Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Better Off Friends

Elizabeth Eulberg

Point

Release Date: February 28, 2014

Series or Standalone: Standalone

ISBN: 9780545551458

Websites:

Elizabeth Eulberg - Website

Elizabeth Eulberg - Facebook

Elizabeth Eulberg - Twitter

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Elizabeth Eulberg has done it again! Better Off Friends is another great contemporary from Elizabeth Eulberg that left me grinning from ear to ear. 

It’s hard to review a book you liked so much. I’m finding it difficult to start off this review. There is so much I want to say, but I’m having issues figuring out how to say it. 

I loved the structure of the story. Macallan and Levi were recounting the story of their relationship, starting from when they first met in 7th grade. Between each chapters, present day Macallan and Levi would provide commentary on their actions in the past. The chapters alternated point of view between Macallan and Levi, and it was great getting into each of their heads to see how they interpreted the same events. I loved that because the story started in 7th grade, you got to see the full progression of Macallan and Levi’s friendship. You got to relive their relationships’ ups and downs. I loved that their friendship wasn’t perfect, because no friendship ever is. 

I loved both Macallan and Levi. They were extremely well written; they felt like real people. While they sometimes made stupid decisions, I couldn’t help but like them because they felt real. Everyone makes mistakes, especially when it comes to relationships with friends, and it was great to see them tackle the ups and downs of their friendship. Levi and Macallan made the book. Macallan was such a strong character. I loved how protective she was of her family and of those she cared about. Levi was adorable, and it was great seeing him trying to adapt to his new home. 

Their friendship is what drives the story. I loved seeing their relationship develop, from friends to something more. They both care deeply for each other, despite the rough patches their friendship hits. It reminded me a lot of friendship’s I’ve actually had. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, but they managed to work through their arguments and road blocks. I loved how we got to see the relationship transform and grow. Levi and Macallan realize at different times that they feel something more than just friends, but something is always getting in the way of them getting together. 

This book was so cute. While the romance is important, it is really a book that focuses on their friendship. It was great to see such a strong and complex friendship between a guy and girl. While the book does have romance, I would have enjoyed it just as much without it. This story would still be great regardless of how their romantic relationships ended up. It was really a story about friends, family and were your heart feels at home. I think this beautiful quote sums up what this book really is about: "But in truth, home isn't necessarily where you sleep at night. It's where you feel like yourself. Where you're most comfortable. Where don't have to pretend where you can just be you." 

Elizabeth Eulberg is an author I know I can turn to for a great contemporary YA novel. Her books never fail to put a smile on my face and improve my mood. The Lonely Hearts Club helped improve my rejection from my number one college, and Better Off Friends had the same effect. Elizabeth Eulberg’s book always lighten my mood; her books remind me of the why YA books are so great. For the few hours of reading Better Off Friends, you can escape from your troubles and just enjoy the story of Levi and Macallan. Their story will lift your heart and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. I would highly recommend this book, along with Elizabeth Eulberg’s other books, to everyone and anyone as they are magical and have the power to leave you grinning from ear to ear. 

Perception by Kim Harrington

Perception

Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release Date: March 1, 2012

Series or Standalone: Clarity #2

ISBN: 9780545230537

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 288

Websites:

Kim Harrington – Website

Kim Harrington – Blog 

Kim Harrington – Twitter

Rating: 4 Stars

Reading Perception reminded me of how much I enjoyed Clarity. It was so great to be thrown back into Clare’s world in Eastport, MA.

Perception picks up after the events of Clarity. Clare and the Fern family are still dealing with the aftermath of what occurred over the summer, which means an increase in popularity for Clare and trouble for her brother Perry. Before long, trouble once again rears its head in Eastport with the disappearance of a local girl followed by Clare getting messages from a secret admirer making Clare want to use her gift to try to solve these mysterious

I really liked that Kim Harrington did not just dismiss the events of the prior book, but continued to build off what happened and continue to affect the characters. Clare wants to use her gift to help find this missing girl but her near brush with death in book one makes her mother prevent her from doing that. But Clare is still curious and manages to still try and help anyways.

I loved the mystery in this book. A simple, yet believable situation had Clare and the reader working to the end to uncover the culprit. I really liked how everything tied together in the end and how all the little mysteries popping up were all connected.

The battle of the boys, Gabriel and Jason, continues in this book more. In Clarity, I wasn’t sure who I liked more out of the two boys, but Perception allowed room for more growth with both these characters and Gabriel came out as my favorite of the two (I mean he plays hockey!). While the romance isn’t the main focus of the book, it was woven in with the main action and did not feel forced. And this was not a love triangle that was annoying either. Clare is genuinely confused about her feelings for these boys and wants both in her life, but not sure whom she would prefer to be more than friends with. In the end, I felt Clare definitely made the right choice with the guy she picked.

Perception allowed a lot of room for Clare to grow as a character. So much has happened to her between these two books and she had to have changed because of the events that occurred. Clare became a stronger person, not afraid to be who she was and let people into her life instead of staying on the fringes. She’s no longer just the freak with special powers, but an actual person and she is able to see how important she is too.

