Review: The Statistical Probability of Love by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Publication: January 2, 2012

Publisher: Poppy

Format: Purchased Kindle copy

Rating: 3/5

Challenges: 2013 TBR Pile & E-Book

Summary:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more? Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

My Thoughts

I’ve always been a believer in fate. Maybe it’s the hopeless romantic in me but I’ve always hoped that there was something more out there than meets the eye. I’ve imagined that all things happen for a reason so when I heard about this book I was totally taken by the concept of it.

As much as I liked the idea of the book when I read it I wasn’t that taken by it. I know I’m in the minority here. I’ve heard so many amazing things about it that maybe I just built it up too much in head. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed it, I just wasn’t swept up by it like so many other people. Personally I just didn’t buy into the whole Hadley and Oliver "couple". I enjoyed their personal stories more.

All in all I enjoyed this story. I just think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I didn’t build it up in my mind so much. I think I just put too many expectations on it before I read it.

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay [If I Stay #1] by Gayle Forman

Published: April 2009
Publisher: Speak
Format: Kindle E-Copy
Challenges: 2013 TBR Pile & E-Book
Rating: 5/5

 A critically acclaimed novel that will change the way you look at life, love, and family. In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heart wrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time. [Goodreads]

My Thoughts

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why on earth have I waited this long to read this book??!! From the first page I was hooked. I loved the story of Mia and her relationships with her family and especially Adam. The moment I realized she was in the accident I wanted to cry. Ok so I did cry several times throughout the book.

The writing was so realistic and beautiful it took my breath away. Now I know why everyone loves Gayle Forman’s writing so much. The way she writes through Mia’s voice was heartbreaking. Struggling with what choice to make was gut wrenching. Needless to say I’m now an official fan and will buy any and everything she writes.

I can’t wait to read Where She Went, which is the second book in the series. I read the sample via my Kindle and man oh man I was hooked again. Seeing how it’s told through the voice of Adam I so excited to see what happens! This is one series and author I just can’t get enough of.

Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Publication: February 1, 1999

Publisher: MTV Books

Format: Purchased Kindle copy

Challenges: 2013 TBR Pile & 2013 Ebook Challenge

Rating: 4/5

[Goodreads] Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.
Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix-tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

My Thoughts

I went into reading this with as much as a clean slate as I possibly could. I’ve heard so many amazing things about it that I had to read it for myself. I tried to avoid all reviews [which were hard] and the movie. The movie part was sort of easy, since I don’t really like seeing a movie adapted from books anyways.

I must say I adored this book! The writing was wonderfully done and the characters were beyond rich in depth. I loved how the characters were true to teens. It never downplayed or overplayed depictions of a modern day teen. Although I will say as much as I loved Charlie he was a bit winey for my taste. Understanding why he is the way he is, was a shock to me. I actually didn’t see that coming.

This is one of those coming of age books that everyone needs to read. The story is timeless. No matter who you are and how old you are you can truly understand the trials of growing up. Not to mention finding out who you are and who you are meant to be.

2013 TBR Challenge - Finalized Reading List

Earlier this month I decided to enter my first reading challenge. It's the TBR 2013 Challenge. I finally got around to making my list of books TBR. Some are 2012 reads I got/bought but never read, others are older than that. I'm so behind!

I had originally stated my goal was: A Firm Handshake [1-10 books]

My new goal is: A Friendly Hug [11-20 books]

I'm hoping *fingers crossed* to do 15... here's my list!

*2013 TBR List*

[no order]

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
Live Through This - Mindi Scott
Where She Went - Gayle Forman
Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah
A Sweethaven Summer – Courtney Walsh
The Choice - Robert Whitlow
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty - Joshilyn Jackson
Gods in Alabama – Joshilyn Jackson
If I Stay - Gayle Forman
Divergent - Veronica Roth
Bossypants - Tina Fey
The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
The Summer I Learned to Dive - Shannon McCrimmon

TBR PILE Reading Challenge

Welcome to 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!!!

6 BLOGGERS, 12 MINI-CHALLENGES, 24 BOOKS TO WIN!!!
We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D

Challenge Guidelines:

This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 - Dec 31, 2013.

Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, as long as you review the book you've read! (On your blog, Amazon or Goodreads/Shelfari!)
Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2012 and earlier! NO 2013 ARCs and 2013 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2013 TBR PILE Reading Challenge. (If you don't have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Tweet!)
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
On the 20th of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. The giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up! (i.e. the entire month)
If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - a box of books.
You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!
Levels:
(how many books you're planning to read for this challenge in 2013)


1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Schedule:
January 20th:
Evie @Bookish (www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com)

February 20th: Rachel @Fiktshun (http://www.fiktshun.com)

March 20th: Justin @Justin's Book Blog (http://www.justinsbookblog.com/)

April 20th: Tiffany @Escaping.. One Book At A Time (http://escapingonebookatatime.blogspot.com/)

May 20th: Bonnie @Words At Home (www.wordsathome.ca/)

June 20th: Justin @Justin's Book Blog (http://www.justinsbookblog.com/)

July 20th: Emily @Doodle's Book Blog (doodlesbookblog.blogspot.com/)

August 20th: Tiffany @Escaping One Book At A Time (http://escapingonebookatatime.blogspot.com/)

September 20th: Rachel @Fiktshun (http://www.fiktshun.com)

October 20th: Emily @Doodle's Book Blog (doodlesbookblog.blogspot.com/)

November 20th: Bonnie @Words At Home (www.wordsathome.ca/)

December 20th: This one will be posted on all the blogs. There will also be a huge BOX OF BOOKS giveaway and this time you can link up ALL YOUR TBR Pile REVIEWS you wrote for the entire year!

SIGN UP HERE

Since this is my first TBR challegne I'm going with: A Firm Handshake [1-10 books]. If over time I can do more I will move it up to the next level.

My Reads [List to come in a few days]

Sign up and join in on the fun!