Book Review: In Real Life by Lawrence Tabak

Goodreads Description :

Fifteen-year-old math prodigy Seth Gordon knows exactly what he wants to do with his life—play video games. Every spare minute is devoted to honing his skills at Starfare, the world's most popular computer game. His goal: South Korea, where the top pros are rich and famous. But the best players train all day, while Seth has school and a job and divorced parents who agree on only one thing: "Get off that damn computer." Plus there's a new distraction named Hannah, an aspiring photographer who actually seems to understand his obsession.

While Seth mopes about his tournament results and mixed signals from Hannah, Team Anaconda, one of the leading Korean pro squads, sees something special. Before he knows it, it's goodbye Kansas, goodbye Hannah, and hello to the strange new world of Korea. But the reality is more complicated than the fantasy, as he faces cultural shock, disgruntled teammates, and giant pots of sour-smelling kimchi.

What happens next surprises Seth. Slowly, he comes to make new friends, and discovers what might be a breakthrough, mathematical solution to the challenges of Starcraft. Delving deeper into the formulas takes him in an unexpected direction, one that might just give him a new focus—and reunite him with Hannah.

Title: In Real Life
Author: Lawrence Tabak
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Romance
Format: Paperback/E-book
Pages: 288 pages
Publisher:Tuttle Publishing
Source: Dymocks & Netgalley

 

When I first saw this on NetGalley i knew I had to try and request this and after reading a couple of chapters I went out to get the physical book (since it was already out) as its THAT GOOD! Its like this book has everything I love! Gaming, realistic and relatable teen along with a hint of romance and a hella lotta teen awkwardness.

15 year old Seth is a math genius and an avid gamer, is one of the best Starfare (i believe its a parody to StarCraft) gamer in the US. Like many teenagers he has a lot of commitments like school, a part time job, hobbies, chores, and maybe even a girlfriend? For Seth gaming is not just a hobby but a passion. He always dream of getting signed by the top teams in South Korea and train with the pro. However things aren’t as what it seems when he learns the true reality being a pro gamer with sponsors and endorsement, competitive team mates, the large pay checks and even the fame. Through the book follow him as he juggles all his commitments and parents’expectation while trying to get drafted by Team Anaconda as a professional eSport player in Korea.

I was hooked on this book from page one and its one of the few books that I went out and got a physical copy after getting a review from NetGalley as it was a book I had to own on my shelve. I enjoy the cast of characters, the pacing of the story and even the reality of both the eSport and Asian entertainment industry.

I like how the story was paced out and how things weren't a bed of roses but a rose bush of thrones. The writing was realistic, fun and light hearted while hitting some serious issues like the rise to fame and even one of the most realistic teenage lives I’ve ever read in a book.

I rarely find a YA even in the contemporary genre where it shows a teen with a lot of commitment as from my life as a teen and a student we have a heck loads of commitment from doing well in school to extra curriculum, chores and maybe even a part time job. In fact Seth’s literally a guy version of me as a teen as like Seth  had to juggle a long list commitment in high school leaving me with little time for leisure including gaming (which my parents till this day cringe and grit their teeth with disapproval).

Speaking of gaming while I'm not an avid fan of the genre of games Seth plays (not to mention I'll probably suck at it) I really enjoy how the book touch on eSport which is a really big thing Korea taking out football size arenas for tournament. I do wish we get more of how the game plays but then it might just get confusing and let's face it, this is a book not a Starfare 101 manual.

While this is a coming of age story about Seth realizing his true passion might not be gaming or that dreams aren't what it seems, I do enjoy the the hint of romance and dare I say it gives the story some fluff that will make me smile and awe at the cuteness. Seth's friendship and budding romance with Hannah was sweet and well pace out and I love watching as he slowly but surely falls for her.

Also I enjoy how the author portrayed the Korean/Asian culture in a way where he didn't over stereotype it as well as did his research.

I also love the sibling relationship between Seth and his brother Garret and the only flaw of the story I can think of was the parents where the book did the ‘typical YA thing’ which was to write off the parents saying that one’s in a secluded location where you can’t contact with a mobile phone or that the other is away on a business trip so is rarely at home... well at least there is a decent reason why they are out of the story . Even so there are some good adult figures in the game like Song who mentors Seth, helps build his other interest that is math and is like his adopted father figure while in Korea. In fact the Math element here was really cool, reminding me a bit of An Abundance of Katherine without the crazy amount of footnotes.

Lastly this book tackles a topic I wish more books tackle that was Seth being thrown into the 'suddenly forced to grown up world' and be an adult. While yes this is a topic that is more of you need to experience it instead of read it but seeing from Seth POV of him forced to mature and be independent is both refreshing and something touch close to home for me making me wish I read this years ago before I left home to come to Australia.

