Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

My thoughts

I was very excited to start this one, because it sounded very good and funny, and I'd read some great reviews of it. And I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed, though the book turned out to be a bit different than I expected. Meant to Be was a lot of fun and I had a hard time putting it down, and when I finally put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it. At the same time I started dragging it out when there wasn't much left of it, because I wasn't ready for it to end and leave the characters. 

One of the things I loved about this book was the setting. London!! I think Morrill did a great job of portraying the city, and it felt like you were there along with the characters. I could easily picture the streets, the Thames, the parks, everything. I liked how London became a part of the story and not just a setting.

Another thing I loved about this book was that it was unpredictable. Yes, you might guess who she ends up with, but the road was not clear. I never knew what was going to happen next, and I certainly never knew what Julia was going to do next; was she going to be obsessive Book Licker (that's her nickname) or rule-breaking, daring über-Julia. Just as I thought I had figured her out she does something completely different, and it was actually really nice to read a book where you couldn't predict everything. 

There was also a bit of a mystery as to who is texting her, and I absolutely loved her and Jason's hunt through London trying to find out who it is. Julia and Jason were so fun together, their banter was hilarious and believable, and they simply drove each other nuts most of the time.   

I really liked Julia, she was a totally obssesive control-freak that would much rather keep back and live in her books and guides, than look up and experience the world as it is - unplanned. So imagine her distress when all her perfect plans fall apart and everything gets kind of messy and not orderly! I didn't always understand her actions and I think she was a bit irrational at times. On the other hand this was such a huge step for her, changing like that, and I think she was brave for doing so. She learnt a lot about herself, life, love, relationships, and that sometimes your impression of people is not who they really are - at all. 

Jason was a great character, and he was definitely not your average romantic hero. Throughout the book I felt about him like Julia did; constantly changing my feelings about him. Somethimes he was immensely annoying, at other times quite charming. In the beginning I had to agree with Julia a bit about him behaving like a immature seven year old, but as you put the pieces together he turned out to be a much deeper person and there was a lot more to him than I initally thought. I liked all the things he did for Julia along the way, and I've gotta say that Julia was really oblivious, but that actually made the story even better. 

Also, one of the best things about this book was that there was no insta-love. Whaaat? Is that even possible in books these day? Yeah, I was starting to wonder the same thing. But it's true. The attraction slowly builts, starting from non-existent and then growing into something more as the story progress. It doesn't suddenly overwhelm you; you're are there with Julia, experiencing her falling in love, and not just being in love.

Overall, Meant to Be was a sweet, funny and light read. I loved every minute of it and it had me laughing out loud several times. It's a book I'll absolutely recommend. 

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

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The undead can really screw up your senior year ... 

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

My thoughts

This book was very different than I had expected. From the blurb I thought this was going to be a light, fluffy read. Well, it wasn't. It turned out to actually be somewhat of a deep story, about identity, obligations, choice, courage, loss and love. Jessica is Romanian by birth, but has been adopted by an American couple when she was just an infant. Before her adoption though, her birth parents sealed a pact with another royal vampire clan, ensuring peace between the clans by marriage of their heirs. However, Jessica knows nothing about this until Lucius - her fiancé - suddenly appears, telling her she is a vampire and about to become his wife. Obviously, Jessica isn't very happy, and she definitely doesn't believe in vampires. She rather thinks Lucius is a bit of a lunatic, especially for him claiming to be a vampire. But Lucius, as the proper prince he is, begins to court her, so she'll decide to fulfill the pact - or else risk a vampire war. 

I loved the first half part of this book. Jessica and Lucius has some very funny banter, and there was a lot of laugh out loud moments. Jessica is very much just an average American teenager, trying to blend in, while enjoying her senior year. She is a math geek that stongly believe in the 'rational' and that everything can be explained by logic and reason. She is not very impressed by Lucius and his royal behaviour, and she doesn't find his courtship that charming. 

Lucius on the other hand is very much not an average guy, and he certainly doesn't try to blend in. In the beginning he's arrogant and has an air of general superiority. He is bit annoying, though at the same time quite charming. He also has some of the funniest lines. Seriously, he made me laugh so hard. And his observation of Americans and their talk, behaviour and customs were so hilarious. But he gradually adapts and starts to see his own life in a new light, in which he definitely didn't have an easy time. He really was a tortured hero, though without acting much of one, because he is also a very strong character. 

