so many people enjoyed the book raised my expectations even higher before I started to read this gem of a YA novel.

Mary Quattlebaum from The Washington Post had this to say about the novel, "John Green deftly mixes the profound and the quotidian in this tough, touching valentine to the human spirit."

TFIOS was an extremely easy read, it flowed perfectly and in my opinion, there was not one single flaw in the entire book.

It centers around Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16 year old girl who has been living with cancer for most of her life. She walks around with an oxygen tank hooked up to her, at all times, because without it she can barely breathe.

She accepts the fact that she is cancer ridden and that she will eventually die; her parents are hoverers, constantly in her face and making sure she's okay. This gets on Hazel's nerves and she just wants her parents to get a life.

They force her to attend a cancer support group that helps kids, ages 12-18, deal with their illness.

One dreaded day, when Hazel really doesn't want to go to support group, her mother forces her to go and Hazel Grace's life is changed forever and ever.

In the Literal Heart of Jesus Church, where the group meets with mentor Patrick, a boy she's never met keeps staring at Hazel.

After group, he invites her to his house to watch a movie and that is where Hazel's life is flipped upside down.

Augustus Waters is an extremely charming, one legged boy who is in remission from cancer. He talks his way through everything and I could not stop smiling as he flirted with Hazel for an extreme amount of time in the book.

Eventually, the two become an item...a cancer stricken couple who love nothing more than to read to each other and play video games. They share a weird sense of humor and are extremely mature for teenagers. They have known pain like most people never will and they have an optimistic outlook on life.

The voice of the book, the voice that John Green establishes, is witty and sarcastic and echoes his other novels.

This is a beautiful book; it will make you smile, laugh, and cry. I finished the book and just wanted to read it over and over again. This is a novel that will never get old. You could re-read it multiple times and you will end up loving it even more than the first time.

I have never read a book like this. It touched my heart and even though it dealt with something so serious, such as cancer, it was relatable.

Green gave this book a voice. He gave Hazel and Augustus a voice. He gave cancer a voice and truly made an impact on me.

You will not regret reading this book, it will become your best friend.

Rating: 5/5 

Privacy Has Never Sounded So Good

I love reading series because the story never ends...that is until the last book.

I've read a lot of series in my life, The Twilight Saga, Harry Potter, The Clique...and many many more, but no series or book has ever quite drawn me in the way The Private Series did.

The first book, Private, was published in 2006.At the beginning of the series Reed Brennan escapes her terrible home life in Pennsylvania to attend the prestigious Easton Academy. She becomes intrigued by the most exclusive, most popular girls on campus..the girls that live in Billings House.

Noelle Lange, the ringleader of all that is Billings, invites Reed to move into Billings House.

In addition to being invited to live in Billings, Reed meets Thomas Pearson, the heart-throb of Easton. The two quickly become an item for all of the school to admire.

With Billings and dating Thomas Pearson comes many twists and turns. There is scandal, back stabbing--even death.

To compare it to another book, I would say it's "Gossip Girl" meets "Pretty Little Liars." It has the glamorous lives of Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen tossed together with the mystery of our favorite Rosewood Liars.

What happens in the first book extends to all 14 novels. In addition to the original 14 books, there are two prequels, "Last Christmas" and "Book of Spells", and a spinoff called "Privilege".

I can proudly say I have read every single Private book, with the exception of "Privilege." Every single book had a different story to tell but everything was linked and flowed perfectly.

The books were intense and scandalous; every single one had a twist that no one could ever see coming. Most of the time I would have to close the book because I was in such shock.

The author of BookLoverReviews says "The Private series is definitely a wonderful series, especially if you're looking for something that will keep you on your seat and constantly interested."


All the books were interesting and complex and, at the same time, such a simple, quick read. I could read one book in a single day because I was so entranced.

If you enjoy reading about the lives of rich, glamorous people mixed with mystery and scandal, The Private Series will give you everything you need.

