Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Group: YA
Rating: 5/5
Source: Publisher

Avery Hood is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.

She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before.

It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...

But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben?



What a book! I read this one in one day and actually stayed up all night finishing it because I couldn't put it down. LOW RED MOON is a fast paced love story that has you eating away its pages to find out more.

Avery Hood has just lost her parents and the way Devlin descibes her pain, it so real for me. It wasn't as though Avery was sad for losing them for just two pages and then was jumping in jpy because the hottest boy in town loves her. Her pain lasted throughout the entire book and her quest on finding who killed them followed. I was scared for her. Whoever had done it, (you'll be guessing until the end) wanted Avery dead as well. And when Avery descibes what happened that night, what she saw, all I could was cry.

The plot was pretty typical, but for me it doesn't matter. What really matters is if the story can grab my attention and take me on a ride until the last page. This book did it for me.

The ending, was perfect. Everything was solved and and I'll just say there is a happily ever after.

The cover is absolutly gorgeous!!!!! The red foil captures the story so well and when I first recieved this book, I kept on looking at the cover.

Overall, if you love werewolves and a good mystery/romance, this book is for you. It keeps the suspence until the very end.

Confessions of the Sulliavn Sisters by Natalie Stadiford

Publisher: Scholastic
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4/5
Source: Publisher

The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.

Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

If you're thinking this book is going to be a big mystery, it's not. That was my first reaction when I first got this one, but even though it's not, it was really good!

The Sullivan Family find out that their very rich and powerful grandma (a.k.a. Almighty) will not be including them in her will since she soon is going to die. Now without her money, they basically will become poor. Almighty did say that she might change her mind if the person who hurt her comes to her with a confession by New Years Eve. So now everything begins.

The book is divided into three part, each of the Sullivan sisters confessing their story. And as you reach to the last sister, the confessions become more serious and you'll be gaping the entire time.

The ending was very unexpecting for me. I didn't think that was going to happen.

The cover was beautiful. The three girls are how I imagined the three sisters with their confessions right behind them at their grandma's house.

Overall, I enjoyed this book becuase it was an interesting read and who doesn't enjoy reading some good confessions?

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 5/5
Source: Publisher

Release Date: August 1, 2011

Abby and Luke chat online. They’ve never met. But they are going to. Soon.
When Abby meets Luke online, she can’t believe her luck. He’s nice. He’s funny. He listens to her and he thinks she’s pretty. He even gets jealous of other guys, which is adorable. Without Luke, Abby’s not sure how she’d make it through her first year of high school. Everyone, including her mom and her best friend, Faith, tells Abby that if she just made more of an effort, she’d be having fun instead of dreading each and every day as if it’s a prison sentence. But there’s nothing fun about being the lowest link in the social food chain.
Abby knows she’s not supposed to chat with random guys online. But Luke isn’t random, and he isn’t a stranger. Best of all, he really loves her. So what if she never goes out with her friends anymore and her grades are slipping? All she needs is Luke. Luke is her secret, and she’s his — it’s perfect that way. So when Luke suggests that they meet each other in person, Abby agrees. And then she’s gone. Missing. Without a trace. And everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don’t, they’ll never see Abby again...


My interest for this book began with the whole concept of the lonely girl finding love online on a social network and then missing without a trace. We hear about this on the news, but I'd never read a book before about this subject. As I began reading this book, I just wanted to read 100 pages, but I found myself flipping through all the pages and not able to stop.

I wanted to know more about this Luke guy and how he lured Abby in. And when Abby was missing, I wanted to find out what Luke was doing to her and how the FBI were going to find her. I didn't know the answer myself and I kept thinking how they were going to find her, but I had no idea how the author was going to make this happen. As I read along the plot only grew more intense and all I wanted was Abby to be safe.

Littman knows how to grab the reader from the first page and make them read until the end - biting their nails off. This book shows the dangers of internet predators and how one girl who felt as though no one loved her except this guy online, fell into a trap. Abby was a smart girl, but the stress of starting high school got into her and Luke seemed to care.

Overall, if you like a good suspence story, this book is for you. You are going to hate Luke and wonder how Abby fell for it all.

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch

Publisher: Poppy
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4/5
Source: Publisher

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.


What really drew my interest in this book was the whole concept of secret societies and it takes place in the South. I love a good book that has this ancient society with so many mysteries tangled inside its roots and the new girl has to figure it all out. This book had it all.

Alex grew up in California with her mom as a hippie, but once her mom died in a tragic car accident, she went to live with her very rich and young looking grandmother in Savannah. Alex hated the life of being rich even though she was getting everything she wanted. Hayes and Madison are apart of The Magnolia League and they become Alex's friend and show her the new life of being a Magnolia.

