Book Review: Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout

Goodreads Description: 

A teen escapes to a boarding school abroad and falls for a Korean pop star in this fun and fresh romantic novel in the vein of Anna and the French Kiss.

Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.

She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can't stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can't deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol.

Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she'll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process. 

Title: Hello, I Love You

Author: Katie M. Stout
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, YA,
Format: ebook, ARC

Pages: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from NetGalley

Oh gosh my head is up in the air of how do I rate this book...

Grace goes to an international boarding school in Korea for her final year of high school after tragedy struck her family. She's the daughter of one of the biggest country music mogul and producer as well as the sister of one of the biggest country singers around. There in Korea she befriends with her roommate Sophie and be enemies with her twin brother Jason who is one of the newest K-Pop star in the industry.  While adapting to her new life in Korea and avoiding the problems back home, Grace finds herself falling for Jason even though she sworn off being associated with anyone in the music industry.

When I first heard about this book it reminds me of Anna and the French Kiss meets Korea Drama and I don't know if any of you guys watch those drama but they are the most cringe worthty, dramatic, cheesiest and cliches things my eyeballs have ever experience and but they are also additively and laugh out loud hilarious thing ever! That was my experience with this book! I cringe at the cheesy dialogs and rolled my eyes at the cliche things the characters thinks/ does but still at the end of the day was addicted to the story and enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. It was a hard to get into book especially since the MC was already pissing me off in within the first 10% of the book with racist chopstick remarks (and FYI in case any of you guys don't know I'm Chinese Malaysian). But after pushing myself trough I found myself forgetting why I mad and carrying on what happens next.

I liked the pacing of the book even though I was not a fan of how the relationships were build. Though it was predictable, I did like predicting the mystery surrounding Grace's brother

Grace was not my favorite MC but is not the worst. She's going trough a hard time with her family especially her mum at home, hence her moving to Korea. I don't dislike her as a character and do empathise her especially when you learn why she's 'running away' from home for but I hated how she handled some of the situations.

I adored Sophie! I really like her as a character and her relationships with both Grace and the brother Jason.

Jason was a love hate character for me as his cold and moody attitude put me off while I did like his passion for music.

Now some (or should i say a long list) of things I was not a fan of the book. Firstly like Grace I went to a boarding school for my last year of high school overseas and lived in a dorm filled with international students mostly from South East Asia. I was cringing at Grace's remark about how the dorm only have chopsticks. I'm pretty sure they'll have provided forks and knife no matter what. Another thing that made me cringe and almost flung my reading device was her going all 'love at first sight hottest Korean guy' remark as the insta love siren in my head beep. keep in mind this is just the first 10% of the book. There are more cringe cliches and inaccurate facts about Korea in the book that made me roll my eyes, but instead I'm not gonna turn this into a negative review (as I did enjoy some things) but focus on the positive.

I enjoyed reading the sibling relationships in the book especially Sophie and Jason's. It was real and fun to watch their sibling bantering.

My favorite thing about this book is THE ROMANCE! *Play Katy Perry Hot and Cold* No joke the one thing I feel the author nailed is the love hate relationship (which is my cream de la cream of all love hate relatiohship)! Grace and Jason's relationship also reminds me a bit of the relationship between Tessa and Hardie in the After series where one moment they are cold towards each other and the next they are the sweetest thing ever! Also I enjoyed that they bonded over music and their common ground of parent/family problem.

Overall this is not the best thing I've read but its definitely not the worst. I keep thinking this as a polished wattpad story or a K-pop fanfiction.

This is probably the most disappointing book I've been anticipating of 2015. It had potential to be a new favorite book though sadly it had A LOT of flaws and in accurate facts not to mentioned PISSING ME (and probably the WHOLE of ASIA) within the first 10% of the book.
 

If you have read Anna and The French Kiss... Skip this, If you have NOT read Anna and the French Kiss also SKIP this as that's better in story, characters and overall.  If you are curious, bout the book read a sample or check it out of the library before checking it out.

