Book Review: Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Goodreads Description:

From the author of The Beginning of Everything: two teens with a deadly disease fall in love on the brink of a cure.

At seventeen, overachieving Lane finds himself at Latham House, a sanatorium for teens suffering from an incurable strain of tuberculosis. Part hospital and part boarding school, Latham is a place of endless rules and confusing rituals, where it's easier to fail breakfast than it is to flunk French.

There, Lane encounters a girl he knew years ago. Instead of the shy loner he remembers, Sadie has transformed. At Latham, she is sarcastic, fearless, and utterly compelling. Her friends, a group of eccentric troublemakers, fascinate Lane, who has never stepped out of bounds his whole life. And as he gradually becomes one of them, Sadie shows him their secrets: how to steal internet, how to sneak into town, and how to disable the med sensors they must wear at all times.

But there are consequences to having secrets, particularly at Latham House. And as Lane and Sadie begin to fall in love and their group begins to fall sicker, their insular world threatens to come crashing down. Told in alternating points of view, Extraordinary Means is a darkly funny story about doomed friendships, first love, and the rare miracle of second chances.  

Title: Extraordinary Means
Author: Robyn Schneider
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, Coming of Age
Format: E-book, Arc
Pages: 336
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK/Australia
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from NetGalley

In a nutshell, if John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska had a kid, and the kid is a huge Harry Potter, anime and Doctor Who fangirl who loves spontaneous adventure and Butter Beer Latte from Starbucks, Extraordinary Means is the beautiful offspring!

Robyn Schneider's previous book The Beginning of Everything (Review Here) is one of my all time favourite and most influential book, not to mention a book that 'Saved my life' so when I heard that she was coming out with Extraordinary Means I knew I have to have it in my life!

Extraordinary Means is a coming of age story told in alternate POV, follows Lane and Sadie who used to go to the same summer camp when they were younger, reunites years later at Latham House, a boarding school specialized in treating teens with tuberculosis (which both of our MCs have been diagnosed with).

First off I enjoyed the woodsy setting of the school and how its pictured to be like summer camp or a sky lodge. Obviously the students are there to take it easy like they are on a vacation in order to recover.

I love with Robyn Schneider's writing style on how one moment its intelligently written with its the medical talk and the metaphors the next its light hearted, sweet & touching and laugh out loud funny followed by emotions and feels.

From the synopsis and the theme of the book it sounds like a book full of feels and though it was a rollercoaster ride emotions, I laugh and awe with the book more than sit in a corner and let the feels flow as the author is good at balancing the seriousness of the situation with quirky and random events and dialogs.

The plot was fun and well paced out. There was never a dull moment and I devoured the story within a day! I love reading their adventures and shenanigans as it was trilling watching them break the rules around the school. One of my favorites involves Sadie and her friends causing mischievous in their French class which I laugh so hard for a good 10 minutes that I had tears in my eyes!

Though I had fun reading most of the book the 'final act' was where emotions started following. The ending was a well rounded conclusion though it RUIEND ME!!! Bittersweet and heart-breaking that I did cry buckets and was not pretty. Also the last few pages was beautiful, provoking and poetically written that reminded me of the last pages of Robyn Schneider's previous book The Beginning of Everything and any the ending of most of John Green books. Its that kind of ending where I want to read it over and over cause its stuck in my head days after I am done with the story and really makes me think.

I love reading the main characters! They were realistic and relatable characters that I definitely see myself friends with. I found myself attached and cared for them especially Sadie.

Lane, an overachiever and straight A's student with a perfectly mapped out future of going to Stanford University takes a detour in life when he gets diagnosed with tuberculosis and is sent to Latham House, putting high school, AP classes and SAT prep on hold. At the start, Lane was very uptight, play by the rules and ambitious, always working instead of resting and ignoring Doctor's orders which at one point made his condition worse. While I like reading about his optimistic and ambitious character at the start, once he go on overload, I wanted him to slow down and smell the roses as he's the kind of person who is rushing to get to the future instead of living and enjoying the present.

That is what eventually once befriend with Sadie and her friends. His character arc was my favourite. He developed, changing himself for the better. He eventually loosen up, got out of his comfort zone and experience what life have in store!

Lane took a couple of chapter for me to warm up to though then again he kind of reminded me of my high school self. Even so I enjoyed his character nerdy yet witty narration.

Sadie's personality is opposite of Lane. Having a terrible past of fitting in at both school and the summer camp, she fits in well at Latham House, transforming from being a shy outcast to a free spirit trouble maker. I adored Sadie from the start! She's sarcastic, sassy, fearless and spontaneous. She also have been at Latham House for the longest of all the characters, neither getting better nor worse. I love reading her crazy ideals and adventures even if it means sneaking around and breaking the rules. The only time I was not a fan of her character was that one time when she did something stupid (not gonna say too much as its a spoiler!) that annoyed me but eventually made up for it.