I was really suprised that the author threw in hoodoo into this, but let me tell you, it only made the book a million times better. It gave the book this creep factor and you wanted to know what was really behind these spells. Alex goes out to find the truth of the Magnolia League and what they're really hiding and why none of them ever leave Savannah.

The cover is beautiful. It's very dark and I love the girl with the white dress sitting on a lavish chair and the dark forest of Savannah surrounding her.

Overall, if you're into secret societies and southern secrets, this book is for you and it does not disappoint.

Bleed by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4/5
Source: Publisher

Over the course of a single day, the lives of ten teenagers will intersect in powerful and unexpected ways.

Among them are Nicole, whose decision to betray her best friend will shock everyone, most of all herself; Kelly, who meets the convicted felon she’s been writing to for years; and Maria, whose definition of a true friend is someone who will cut her. Derik discovers his usual good looks and charm won’t help him get the girl he really wants, while Joy, a fifteen year old waitress, hoping for true intimacy, narrowly escapes a very dark fate.

Seamlessly woven together, this collection of interconnected short stories paints an authentic portrait of today’s teen experience that is at once funny, moving, and often very haunting.


This book was not what I expected at all. I thought it was going to be boring about the lives of ten teenagers, but it far more than boring. I read this one in one sitting (it was short). But even though some books may be short, it doesn't mean you're able to read them quickly. I know I'm not. But Stolarz has something about her writing that makes you want to continue and it never gets boring. She knows how to keep her readers continuing her books and that's what I've come to love about her writing and her as well.

Now I'm not going to say much about the book since it will only give it away, but it was very enjoyable and at times I didn't know if I should be trusting a particular character. Now the cover, I thought was very simple and not the best one I've seen, but the title has a big meaning in the book as ou will see from each of the teenagers.

Overall, I enjoyed this book since it was a good quick-read.

Firelight Swag Pack!

The Book Mermaid is hosting a giveaway!! What I’m giving away is a swag pack of FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan!

Okay so here are the rules:

      1.       You have to be a followers of my blog www.thebookmermaid.blogspot.com

2.       You can earn one (1) extra points by tweeting about this.

3.       Being a followers you can earn an additional three (3) points.

4.       Just email me at thebookmermaid@gmail.com with the heading Firelight Swag Pack or something familiar , send me your links as well and then on July 6, 2011 I’ll choose a winner at random!

Good Luck to everyone and please spread the word!!

 -Anastasia (The Book Mermaid)

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
Source: Publisher

His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?

Abby's senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

There is only one word I can say for this book. Wow! I was mezmerized right from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. I never wanted to put it down. Abby was such a nice person and all the pain she felt, I felt as well. All the time I kepy wondering why would people even hurt her so much. But once Dante came in, I found someone else to fall for. There's so much about him and he's so mysterious and that only made me want to know more about him. His past has so much and this book was a very unique story.

Mangum has created a new plot in which fans of Alyson Noel's IMMORTAL'S Series will love. It was fresh and new and simply captivating. As you delve into the novel, you will see how much in influences the cover.

The ending made me cry and want to read the second book immediatly. It sort of is a cliff hanger, but it has a lot of emotion in it that when Abby began to cry, so did I.

Overall, this book was absolutly perfect and it has taken me on a ride I want to continue and never leave.

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 3/5
Source: Publisher

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.

His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered.

Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."

Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.

What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.


Never had I read a ghost story like this one before. Actually, I never have read a ghost story. I always wanted to read one and this book did it for me. It was a mystery through out and I enjoyed following Iris into finding what happened to Elijah. I didn't even try to guess what was happening because everytime I did, something twisted everything and I was left guessing again.

Iris was a fun and well developed character. She was determined to find out the truth, but was also a great friend. She wasn't the type of character that was always getting herself into trouble or making stupid mistakes. She knew what to do, and did it right.

The ending. What a big suprise - a surpise I never thought would ever be in this book. I never even imagined it. That's all I'm going to be saying.

The cover was okay for me. Not my favorite, though. It seemed to old, but it does give you the creep factor and you know there is a ghost story in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am glad my first ghost story was this one because not only will I be looking out for more of Mitchell's work, but alos will be looking for more ghost stories.

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

Publisher: Putnam
Age Group: YA
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Author

All new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity so she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. It's a fun and dangerous thrill at first, but Raye hadn't counted on falling for Julian herself and igniting Ella's rage. As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge, creating an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she's helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter. Adele Griffin's riveting novel explores the issues of generation Facebook: the desire to be someone else, real versus online friends, and the pitfalls and fallouts of posting your personal life online for all the world to judge.

