Rich and Mad

Review Time! This is honestly one tough cookie to review. Rich and Mad written by William Nicholson was released last year. The US cover is prettier but the one you’re looking at is the AUS cover. Thanks so much to Egmont (Hardi Grant) Australia for the review copy!

(Goodreads) This is a compelling and beautifully written novel about first love, first sex, and everything in between. Maddy Fisher has decided to fall in love. And not just any sort of love: can't-eat can't-sleep crazy in love. Rich Ross is after the same thing. He's set his sights high, and he's going to make it happen. The problem is, in life's messy whirlwind of friends and lies and sex and porn, the real thing can be hard to fine. But there's always a first time for everything...





The Short Story? – A novel about first love, first sex and everything in between. Rich and Mad is a coming-to-age that deals with issues that teens face everyday. Lies, betrayal and the importance of love. A novel about first times for everything and taking risks, learning to trust and getting back up when knocked down.

The Long Story? – The first thing that caught my notice about this book was the US cover, the couple in the steamy telephone box. Then I noticed the title, Rich and Mad, sounds like a scandalicious love story. Probably filled with good-looking boys, rich girls and boarding school. False. The cover and the title are very deceptive :P Rich (aka Richard) and Mad (aka Maddy) are two teens, this novel is a coming-to-age novel and I’m not a fan of coming-to-age novels. Not the greatest way to start reading is it?

As far as coming-to-age novels come, this is one of the better ones I have read. The plot was pretty good, a good flow and the pace suited the storyline. It was clever for Nicholson to alternate between telling the story between Rich and Mad, makes it a little more interesting. There was a start, middle and an ending and to expand from that there was drama and personal growth. One of my favorite things about the novel was the plot. It was boring at times and the romance was a little dry but Nicholson has written a fairly complex plot, it’s layered. It’s neat and carefully planned, it’s easy to read and understandable. We have the big idea of love but then we also have friendship and family, Rich and Mad deal with a lot of problems that teenagers face. First love, friendship, acceptance and dysfunctional families to an extent.

The characterization was brilliant. The thing I loved is that Rich and Mad wasn’t in love with each other from the start, they weren’t even in love at the end. They were together in the end because they needed each other. The novel was really telling two stories, Rich’s and Mad’s and how they choices and life pushed them together. Both of protagonists were complex characters that we can all connect to because we’re all teenagers at some point and the experiences they go through are ones that we went through as well. The novel also breaks the cliché that the boys have to be good-looking, let’s face guys, not all the guys are good-looking ( I know, the truth hurts, date a book not a boy :P) Minor characters were very well developed, we had characters to play every role. The loyal friend, the backstabbing friend, the schoolgirl crush, the clingy girlfriend, the beautiful sibling, the jerk sibling, the supportive parent and the not-so-supportive one. A great cast of characters that Nicholson obviously put a lot of thought into.

Rich and Mad is novel that I wished I had read a year or two ago. It’s a novel that deals with problems teenagers face hence the coming-to-age theme. Strong narrative voice, fantastic characterization and a plot that’s been carefully planned. Rich and Mad is a novel to be enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages, its powerful book that can be easily related to. For fans of Sarah Dessen and Judy Blume.

Rating – 3/5( it was really well-written and I enjoyed it but I’m still kid of on the fence for this one)

Badass Bookie xx

Cover Reveal - The Goddess Test ( Aus Edition) Looks familar?

A few weeks ago I received an ARC of The Goddess Test from Harlequin Australia and I was dumbstruck by the cover. Not only is it completely different from the US Cover, it's a cover that's been seen on two other 2011 major releases! On the Bright side, The Vespertine hasn't been released in Australia yet and I actually like the The Goddess Test cover best! Are you seeing triple as well?

Australian The Goddress Test Cover -

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell -

Dark Angel by Eden Maguire -

Badass Bookie xx

In My Mailbox #30

Hey Guys! It's IMM time! In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we show the bookish contents of our mailboxes, if you know me, I participate every second week, if you not, know you know! Had quite a fantastic mailbox for the last two weeks!

For Review -

Summer and the City by Candance Bushnell

Illusion by Aprilynne Pike

ARC The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Flawless by Lara Chapman

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

( Thanks to Harpercollins, Pan Macmillan and Bloomsbury Australia )

Won -

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins ( Already Read)

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

( Thanks to Aly @ Kid Lit Frenzy and Ange @ Moonlight Reader )

Gifted -

Signed Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zamam + Awesome Swag ( Thanks to Natalie for sending this awesome package, I frightened the mailman with my happy dance, he doesn't ring the doorbell anymore...)