ARC Review: The Pretty App (App #2) by Katie Sise

Goodreads Summary:

Poor Blake Dawkins! She's rich, she's gorgeous, and she's the queen bee of Harrison High. The girls want to be her; the boys want to—okay, enough said. But it turns out Blake’s life is not so perfect—just talk to her dad, who constantly reminds her that she's not up to par, or to her ex-bff, Audrey, who doesn't even look her in the eye.

Then Harrison—and every other high school in America—becomes obsessed with posting selfies on the ubiquitous Pretty App. Next: Leo, an adorable transfer student, arrives at Harrison and begins to show Blake that maybe being a queen bee doesn't mean being a queen bitch. And though Audrey suspects somebody’s playing foul, Blake finds herself catapulted to internet fame after being voted one of the prettiest girls in the country. She's whisked away to star in a reality show—in Hollywood, on live TV. 

But she doesn’t know who to trust. Because everybody on the show wants to win.

And nobody is there to make friends.

The Boyfriend App author Katie Sise spins another irresistible tale of technology, secrets, and big-time romance in this story of what it takes to be #trulybeautiful.

Title: The Pretty App (App #2)
Author: Katie Sise
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit
Format: Paperback, ARC

Pages: 352 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from the publisher

 

Mirror mirror on the wall who's the prettiest of them all?

I read The Boyfriend App last year (Review Here) and loved it! So when I saw The Pretty App coming out I was intrigue as we get the point of view of Blake, the mean girl in the last book who I felt like there there was some missing plot holes about her friendship with Audrey.

While this book can be read as a stand alone, though I think its better to read The Boyfriend App as you get a better the story and character building that was established in the first book. Also there are minor spoilers for The Boyfriend App.

This book takes place the following semester from the event in The Boyfriend App where the company Public (their version of Apple) has a new app contest called the Pretty App. Think of it as Americas Next Top Modal meets Instagram.

In The Boyfriend App, it is established that Blake is a pretty, rich and popular mean girl with a lot of power in her hands as her dad is a politician and her uncle is the principal of the school. I hated her trough most part the boyfriend app as she was a flipping bully (physical, verbal, you name it she did it) and a MEGA B!TC#! Noticed I say the word MOST as there was this one part where she see a bit different side of her that I assumed was foreshadow her story aka this book.

I surprisingly like this sequel and Blake's character more as we see this self-centered mess up mean girl turn her life around.

No I didn't like her from page one as I already know her character in 'The Boyfriend App' but she grew on me as the book progresses. The more I read about her the more I feel pity for her. We learn that underneath that mean girl she's actually very insecure and feels abandon by the one she loves (her sister and best friend). With that she bullies other kids as because she's 'the popular girl' and feels guilty with her actions and even makes up for some of her bad choices.

She's a more than meets the eyes character as thought she does not think of herself as smart as her sort-of-ex-bestfriend Audrey, she's still intelligent and have some of the snarkiest lines in the book (and you know me, I love a good snarky narration).

I like the part where she talks about make up and how it gives her confident as I'm a make up girl and I agree make up can make you feel confident. But I love the part when she looks in the mirror at her naked face and talk about how she feels. That's beauty! You feel pretty when you feel confident in your own skin. This is a powerful message that I hope that everyone will take from reading this book is to be comfortable in your own skin. 

We learn more about Blake's family, her dad who is a 'clean' politician who only has no faith in Blake and values her for her good looks, her mum who lives as her husband 'trophy wife 'and in his shadow and her sister older sister Samantha who cut her off from her life when she went to college has problems and secrets of her own. Reading more about her family makes me feel bad for her as she longs for her parents to love her unconditionally and attention. I like reading about her relationship from her sister who she adores and looks up to.

Also we got to know more about her friendship with Audrey. It's establish that they used to be best friends in the last book but I felt like something was missing. We didn't know much about their history and what caused them drift apart so it was great that this book covers that loose plot hole I was looking for in 'The Boyfriend App'.

I adored Audrey in the last book and was so glad to see more of her and her computer science genies friends in this book especially Nigit as he's awesome ( and I kinda wish there was a book about him *hint *nudge *wink to the author). What I found very off was how Audrey's friends were very supportive of  Blake entering the pretty app as Blake was horrible to them in the last book.