Seth character and narration was what made the book for me. I love his snark yet smart alec comments and all the crazy yet random fantasy he dreams of that is NOT in a SICK sexual way but like in a cute and maybe impossible even for reality way like what he'll do when he get his first paycheck or how he'll surprise Hannah. Long story short, this boy has one crazy head and to compare it its like reading a little brother's diary that you lost temptation to. Also he is highly intelligent and quick thinking not to mention down to earth kid who don't let fame get to his head. Seriously the best thing about Seth is his character development where he handles situation like being troll/ bullied by competitors, rude team mates and all his commitments maturely. Mostly what I like was that when he realize that things aren't as great as it seems, he's at least honest with himself and moves on.

Overall this is definitely a book I'll recommend if you are a gamer,  if you are not a gamer, if  you are interested in/ like the idea of gaming or if you want a realistic and refreshing male POV narration. A great coming of age story with a hint of romance and a heck lotta gaming. Also if you're looking for a book to recommend/gift to a guy friend/ brother to check.

This is one of the best and more underrated books I've read and I'm looking forward to reading more of Lawrence Tabak writing.

Recommend: Fans of John Green's An abundance of Katherine, Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl and James Dashner's Eye of Mind series (review here) and Laurinda by Alice Pung (Review here).

Ohhhhh... What's this?? top shelve approved??? WTF IS THIS???

Well I decided to make a 'stamp' of approval for books that i enjoyed and will highly recommend. Long story short if I love the book that I highly recommend it will have the 'stamp of approval' deserving to be placed on the top shelve.

Since we're talking about gaming I have a new section called RowGames where I review and discuss some games I recently been playing. I mainly play PC games, currently playing Life is Strange and recently gotten Gone Home so will probably be reviewing that soon. Also I just downloaded a bunch of gaming apps on my iPad so i might also review a few mobile games if I enjoy it.

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: Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

Goodreads Description:

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.

Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead

 

Title: Where the Road Takes Me
Author: Jay McLean
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Format: E-book
Pages: 323 pages
Publisher: Skyscape
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from NetGalley

Where The Road Takes Me is a New Adult romance with Young Adult characters following Chloe and Blake who randomly meet when Blake was on his jog.

Chloe loss both her mum and aunt to breast cancer when she was very young and is afraid her families medical history will effect her. Cause of this she does not allow herself to be attach to anyone including her foster family and has no plans for the future except "The Road".

Blake is in a cross between choosing to follow his passion for Basketball and accepting a scholarship to Duke or following his father's path of getting enlisted into the army.

It took more than 30% for me to connect with the story but once the plot picks up I wiz trough this. Though the story was a but chopy it was honest and realistic about the whole What's next after High School life. Both Chloe and Blake are uncertainty about their future but they both opened up and choose their path with the help of each other and their family.

The romance was instalove and I was not a fan of it at first, however the more I read about Blake and Chloe's relationship the more I want to cheer for them as their relationship was sweet and heart-warming but also an emotional rollercoaster!

Chloe took a while for me to warm up to as she was selfish to push away everyone she loves just because she does not want her condition to affect them. She needed a bit of push to get her to be strong and brave for the future. Tough and sassy, though she came out as selfish, she's actually very caring and does not want to hurt the ones she loves like how she was hurt.

Blake was charming, funny and caring from the start. I also love how he was positive and works hard to make his and Chloe relationship work.

The book is heavy on the family elements which I love. I love reading the interaction with Chloe's foster family as well as Blake's mum. They are very supportive of the couple and were always there when they needed help.

Also Blake's best friend Josh was awesome to read about! I want a book (or novella) for Josh as I want to know more about his character!

The 'Red Letter Day' metaphor was well used and I actually learned some good stuff about it.

I only have a bit of mix feelings about one thing that is the whole 'realistic money issue'. Maybe its because I'm a money snob in reality but the way that issue was handled made me cringe. I meant I understand Blake's family is well off that his mum is sufficient to fund their whole road trip and I get it that his mum wanted to be pro active and 'upgrade' Chloe's car but the way it was handled was like money grows on trees!

This is a NA romance so expect profanities and steam.

Other than that I did like the story especially the family and road trip element. The ending was sweet, heart-warming and emotional that pulled my heart strings!

I heard so many great things about Jay McLean and I finally got a chance to read her book! I'm definitely checking out her More than this series which is her other series.

Check her out if you are a fan of Colleen Hoover and New Adult Romance!

Also Aussie readers check her out as she's an Aussie author!