Netgalley Review: Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

Last week, I was one of the lucky Netgalley few to get my hands on Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando. Roomies is the tale of two strangers - Elizabeth in New Jersey and Lauren in San Francisco - who are randomly paired as roommates for their upcoming first semester at UC Berkeley. Elizabeth can't wait to escape her only-child life with her single mom; Lauren has more mixed feelings about leaving her large family, in which she's basically a third parent. Their cross-country correspondence begins with typical discussions about dorm-room appliances, but their stories quickly intertwine in unexpected ways. As they deal with old and new relationships and the realities of leaving home, they become each other's best supporter and greatest challenger... before they even set foot on campus.

Sara Zarr's books have a particular sense of honesty and authenticity, and Roomies is no exception. Everything about the story felt true to life. A lot of small emotional moments caught me by surprise. Since e-mail and social media play a large role in the plot, it also felt very of-the-moment, but in a way that will still be fresh later. I don't know how the authors divided up the writing, but it's very cohesive while also giving each girl a distinct voice. I hope they work together on a future project!

I loved Roomies and read it in less than 48 hours. Do yourself a favor and pick it up when it releases in December!


Recommended for: high school seniors; anyone nostalgic for their college days and friendships


I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Netgalley Review: Boat Girl by Melanie Neale

I was immediately drawn to Boat Girl: A Memoir of Youth, Love, and Fiberglass by Melanie Neale. This memoir is a series of increasingly connected vignettes, starting when Melanie was very young, which together paint a larger picture of boat life. Melanie and her sister grew up aboard a sailboat, typically summering in Virginia and wintering in the Bahamas. They were homeschooled aboard, diving and meeting all sorts of interesting people, supported by the money her father made writing sailing books and articles. In the summer, sailing families congregated in Cape Town, where she met kids who would become her best friends - the only other people who truly understood her. Her family's story is almost like an expat story, though they were often surrounded by other Americans.

I'm not a boat girl on a caliber with the Neales, but I felt personally connected to this memoir. Melanie and I are the same age, and the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area was one of her "home ports." As an adult, she attended grad school at FIU and lived on her own sailboat at a marina in the suburb where I lived as a child. Her recollections brought back many of my own memories of boating and oceangoing. I could practically feel the ocean breeze on my face. The "salt life" never leaves you, even if you've never lived full-time on a boat.


Recommended for: boaters, ocean lovers, South Floridians

Netgalley Review: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge

I've written before about Captivating, the book that Stasi Eldredge co-authored with her husband John. Despite what some perceived as its narrow picture of womanhood, it really resonated with me – the "too much and not enough" dichotomy is still one of the most spot-on summaries I've ever read. So when I heard that Stasi was releasing her own new book for women, Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You, I was eager to check it out.

If you're familiar with the Eldredges' other books (I've read almost all of them), you know that their instructive writing is warm and emotional, and invokes as many cinematic and literary references as Biblical references. Becoming Myself is no exception, and it's probably the most personal volume yet. Stasi shares about her own past (distant and recent), personal struggles and failings, and what she's discovered about her own identity and how God sees her. Her voice is so kind and relatable that I felt like I was reading a letter from a friend. Chapter by chapter, she encourages other women to fully embrace our unique selves, dream big dreams for our lives, and trust in God's love for us. She addresses many common women's issues in depth, including fear, beauty, friendships, and mother-daughter tension. One chapter focuses on the Marys (Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene) and what we can learn from them – it was my favorite part of the book. Most chapters end with a suggested prayer or activity relating to the topic. I did several of them, and it was enriching.

I'm not ashamed to say that I highlighted about half of Becoming Myself. This book isn't high theology or rocket science, but it's a balm that my soul desperately needed. It's easy for Christians (at least this one) to get so caught up in life and/or the Big Issues that we forget the core of the Gospel and start to feel adrift. If you're in a similar place, I highly recommend this book! An accompanying group study is also available.



I received these books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Netgalley Reviews: The Vogue Factor // This Girl // Forever, Interrupted

I have several Netgalley reviews to burn off, so I'm putting them all in one post!