Speaking of computer science genies friends, New Guy alert and he's swoon!

Leo is the new kid who befriends Audrey and her gang. Swoon worthy, good looking and has the brains of Audrey and her friends computer coding skills combine. Yup I like this guy the moment I first read about him. He also has a secret that I didn't see coming and made my eyes poke out and my hands drop the book.

He's flipping working for Public to spy on Audrey and the gang as well as to make sure Blake enters The Pretty App competition. To top that he is a flipping computer science child prodigy and is a judge on the pretty app pageant. Did I mentioned that he's 19 years old and is done with High School??? Dang that was a good twist I didn't see coming!

I like Blake and Leo's romance. Its very fluffy and feel good but also a rocky thanks to Leo's secrets. still I shipped them!

I like Katie Sise's style of storytelling where she intertwines our generations of obsession of technology. In 'The boyfriend app' she shows the dark side of technology. In this book she pokes fun on our love for the fifty million filters on Instagram to the iconic '#'.

Also like 'The Boyfriend App' the book was split into two parts, before and during the Pretty App competition. I like the way this book is paced out though I wish that the competition part was longer. Even so it was entertaining in a 'oh the ridiculous eye rolling things they make you do on a reality show to boost the ratings' sorta way.

Its like watching American Idol when the contestant get out of their comfort zone to film those Ford commercials.

Also reading the result of the competition was nerve wrecking as I seriously didn't know who's gonna win.  The ending was a Taylor Swift 'How You Get The Girl' song playing in my head. Happy, heart warming and feel good sweetness. I like how it ended but I still feel like something is missing from the book (again) though I'm hoping this is not the last App book! Yes the ending left me wanting more from the author!

Overall I like how tables have turn for this installment in the 'App' series and that we get the POV of an unlikely main character. Apart from this I've only read one YA that is told from the POV of a mess up mean girl (the other one is Anatomy Of a Misfit). I like Blake's character development as who she is at the end of the book is so different from start.

Its a book about real beauty, second chances and out generation's obsession for social media.

Check out The Pretty App for a fast pace, feel good fluff and laugh out loud snarks!

Also just for fun here's a #NoFilter #NoMakeup pic of me and my copy of The Pretty App!! Lol I don't know how people manages with selfies as most of mine needs like 50 million snapshots to the point my arm hurts from holding the phone still!

Till Next time

Book Review: Laurinda by Alice Pung

Goodreads Description:

'Nothing has a stronger hold over a girl than the fear of the thoughts of her peers – thoughts that change five times in a day. No wonder things are so complicated with teenagers.'—Alice Pung, Laurinda

Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its hidden centre of power is The Cabinet, a triangle of girls who wield power over their classmates – and some of their teachers.

Entering this world of wealth and secrets is Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl with sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches The Cabinet in action, and is courted by them – as she learns about power and repression – Lucy finds herself in a battle for her identity and integrity.

Few genres are more enthralling than the school story. In Laurinda, the acclaimed Alice Pung tells an involving, original story that captures the drama and pain of school life today, as well as revealing much about the choices of young women.

Title: Laurinda
Author: Alice Pung
Genre: YA, Coming Of Age, Contemporary
Format: Paperback

Pages: 336
Publisher:  Black Books Inc
Source: Received for free from Goodreads Giveaway

In a nutshell, this is Mean Girls set in Melbourne.

Set in the 90's, told in letters written to Lucy's friend Linh as she shares her experience after winning a scholarship to an elite privet girl's school in Melbourne. Lucy's family immigrated to Australia from Vietnam where her dad works the night shift at a carpet factory and her mum works in the family garage sewing cloths and looking after her little brother Lamb. 

We follow Lucy as she transitions from the familiarity of Christ Our Saviour, the Catholic school she attended where she was accepted as herself to the 'foreign lands' of Laurinda Ladies College where she tries to fit in and changes herself to suit the school. 

There she encounters 'The Cabinet', a trio of racist, self centered and privileges mean girls who have the power to influence and sabotage those in their way including the teachers. Lucy finds herself in an internal battle of identity and morals while catching up with the demands of Laurinda but also balancing the expectations from her family.

