Late to the Game [6] If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Late to the Game is a series I do featuring books that everybody and their mommy have read…except me. The thing is 99% of the time I have these books but they have just been pushed back on my TBR pile. This won’t be a review of sorts seeing how everyone already knows the basics of the story but more of what I felt and how it affected me. I’ve dedicated this feature to try to put a dent in my pile and also to see if they live up to the hype…good and/or bad.

      

If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Format: purchased

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis [If I Stay]

On a day that started like any other. Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, and loving.

Synopsis [Where She Went]

It's been three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life. And three years he's spent wondering why. When their paths cross again in New York City, Adam and Mia are brought back together for one life-changing night.

Adam finally has the opportunity to ask Mia the questions that have been haunting him. But will a few hours in this magical city be enough to lay their past to rest, for good - or can you really have a second chance at first love?

My Thoughts

Talk about heart wrenching! If I Stay will pull at your heart strings like no other book I swear. It’s a story of strength and a love that’s like no other. I dare you read this and NOT feel something….anything! Where She Went picks up a few years later and is told by Adam’s view point. 

Mia and Adam’s love is like no other I’ve read. The love is so grand and powerful that you completely forget that they are very young. It will stand the test of time because you know it’s real, it’s meant to be, it’s simply something that can’t be denied.

When I read that it was being made into a movie I was like NO!! Let’s be honest film hasn’t been too kindly to novels. However after seeing that Chloe Grace Moretz was cast as Mia I was convinced this would be awesome, she is one of my faves she can’t really do wrong in my eyes. Plus after seeing the trailers…OMG I was done. If I can ball my eyes out in a 2 minute trailer I will be a wreck once I see the whole film. While the film looks like it will be true to the book and awesome I HIGHLY encourage anyone who hasn’t to read the books now before the movie comes out, you won’t be disappointed although you may be kicking yourself that it took you so long to read it to begin with.

   

Late to the Game [5]: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Late to the Game is a series I do featuring books that everybody and their mommy have read…except me. The thing is 99% of the time I have these books but they have just been pushed back on my TBR pile. This won’t be a review of sorts seeing how everyone already knows the basics of the story but more of what I felt and how it affected me. I’ve dedicated this feature to try to put a dent in my pile and also to see if they live up to the hype…good and/or bad.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR

Format: purchased

Ratings: 5/5

Synopsis

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

My Thoughts

I loved this book on SO many levels! Although it deals with some tough issues I loved how the road trip was almost like therapy. The chemistry between Amy and Roger was very interesting. I enjoyed how it slowly grew and wasn’t rushed like in some other novels. I felt that we were passengers with them as they explored the country and worked out their issues. As much as I adore books I also enjoy music so finding out that music played a major role in this book was such a highlight for me. The playlists were amazing and I thought they went well with the storyline and the states they travelled through. This is one road trip book that is so wonderful and amazing it’s beyond words. It’s all about healing, life lessons and most importantly finding yourself. Sometimes life’s little detours are way more healing that things that are planned.

Late to the Game [4]: The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han

Late to the Game is a series I do featuring books that everybody and their mommy have read…except me. The thing is 99% of the time I have these books but they have just been pushed back on my TBR pile. This won’t be a review of sorts seeing how everyone already knows the basics of the story but more of what I felt and how it affected me. I’ve dedicated this feature to try to put a dent in my pile and also to see if they live up to the hype…good and/or bad.

  

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR

Format: purchased series

Ratings:

The Summer I Turned Pretty: 5/5

It’s Not Summer without You: 4/5

We’ll Always Have Summer: 5/5

Synopsis

Belly has always lived for the summertime because it means all her favorite things: swimming, the beach and the Fisher boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. She has spent every summer with them at Cousins Beach for as long as she can remember. She has always been in love with Conrad and finally, one summer, it seems like he might have feelings for her too. But it turns out, so does Jeremiah.

As the summers go on, Belly has to choose between two brothers who love her as she comes to the realization that she will have to break one of their hearts.

My Thoughts

I’ve heard so many awesome things about this series I knew I had to read it at some point. After reading To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before I knew I had to read it NOW. I read the first one The Summer I Turned Pretty in literally a day. LOVED it! Needless to say I devoured the next two back to back.

This series definitely lived up to the hype. I fell in love with Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad. Ok maybe not so much Conrad. At least not so much in the beginning, I thought he was mean and rude but then after getting into the series I realized the kind of person he was. Just like me. Yeah that’s right I said like ME. I saw myself in him as far as how he always distances himself and his feelings towards other. He doesn’t always show emotions nor does he speak his feels that often. It’s not that he doesn’t want to; he just doesn’t want to get rejected or hurt.

Jenny Han paints the picture of Cousins beach with such realness that I could close my eyes and see it. I could smell the salty air and feel the wind coming off the water. Not only are there wonderful characters but the supporting cast is amazing as well. However what I loved and enjoyed the most was how I got so invested in these characters so fast. Seeing them grow up and dealing with an issue that at times breaks your heart. There is not one of us who can’t identify with the triumphs and tragedies of growing up and trying to find out where and how we fit  into this crazy world. Throw in some romance and heartache you can’t go wrong. This is one read I wished I read earlier however I’m so glad I got to meet and fall in love with them and you should too.