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My Future Books: 

1. Glimmer: I have very high standards for books and lately, nothing has been catching my eye. This new book by Phoebe Kitandis might change all of that. The summary gives the book a very intense start; two teens wake up together and have great cases of amnesia. They soon discover the town that they have awoken in is haunted by zombies and ghosts. This book is being released April 17th, 2012. It seems to be the perfect mix between mystery, romance, and supernatural. I can't wait to read it! 

2. Snow White and the Huntsman: The classic fairytale of Snow White is coming back to life with a new dark twist in Snow White and the Huntsman. The book is being released on April 17th,2012 while the movie, starring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron will be released later this year. The story is the same, wicked queen, handsome prince charming, dwarves, and the perfect Snow White but there is a darker theme upon it. It's twisted and it sounds extremely interesting! 

Starry Night

I will pretty much read anything that takes place in London or any part of England for that matter. I am obsessed with all things British, so much that I threaten my mother that I'm moving there one day.

That's why when I was looking online for my next book to read, I was drooling when I read this summary for Maureen Johnson's new series.

I've owned books by Johnson before but always found something better to read; after reading this book I NEED to go back and read the untouched books I own.

From reading her summaries, a good number of her books take place over seas in the land of Prince William and Katherine Middleton so sign me up.

The cover of this YA novel immediately pulled me in; it is definitely creepy and made me wonder what exactly is this book about.

Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I'm a fast reader but this really made me want to find out exactly what was going on.

The book, The Name of the Star, is about a teenager, Rory, who is originally from Louisiana but is now attending a boarding school located in the hear of London.

All is well; she's making friends and flirting with a cute English boy...until things start getting weird.

The news is all abuzz with a murderer on the loose who is mimicking the way Jack the Ripper murdered his victims; all are women, they're all the same age, and the dates match up perfectly. He even uses the same weapons and inflicts the same injuries on these new victims.

The murders keep happening and the police just can't seem to get a grip on the killer; it's all very strange.

It gets even stranger when Rory has an encounter with the killer...but she's the only one who could see him.

The book picks up from there and it's an adrenaline rush. I'm not one for mysteries or anything having to do with solving a murder so I don't know if it's because it took place in London, but I couldn't stop reading.

I won't spoil the rest of the book but just know that your jaw will be hanging open by the end of it and you will not understand how the events are happening; it will be a shock.

The book was published in September 2011 but the sequel, The Madness Underneath won't be released to readers until 2013.

The series is called "Shades of London" and hasn't blown up yet but whoever has read it, has eaten it up with delight.

Sarah of "Feeling Fictional" had this to say about the tie in to the real Jack the Ripper, "The idea of a copycat killer is chilling and I was creeped out (but not surprised) by the Rippermania that takes over the population when the murders start happening again."


The book truly does, at times, give you chills because it gets extremely creepy but all in all, it's an excellent read and I cannot wait for the next in the series to continue to epic mystery.

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My Future Books:

1. The Selection: There haven't been many books in the "coming soon" section of B&N.com that have captured my eye but this one has! From reading the summary, The Selection, has a fairytale-esque plot to it...and a little old timeliness also. It's about a group of girls who participate in "the selection" to be married off to some rich prince, Prince Maxon. The main character, America, obviously is being a rebel and doesn't want anything to do with the selection because she's in love with a normal, country boy. The book seems to be about her journey going through the selection and deciding what her heart wants. It comes out April 24th and I can't wait to read it!

A Unique Future

To find my new reads, I usually scan Barnes and Noble.com to see what the most popular books of the week are or what's newly released.

A few months ago I saw that Jay Asher, author of the very successful "Thirteen Reasons Why" had just released a new book, "The Future of Us".

I read the summary blurb that B&N.com posted for the new book that was published on November 21st, 2011.

It seemed like such an intriguing, unique idea; two teenagers that live in the 90s stumble upon an AOL CD-Rom that is actually their future Facebook accounts.

On Facebook, the teens are in their 30s and they can see what their life turned out to be. As is usual with teenage girl behavior, the main character is not satisfied with her life and tries to change it. She does unordinary things to try to alter her Facebook page.

It's the usual YA plot line mixed with a wild idea; there are the usual teenage problems that everyone experiences, especially in Young Adult novels...love, school, and family problems.