I love the story and connected with if from page one! Its rare and refreshing, reading a High School YA that was familiar with my high school experience.

It touches on high school topics like 'mean girls', boys, friends, adjusting to a new school, bullying and stereotypes but also topics that I rarely see in YA like culturally challenged, being the odd kid in the class/school, abuse of power and social prejudice. 

The narration was a bit confusing at the start with the letters addressed to Lucy's friend Linh who we assume is a friend from her old school.

Which we later learn that Lucy was writing a letter to herself and that Linh is actually her middle name. This I kinda foreshadowed from the start as Lucy's mum called her 'Linh' at the first part of the book.

I liked the pacing of the book and how its split into schooling semesters which reminds me of how Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl was paced out. The writing was sarcastic, honest, poetic and moving. There were also some great quotes in here, my favorite is "All teenagers are drama queens inside their minds, even the mousiest of us".

At the end of the book I was overwhelmed with emotions and happiness at the same time happy crying which is a first as I am rarely a book crier and can count the number of books that brought me to emotional tears on one hand. 

This story is not picture perfect but it feels real from the way Lucy parents talk to how we watch Lucy struggles and copes with her school life.

Lucy was an emotional roller coaster of a character to follow! At the start she was out spoken, confident, feisty yet down to earth and compassionate girl who looses herself as she struggle to fit in with the school while balancing her believes and culture. She gives into 'peer pressure' of The Cabinets and ends up being the 'quiet Asian girl', insecure and not standing up to what's right. She eventually learn from her mistake and stand up to The Cabinets in probably one of the best and most sophistic ways to make them 'BURN' as well as identify with herself and who she is.

I like Lucy from page one and though I wish she handled her problems differently or even opened up to her parents, she's a tough and smart girl and know how to climb back up with grace.

I love the family dynamic and though it was hard for her parents to understand the stuff she has to do in/for school like buying new tailored uniform or having 'friends' with drivers and mobile phones, they were still very supportive and helpful to Lucy trough the book. Lucy's dad was hilarious to read about and reminds me a bit of my own dad. Her mum was a great indirect voice of reason to Lucy's problems and like Lucy faces some issues of fitting in.

The Cabinets (Chelsea, Brodie and Amber) were a real piece of work! Catty, self cantered and power hungry, they used Lucy as their little 'pet' to gain more power! The more I read about the spoiled brats the more I wanted to slap them and cringed as it brings back memories to me biting my tongue when I hear the snobby kids in school talk. 

But wait if that's The Cabinets, wait till you read about their mothers! No joke I don't know which is worse, generation 'Offspring' Cabinets or generation 'Mummy' Cabinets! Gen Offspring's play with their peer's and teachers weakness with pranks, manipulations and bullying anyone in their way! As for their Mum's, a lovely donations is all that it takes to shut the school up!

Yah long story short, hated them the more I read about them!

I like some of the side characters especially Richard which I wish we got to read more about him.

Overall Laurinda is one of the best books I've read! Its realistic, smart, sarcastic, sophisticated and familiar. The ending leaves me smiling from ear to ear at the position Lucy is in and I kind of feel like there could be room for a sequel (*hint *nudge *wink to the author).

Its an honest and nostalgic picture of high school and yes its scary but its only for a few years.

Check out Laurinda is you want an Aussie YA take on Mean Girl.

Also if you like Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, you might like this as like Fangirl its a coming of age story of trying to adjust to the new schooling environment and being true to yourself. 

This is one of the most relatable and familiar books I've read in ages! While I did connected with Lucy at many levels there were some stuff that I didn't relate to.

Relate:

1) I went to an all girl school similar to Christ Our Saviour (aka a Convent) for most of my schooling years and though it was not a privet school it was still very 'elite'. 

Its one of those schools where if you mention its nickname everyone will go 'WALAO! YOU GO TO THAT SCHOOL AH? VERY FAMOUS YOU KNOW!'  yah that's how manglish sounds like.