Perception is the perfect quick summer read. Kim Harrington’s style is funny and sarcastic and she knows how to write a great mystery. I really enjoyed this sequel and it reminded me why I loved the first one so much. I’m so glad I finally got around to read this. I can’t wait to see what Kim Harrington writes next!

And side-note: how perfect is this cover? I love it. Makes so much sense with the book too. And this Clare is much more how I pictured her then the one on the original Clarity cover.

Review: Clarity

Clarity

Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release Date: March 1, 2011

Pages: 256

Source: Received from Publisher

Ratings: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Clarity is a great debut novel that will have you drawn in right from the beginning. Filled with mystery, a great strong snarky female lead and plenty of boys, Clarity is filled with fun.

The best thing about Clarity is the characters. All the characters are AWESOME!! Clare is definitely one of my favorite characters EVER. She is so full of spunk. Clare is such a strong character and she has to be being from a family of “freaks” and bullied about it at school. Clare can really hold her own against everyone else. And she is full of snark. I LOVE SNARK! I would have been fine just reading a story about Clare’s everyday life even if nothing happened because she is just entertaining. Clare had me laughing out loud at times too. She’s pretty kick-ass. I really loved Clare’s brother Perry too. While Perry has his flaws and is a player, he still has this loveable characteristic. Clare and Perry’s relationship was spot on too. They truly felt like brother and sister, you could feel the love between them and the need to protect each other, and I loved that.

While Clare and her family has special abilities, the supernatural aspect from their abilities did not dominate the story. I really liked that abilities was not the center of the story. Instead, the characters and the relationship between the characters was what I felt was center of the story. Also the mystery WAS GREAT! I literally did not know who the murderer was. I would suspect it to be one person but find out it wasn’t. I thought the murderer was like four different people and in the end I WAS WRONG! I had no clue who the murderer was. That’s great a feat to completely blind side the read with who the killer is. I really liked that.

I really loved how Kim wrapped up this book. The ending wrapped up everything nice, but still left things open enough for the next book. Especially with Clare’s boy situation. I really cannot decide if I want Clare with Justin or Gabriel. They both have their own flaws and own charms so I cannot pick!

Overall, Clarity was a great fun read. I loved Clare, she was such a strong, confidant, spunky character. She is definitely one of my favorite characters of this year. I cannot wait to read the next book because it is sure to be AWESOME!! 

Don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of Clarity and check out Kim's launch party recap HERE!

Review: Mockingjay *Spoiler Free*

Mockingjay

Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: August 24, 2010

Pages: 390

Ratings: 3 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

Like everyone else, I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Mockingjay. It was my first night at college the night it was released and I downloaded Mockingjay on my Nook since no stores around me where having midnight releases. I stayed up until 5:15am in the morning reading this book and had to be up by 6:30am. Sadly, I felt that staying up that late was not worth it after reading Mockingjay

As the title says, there will be no spoilers, because I know some people still haven’t read it, but I must say, Mockingjay fell extremely short of my expectations. This book, in my opinion, didn’t feel right. Something was off. I felt that this book didn’t belong in a series with the previous two books, everything felt different. What really bothered me was that the characters that we grew to love and to know in the first two books felt extremely different in this book. Interactions between Katniss and Gale and Peeta were extremely awkward and Katniss felt like a different character completely. I understand that the actions from the previous two books impacted Katniss and definitely made the tone of this book darker, but I felt that at times, characters we knew were almost completely new characters.

I was so disappointed in this book. The plot was extremely slow and definitely didn’t have the pacing of the previous two books. I felt a lot of the plot could have been cut or condensed into shorter scenes too, which annoyed me. I felt that Katniss spent way to much time in this books knocked out, asleep, drugged up or moping around. I missed the action and the intense, heart wrenching scenes from the previous books. The emotional impact of this book was severely lacking, I didn’t even shed a tear when certain events happened. The only time I felt like crying was at the end because the book was over. I feel a lot of the deaths/events were overlooked or brushed over, making the event not as sad as it was or should have been.

And now we get to the epilogue. While I don’t wish to spoil the book for those who haven’t read it, I must say that the first thing that popped into my mind when reading the epilogue was “This reminds me of the Deadly Hallows epilogue”. I had the same emotional reaction to it as Harry Potter and if felt eerily similar which bothered me a lot.

I feel that if this novel was not the last Hunger Games novel, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. However, it was the last one in an amazing series, a series of which I am a HUGE fan. I was just sadly disappointed that this was the way Suzanne Collins decided to end such a fantastic series. While Mockingjay was not what I expected and probably my least favorite series in the book, I do respect Suzanne Collins and I understand why she did what she did and why she ended the series the way she did. I just wish that it could have been different. This book was just not up to par with the AWESOME of the previous two novels, however, it is a book I will reread again since it is the conclusion to one of my favorite series. I just wish things could have gone differently and lived up to the awesome I was expecting.

Waiting on Wednesday (8) - Clarity

Clarity
Kim Harrington
Publisher: Scholastic Point
To be released: March 1, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most? 

I love this cover and cannot wait to read this book! It sounds so good! Cannot wait for next year! 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.