Signed Enclave by Ann Aguirre ( Thanks to Ann for sending a personalised copy all the way from Mexico! I've already read it, LOVED IT, if you liked The Hunger Games, this ones for you!)

That's all, what's in your Mailbox?

Badass Bookie xx

Firelight

Review Time! A while back I won a giveaway and received a copy of Firelight by Sophie Jordan. It's been on my wishlist for quite a while so I was very excited to recieve a copy :) I'm counting this one towards my bucket list challenge. Thanks to Laura @ All of Everything for the copy!

(Goodreads) A hidden truth. Mortal enemies. Doomed love.


Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.


Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

The Short Story? - A fantastic start to a series with great potential! Sophie Jordan's YA debut is fantastic! Completely original down to the fact that our protagonist is a Draki ( you don't know what that is do you? *wiggles eyebrows*) Exciting plot, refreshingly new take on the paranormal and romance like no other!

The Long Story? - I love the starcrossed romance in this novel. The undeniable attraction between Jacinda and Will is so powerful yet they can't be together as one is the hunter and one is the prey. I've seen authors who totally blotch the Romeo and Juliet romance technique but Jordan wrote the romance perfectly. Passionate and real, this is what paranormal romance is meant to be!

I came across a reader today who said that even though she loves paranormal romance in YA it's turning a little into recycled trash, I understand where she's coming from. We're having the same characters and the same plot with different names and settings. It's getting a little boring quite frankly. Jordan has written this wonderfully exciting and captivating story. Fast-paced and edgy plot centred around Jacinda a draki whose forced to flee into the mortal world. It's an original plot with original characters and action-packed to the brim! I was left sitting on the edge of my seat and hanging off every word!

Characterisation was pure brilliance. Jordan has introduced this new race of species called Draki into YA fiction, half-dragon and half-human, they're the ultimate hybrids :) Jacinda our protagonist is special, she's a fire-breathing draki and this special ability is what led to everything else that happen es in the novel! I've grown to love Jacinda as a characters, she's brave, loyal and I understand her frustration of not fitting in. Will is a fantastic love interest, observative, sexy and completely irresistible! I hope to learn more about Cassian in the next novel because I think I smell a love triangle....

Firelight is a brilliant start to a series with great potential! Exciting, captivating and beautifully written. This is paranormal romance at it's best!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

The Goddess Test

Review Time! The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter is a 2011 YA Debut based around Greek Mythology, which is becoming quite a trend now isn’t it? The Goddess Test will be released in Australia in August, thank-you to Harlequin Teen for the ARC and for US readers, go get yourself a copy!

(Goodreads) It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

The Short Story? – A beautiful debut centred around the popular Greek Myth of Hades and Persephone. Edgy, exciting and engrossing. A brilliant plot about love, betrayal and sacrifice filled with mystery and suspense. Strong, unique narrative voice and a wonderful cast of characters. One of the best romances I have read this year!

The Long Story? – I was very excited to read this! I have this fascination with Greek Mythology and I was actually going to buy myself a copy of The Goddess Test when the lovely people at Harlequin sent me an ARC! High expectations were met and before I go on to blabber about how amazing this was, I CAN’T WAIT FOR GODDESS INTERUPPTED!!!

The blurb pretty much explains the novel in a nutshell. Hades or Henry is looking for a new bride and Kate is to take the Goddess Test because she wants to save her mother, the prize is immortality and so far no one has succeeded. You either succeed or you die trying to succeed. It’s a brilliant plot, very exciting and unpredictable, filled with dark secrets, twists and turns. It could have easily been a YA thriller is not for the Greek Mythology tie-in. An easy pace and a great balance between action and romance. Lovers of paranormal as well as contemporary would love this. Very original not like any other novel I have read. Great ending. It’s plot that leaves readers wanting for more. I actually turned the last page and went ‘that’s it? But we’re just getting to the good bit!”

My favourite part of the novel would be the characterisation. Very clever of Carter to include all the Olympians into the novel but by giving them different names, readers don’t know who’s who til the very end. I kind of gave it away for myself when I read the list of Gods first before reading the novel. So the appeal of guessing which characters was which God was lost. Nevertheless, it was different and interesting to see what personalities and physical appearances Carter gave each of the characters. Very well developed and portrayed, I do think I’ve fallen in love with half of the Gods. Great cast.