The Julian Game was a light novel that really showed the dangers of being someone else online. Raye was a sweet girl and when she got the chance to be in the popular clique, she immediately took it, leaving her best friend for that day they were going to spend together. But being with the popular kids meant to Raye that someone was going to get hurt.

I enjoyed how the book's ending came out because I felt as though everything was resolved. I LOVED the cover of this book. It's so beautiful and it's exactly blue wigged Elizabeth. Putnam couldn't have done a better job with the cover!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to others who want to read about what happens when you expose yourself too much on the internet.

Kate Cann Interview

1. How did you get the idea for POSSESSED?

As with most of my books, it was a case of lots of ideas colliding. I wanted to write about manipulation within a teenage group; I was interested in the idea of how you can know who to trust; and then I got the chance to stay the night in an ancient manor house that became the template for Morton's Keep. Season that with my love of the power of nature, and the old pagan history of England, and I was away!  

2. The publishing business is hard to get into, how was your road to publication?

It was paved with good luck. I photocopied my first book DIVING IN ten times and sent it off to ten different publishers, and sat back with everything crossed! then after about 9 months, someone gave me a call ….  


3. When you're writing, do you listen to music or do you prefer to work in silence?

Definitely silence. I adore silence. I live in the country and I get shirty if anyone makes too much noise and stops me hearing the birds and the wind in the trees. 


4. When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I've loved writing since I was a child, and as a teenager I kept lurid diaries, but it was when I was working as an editor on teenage books that I was struck with the big-headed thought - I can do this. Then I did.

5. Will there be any more books after the sequel to POSSESSED, CONSUMED?

Not in that series I don't think. It's all pretty satisfactorily resolved at the end of CONSUMED. I'm currently writing a book called WITCH CRAG, set in a bleak dystopian future, about certain women having strong and maybe dangerous powers ….I'm loving it. 


6. What are three things we may not know about you?

I love toads. They rock.

I can get absorbed in my garden for hours on end and honestly think I've only been out there for 10 minutes.

Twilight is my favourite time of day.

My, I do sound like a witch, don't I??  



Thanks so much for this great interview, Kate!
Be sure to check out Kate Cann's books Possessed and Consumed and you can also visit her on her website at katecann.com

Everlasting by Alyson Noel

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 5/5
Source: Publisher


The sixth and final installment of the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. Ever and Damen have spent centuries facing down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever. Now in Everlasting, their destiny is finally within reach.
Will they be united—or torn apart forever? Readers will finally discover the truth in this anxiously awaited conclusion!


Ever since I started reading EVERMORE back in 2009, I fell in love with the series. I just couldn't wait for the day for the last book to come out and to find out Ever and Damen's fate and what was going to happen. When EVERLASTING arrived, I devoured it in one sitting. I just couldn't stop reading it.

Ever in this book meets Lotus who tells her that she has to travel alone for her destiny. Now was wasn't too sure about Lotus when I first met her. Throughout the  books ever has gotten herself in so much trouble, I was worried something bad was going to happen here. Ever's journey in EVERLASTING has its bumpy rides and happinesses, but I was very satisfied with the ending of the book.

I mean, I am going to miss Ever and Damen, but I'm so glad the ending was tied up in a perfect bow. THE IMMORTALS series has had evil characters, likable characters, but most of all, an amazing story written by an amazing author who has shown she has an amazing writing ability.

THE IMMORTALS series and EVERLASTING are a great additon to any library and I can't wait what Alyson Noel comes up with in her next books.

Torment by Lauren Kate

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4/5
Source: Publisher


Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students -Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

I don't know how to put my love for this book in words. I loved the first book and the second book was only better! Kate has an amazing way of writing that makes the reader get absorbed in and never want to let go. That's how I felt reading Torment. I felt so bad for Luce on how much she missed Daniel, and him being away, I missed him too.

The big fight at the end of the book was amazing. I'm not going to say much about it, but I will say the ending was a small cliffhanger and it will leave you breathless until Passion and Rapture come out.

The cover of this book was beautiful as always. Delacorte Press has done an amazing job on creating the covers of the Fallen Series.

Overall, if you loved Fallen, you will love Torment even more.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
Source: Bought

Some Angels are Destined to Fall
There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.