This was a very nostalgic book, especially if you grew up in the 90s and remember receiving your first AOL-CD in the mail and uploading it onto your computer, giving you the newest edition of America Online.

But also, then you throw in the present time and humanity's new obsession, Facebook, and you have a crazy idea for a book.

I was expecting great things from this book. Jay Asher's first and very successful novel, Thirteen Reasons Why was a beautifully, tragically written book. The NYT Book Review says "With its thrillerlike pacing and scenes of sexual coercion and teenage backbiting, the novel appeals to young readers, who say the book also gives them insight into peers who might consider suicide."

It pulled you in and made you feel the words that were written on the page. Since then, the YA world then been awaiting the arrival of his second novel.

My expectations were sent through the roof once I read the summary and thought that this was going to be a wild ride through the past and the present, and the future. I was so excited to start reading it.

I was sadly disappointed though; the book was not terrible and I was mildly satisfied but I think my expectations were way too high.

It was a slow book, not moving at a fast pace and I think I expected A LOT more to happen. The ending was kind of a bust. I was hoping for some big reveal or some major decision to occur. It was kind of built up only to be let down.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend that you read it. Just don't be expecting the next great American novel.

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My Future Books:

1. Kill Me Softly: Most people say don't judge a book by its cover but when I saw the bloody rose on the cover of this new YA novel that is set to come out on April 10th, I couldn't help but click on it. The summary says it all: a wicked tale of a 16 year old girl who runs away to a town where all is not what it seems. Beau Rivage is a fairytale land where fictional stories and characters come to life. It sort of reminded me of ABC's new hit show "Once Upon a Time". I'm a sucker for anything having to do with fairytales so I will definitely be reading this to find out what it's all about!

Satisfy Your Hunger

On March 23rd, District 12 Lovers will have their hunger finally satisfied. Unsure of what I'm talking about...well you obviously have not heard of the new teen phenomenon, "The Hunger Games".

It's a three book series written by Suzanne Collins. The first dystopian novel was published in September 2008 and ever since, the book world has eaten this book up.

The Harry Potter/Twilight like success of this book series prompted Lionsgate to spawn a movie version of the YA novels. Fans have been awaiting the films since the announcement was  made.

The novels take place in the setting of Panem (a futuristic United States) where 12 Districts are located, each having a different role.

The Districts are under strict control by The Capitol, a dictator like government. Everything the Districts and citizens of each district do is watched and given to The Capitol. Mostly all the citizens of the districts are poor because the crops they grow and the goods they manufacture are given to The Capitol.

Katniss Everdeen is a citizen of District 12, along with her mother, sister Primrose, and her best guy friend Gale. She's a fierce hunter who does everything she can to make sure her family does not go hungry.

Something the Capitol does to ensure the food supply for their citizens is The Hunger Games, where two citizens or tributes as they are called in Panem, are selected from every district to compete each year. It's a fight to the death, a form of barbaric entertainment for the entire "nation" to enjoy. The winner of The Hunger Games is awarded food and money for life, not just for them but for their entire family.

Katniss, by chance is chosen at The Reaping, the annual ceremony where the Hunger Games contestants are picked, to be a tribute for District 12 along with local heart-throb Peeta Mellark.

The book follows Katiniss' journey through the Games and the emotional roller coaster she experiences while fighting for her family.

This is not a story about an intense love triangle, as some of the media is making it out to be. It's a story about the trials and tribulations of an oppression and how it affects everyone involved. It's about a girl, so fierce and fearless, whose willingly to do anything to keep herself alive and to protect her family. It's about uprising and rebellion and fighting for what is yours, what is deserved.

It's very exciting, very intense, and really addictive. I finished the book within a few days and immediately started the second book in the series, "Catching Fire".

If you get really obsessed with books and books turned into movies, like Twilight and Harry Potter, you will most likely end up jumping on The Hunger Games bandwagon as well. All three series are TOTALLY different but they all have an intense fan-base.

Go read the latest obsession in book and film, you won't regret it.

The Perks of Reading

The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been hailed as the "new Catcher and the Rye." People have been talking about this book since it's release in 1999 but I have always been hesitant to read it.

