Shut Out

Review Time! Shut Out is the second book by Kody Keplinger who wrote The DUFF ( which is one of my favourite books all time!). This is a "just because" review so I don't need to review it, it wasn't sent to me from publishers but I WANT to review it! Thanks to Lillie @ Read My Mind who gifted me with an ARC! ( Honestly, she's one nice blogger!)

(Goodreads) Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.



Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

The Short Story? - I wouldn't have expected anything less from Keplinger! Another amazing rom-com that will surely keep you up til the wee hours of morning! Beautifully written, funny, witty and realistic Shut Out is what every teen needs to read! What's better than an old-fashioned boy vs. girl rivalry? For fans of Stephanie Perkins, Keplinger is going to be your new best friend!

The Long Story? - I love Keplinger because her books always holds content that's relevant to the lives of growing teens. Sexuality, friendships, boys - it's realistic fiction, yet it's very very funny! I've always liked the idea of Boy vs. Girl - which is the dominate sex? DUN DUN DUN. The plot of Shut Out was very funny and clever. The concept of ending a rivalry with a sex strike but backfires turning it into a Boy vs. Girl rivalry? Pure Entertainment! Not to mention the great romance, the sizzling chemistry between Cash and Lissa had me hooked. Well-written and infused with humour, Shut Out is definitely a novel you wouldn't want to miss!

I still looking for a book with a protagonist called Lisa. Lissa ( short for Melissa) is close but not CLOSE ENOUGH! I want to be special like all the Jessicas and Laurens out there! Anyway I really liked Lissa. Really she works at the library, cares for her family and friends and she's nice and sweet! What's not to love? What more is that she's level-headed and she thinks before she acts and she doesn't drop everything for a boy! Very likable character! Randy...your typical cliched footballer. Cash - gorgeous. It's a sort-of love triangle because Lissa is with Randy but she loves Cash? So I wouldn't really consider it as a love triangle! Great cast, loved all the girls ( and the boys too)!

I'll finish off by saying - Shut Out was brilliant! Filled with romance, wit and humour, I was hooked from the first page! Kody Keplinger is a brilliant writer with a fantastic YA voice, I can't wait to see what she has install for us next! Highly entertaining, I would definitely ditch Friday nights to stay in and read this! Shut Out is a novel about a rivalry gone wrong. Amazing!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Wolfsbane

Review Time! Wolfsbane is the sequel to Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. I'm still a little upset they got rid of the pretty covers but what is done is done right? The cover that's shown in this review is the UK/AUS cover which is not too bad  but seriously the old covers were so much more catchy! Anyway, thanks to Hachette for sending me a review copy!

(Goodreads) Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered.

But then the Searchers make her an offer,one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

The Short Story? - The highly anticipated sequel to Nightshade does not disappoint! Fast-paced and packed with action and romance, Wolfsbane is bound to sate your craving for words! Truths unfold, lies resurface and the ultimate decision between love and loyalty. A captivating novel filled drama and tension, Cremer has written yet another masterpiece that will leave you craving for more!

The Long Story? - The plot was stuffed to the brim with action, romance and drama. Wolfsbane picks up from where Nightshade ended, therefore the start was a little confusing. I have an awful memory and honestly it took me at least 90 pages to get back into the story. I thought Shay was still human!!! Anyway, I've rekindled with my love for the series, Wolfsbane was brilliant. Well-written, organised and comfortable. Everything flowed, it was so easy to read! We learn quite alot about the history of the Keepers, Searchers and Guardians and I don't know how Cremer comes up with these extravagant ideas! Lot's of heart-pounding action and plenty of romance, definitely one for all to enjoy!

I really admire Cremer because not only does she have to give her character's human characteristics, she has to give them animal ones too. She has to incorporate the animal half of them into her writing and that's surely not a piece of cake. Our protagonist Calla, is a strong heroine. Through the course of Wolfsbane I only grew to like her more and more. She's level-headed and she's not one of those silly little girls who drop everything for love. Important things like saving Ren. Ren...made some pretty silly mistakes in this novel and I was shocked by hiss actions but I understand why he did it. Ren loves Calla who ditched him to run of with Shay, who wouldn't be hurt? Still, the ending suggests that Calla and Ren are not over so TEAM REN! Shay, has good intentions but I really don't like to boy! I really don't see what Calla sees in him but then love s blind right? It's a love triangle but I hope Cremer has written it so that it's not too cliched.