 

The Vogue Factor by Kirstie Clements

Before seeing this book on Netgalley, I had never heard of Kirstie Clements, former editor of Vogue Australia. If you're looking for a nonfiction Devil Wears Prada, this intriguing memoir isn't it. From my perspective, Clements seems refreshingly down-to-earth and appreciative of everything her career has brought her. After starting at Vogue Australia as a receptionist in the 80s, she climbed through the ranks and learned all about the inner workings of the magazine. Eventually, after being let go and briefly working for Harper's Bazaar, she was offered the editorship, which she held for about ten years. In 2012, she and almost her entire staff were laid off due to a management change. Much of The Vogue Factor recalls Clements' work with various models and designers, and encounters with celebrities. She's also very frank about what's wrong with the fashion and magazine industries, and how they've changed for the worse long-term. As for her personal life, she shares a little about her teen years, how she met her French husband, and the funny story of her twin sons' birth. Overall, this book is a fun read.

Recommended for fans of: fashion and/or Australian pop culture

This Girl by Colleen Hoover

The third and final installment in the Slammed series picks up right where Point of Retreat left off. On their honeymoon, Layken wants to hear her and Will's whole love story from his perspective. So he obliges her. It's been long enough since I read Slammed that I wasn't at all bored reading about the same events again (with additional information, of course!). As always, I really like these characters, and the intensity of their love hurts my heart a little. Do guys this passionate really exist?

Recommended for fans of: Slammed (the book loses a lot of oomph otherwise)

 

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

On New Year's Day, Elsie and Ben, two ordinary young Angelenos, fall in love at first sight at a pizza parlor. By the end of May, they've eloped. Nine days later, Ben is hit by a car and killed on his way home from the store. Grief-stricken, Elsie must cope with not only the sudden loss of her new husband, but also the resentment of her new mother-in-law, Susan… who didn't know Elsie existed.

Ultimately, this is a hopeful and sweet story of finding love and family in unexpected places. But Elsie's grief is very real, especially in the beginning, and at times I found it difficult to power through. So people with similar triggers should keep that in mind. Overall, I enjoyed spending time with these characters, and appreciated all the little details (Elsie is a librarian, and there are shoutouts throughout the book to various young adult novels). Also: I kept picturing her supportive best friend Ana as Cece from New Girl. Anyone else?

Recommended for fans of: The Notebook, The Fault In Our Stars

I received these books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Netgalley Review: Emotional Vampires At Work by Albert J. Bernstein

Netgalley is great for finding books that I might never have heard about or picked up otherwise. One such book is Emotional Vampires at Work: Dealing with Bosses and Coworkers Who Drain You Dry by Albert J. Bernstein. I'm not really into businessy books, but when I noticed this in a new-releases e-mail, I decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did!

In this book, Bernstein describes several types of emotional vampires: Antisocials, Histrionics, Narcissists, Obsessive-Compulsives, and Paranoids. They're not simply "difficult people," but people with actual, untreated personality disorders. He explains how to handle and interact with them, and the work cultures they create, without getting burned. Emotional vampires are essentially children. They operate solely on an immature, "fast thinking," instinctual level, and their goal is to bring you down to that level. Therefore, you can outsmart them with "slow thinking," moving beyond your knee-jerk reactions to their behavior and consistently responding in a mature and logical way. Bernstein helps you work toward this by identifying what your primary workplace personality is: Rebel, Believer, or Competitor. Certain combinations of personalities and emotional vampires are more disastrous than others, and he shows you what to beware of in those situations.

I appreciated the author's constant refrain that emotional vampires are not bound by conscience or compassion, and don't respond to things as a healthy person does. They see other people as a "source of sustenance" and not much more. In relationships with them (especially in a work context), our energy should go toward protecting ourselves from them, not trying to fix them. If we don't shield ourselves, we're in danger of becoming "infected" too. As someone conditioned to help people and give them chance after chance, I found this advice freeing and reassuring. Emotional Vampires at Work clearly focuses on the work environment, but the descriptions and guidance are very helpful for all of life, because emotional vampires are everywhere. If you read this and don't identify anyone you know, count yourself blessed.

I recommend this book for everyone. It's not very long, and the knowledge you'll gain will be valuable at work and in your personal life. It'll be good to have on hand for reference.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Levitating Las Vegas

Levitating Las Vegas, the first non-YA novel by Jennifer Echols, was born via a writing prompt from Diana Peterfreund: "A young woman confronts her parents after discovering that she has inherited telekinetic powers." The concept was a perfect match for Echols' fascination with Las Vegas and its people, and she ran with it, winning NaNoWriMo with flying colors. You can read more about that here on her blog. While I plowed through Levitating Las Vegas and thought it explored some interesting ideas, overall I might like its origin story better than the actual book.