I have been passing this unique, plain cover in the book stores for a while and almost bought it a handful of times but something always stopped me.

I really love "The Catcher in the Rye" and was nervous about reading something that sounded so similar to such a timeless classic.

This book has been in the news recently, mainly because Summit is releasing a movie based on the best seller. It will be starring Harry Potter's Emma Watson, the Vampire Diaries Nina Dobrev, and the Percy Jackson Series' Logan Lerman in the main role of Charlie.

When I heard the cast for the movie I knew I needed to read the book so I could make the informed comparisons when it hits theaters later in the year.

The minute I started reading, I knew what people have been raving.  This book is a heart felt story of a boy, Charlie, who seems to be more than awkward and shy and could have a social disorder.

The format of the book is Charlie writing letters to an unknown person and telling the story of his life over the course of a year.

He deals with more than what a normal high school student would deal with, such as a close friend's suicide. But also he is consumed with normal problems, like getting drunk and high for the first time, falling in love with your best friend, and the death of his favorite aunt.

You get to see Charlie grow into himself and accept his life for what it is. From the first page, you see his shyness and socially awkward personality but by the last page, Charlie knows exactly who he is and has grown so much.

He makes friends, loses friends, forms a relationship with his sister and goes through all the trials and tribulations any teen does.

The writing is impeccable and Chbosky really lets you inside Charlie's mind and allows you to really get to know him. By the end, you'll feel like Charlie, and the rest of his gang are your friends.

It was a beautiful book with a few great quotes and scenarios that are so normal but through Charlie's eyes, are something so new and different. Who could forget a quote like "And in that moment, I swear, we were infinite."

"The Author Chick" posted a quick review on Barnesandnoble.com and this is what she had to say about it; "Everything about this book, I love. But it's still a vast understatement."

You definitely get the feeling of Salinger's "The Catcher and the Rye" but Holden and Charlie are very different characters. Truly the only similarity is the fact that they are both young men, who are changing, growing up, and learning to deal with the difficult times in life.

Aside from Harry Potter, this is a classic book for a generation; read it, love it. You won't regret it.

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My Future Books

1. Spellbound: The newest book in the Hex Hall Series by Rachel Hawkins will be released later in the month. The series centers around Sophie Mercer who is enrolled in Hecate Hall aka Hex Hall, a troublesome school for supernatural beings. Sophie is a witch...or as she later finds out, one of the only two demons in the world; the other being her father who she hasn't seen since she was born. Spellbound is the third in the series and picks up where the most recent book, "Demonglass," picks up. It's an addicting series and if you love witches, vampires, and all things supernatural, you will LOVE this series.

2. The Fame Game: Lauren Conrad made a name for herself as a reality star on MTV's "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" but a few years ago she became a best selling author of a three book series "LA Candy," which centers around a story similar to Conrad's own life. Jane Roberts is a normal girl turned reality TV star and the drama that comes with her new found fame. The Fame Game is a spinoff of LA Candy and focuses on Robert's frenemy Madison Parker, her fame, and her new reality TV show. If it's as juicy as LA Candy and it's counterparts, "The Fame Game" will launch Lauren Conrad further into the booksophere.

An Un-awesome Snow Day

After reading the excerpt about Michael Northrop's "Trapped", I could not WAIT to get my hands on it.

To me, it sounded so exciting and seemed like someone jumped inside my head and took out one of my biggest fantasies...to be trapped inside your school overnight.

The story goes like this...three best friends and a few of their fellow "peers" aka mortal teenage enemies get locked in their high school for a few days and nights during the biggest blizzard of the century.

The heat turns off, the electricity goes haywire, and they live on cafeteria food for the duration of their stay.

Basically, it's the Breakfast Club, in the snow, over night.

I was extremely disappointed when I read the first few pages. I thought that it would get better as time went on but it seemingly got worse. I didn't enjoy the writing and the scenarios seemed unrealistic.

How did the teens' parents not send out a search party looking for them? Even if there was a HUGE snowstorm, my parents would freak out if I didn't come home for multiple days.