Just for laughs check out the 20 mangilsh slangs Malaysians love to use and yes, I use them quiet often (my fav is abudin) (Click Here)

2) Like Lucy I've witness and received my fair share of being bullied for my race and discrimination. It also happen in Asia.

3) I'm Chinese like Lucy though she's Chinese born Vietnams and I'm Chinese born Malaysian.

Didn't relate:

1) I didn't need a scholarship as I went to a government/public school.

2) My family don't have to work as hard as Lucy's family and I am bless that my parents can afford to send me overseas for Uni.

3) My family didn't migrate to Australia and I will probably stay in Oz till I'm done with Uni.

4) I am thanking my guardian angles that I didn't have to encounter girls like 'The Cabinets' in school. Even if there were girls as such, I probably was not aware of it.  

5) She gets nicer, more 'posh' uniforms! I dare you to Google 'Malaysian Secondary School' uniform and see the lovely 'apron' (I wore the pinafore, never the Baju Kurung) I have to wear in high school... yah it was the reason why I loved my PE uniform and Koperasi Polo shirt more. (sorry to the teachers who might be reading this... not a fan of my uniform but I still wore them!)

Book Review: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead

 Goodreads Description:

The astonishing first book that kicked off the international bestselling series.

ONLY A TRUE BEST FRIEND CAN PROTECT YOU FROM YOUR IMMORTAL ENEMIES . . .

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princes – a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi: the fiercest vampires – the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden deep in the forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger . . . and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever . . .   

Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Paperback

Pages: 332 pages
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Source: Purchased from Target

Guys... I finally did it... I finally read the Vampire Academy... 

AND IT WAS SO.FREAKING.GOOD!

I pick up VA which has been sitting in my TBR pile for almost a year and marathon the book during a road trip.

This is a intimidatingly huge series to commit to and was afraid it will not meet my expectations. 6 books in the main VA series and another 6 for the bloodlines spin-off!, yah 12 books is alot to take in.

Also I am not a fan of paranomal-ish stories and have NEVER read a vampire story (okay I attempt to read twilight in Form 4 around the peek of its hype but fell asleep about 10 pages into the book at Kinokunia... #EPICFAIL... sorry twilight fans.. I just can't and that failed attempt does not count) in my life so this is a first...

The book follows Rose and Lissa who are best friends and vampires in training on the run after escaping their boarding school has been captured and dragged back to the academy. There the both of them have to re-adjust to the life they left two years ago.

Rose catches up with her classes and training with Dmitri, her mysterious and moody yet irresistible trainer while keeping her and Lissa out of danger and the Strigoi. Lissa tries to fit back into the elite vampires.  

~PLOT/WRITING~

I was hooked into the VA world from page one! Thrown straight into the game, we are introduced to the race/types of Vampires:

1) Moroi - mortal vampires with a magical ability to manipulate elements like water, earth, fire and air (okay this is starting to sound like Avatar but its NOT, I promise), believe to use their magic for kindness or something positive.

2) Dhampirs - half vampire,half human who are trained as 'bodyguards' to protect the Moroi from the Strigoi. They have enhanced ability like reflexes, speed and strength. 

3) Strigoi - immortal vampire aka the one that will kill you and are EVIL.

I like the world building of this Vampire world. It was straight to the point and easy to follow without feeling lost or overwhelmed.

Though plot was gripping and fast pace with the thick air of suspense and mystery it was still predictable as I had my conspiracy theories and predicted all the foreshadow from the start. There were some high school drama and cliché thrown into the mix but it was still an addictive read!

My only complain was the action sequence. Though it was fun to read (especially that ONE part Dimity is training Roes and literally knock her off her feet! HA! That sexual tension!), it was not engaging enough. Maybe I've been spoiled with James Dashner's 'Maze Runner Series' or Rachael Craw's 'Spark' well paced, gripping and nail biting action sequences that makes me have trust issues and shout 'WTF IS GOING ON' every 5 seconds that I found most of the action moments in the book very bland and predictable.

Also there is a sub issue on mental health. In my review for 'This Song Will Save Your Life' I mentioned that I am not a fan of books that goes into too much detail on the issue of self harming so it was hard for me to read that part as it was graphic.  