I fell in love with FALLEN when I saw it at the bookstore. The beautiful cover lured me in and I knew I just had to buy and I did. But as the book began, it was so slow! I kept thinking to myself - how is this book so bad? I really wanted to like it, but as I got into the book, it picked up speed. I found myself not able to put this one down.

I loved the way Kate developed her characters. Luce was not some sort of girl who just was scared, but she stood up for herself. Daniel was a big mystery through out the story. I wanted to know so much about him, but his arrogant self towards Luce was annoying. He was so mean to her, but towards the end he shows Luce that he truly loves her.

By now I guess you know this book is about fallen angels (hence the title and Daniel's last name). I was glad to read a book that was so different from the regualr vampires and werewolves.

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: YA
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Publisher

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?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

Never have I ever read a book from Sara Shepard. I never even have read Pretty Little Liars (I know I'm dying to read that one). But once I read this book, I fell in love with it. The beginning was a little slow for me, but once I got into the book, it was a big total mystery with drama, but mostly mystery. The narrator is Sutton's ghost, but for some reason, I didn't catch on to that for a long time in the book. Emma was a great character. Being grown up in a foster care, I felt so bad for her. But as she went in with Sutton's family, I saw the love from them and a whole new experience for Emma.

I thought the plot was amazing. Most books I've read are about paranormal creatures from vampires to werewolves to angels. Reading this book for a change was great and Sara Sheaprd really does know her stuff.

The cover of the book was absolutly beautiful. HarperTeen alaways does amazing book covers, but this one had a feel of mystery in it which I adored.

Overall, this book was a great quick read which left me guessing until the end and I can't wait to read the sequal, Never Have I Ever.

Haven by Kristi Cook

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4/5
Source: Publisher

One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

The first thing that popped out to me from this book was the amazing cover it has. It's so mysterious, yet eye-popping and it makes you want to know what this story is about. Also, the books and the butterfly lying on top made me wonder if it had some sort of meaning in the story. Then came the synopsis. Once I read that, I was sure that I was going to love this book, and I did.

Violet transfers to Winterhaven and she feels an urge - she knew it was the right place for her. And later on, she finds out what that urge meant and discovers the real meaning why she came to Winterhaven and who its students are. Then she falls for Aiden and he was always sweet to her and as the book progressed, I kept wondering what is he? I found out later in the book and I was shocked!

So many characters that I thought were good, turned out bad and the ones I thought were on the bad side, were actually on the good side and the ending is the most suprising of all. There was no cliffhanger, but I was suprised of how the story took off there.

Cook has shown her amazing ability to tell a story and I was on the edge of my seat all the time while reading his book. I just couldn't put it down and when I did, I kept thinking of it.

Overall, this was a great read and if you love the paranormal genre, this one does not disappoint and I will be reading more of Kristi Cook's books.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co.
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4/5
Source: Bought


Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.


When I began reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, I didn't like it too much. The beginning was slow, but once I got in to the book, I was on a wild ride. I never wanted to stop reading this book. I loved it's world and I wanted to be apart of it. I began reading it slowly on purpose so I would never stop. There was so much emotions that I didn't know what was about to come.

The characters, I loved. Lena is protrayed perfectly as scared of what's going to happen when her sixteenth birthday arrives and Ethan is the perfect sweetheart. He cares for her and even though bad things happen, he doesn't leave Lena's side and sticks by her.

The cover of the book was very luring as the dark forest in the background and BEAUTIFUL CREATURES written in purple.

The ending is a huge shock. I found myself crying and scared, just as Lena was. I didn't know what was going to happen, and no matter how fast I tried to read so I could find out and get all the tension off my shoulders, I couldn't do it. I wanted to make sure I read everything.

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are two amazing debut authors I have come to love.

Overall, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES was an amazing book which I recommend you to read. You'll get pulled into its world - a world you'll never want to leave ever again.

Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
Source: Bought


Dorks, Dweebs, Debutantes, and Jocks—Where would you fit in?

Being the new girl is tough—just ask sixteen-year-old Rio Jones. A New York transplant, Rio has no clue how she's going to fit in at her fancy new private school in Southern California. Plus, being late, overdressed, and named after a Duran Duran song doesn't make the first day any easier for her.

Then Rio meets Kristi. Beautiful, rich, and a cheerleader, Kristi is the queen bee of Newport Beach. And Kristi isn't friends with just anyone, so Rio is thrilled when she's invited to be part of the most exclusive, popular clique. Of course, like any club, Kristi and her friends have rules: Always smile (even if you don't mean it), always dress cute (and never repeat outfits), and always flirt (but only with jocks, preps, and rich college guys).