I'll leave you with a very strong encouragement to pick up the series. It's nothing like anything you have ever read! This is one AMAZING series. Cremer is a fantastic story-teller and her writing is beautiful. After the cliff-hanger ending, I can't wait to read Bloodrose! Wolfsbane is a brilliant sequel that's filled with love, loss and loyalty. One heck of a page-turner, you'll regret not picking it up!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

The Lying Game

Review Time! The Lying Game is the start of a new YA series by New York Times Bestselling author, Sara Shepard. You might have heard of Pretty Little Liars? Well, she wrote it! The Lying Game is now also a TV series created by ABC family, along with Pretty Little Liars. Thanks so much to Harpercollins for the review copy!

(Goodreads) I had a life anyone would kill for.


Then someone did.


The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.


Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

The Short Story? – A highly addictive beginning to a fantastic series! The Lying Game is going to keep you up to the wee hours of the morning. Filled with mystery, suspense and dirty secrets – this is the insider’s scoop to the dirty laundry of the rich and young. The Lying Game is sinister and dangerous. All the glam of Gossip Girl with a killer edge!


The Long Story? – Shepard has done it again! I don’t know where the lady gets all these plots from but they are brilliant! Another twisted tale starring the poor little rich girl. From the first page I was hooked on. Shepard writes yet another clever story filled with dirty secrets, killer intentions and enough mystery and suspense to keep you up thinking at night! Beautifully written, well planned and comfortable to read, The Lying Game is addictive! Shepard keeps readers guessing throughout the entire novel, just when you think you’ve solved the mystery something turns up to question your decisions! Put on your detective hats on, we have a murder to solve!

Shepard is the Queen of Mystery. From her plot to her characters, she gives “air of mystery” an entirely different meaning. I love her characterization. She has a way of developing characters so that they can carry all their dirty secret and keep their air of mystery without getting to the point of being vague. She created this entire cast of characters with different personalities and every one of them has dirty secrets and less than pure intentions. Emma (pretending to be Sutton) our protagonist is a very likeable character. She’s nice, her intentions are good and she’s putting her life on the line trying to solve this murder. I’m sniffing out a possible romance between Emma and Ethan (who is really smexy), let’s hope they get together in Never Have I Ever shall we? Characters are wonderfully portrayed and well developed, definitely a cast that you will love.

I have to hand it to Shepard! She never fails to impress. Who doesn’t love book about the rich and beautiful with killer intentions (literally)? An addictive new series that will leave you craving for more! A murder that set everything in motion, a long-lost twin sister living the life of a dead girl, a murderer who would do anything to stay unknown. Glamorous, sinister and dangerous, The Lying Game will leave you hooked on for dear life!

Rating – 5/5


Badass Bookie xx

In My Mailbox #34

Hey Lovelies! It's In My Mailbox time! IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren where we all show the bookish contents of our mailbox! If you've been with me for some time, you will know I'm lazy and only take part every second week! So my bookish hurl for the last two weeks...

For Review -

Dark Angel by Eden Maguire

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done by Sarah Mlynowski

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Nocturne by Christine Johnson ( not pictured)

( Thanks to Hachette and Simon and Schuster)

Bought -

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Won/RAK -

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Entwined by Heather Dixon

( Thanks to Kai @ Amaterasu Reads and Kristen @ The Book Monsters)

Trade -

One Night that Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

I Now Pronounce You as Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

( Thanks to Holly, Tez and Lux)

That's all!

Badass Bookie xx

Spellbound

Review Time! Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz is a 2011 YA debut. Again, if you don't recognise the cover it's because it's the Australian edition. The US cover is good but not AS good :P This ones been on my radar and lot's of mixed reviews, hope my review sways your decision to read it! Thanks to Harlequin Teen for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But her new posh Upper East Side prep school? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to — Brendan
Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks, who is also the richest kid in school.


Even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps shatter whenever she walks by, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives — visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else...

The Short Story? - An impressive YA paranormal debut! Who doesn't love a story about rich kids in Manhattan with a paranormal twist? Spellbound is a novel that I can honestly say was a fantastic love story. A spellbinding ( pun intended) romance, a curse that brings death and a plot filled with drama and tension. A captivating mix of danger and humour. A charming novel that will bring out raw emotions!