Other than that I like the writing and was captivated from the start of the book leaving me wanting more of this awesome world!

~CHARACTERS~

Rose is my favorite character from the start! I love reading from her point of view with her snarky and sassy narration. Rebellious, strong, feisty and independent with a hint of temper and recklessness, Rose is everything I like in kickass heroine! I kinda pictured her as the Ellen Page sarcastic girl next door type when reading her. Even with everything going on, I like that she still acts and thinks like a teenage girl on stuff like lip gloss and boys. A Dhampirs in training to protect her Moroi best friend, she's protective, loyal and caring to Lissa and its where her soft side shows. She's also determine and responsible to her duties as a Dhampri to look out for Lissa even if it means putting fun aside.

Lissa was a character I love the more I read about her! Sweet, classy, caring and a total opposite to Rose's personality, A Moroi royalty in training, destine to rule the vampire world someday. She has dark past which triggered her into depression. Though it sounds like she is both physically and mentally unstable, she's not! Lissa a strong character who know how to stand up for herself and what is right for both her and Rose.

  

It took a while for me to warm up to Dmitri as he was very bland and moody at the start but the more I read about him the more I like the badass, no nonsense trainer and mentor, finding myself swooning over him. Basically he is the Tall, Dark, Mysterious kickass mentor that EVERYONE in the VA fandom are raving and drooling over!

BTW not related to the book VA but is it me or does the actor for Movie Dmitri look A LOT older than pictured in the book... anyone?!?! 

Christian was another guy where the more I read about him the more I swoon over him! Dark, emo, lonely outcast, didn't like him at first (okay I actually liked a bit of his 'emo-ness' but that's it) as I thought he was a bit weird but the more I read about him the more I feel bad for misjudging him. He is an intriguing character that I'm looking forward to reading more about in the future books.

The side characters were where I have my suspicions especially on Natalie being overly friendly and Mia whom I HATE with a passion!  I did like Mason and am looking forward to reading more of him.

~ROMANCE/FRIENDSHIP~

I love the friendship between Rose and Lissa! I see now why everyone says its one of the best friendship in YA as it is!

They share close and unique bond and are almost like sisters, looking out and standing up for each other. I kinda find it funny reading about Rose being overly protective at Lissa at times as it sometimes look like an overly possessive boyfriend  but still she meant well.

Rose and Dmitri's romance was well paced out and though I'll usually cringe at the 'student/teacher' romance, it somehow works here! As mentioned above that THAT one training moment was where I saw the sparks fly between them! Only complained... NOT ENOUGH OF THEIR ROMANCE though that might be because I have like 5+++ books to look forward to... better start planning my next trip to the bookstore...

As for Lissa and Christian's relationship was sweet to read and the the more I read about them the more I love them as couple.

~ENDING/OVERALL~

As mentioned it was very predictable but it was also well wrapped up. I like how it ended as it left me wanting more of this VA world and characters!

Overall this was a great solid start to the series! Those of you who were intimidated with the book whether its the super long series or its a 'Vampire romance', I say give the first book a shot and if you like it commit to the series as they say it gets better as it progresses! 

I am definitely continuing the series and picking up the next book which I've been hunting around bookshops in Kuala Lumpur for and not ONE bookstore has FROSTBITE! Yah I probably should have gotten the box set... or get it when I get back to Melbourne.. 

Also shout out to Penguin Teen Australia where at  PTA LIVE they sold the book as 'Vampire that does not sparkle' which was one of the main push that got me to reading this!!!

Still not convinced on starting this series even after my tangent of how the first book is great? Check out their blog The Vampire Academy Series - 8 Reasons To Stop Avoiding It! as that too had me convinced on me picking up the first book!

Now to get my hands on FROSTBITE!!!

ALSO if you like the  'Best friends bounded to protect each other' concept of Vampire Academy but minus the vampires, check out Spark by Rachael Craw (Review Here)!!! 