It seemed very overdramatic, and not in a good way; the teens locked in the school were a bunch of babies and it was just very over done.

I was expecting so much better from this book; the summary made it seem like a fun, light hearted story about an eclectic group of kids stuck in school overnight but I was definitely wrong.

It was an overdramatic, poorly written book about teenagers from different sides of the track, learning to build a civilization to survive inside a school.

Maybe it was just my high expectations for the book that made me hate it so much but I couldn't wait to finish reading it.

This just goes to show you...never judge a book by it's cover, or it's summary.

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My Future Books:

1. The Fault in Our Stars is the newest novel from renowned YA author, John Green. This book has had SO much hype since it was first announced. It's publication date was January 10th, 2012 and since then it has enjoyed being on the NYT Best Seller's List. The book is about a cancer patient who finds love and comfort in a cancer survivor support group. John Green is a fabulous writer and this book is sure to be his next big hit.

2. Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight: This book was one of the first published of the new year on January 2nd, 2012. Just from reading the summary, it sounds like an intriguing, YA book. A young girl is on her way to London for her father's wedding to a woman she has never met and while she's in the airport, she meets a gorgeous British boy who sweeps her off her feet. Is it love at first sight or just a happy lustful first glance? We'll have to read to find out!

A Great Paper Read

John Green is one of those authors that make you second think every bad thing you've heard about Young Adult novels.


He is not the typical romance, family issues, friend backstabbing YA author; he speaks to the soul and speaks to teens in a philosophical way.


This is only the second book I've read by John Green and my standards were high; this definitely did not disappoint.


Paper Towns is about a boy, Quentin Jacobsen and his infatuation with his next door neighbor and former best friend Margo. 


When I first started reading it, I thought that it was going to be the typical "old friends find love" story but it wasn't that.


Margo is a free spirit who has the attention of the entire school; it's a few months before prom and graduation for the seniors, including Margo, Q, and their separate group of friends.


Margo is always one for games and pranks so she beckons Q out of his window in the middle of the night for a wild night of shenanigans. Q is back in his bed before the alarm goes off for school but when he arrives at his high school, Margo is no where to be found.


The rest of the book (which I won't give away) is spent with Q and his group of friends, along with a few of Margo's plotting and traveling to find the free bird before graduation starts.


My explanation can not do this book justice. It truly is a beautiful coming of age story dealing with the pressures of high school, family, and being perfect.


Margo Roth Spiegelman is the type of girl everyone wishes they could be; she's beautiful, smart, and popular...everyone loves her. But she also has the personality people wish they could have, she is so care free, does whatever she pleases and never looks back. There is no better way to describe Margo other than saying she is a true free spirit without a care in the world.


While reading it, you will get the hint of J.D Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" but it is so much more than that. 


Paper Towns is not too serious, it's witty and clever and very funny at times. It truly is one of the best books I've read in a while, you will not be disappointed.

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A new feature on the blog will be My Future Books, a list of two or three books that are just being released that I want to read. This week's books are:

1. Pretty Little Secrets : A slight spin off/missing piece of the Pretty Little Liars series. It takes place between two of the books on a winter break that no one has ever addressed. You could see form my 1st post with the review of Ruthless, PLL #10, I really love this series so this is a definite must read.

2. Two Truths and a Lie : This is also another Sara Shepard book. Her other series "The Lying Game" is equally as suspenseful and freaky as PLL. This is the third book in the series and centers around the life of Emma, who has taken her long lost twin Sutton's place and trying to find her killer all while keeping up the appearance of someone she has never met. Two Truths and a Lie was just released on February 7th, so get caught up on the series! It's a wonderful read.

The Best of Me: The Perfect Valentines Day Read

If you're like me, you love a good romance novel. And even though I hate Valentines Day, I still love curling up with a Nicholas Sparks novel because lets face it, Sparks is one of the best romantic writers of our generation.

His track record includes "A Walk to Remember", "The Notebook", "Dear John", and "The Last Song". All of those novels consist of beautiful love stories that everyone wishes they could be a part of.

Sparks new novel, "The Best of Me" can be added to that list of amazing romance stories. It was published on October 11th, 2011 and debuted to a loving audience.