I didn't like the last part of the book nearly as much as the first part. Everything grew much darker and Lucius changed a great deal, and I didn't like that change very much. Actually, I kind of got annoyed with him, and at times I just wanted to slap him or shake him. But at the same time, I almost understood his reason for what he did. Some of it, anyway. And Jessica too changed a lot. I liked the change in her, though, she got more confident in herself and started to live up to her being a princess, and therefore a future ruler, but she also got very focused on Lucius, as she started to fall in love with him. I'm surprised to say that the latter part irked me a bit at times, but Jessica made me almost roll my eyes several times.

All in all, this was a fun book with an interesting take on vampires.

☆ ☆ ☆

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.
Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

My thoughts

There was no doubt in my mind that I had to read this book. First of all, it's by Jennifer L. Armentrout! Second of all, it's set in the same 'world' as the Lux series. And, well, that's the only thing I needed to know before diving right into it - after a very long wait, that is. You don't have to have read the Lux series to understand this book, but if you've read it (which I strongly suggest) you'll get to know a lot more about the 'world' and definitely get a new perspective on things. There's also little hints dropped several places that links back to the Lux series, and there's some character crossover, which I got all kinds of excited about. But as I said, you don't have to have read either this book or the Lux series to understand them seperately. 

So Obsession is told from an Arum perspective, which was very interesting as these was labeled the bad guys, the enemies, in the Lux series. But reading this you come to understand that everything is not always what it seems, and there are certainly two sides to a story. I was surprised by some of the things that was revealed. And I have to say that I cannot wait to read Origin now. I think I've got an idea where things might be going there. 

Obsession was a great book, and I liked every single part of it, especially Serena and Hunter. There were a lot of funny parts in it, and I was laughing out loud several times. The banter between Serena and Hunter were hilarious, but also hot, and you could just wait around for everything to explode.
The book is told in alternating POVs, and I think that gave a good understanding of both characters. I was amazed by how different the POVs were, you were never in doubt about who was narrating, because Serena and Hunter's voices were so very different. I think this - once again - shows what an amazing writer Jennifer L. Armentrout is. 

I really liked Serena. She was very feisty, determined and strong character. She didn't let Hunter order her around, but she also wasn't stupid; she listened when it was needed, and didn't just want to cross him for the sake of it. She went through a lot, and it was impressive how she just kept going, even when things didn't look very good for her. Which they didn't most of the time. I also liked how she reacted when she discovered about the Luxen and Arum, that she was genuinely scared, and that it took some time before she even trusted Hunter. I think that made her all the more believable and real.  

Hunter was an amazing character. When you're introduced to him he's arrogant, cold and indifferent to most things. And, as Serena would say, he is very bossy, always wanting it his way and never listening to anybody else. That is until he meets Serena. Being with Serena and taking care of her, Hunter slowly changes bit by bit. He begins to care for Serena, which is very new to him and something he's not that comfortable with. He starts questioning his actions and motives, and what excatly he is feeling and why he is feeling at all. I liked that he only slowly changed and each step was very cautious and profound.

Overall, I really liked Obsession and I can't wait to find out what's coming next in this world. I already thought the wait for Origin was excruciating, but this didn't make it any easier! 

I'll definitely recommend this book whether or not you've read the Lux series, because JLA knows how to write and how to make a story absolutely consume you so you'll never want to stop. 

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

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It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

My thoughts

Adam story was just as touching and heartwrenching as Mia's in If I Stay, though in quite a different way. Where If I Stay focused on life, Where She Went was much more about loss, and how to deal with it. 

Three years have past since Mia's accident and since she left him in the airport - and never came back. Adam has become a rockstar, but even though he's achieved everything he wanted he's not happy. He has fallen out with music and life, and he lives day by day, assuring himself that if he got through yesterday, he may get thorugh today as well, maybe even tomorrow. I was sad to see what had become of Adam in this book. He was such an amazing guy in If I Stay, but sadness and sorrow had changed him a lot. I still liked Adam very much, and though he seemed very different now, you could still see the caring, wonderful guy underneath. 

I have to admit that I didn't quite like how he led his life after Mia left him, sort of giving up on everything. I mean, considering Mia being able to pick herself up and go on with her life after what happened to her, he  he initially just gave in to misery. While I did understand his sorrow, and how he just wanted to drown in his grief I was a bit disappointed with him in the beginning. As everything was unfolded, however, you find out there's a lot more to his story than just Mia leaving him, that he also lost someone he cared about in the accident, and being in the band, playing music is nothing like it was before.  