All her life, Holly has been a showgirl in her family's magic act at a Vegas casino. Her classmate/crush, Elijah, and his mother also work at the casino. When they're fourteen, Holly and Elijah both experience the onset of intense powers – telekinesis and mind-reading, respectively – after their parents inexplicably forbid them to date each other. Both are told by their parents that they have a dangerous mental illness, must never tell anyone about it, and must take medication to keep their delusions of power under control. Seven years later, Holly and Elijah are still walking the line and keeping their distance from one another. Then their medication suddenly becomes unavailable. Terrified of going crazy, and newly aware that they're both mentally ill, they go on a road trip together to the city where their medication is made. There, they begin to discover that there's much more to their powers, their history, their families and friends, and the casino they grew up in than they'd ever imagined.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. Vegas is full of characters and craziness that you won't find anywhere else, and I agree that it's ripe for fantastical plots. The pacing of the story was great – as I said, I had a hard time putting it down. It would make a fun movie. Romance-wise, revisiting a lost first love is one of my favorite plotlines. The ethical dilemmas raised by having strong manipulative powers are also fascinating. But something about Levitating Las Vegas just rang a little false for me. It seemed a little unpolished. I couldn't totally suspend my disbelief, and I couldn't totally trust Elijah as a character (but maybe we're not supposed to). I was bothered by many of his actions and his claims that they were for Holly's own good. I also felt excessively stressed at several points – much more so than usual while reading a suspenseful book. Maybe this narrative pushed some personal buttons I haven't identified.

Bottom line, I enjoyed Levitating Las Vegas. But I was slightly disappointed after LOVING the only other Echols book I've read, Major Crush. I'll have to try some of her other stuff.


Recommended for fans of: superhero stories, Justine Larbalestier's Magic or Madness trilogy


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Netgalley Review: At Least You're In Tuscany

A while back, I went through an obsessive phase with the American expat experience. I think I just needed to read about big adventures and different ways of life. I started following Design Mom and her sister Oh Happy Day (who were both living in France at the time), Ameringlish (England), Practically Perfect (New Zealand), and We Found Happiness (Nigeria, now back in the US), among others. While I've lost the urge to virtually move across the globe, I'm still very interested in expat stories, and At Least You're in Tuscany: A Somewhat Disastrous Quest for the Sweet Life by Jennifer Criswell is a great one.

As a young woman, Criswell took an extended trip to Italy and knew she had found her true home. Years and several more visits later, she finally leaves New York and moves to Montepulciano, Tuscany, with her dog Cinder. Despite careful preparation, she hits roadblocks from the start - a rude landlady, social isolation, difficulty speaking Italian, and most of all, serious financial trouble because she can't work. Her Sicilian ancestry entitles her to Italian citizenship, but of course, what was presented as an easy process takes much longer than anticipated. In the meantime, no one will hire her under the table. Much of this memoir is simply about looking for work in a small town, but Criswell makes it interesting. On the non-work front, she's dismayed to be dumped by old friends in the area, but eventually finds new ones in unexpected places - and has a fling with a charming, classically Italian produce vendor. :) I also loved the stories of the grape and olive harvests she participates in, although I totally believe her that the work is less romantic than it sounds.

At Least You're In Tuscany doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of moving overseas, but affirms that for those who really want to make the move, it's worth it. It's a great resource for expats, a great read for anyone interested in travel and/or Italy, and a general encouragement that hard times eventually end!

Netgalley Review: The Sea of Tranquility

Great cover. I can't stop looking at it!

Nastya was a piano prodigy, and music was her whole life. Then a violent attack left her crippled physically and emotionally. Two years after the incident, she moves in with her aunt and starts over in a new town for her senior year of high school. Although Nastya doesn't want anyone infringing on her angry solitude, she finds an unlikely friend in Drew, a known playboy with a heart of gold. At the same time, she's irresistibly drawn to his best friend, Josh, a quiet, mysterious classmate with a painful past of his own.

I'm attracted to stories of broken people who fall in love, wade through each other's mess, and help each other find healing. This novel fits the bill. I enjoyed a lot of the little details, like Nastya's obsession with names (which I share - now I feel less weird!) and the warmth of Drew's family. I also appreciated that, while we feel the intimacy and coziness of Nastya and Josh's developing relationship, the story is as much about friendship and family as romance.