The Long Story? - I was sold by 'posh Upper East Side prep school'. Um, WHO DOESN'T LIKE BOOKS ABOUT RICH BITCH BENNIES? Although the kids were actually pretty nice with exceptions of course but no blood sacrifices or oaths in this novel. I don't know how you can give this novel something like a 1/5 or 2/5 or even a 3/5, I mean it's was so cute! It wasn't perfect but it was "this" close.

The plot was really good. It wasn't perfect, there was this "tiny" detail that really got on my nerves but overall I actually really, really enjoyed it! It was different because a) no vampires b) no werewolves and c) it's more about a curse that's a little supernatural rather than "things that go bump with the night". I can safely say that all the characters are human even if some are reincarnated souls. Well-written and a very organised and planned plot. Lot's of drama, tension and romance. There's even a heart-pounding chase! The thing that really did it for me was the romance though. A great love story, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I love the idea of star-crossed lover who are reincarnated souls destined to be together in every lifetime only to be torn apart. It's really, really clever and as a romance junkie I loved every minute of it. Shultz is a great writer who infuses her writing with humour. Definitely one I would recommend you to check out!

Shultz has a very strong and comfortable YA voice which is carried out through our protagonist Emma. I like my protagonists to be a little flawed because it's so cliched to have the "perfect" main character and Emma wasn't perfect but she was extremely likable. Firstly, she had a great sense of humour, something that I always look for in my mains. Secondly, she has a backbone, you can't be a heroine if you're scared all the time - I don't like weak characters. Thirdly, she was nice and she had personality - it annoys me to no end when I read books where mains have boring personalities or worse - no personalities at all. Brendan, one of my favourite "guy" characters of the year. He was fun and nice and sweet and had a sense of humour and I just couldn't help but fall in love with him! A great cast and very well developed!

If you're sitting at home hesitating about this book, I hope you read it because I really enjoyed. A very charming debut, I'm sure that Shultz has more install for us but Spellbound was a great novel. Fantastic plot, beautifully written, a great love story and character you'll love. A paranormal debut that is both dark and dangerous yet funny and witty! Spellbound will captivate you, a definite crowd pleaser!

Rating - 4.5/5 ( it's "this" close to a 5/5)

Badass Bookie xx

All These Things I've Done

Review Time! All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin, who hasn't heard about this book? In case you don't recognise the cover, it's the same book as the one with the chocolate heart on the front? Can't say I prefer the US cover though, this one is stunning! Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Sixteen year-old Anya becomes the head of a mafia family after her parents are both murdered by rival gangs. Although Anya is embroiled in the criminal world, she is determined to keep her brother and sister out of the mafia family, but her father's relatives aren't so keen to let them go. When Anya's violent ex-boyfriend is poisoned with contaminated chocolate – chocolate that is produced illegally by Anya's mafia family – she is arrested for attempted murder and sent to the notorious jail on Manhattan Island.



Eventually she is freed by the new D.A. in town, who believes she has been framed. But this D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn, and her freedom comes with conditions. Win's father wants to be mayor, and he can't risk having his ambition jeopardised by rumours spreading that his son is seeing a member of a notorious crime family. Anya knows she risks the safety of her family by seeing Win again, but the feeling between them may be too strong to resist...

The Short Story? - The Godfather has a baby girl! All These Things I've Done is a dystopian debut like no other! Original, intense, dark and dangerous, readers will be hooked onto Anya's adventures in the notorious criminal world of future Manhattan. A world where chocolate is illegal, an epic romance and a girl who has to choose between her family and her love. Packed with drama and tension, All These Things I've Done is a moving story about a girl and her never ending struggles.

The Long Story? - I surprise even myself how much I enjoy reading about criminals and mafia families. Don't know whether that makes me evil or weird but... I love Ally Carter books and this is sort of like an Ally Carter book but set in the future with less action and more romance. In other words, it's right down my alley.

When I said Zevin has written a dystopian like no other I wasn't joking. I have a love/hate relationship with YA dystopian, I love the whole idea of creating a new society based on the flaws of human nature but I hate how all the plots evolve around this idea of freedom. Honestly, it's getting a little old. So when I picked up All These Things I've Done, I wasn't all that excited. First thing I released - Hey, this isn't so bad. I actually like this Anya chick. Second thing - Ohhhh this is awfully realistic almost like reading  a contemporary, thank God we're not being given the whole 'fight for freedom' shebang. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, Zevin has written a Dystopian that crosses over with YA contemporary. Anya isn't trying to overthrow the government, she's just trying to take control of her life, LIKE A NORMAL TEENAGER. Filled with family dramas ( this girl's life really is quite a mess), the dangers of the criminal world of future Manhattan and a love story that both heartbreaking and moving, I would definitely recommend this to all the YA readers out there looking for something different!