I loved Mia in this book. She is such a strong character, and I still very much admire her. I was impressed by how she handled everything, her loss, her life, and that she didn't want pity from anyone. She just wanted to live life like everybody else. I think she could maybe have dealt with Adam in a better than just leaving him like that, but I couldn't resent Mia, because knowing her from If I Stay, I knew she had a reason for doing what she did. But you'll have to read for yourself to see if that is true. 

I liked how the story planned out, though I think there was a bit too many flashbacks. Where I didn't mind it in the previous book, I think it broke the story up too much in this. It's not that I didn't like what was told, I did for the most part (though some of it were a bit painful to read, because Adam past was heartbreaking at times), it was just a bit too much. That being said, I really liked this book and I simply couldn't put it down. I loved Mia and Adam's tour through the city, and how they rediscover each other - and perhaps their love. And Adam finally finding himself again. 

If you liked If I Stay this book is a must-read. 

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

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In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

My thoughts

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, besides it being sad. Surprisingly, it wasn’t. Well, not that much anyway, because it was sad. But this book is just as much about life as it is about death, and that life can be worth choosing even though it seems there’s nothing left to live for. I was also surprised by how much I liked the book. No, loved this book! It was absolutely amazing, and I think Forman's writing is equally amazing. She made everything and everyone seem so real. I also really liked how she weaved past and present together, showing Mia's life before the accident through her memories. It never felt forced, and I was never bothered by it, on the contrary - I loved every single bit of Mia's memories. After the accident I liked that Mia was mostly detached from everything, her injuries, her loss. Like she was floating above, looking from the outside, never really comprehending. Otherwise I think it would have been way too emotional, or more emotional than it was, anyway. But then there's this moment where she suddenly acknowledge or understand everything... and it was so gutwrenching.

I think Mia was a great character, but I find it difficult to explain why I liked and admired her so much. She was a quiet sweet person with a certain calmness about her. But at the same time she had an inner strength and she was very stubborn. She faced some hard choices; first before the accident where she had to choose whether to follow her dream as a musician and go to Julliard or stay with her family and the love of her life; and then after the accident the choice remains, should she stay.. or go?
While I was reading, I couldn't help wondering what I would do in Mia's situation. Would I want to stay behind? And what would make me stay behind, if everything seemed lost? But then, through Mia, you see all the things that's left to live for. All through the book I awaited Mia's decision and what would make her choose. I think whichever she chose, I would understand, and that's one of the things I loved about this book; that I could truly emphasize with Mia.

Actually, I loved all the characters in this book. Adam was simply perfect, both from Mia's memories before the accident and everything he did afterwards. He was so sweet and he cared so much about Mia, and he would do everything for her - even if it meant doing the one thing he would never want to do. Mia's parents, who were just so funny, real and awesome, her brother Teddy, their friends, Mia's best friend. And of course Gramps. He didn't say all that much, but when he spoke to Mia - well, he got through alright.

I would most definitely recommend this book. Really, you must go read this book. It's a very stunning book, and so much more than I ever expected. But I have to warn you; you'll probably want to have the sequel, Where She Went, close by when you finish this, because you'll want to tear right into it.

A new favorite of mine.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Cover reveal: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

He’s arrogant, domineering, and—To. Die. For… 
Hunter is a ruthless killer. The Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe him too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job, that is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: Protect a human from his mortal enemy. 
Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into a walking glow stick. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena's temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he's doing the unthinkable - breaking the rules he's lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena's life...or is it Hunter?

Obsession will be available May 31 2013 with Entangled's Covet line.

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About the author

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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Absence... and Bloglovin

I sorry for having been rather absent for... well, it's kind of been a long time now, and it'll be a while longer. I'm stuyding for my exams, and it takes up a LOT of my time, which means not really any time to write reviews and other stuff on the blog. I do get to read a bit, and I have a bunch of book I'd like to review and share with you!! I might write a bit here in May, but my exams are in the end of this month, so I'll probably go craaaazzzyyy soon o_O BUT I'll definitely be back in June, where I'll get to write about those wonderful books I've been reading.

I cannot write a blog post without mentioning books, and there is one series I HAVE to recommend, and that I think everybody should read, if you haven't already, and that series is:

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

These books (Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl) are absolutely amazing!! Really, I cannot recommend them enough.

Also, I've finally got on Bloglovin!! Yay! So I'd love if you would follow me there! And I'll of course follow back.