Recommended for fans of: Slammed, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, Sarah Dessen

***

Because this novel contains a fair amount of language and sexuality, this is a good time for me to directly address the fact that I am a Christian who is okay with reading books containing language and sexuality. I know that many of my blog readers are much more conservative than I am, so I often feel the need to disclaim. I generally don't have a problem with these aspects of media as long as the overall message is good/redemptive, and/or they flow naturally from the subject matter, are true to the characters, and generally aren't gratuitous. (Although part of the reason I read so much YA literature is that it's less harsh than most adult fiction.) But everyone's judgment is different. So from here on out, just be aware that the books I review (and movies, shows, and music that I recommend) are probably not totally "clean." I'm not going to apologize for that anymore. :)

Netgalley Review: The Best of All Possible Worlds

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

Grace Delarua is a sociologist and research scientist for the government of Cygnus Beta, a planet that's a lot like early America - almost all of its inhabitants immigrated from somewhere else. Its latest group of refugees are the Sadiri, a highly psychic, logical human race whose planet has been poisoned and most of its population killed. Delarua is assigned to help them settle on Cygnus Beta and plan for the long-term survival of their race. Her main cohort is Dllenakh, a gentle Sadiri man who was offplanet when the disaster occurred. With a ragtag group of other government scientists, they spend a year traveling the planet in search of other Sadiri and settlement opportunities. Along the way, Delarua risks her career to right wrongs, gets answers to some of her deepest questions, finds a family in her colleagues, confronts the ghosts of her past, and discovers a future that she never expected.

I've read some uniquely great novels in the past year or so, and this is another to add to the list. It's unusual, and I loved it. The balance of humor, insight, adventure, and romance (such as it is) is great. I loved Delarua's headstrong bluntness, Dllenakh's kind coolness, and their mutual strength and bravery. In fact, this book seems like it could have started as a post-reboot Spock/Uhura fanfic, and I mean that as a compliment. (Oops, I think I just said too much. About myself AND the book.)

Recommended for fans of: Star Trek, And All The Stars, Firefly

(Disclaimer: I downloaded this book free from Netgalley in exchange for a review.)

Netgalley Review: Shadowhunters and Downworlders

In case it isn't obvious, I appreciate commentaries on popular fiction. So when I saw Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader available on Netgalley, I snatched it up. Regardless of any controversy surrounding her, I've been a fan of Cassandra Clare since her epic Harry Potter fanfiction in the early 2000s. You can see seeds of the Draco Trilogy in her ever-expanding original work, set in the world of the Shadowhunters – supernatural warriors who are half human, half angel. I've mentioned before that I prefer the more genteel Infernal Devices trilogy, which is set in Victorian England, but these essays focus on the modern-day Mortal Instruments books. Popular YA authors, including Diana Peterfreund (one of my favorite authors, period) and longtime Clare pals Sarah Rees Brennan and Holly Black, weigh in on various aspects of the Shadowhunter universe. My favorite essays were Peterfreund's expounding on the power of Jace's wit as a weapon; Kami Garcia's about why the best friend never gets the girl; and Michelle Hodkin's analysis of Simon, the Jewish vampire, who is much beloved. Clare herself edited this collection, which I thought was cool, since she shared some of her own related thoughts at the beginning of each chapter.

Obviously, this book probably won't be worth much to you if you haven't read or didn't like the novels. It isn't as academic as the Hunger Games commentary I reviewed recently, but it's still a quick and interesting read. Since the essays are short, you can pick it up and put it down easily. I enjoyed it, and probably would have liked it even better if I hadn't had a fever at the time!

Netgalley Review: The Panem Companion

If you're a Hunger Games fan with a habit of intensely overanalyzing your favorite fiction, you will love The Panem Companion! This is an in-depth look at every level of the Hunger Games universe. It begins with musings on how Panem could have evolved from our current society (including maps and graphs), and goes on to examine the social, economic, and political structures of Panem, as exhibited both in the society as a whole and in the individual lives of the characters. Some of the topics I found most interesting were: district and race relations, the mystery of Cinna's origins and true role in the rebellion, a comparison of Panem and District 13 (as in, how different are they really?), and the question of who's ultimately responsible for a certain character's death. Given Suzanne Collins' military background and love of Greek and Roman mythology, those parallels are explored as well. As if all this wasn't enough to chew on, there's an entire appendix on the origins of the characters' names. My hat is off to V. Arrow for her thoroughness and insight. I felt a little weird devoting so much brainpower to a work of fiction, but man was it fascinating. Thanks Netgalley!