One of the other things I that I really enjoyed was the romance. It played quite a major role in the novel, it’s a love story. We read all about the undeniable attraction between Henry and Kate but obstacles in their way stop them from being together. I’m probably making it sound very clichéd but it’s actually one of the best and more original love stories I have read in YA fiction. It’s not a marketed romance, it’s one for all to enjoy, especially romance junkies like me :P

If I had to describe The Goddess Test in three words they’ll be – beautiful, romantic and captivating. It’s a novel that you simply can’t put down, I read it til the early hours of the morning and suffered from a headache the next day but it was totally worth it. Carter is a brilliant new YA voice and I look forward to reading more of her work. Refreshingly original, engrossing storyline and a romance that leaves you wanting more. The Goddess Test is one for all to enjoy.

Rating -5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Winter Flings - 31 Days of Epic Giveaways!

It's back! Winter Flings - 31 Days of Epic Giveaways is back again this year!

From 1st July Hachette Children's Australia is  launching Winter Flings, where each day during July we are showcasing 31 of our bookish bachelors and doing massive book giveaways! They're doing it through their Date a Book hub (features our YA highlights list), and it will be driven through the Date a Book Facebook page. There will be a new YA book (a.k.a. Date) featured every day, and you lucky readers will have the chance to win them all!

Our Dates Include....

And More! Check out your dates for the Winter - HERE or Follow on Facebook to get the lastest - HERE!

Badass Bookie xx

You Against Me

Review Time! You Against Me is written by Jenny Downham who’s the author of bestselling Before I die. The cover is quite catchy I do think with the dark colors and then this burst of red (although I think it’s usually green, my copy that was kindly provided by random House Australia was red) Anyhow, let’s start…

(Goodreads) If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.


The Short Story? - A novel about loyalty and first love, You Against Me is a novel about the tug of war between love and family as we follow the novel through the eyes of Mikey and Ellie two teenagers whose worlds have collided. It’s a novel about loss and pain and dysfunctional families. Moving, beautiful and captivating. This one is for the contemporary lovers.

The Long Story? - You Against Me is a dark contemporary and to an extent a Coming-to-Age novel. I hate both dark contemporaries and Coming-to-Age novels but I surprising enjoyed this one. It’s not something I would usually read and it’s very different. There are parts that I really enjoyed but there are also parts where I thought it was quite boring.

My main problem with dark contemporaries is the plot or a lack of a plot. For someone who reads action-packed, paranormal love stories with happy endings, dark contemporaries are a little boring and depressing and bittersweet. You Against Me was written beautifully but it was a circular plot. You started with no answer and you ended with no answer. There is development but the ending is quite disappointing. This sexual assault that the book is based around, that made Mikey and Ellie’s worlds collide was talked about all through the novel. The trial, the lawyers, the solicitor, the hate, the pain and in the end it was still an unsolved case. Downham has built this whole story around this assault only to leave all the loose ends hanging. I understand that You Against Me is more of a ‘finding yourself’ novel and it’s more heavily based on emotional development but the ending was somewhat lacking. I seem to have this problem with every dark contemporary I read…

The characterization was good though. Downham has written the book through alternating perspective from Mikey to Ellie and so forth. It’s clever that she did that since we as readers get to read both sides of the story. I found that both protagonists were connected in a way even when they come from very different backgrounds. Which I guess is why they are attracted to each other. They’re very well portrayed and developed and part of the novel is focused around them find themselves and what’s important to them. They’re both dealing with families that are dysfunctional so they seek comfort in each other. Good romance, Downham has built between them, it’s…bittersweet. Gives love a different meaning.

The writing was very comfortable. Gives me a feeling of a soft, quiet narrative voice but it’s very strong and moving at the same time. Language used suggest that it’s written for teens of all ages but the contents suggest maybe it’s written for an older YA crowd. Very beautifully and moving writing, very melancholy but comfortable and easy to read.

I found that even with the somewhat lacking plot, You Against Me was quite captivating. The journey both Mikey and Ellie went through was moving and it’s a novel about pain and loyalty and first love. I liked it, it wasn’t my favourite book, I struggled with it in parts but in the end –it was enjoyable, I did like it. It wasn’t “me” but it’s definitely one that all contemporary lovers should read, this one is for you.

Rating – 7/10 ( It’s much easier to use a 10 scale with contemporary reads since there are more things to consider while reviewing)

Badass Bookie xx