Their relationship was what made the book for me! I love their bantering and connection which made me smile and giggle with awe at their adorableness but also pulled my heart, making it fall into a million peace's. Lane was freaking sweet and a gentlemen with Sadie which made me swoon even more reading them together

The story is heavy on the romance and is well paced out! The romance started as a love hate relationship which is my favorite kind of romance. It was not one of those that took FOREVER for the ship to sail, so we got a good amount of romantic fluff between them. However when the ship hit a rock... *cries*.

It was also heavy on friendship and I love the diverse cast of side characters. Nick, Charlie and Marina were awesome friends to read about! They are the kind of 'cool nerds', with a lot in common but also have their own distinctive personality and interest. My favorite of the bunch is Nick who have some of the best and laugh out loud hilarious moments in the book.

I freaking love this book and though it does sounds like a TFIOS/LFA mash up (FYI I've read both book and love them and know enough about them for this compare), this is not a rip-off! Robyn Schneider has a distinctive style and narration that when I read her books I instantly know its her writing. From the geeky yet well planned Harry Potter and Doctor Who references to the easy to read and well written and researched medical narrations, the author has a unique and refreshing way of telling a story and I enjoy it!

Both of the author's books are 'medical narration' which is something slowly growing in the YA genre.

Like the The Beginning of Everything, Extraordinary Means is a sweet and touching yet a tragic love story. Its a book about finding hope and strength, second chances even if its a miracle, friendship and first love even when death is around the corner.

Its also a coming of age story about enjoying life to the fullest, taking spontaneous risks and taking things slower as we might missed what that road not taken have in store for us. 

I think, laugh and cried with this book, wanting more of this author's awesome stories!

When this post goes up I'll have already gotten my lovely hard back of the book in the mail and am gonna re read it and devoured it into pieces... okay I'll keep it in one piece :P !

Highly recommend this book especially to the John Green fans patiently waiting for his next book and needs something fill that void along with Rainbow Rowell fans, PotterHeads, Whovians and secret menu Starbucks lovers.

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Goodreads Description:

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell. 

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend.

Apple Picking at Night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um…

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Romance, YA
Format: Hardback

Pages: 449 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Purchased from the Bookdepository

 First book completed in 2015!!!

Since you've been gone was so good!! *hugging book*

A great coming of age story of friendship, getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new.

Emily's best friend Sloane leaves town without an explanation and a list of stuff to do. The list consist of dares like 'hug a Jamie' to 'horse back riding' taking Emily out of her comfort zone. Trough the book we get flashbacks on their friendship and how some of this dares is related to it.

The books follows Emily's summer as she go to some extreme measures to complete the list and learn to live life without Sloane.

Along the way she makes friends with Frank, Collins and Dawn who helps her complete her list.

Emily was a great portrayed to someone who's socially awkward and needs a bit of a push to come out of her shell. As the book progresses she grows in confident and gets bolder with every dare she takes. She also becomes more independent as when Solane was around she was very dependent on her. She also establish relationships she would not have established if it not for the list.

I also love the sibling relationship as for an odd reason i rarely find a YA that has a good brother-sister relationship.

Her friendship with Frank was another favorite thing about the book! I love the development of their relationship and how Frank who at first looks like this 'perfect' guy but is more that meets the eyes. Also a guy who loves the band 'Parachute' and 'The Beatles' wins my heart! 

In a way i could relate to the book about having a friend suddenly leave/ leaving a friend and feel so lost without that them.

The playlist as a fun bonus! Lots of song that i love and some new discoveries! (Btw fangirled when my favorite band Parachute was mentioned) 

The book when i first saw it in the mail was a lot chunkier then i expected (though its partly cause i wanted the pretty hardback) but i breezed trough this super fast! Its well paced and an easy light read. Though the book is more on the friendship it does have a side of romance that was well developed and paced out. Also some of the scenarios and ways that Emily complete the list was entertaining and hilarious. 

Since you've been gone is about getting out of your comfort zone, making memories with friends and family that you are comfortable with. A fun Summer contemporary that is a must read!

Things to do after you read this review

1) pick up 'since you've been gone' (skip this step if you have and go straight to number two if you have read this book)

2) leave a comment and your thoughts in the book

3) let me know the first book you've completed in 2015 

Book Reivew: The Boyfriend App (App #1) by Katie Sise

Goodreads Description :

Get the app. Get the guy.

Computer-whiz Audrey McCarthy feels most at home in a tech lab, surrounded by her fellow geeks. Once popular and fearless, she hasn't been the same since her dad died. And her ex-best friend, gorgeous queen bee Blake Dawkins, has turned into her worst nightmare. Audrey is counting the minutes until high school is over and she can get the hell out of Dodge and go to college-that is, if she can find a scholarship.