I allowed myself to read this because it's not actual dystopia, just an analysis of dystopia, but it reminded me of why I need to stay away. I feel even more anxious about the future of our country (and world) than I did before. :\

And All The Stars by Andrea K. Host

I'm on a self-imposed dystopian fast, but the apocalypse in this book is caused by aliens, so I don't think it counts. :) When I saw the arresting cover of And All The Stars by Andrea K. Host on Netgalley, with the tagline, "Come for the apocalypse. Stay for cupcakes. Die for love," I had to check it out! The center of this Aussie YA novel is Madeleine, a talented teenage artist who is trapped in a Sydney subway station by the appearance of the Spires - massive, mysterious towers that have appeared in every major city on the planet. She escapes the station, but only after intense exposure to the glittery dust expelled from the Spire. Taking refuge in the nearby apartment of her famous cousin, she waits along with the rest of the world to see what will happen next. When she emerges several days later, most of her skin now blue and glittering, she quickly connects with a band of other "Blues" like herself. Together they begin to figure out their new reality and form a plan of action. With the support of her new friends and a new love, Madeleine finds the strength and courage to fight for her family, friends, and the whole human race.

This might be a silly-sounding synopsis, but if I went into any more detail, it would be too spoilery! I think it's better to go into it knowing as little as possible. Basically, this is solid, compelling, unique YA that's focused on friendships, not romance (although there are some mature scenes, so it's not for young kids, and I wouldn't recommend it to fundamentalist Christians either). Best of all, it's a true standalone - no cliffhangers! I was starting to wonder if that was even allowed anymore. Someone I know, please read this book so we can discuss.

I'm interested in reading more Australian fiction. I already like Justine Larbalestier (although most of her books aren't even set in Australia) and Jaclyn Moriarty. Any recommendations?

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

I received this novel from Netgalley, and stayed up past midnight on a work night to finish it! Layken, recently bereaved of her dad, moves from Texas to Michigan with her mother and brother right before her senior year. She's understandably not happy about the move, but things look brighter after she meets her new (slightly older) neighbor, Will. They feel an immediate connection, which is strengthened when literary Will introduces Layken to the world of slam poetry. But just as their relationship begins to bloom, they're forced apart by unforeseen circumstances. Yet, mainly because of their little brothers' close friendship, they're also forced to keep seeing each other. When more tragedy strikes, Layken needs Will more than ever. CAN THEY OVERCOME??

I've heard lots of buzz about this book, and at first I didn't buy into it. In fact, the beginning seemed vaguely Twilightish (and I say that as someone who's read and enjoyed Twilight). But once the first plot twist hit, I was hooked! Something about the writing struck me as a little amateurish, but it doesn't matter because this book has a LOT of heart. It's an interesting and unusual story with very likable characters (especially Layken's instant best friend Eddie) and a good message. The romance is pretty swoon-worthy, as is Will himself. Time to read the sequel!

Let's Hear It For Almigal

I'm a member of NetGalley, and they send frequent e-mails showcasing new books available for request. One recent update mentioned a children's book about a girl with cochlear implants, which caught my attention immediately. My sister is a deaf educator who teaches pre-school kids with cochlear implants how to listen and speak. Over the years I've learned a lot about the subject from her - I even visited several schools with her when she was looking for a job. So I was excited to see a book for kids with implants. I requested it and was approved to download it right away! This was notable because in my year of membership, I hadn't been approved for ANY of the books I requested, even from small publishers. So Handfinger Press, thanks for taking a chance on an unknown kid. ;)

Let's Hear It For Almigal by Wendy Kupfer (illustrated by Tammie Lyon) is a very cute book. Ali, who prefers to be called Almigal, wears hearing aids. They don't bother her, but she feels a little sad about the quiet sounds she still misses, especially her parents telling her they love her when they tuck her in at night. Then she gets cochlear implants and is able to hear everything! However, there are still some tough times as she works to learn how to hear, and to take good care of her implants (e.g. not swimming in them, or putting them on the dog). This book made me smile, and the illustrations are adorable even on a Kindle. I definitely recommend it for all kids, but especially those who have hearing difficulties or know someone who does. I'm sure it would encourage them - Almigal's upbeat attitude is contagious!

You can get Let's Hear It For Almigal at Amazon, B&N, and several other book outlets.