Book Review: Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan

Goodreads Description:

Perfect for fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell, Love and Other Foreign Words is equal parts comedy and coming of age--a whip-smart, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud love story about sisters, friends, and what it means to love at all.

Can anyone be truly herself--or truly in love--in a language that's not her own?

Sixteen-year-old Josie lives her life in translation. She speaks High School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language of Beautiful Girls. But none of these is her native tongue -- the only people who speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister Kate. So when Kate gets engaged to an epically insufferable guy, how can Josie see it as anything but the mistake of a lifetime? Kate is determined to bend Josie to her will for the wedding; Josie is determined to break Kate and her fiancé up. As battles are waged over secrets and semantics, Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boyfriend who says he loves her, the sister she loves but doesn't always like, and the best friend who hasn't said a word -- at least not in a language Josie understands.  

Title: Love and Other Foreign Words
Author: Erin McCahan
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Romance
Format: Hardback

Pages: 336
Publisher:  Dial Books
Source: Purchased from Hills of Content

I love cute geeky YA and this book is one of them!

Love and Other Foreign words follows Josie who's sister Kate comes home engaged to a guy she hates and is set to brake them up. With that we have the battle of the sisters as Kate insist she's in love with Groff and is determine to marry him while Josie learns the language of Love.

Intelligent and chatty though she tend to be naïve and overthink at times, I adored Josie from page one! She's a gifted genius and is fascinated with language including ohmigod aka high school and ohmigod 2.0 aka college. She knows them all except the language of love which is what she is trying to understand trough the book and apparently that's the one thing she's clueless about. Trough the book Josie is not only learning the language of love but also learning how to deal with her emotions on love.

Josie's brainy, snarky and innocent narration was what made the book for me! I related so much to her character from the way she talks to the way she thinks and react! I am no where near her level of genius but Josie is literally a smarter version of me.

There is a strong family dynamic in the book and I love how honest and realistic their interactions are with one another. I solute the parents on the way they handle the situations trough the book especially Josie's dad. Josie parents are very involve in the book and it was refreshing to read a YA where the parents are always there.

Obviously Josie loves her older sisters especially Kate but ohmigod I COULD NOT STAND THAT BRIDEZILLA! I understand where Kate is coming from when she was annoyed with Josie's attics at times as I too am an older sister but some stuff she does is just pure evil! Way beyond the lines of sibling wars.



I meant some of the of the stuff and pranks that Josie does in the book was kinda unfair and childish (but come on she's fifteen!) but what both Kate and Groff did at times was just MEAN especially for a grown adult!

I hated the way she treated Josie (and silently vow never to be like her to my younger sibling) as she neglected her younger sister for her wedding plans. I also hated how she keeps commenting about Josie's appearance! I meant forcing her to trade her glasses for contacts is one thing but when Kate pushes Josie to change her appearance like getting piercing and rants how its going to ruined the wedding whick flipped me off!

I've been in Josie shoes and comments like those coming from someone you love should not be hurtful especially if they are critique and for you own good but the truth is it hurts 10 times more.

 

Her fiancé Groff was no better! Ugh that pretentious bastard!

Even so there were some of the moments between Josie and the 'lovely couple' were entertaining and hilarious to read about! They did come around at the end of the book I eventually forgive them as that's how books like this end... Right???

Josie's friendship with Stu and Sophie were also great to read about.

I especially love her relationship with Stu and I kinda predicted the direction it was going from early on. Stu is a fellow genius and understands the language of Josie fluently. Their banter between each other were some of the best dialogs in the book!

For a book about Love, the romance was surprisingly a side-plot, and though it was fast paces, it works so well and was cute and fluffy (and I awww and melted into a happy snowman puddle :3).

My favourite thing about this book was when they talk about The Language of Love and the meaning of love. It was not just talking about romantic love but also love for your family, for food, your pet, books. I also like how the author points out the different language and 'slangs' we speak in our daily life.

Overall its a cute, smart, and hilarious 'rom-com' about the language of love.

Fans of John Green's An Abundance of Katherine, Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've loved Before, Phillip Sigel's The Break-up Artist, and Holly Smile's Geek Girl Series will enjoy this book!