So when Public Corporation, a giant tech company, announces a contest for the best app developed by a high schooler-with $200,000 in prize money-Audrey is spurred to action. She comes up with an idea so simple, yet so brilliant, she can't believe it hasn't been done: the Boyfriend App. With a simple touch of the screen, romance blooms among the unlikeliest couples in high school, and people start to take notice. But it's not quite enough.

To beat out the competition, Audrey will have to dig deeper. And she does-right into a scandal that would rock Public to its core. Suddenly the Boyfriend App lands Audrey where she never expected to be: in the middle of the limelight, passionately kissed by the hottest guys in school, causing complete and utter mayhem. But can it bring her true love?

 

Title: The Boyfriend App (App #1)
Author: Katie Sise
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Chick Lit
Format: Hard Back

Pages: 312
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Source: Ebay

This was a quick read! Like no joke i read it in one sitting for 5 hours!

Also after reading this someone please create a boyfriend or a bookish boyfriend app :P

I adore this book! Smart, Cute, great cast of characters and mind blowing plot twist!

The book follows Tech geek Audrey who is a pro hacker, a skill she picked up from her dad who passed away in her freshman year. She enters an app developing competition where the best app created will win a $200,000 scholarship. While creating the app she hacks a scandalous secret and uses it to create an app called the boyfriend app.

Smart, sweet and quirky computer whiz, she started with low self-esteem and grew in confidence as she develops and improves her app. What I love about her is that she never gives up and was determine to win the scholarship.

While it was fun following her process and struggles of brainstorming, designing and testing the app though I found it kinda confusing when reading the computer terms and lingo since I don't have much experience at computer programming so I tend to skim trough those parts (and maybe at times question if I'm reading English or a whole new language).

While Audrey's mum is not shown a lot, its clear that they have a very close relationship and that they are both caring and protective of each other. Her mum works as a school lunch lady to support them. Even though her dad is no longer around, Audrey still keeps that connection alive with her love for computer and and hacking like her dad. 

Also when reading this book I was picturing Marley and Millie Rose from Glee as Audrey and her mum.

Life in school for Audrey is not smooth with the fact she's always being bullied by ex-bff and mean girl Blake, who's father owes the company 'Public' which happen to be the company that is organizing the app designing contest.

It's sad watching the parts where Blake was tormenting her and a couple of them were really violent. Yes its obvious she's my least favorite character. Funny thing is that the author is releasing a spin off book on Blake so this will be interesting...

Still Audrey does have a close group of friends consist of Aiden, Nigit and Mindy as well her loving and supportive cousin Lindsay.

 

I swear this is exactly what i picture Aiden to be! Dylan O'Brine with glasses anyone?

I love Aiden from the moment we first read about him! He is THE best friend to have and I see why Audrey want's him as her boyfriend. He is everything I like an a bookish crush sorta guy! Sweet, funny, cute, shy and nerdy not to mention he is a very supportive friend.

 Dev Patel fits everything I pictured Nigit in the book!

Nigit is hilarious! He's one of those effortless cool guys! Also as the book progresses we see that is has quiet a significant role with Audrey app... or at least his dad does.

As for Lindsay I love her character to bits! Fashion blogger and PR extraordinaire she helps Audrey with using her blog and power on the social media to promote her app as well as being there for Audrey trough thick and thin,

I love her relationship with her cousin and how she is always looking out for Audrey. I also love her 'odd pair' relationship with Nigit.

As for the character Blake, I have mix feelings for her as most of the book I wanted to punch her as she was a real piece of work! But then we meet her Dad and he is a totally different piece of work. Like the type where you take out your assassins blade and all the works as ughhhhh!!! 

Even so I am intrigued to read about Blake side of the story in the sequel The Pretty app.

I enjoyed the computer science aspect of the book as it deeps into an easy understanding of behind the scenes of it. Along with that we get a lighter in depth of stuff like blackmailing, corporate secrets, dealing with death, the addiction to today's technology and the power and influence of social media.

The plot was fast pace and engaging and even though some parts were confusing as I don't speak computer code, I still manage to flip trough the book really quickly. Also some of the plot twist caught me off and were mind blowing awesome!

Overall a wicked tech-geek contemporary that is cute, smart, hilarious and heartwarming.

Book Review : To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han

Goodreads Description : 

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them... all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Chick Lit, Romance
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 355
Source: Purchased from the Bookdepository

I heard so many good things about Jenny Han with her 'Summer I turn pretty' trilogy and the 'Burn for Burn' which I have yet to pick up (IDK why) but the moment I heard the concept of this book I had to pick it up!

The book focuses on  Lara Jean who writes 'good bye' love letters to her crushes, keeps them in a hat box and moves on with life. One day those letters gets send out to the guys she wrote the letters to and has to deal with the fact this boys all know how she used to feel of them. Though it sounds like a haywire situation, she actually gotten to know some of the guys better especially Peter. 