I really liked Anya, she was level-headed, realistic and willing to make sacrifices for her family, which is something I admire. She's willing to put her family before love something not a lot of girls would do. She was exposed to the cruelty of the world at a young age since both of her parents were murdered. She has to look after her sister and her brother yet she still struggles to live a somewhat normal life. At sixteen, she's been through so much more than other girls. A truly admirable and courageous character. Win our love interest is great, I don't really know him well enough but he obviously cares about Anya and loves her. It helps that he's hot :P However the person the person who truly stole my heart was Yuri Ono, I really wish Anya would get together with him *sigh*. He was kind, considerate and he understood her pain, if not for the measly age difference, they would be perfect! Look forward to seeing more of him in the next book!

It's almost impossible to find someone who doesn't like to read Dystopian so I recommend this to all the Dystopian lovers! All These Things I've Done is well-written and original, a dystopian like no other! ( Lisa, you've said that already1) It's realistic, it's dark, it's dangerous. A captivating story told by a girl who lives in the heart of Manhattans criminal world. A struggle between love and family, it's a novel that will linger long after the last page. This one is a keeper.

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Review time! Stephanie Perkins is the author of Anna and the French Kiss ( great book! go read it!) and Lola and the Boy Next Door is the highly anticipated companion novel. I can hardly express how excited I was when the mailman delivered it to me, I took photos, PHOTOS.Thanks to Penguin for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.


When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.
 
The Short Story? - Lola is...totally, epically, completely awesome! Funny, cute and romantic, Lola and the Boy Next Door is the best rom-com since well, Anna and the French Kiss! Fantastic characterisation ( did I mention that Etienne and Anna make an appearance???), awesome plot and one swoon-worthy romance! A fantastic YA voice, Perkins has written yet another winner!

The Long Story? - Lola and the Boy Next Door was almost too hot to handle. I mean a novel with both Etienne AND Cricket, wow it was really heating up! I had ridiculously high expectations for Lola because Anna was life-changing - like really it changed me, it was my Eat, Pray, Love. Luckily Lola did not disappoint or else I would have probably cried.

I’ll start by explaining who Lola is. It goes without saying that Lola is our protagonist, the star of the show. I really liked Lola, she was funny, cute, different and a very nice girl. I liked her outrageous fashion, I mean costume choices, I liked her gay parents (okay, this is got to be coolest thing ever! Her parents are sooooo awesome!), I even liked her boyfriend Max, although he wasn’t really my type. The boy next door is Cricket. He’s got to be one of my favourite fictional boyfriends! He’s a total sweetie and he’s completely amazing, I’m surprised that I didn’t melt into a puddle. I want a boyfriend just like Cricket!!! Both leads were very likeable and well-developed characters but the best part of the characterization was that Etienne and Anna made a re-appearance! My love for Etienne has renewed and I hope he marries Anna and they live happily ever after with their friendly neighbors Lola and Cricket. This characterization is as close to perfection as it would ever get!


The plot was funny and cute and hopelessly romantic. In a nutshell, Lola has this great life and a great boyfriend until Cricket moves back in next door and she has to face her feelings for the boy next door again. I loved it, I read it from cover to cover in less than a day and I wish I could experience the joy of reading Lola for the first time again. Well-written, original and comfortable, Lola started with a bang and ended with a grand finale. Romance junkies would approve, paranormal fanatics would secretly enjoy and YA readers, Lola and the Boy Next Door should be placed on your TBR immediately because this is YA at its best!

I hope that everyone of you booklovers, rush to get your hands on a copy and ditch your boyfriends to read Lola and the Boy Next Door because it’s totally worth. Perkins is an author I’ve grown to love and admire, her books are like my Bible and I can’t wait to see what she has install for us next. Fantastic characterization, wonderful plot and excellent writing. Lola and the Boy Next Door is a rom-com that you won’t want to miss!

Rating – 5/5


Badass Bookie xx