At first Rio is having a great time, but as she becomes more immersed in this jet-set crowd, she figures out there is one last rule that her new friends forgot to mention: Don't cross Kristi . . .




I'm no big fan of chick lit novels, but I have to say I loved this one. I loved the voice Alyson Noel gave Rio and this book was so funny at times, I was laughing. Being the new girl is always hard and I can so relate to that. Even though everything I went through is over now, I so wish I had read this book then because it would have helped me a lot.

The characters are fully developed. Rio is a strong character, but you can see the change in her from being a geek to prom queen and you know it's not really her. Noel knows how to make the mean girl a mean girl. Kristi was so mean I just couldn't stand her. I felt so bad for what Rio went through towards the end of the book because it was so emotional. Even though Rio was in the popular crowd because of all the peer pressure not only from school, but also her mom.

I didn't know where this book was going to go when I first picked it up, but as I read along, Alyson Noel opens up a whole story that feels like you're watching a movie.

I loved the ending and how everything was resolved. It just showed that if you're going to do bad things, it will come back to you. I truly enjoyed seeing Rio standing up to Kristi and showing her she's not the boss of anyone and that gave a lot of courage to other girls who never were able to stand up to Kristi because they were afraid of her.

The cover is cute and somehow it matches what the book is about.

Overall, I loved this book and will be rereading this in the future again. If you're into chick lit, I totally recommand this book. But if you're not, give it a try. It didn't disappoint.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: YA
Rating: 5/5
Source: Bought

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.


With all the hype there was for this book, I was dying to get my hands on it when it came out and when I did, I devoured it in one sitting. The plot of this book was filled with mystery, romance, and a bit of horror as well.

Violet can hear the schoes of the dead and she helps the police find their bodies. Now, there are a lot of bodies showing up and Violet is finding them and realizing that there is a killer on the loose. As Violet contiues finding the killer, Jay and her begin a little romance, which I thought was adorable because they used to be best friends! But now, the killer is after Violet and the ending was a total thriller!

I love the cover of this book. I believe it's a blue flower and it has so many elements of mystery in it, even though it's so simple. Overall, this book was amazing and if you're into mystery, horror, and romance, look no further.

YA books

YA books have always been my favorite. I wanted to take today and write about how they have a huge impact on teenage lives today. They're not just books about love, drama, mystery, etc. They all have a moral to them, and if they don't, I think we all can learn something from them.

Say you're in high school and a situation comes up. Maybe it's bad or maybe it's good. So many situations that would happen in a high school setting happen in YA books. You see what the character does and it may help you know what to do as well. I'm sure many of you know about my anti - bullying organization Show Love Not Hate and what I was going through in my junior year. When I was reading my books and similar situations would come up, I would feel so happy. I felt as though someone knew my pain.

The best part of YA books is how great the authors are. Most authors base their books on life experiences. So maybe what the character went through, so did the author. YA books let us know that we are not alone. They show us that there is someone here for us.

The fun part of YA books (especially the paranormal ones) is going into a world that will never exist. Vampires, werewolves, and immortals pretty much don't exist. But hey, there's nothing wrong with dreaming of having a boyfriend who's a werewolf.

Without YA books, I don't know what I would have done. I like Adult fiction books, but I always find myself back to the YA section of the bookstore.

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Publisher: Poppy
Age Group: YA
Rating: 5/5
Source: Publisher

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.


THE DUFF was a book that I had been putting off for a really long time. Every time I would walk by it at the bookstore, I wouldn't pick it up and end up buying other books. When the book arrived in my mailbox, I thought I'd give it a try. And I LOVED it!! This book was amazing. The writing style was perfect. I mean, the language used was a little too much, but my mind was only focused on how amazing this book was.

Once I began reading, I couldn't stop. When I had homework to do, I would finish it up early just to go and read THE DUFF. Now I have to talk baout Wesley. Wesley was a total womanizer, but as Bianca's relationship with him evolved, I felt sympathy for him. He wasn't the person everyone thought he was. He just acted like that because he probably didn't want to feel left out. He probably wouldn't though since he was hot, but it all goes back to what the word Duff actually means - Designated Ugly Fat Friend.

Everyone feels like the Duff at times. You could feel like the Duff of your school. Even though it hurt Bianca, and it would hurt me as well if I was called something like that, she stood up for herself. She didn't let the word get to her too much. And because Bianca was able to tell Wesley to stop when he began with calling her the Duff, she changed him so he no longer would be known as the womanizer of the school, but a very cute boy who didn't sleep with everything that moved.

Overall, THE DUFF was a funny and simply great book. I can't wait to read more of Kody Keplinger's work.