I like Lara Jean from the start. I like watching her grow trough the book having she started out as not so confident and living in the shadows of the older sister Margot to becoming more confident and independent as well as capable of looking after their little sister Kitty, their dad as well as around the house. In a way both her and Kitty did become better with Margot leaving for college as Margot was the head of the house, being an example to her sisters and keeping everything in order.

Margot is a love-hate character. Me being the eldest I could relate to her in some ways like putting siblings before myself and worrying what's gonna happen to the family when I'm off to college but I feel she has a problem of letting go and letting her sister and dad look after themselves. Though she has her good intention of being strict and protective over her family, she really just need to let go and let them learn for themself. I feel like I will have enjoyed Margot more if we gotten to know her better. In fact I think it will be cool if there were a spin-off story on her.

Kitty... gosh I love her to bits! She's wise beyond her years making me sometimes forget she's only Nine. She know's how to wrap you around her fingers as well as is very particular with who she warms up to. However don't mess with this firecracker as she'll mess with you big time! . Basically I though she was gonna be my least favorite character turned to be my most favorite (beside Lara Jean and Peter). 

Lara Jean is my most favorite character in the book! Cute, witty, free spirit and dreamy! I seriously want to be friends with her where we can hang out and bake cookies and cupcakes all day! As mentioned her character development was one of the few things that made the book for me. Yes like most main character I've read she has some flaws like the fact that she was kinda innocent and naive as well as some of the ways she handle her problems were not ideal. Though she still have some room for improvement and growing up to do she matured at the end of the book as well as learn a lesson or two about love (both family and boy wise) which made me smile.

Josh who is one of the boys that Lara wrote the letter to as well as Margot's ex-boyfriend (dun dun dun...) not to mention their neighbor so even after Margot broke up with him they still do see a lot of him. He is obviously close to Lara Jean since they are friends for a long time. Like Margot he is protective over her and Kitty. Though I like him I find him as the 'typical boy next door' aka kinda bland.

Peter... gosh he was a hate-love-hate-love-I-am-so-thorn-with-my-feelings-but-love-you-in-the-end-but-but- character. He started out as a freaking jerk who was using Lara Jean to get back at his ex (*cringe* *cringe* cringe*... okay so Lara Jean 'was' using him to hide her feelings from Josh) with going into a fake relationship (contract and all the works lol that was cute!). Peter surprised me having that he started out as the 'bad boy jock' sorta guy with a very screwy and manipulative ex but once you get to know him he can be as complex as complex gets. Yes he was a jerk in so many parts of the book I literally threw my book across the room out of frustration but he managed to redeemed himself to be quiet a good sweet guy who actually does care for Lara Jean. He show's his sweet, caring compassionate side... swoon... I need a guy like him in my life... lol. In fact most of my favorite LOL and cute moments in the book were the Lara Jean/Peter relationship. And tough I am freaking annoyed with his character, I am at the moment Team Peter! ( Now all we gotta do is kill off the jealous ex-girlfriend... any ideas?? lol)

While the book does have some high school romance and drama, I feel there was a larger focus on family love and drama which I like especially the sisterly love and father daughter love. There were some parts of the book that was emotional and heart warming. I expect this to have some cute and fluffy moments but the book turned out to be more complex than expected.

Random like but any Potter Heads will be happy with the Harry Potter reference xD 

Also in case you don't already notice from this blog (wink wink nudge nudge, check out my other book reviews) I like book with diversity, from the book characters, the place the book is set in or even the authors and this book is an example of that. The author, Jenny Han American Korean. The book talks a lot about Lara Jean's Korean culture and even though their mum (who is Korean) have passed away their dad still try to incorporate their Korean roots into their lives. 

I purposely saved this book so that I could devour after my exams and the wait was worth it! This was a real page turner and there were a couple of times where I shouted "WHAT" out of shock or frustration especially at a particular boom drop at the end where I did kinda predicted not not in the way it happened (I also threw the book at the sofa at one point and got a bit teary eye at another). The ending I was not that happy about... I literally scream 'WHY?!?! WHERE ARE THE LAST LIKE 20 PAGES OF THE BOOK (ala Augustus freaking out on an Imperial Affliction style for you TFIOS fans :P) but hey... they need to leave use hanging for the squeal for a reason since this will be a duology. 

Other than that I enjoyed this book! Sweet, heartwarming but complex reads that's filled with touching emotions (kinda got teary at one part). This is definitely more on the character/relationship driven side than the story. Check this out for likable characters that feels realistic and that you could relate to, a good family and sisterly dynamic relationship as well as unique story line concept. 

NOW GIMME THE NEXT BOOK!! NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!?! WHY 2015!?!?

Who will you write a love letter to??? 

Also Team Josh or Team Peter?? 

*cough *cough *Peter ^^