Late to the Game [3]: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Late to the Game is a series I do featuring books that everybody and their mommy have read…except me. The thing is 99% of the time I have these books but they have just been pushed back on my TBR pile. This won’t be a review of sorts seeing how everyone already knows the basics of the story but more of what I felt and how it affected me. I’ve dedicated this feature to try to put a dent in my pile and also to see if they live up to the hype…good and/or bad.

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

Published: January 2012

Publisher: Dutton Books

Format: purchased copy

Rating 5/5

Synopsis

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

I went into this thinking it was a book about cancer and yes it is but that’s just a sliver of what it’s all about. It’s a book about life and living it to its fullest. It’s about love and if you’re lucky enough to find it then embrace it, relish in it for no matter how long you have it. I would rather have a few moments of wonderful,blissful, earth-shattering love than a lifetime of nothing.

The love between Hazel and Augustus is one for the ages. I have never felt so taken by a book in all my life. It goes between teen romances; it’s just that unstoppable beyond this universe kind of thing. We owe it all to John Green. His words are like magic, he comes up with words and phrases that I couldn’t even fathom. All we all know the movie comes out tomorrow and this is one book to screen read I can’t wait for, from what I can tell it looks so amazing! This is one of those once and a lifetime type of books that will continue to make an impact for decades to come, and I for one am so happy and honored John Green shared it with all of us.

Late to The Game [2]: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Late to the Game is a little feature I’ve been doing that focuses on books that seems like everyone’s read but me. This one features…

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Published: February 28, 2012  

Format: Kindle purchased

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Rating: 4/5

Seeing how it seems like everyone has read Divergent but me I won’t do this as a review so much but just some rambling about my thoughts on it.

I must admit I was a tad apprehensive when it came to reading this. I was back and forth if I wanted to start another series. Was I going to like it and feel as crazy about it as so many others seemed to be? Most importantly did I really want to invest the time to read that huge of a book? lol Well I went for it and what can I say I loved it!

I loved how Tris wasn’t your typical heroine. She just represents your average girl who was just trying to find her way and find out who she was. In the process she finds out she is more powerful then she could ever imagine. What wouldn’t be a great read without a little romance? Although I love the other parts a little more I love the interaction between her and Four.

Now seeing how the movie comes out today I must admit when I heard it was becoming a movie that made me want to read the book more. I know book to movie adaptations can be god awful! So when I first heard about the actors cast I was a bit scared. Though I like Shailene Woodley I didn’t see her as Tris. However when I finally saw the previews I totally bought it, I can’t wait to see it! The trailer looks so cool and very true to the book... dare I say it even looks better than the Hunger Games?? *GASPS* I know it’s not fair to compare the two they are totally different so I won’t.

So to wrap it up… I’m a Divergent believer now. I got sucked in once again by an amazing story and characters that leap off the page and take you on a ride you will never forget. Now I will admit I haven’t read the complete series…yet…but I will…if anything the movies put pressure for me to finish.

Do you have any wildly popular books you can suggest that I haven’t read it? 

Late to the Game: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Since I’ve started blogging my TBR list has been growing by the day. So in honor of that I'm doing a feature called Late to the Game. This will feature books that just about everyone [but me] has read. Hey like they say...better late than never...right?

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Published: May 2009

Format: Kindle purchased

Publisher: Simon and Schuster BYR

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

My Thoughts

I was a little nervous when I first decided to read this novel. I had never read a Jenny Han book before and I’m always nervous when it comes to reading a book or series that so many people love and adore. I’m always scared that I won’t like it or even worse it won’t live to the hype, not so much the hype from others but the one I’ve built up in my head. Well I’m glad to say this has lived up to it and more.

I quickly feel in love with Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad. The summer world that Jenny Han built was near perfection. I totally envisioned myself at the beach right along with them. I loved the tale of these friends who were more like family who grew up together every summer. I also loved the flashbacks of the summers past; it gave us some insight on how everyone grew over time. Like any girl coming of age, Belly is dealing with the pains of growing up and figuring out who she is and her growing feelings for the boys in her life. While she has always loved more than the other she still feels torn and is trying to figure out if what she ever feels is even real.

In reading this it can’t help but bring back those memories of that first crush and trying to figure out if its love or not. That summer has been the hardest for Belly, dealing with her parents divorce, coming to terms with who she really wants to give her heart to and deciding wither or not just to declare her true feelings and let the chips fall where they may.

This novel is the perfect contemporary YA beach read. It has characters you won’t be able to forget and a storyline that captures you from the very first sentence. I honestly don’t know why I’ve waited so long to read it, and now that I have I can’t wait to find out how the rest of the series plays out.

Quotable moments…

*Moments when lost can’t be found again. They’re just gone.

*Sometimes it’s like people are a million times more beautiful to you in your mind. It’s like you see them through a special lens- but maybe if it’s how you seen them, that’s how they really are.

THE BOTTOM LINE... IT'S...