I’ve only read a handful of Sparks novels and loved them but there was something about them that threw me off. I never really liked the fact that he always made the love between the two people so immediate.

That’s why I was hesitant to start reading “The Best of Me”, because I didn’t want to be disappointed and have my faith in Sparks be ruined.

I was SO wrong and regretted waiting so long to read the book. 

The plot was unique but not at the same time. It focused around Dawson and Amanda, high school sweethearts who were crazy in love during their teen years but separated before college because of their family differences.

Dawson is a Cole, a violent, alcoholic, white trash family while Amanda is from a rich, high class family. The two families definitely do not get along, Romeo and Juliet style and Amanda’s parents do not approve of their daughters love and affection for a creature like a Cole.

They don’t let the differences get in the way of their relationship at first but eventually, it becomes too much and they go their separate ways.

Decades later, Amanda and Dawson reunite in their hometown of Oriental, deep in the South. Amanda went on with her life, creating a family and a a lovely marriage but deep down, she has never forgotten the way Dawson Cole made her feel.

Dawson never forgot her either, living his life in simplicity and loneliness. They immediately fall back into old habits which creates drama for everyone involved. 

There are a few subplots in the book that could add to the main plot of Dawson and Amanda, and are very essential but to be honest, I skipped a lot of those chapters because I was so invested in their relationship.

In my opinion, this was one of Sparks better novels. I loved the way he created the love story before the book even started; it was so different from the rest of his books where you see the love bloom between the two.

The fact that there was no amount of time or distance that could keep Amanda and Dawson away from each other was beautiful.

It’s a story of love, tragedy, sorrow, and pain but still, so perfect and beautiful. I sped through reading it, I just couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what happened.

I won’t reveal the ending, I’ll let you figure it out for yourself but it was beautiful, I was content with it, and it definitely made me cry. 

If you love the idea of forbidden love and memories from long ago coming back to haunt you, this book is definitely for you.

Ruthless

The Pretty Little Liars series was supposed to end with “Wanted’ in June 2010 but the author, Sara Shepherd had a different idea and continued to write for the mystery series.

Sara Shepherd published the first Pretty Little Liars novel in 2006 and since then she has published ten books in the series.

If you are unaware of the plot line of the PLL books, it’s centered around four teenage girls who live in Rosewood, Penn, a fictional town. Their best friend Alison was murdered and Ali was the central point of their friendship.

After Ali is killed the girls drift apart but are brought together again by their text message stalker ‘A’. The girls are clueless as to who A is but she knows secrets that only Alison would know. The mysterious A taunts the girls for months before they find out who she is.

When all is said and done, the girls feel safe but a new A comes to town that they have to deal with. Eventually they figure it out once again but not before A tries to kill all of them in a house fire.

That brings us to the the tenth book in the series, “Ruthless”.

This was definitely not my favorite Pretty Little Liars book, it seemed kind of pointless. Nothing was really solved and it seemed like just a filler book for the next novel that according to Barnesandnoble.com, will be called “Stunning” and released in June 2012.

In all previous nine PLL books, there was a huge WOW moment and a cliffhanger that left me panting for more of the Rosewood darlings but this didn’t live up to the hype that should come into a PLL book. 

The one almost “wow” moment the book had turned out to be a funk and was just a misunderstanding. 

Even though “Ruthless” was anything but, it was still fabulously written. Shepherd knows her characters and sticks to their true personalities which is refreshing, especially for such a young adult mystery novel.

Yes, this book was the least suspenseful in the series and yes, it definitely did not live up to the Pretty Little Liars persona, I would recommend it and give it 3 out of 5 stars. 

It was an easy read, especially if you’ve read the previous books. If you’re a series lover and can’t wait for “Stunning”, then read “Ruthless”, you won’t regret it but you might not be totally satisfied. 

A TV series by the same name, Pretty Little Liars, and basically the same plot debuted on ABC Family in June 2010. It's aired on Monday nights at 8pm on the Disney company's family channel.


To get more info on the TV series, click here and for everything about your favorite Rosewood girls, visit the official PLL site.