Review: Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton

 Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton

 

Author: Keris Stainton Website|Twitter

Published: 7 July 2011 (Orchard)
Format: Paperback
Pages:
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Jessie's just arrived in New York, hoping to forget about her awful ex.

New Yorker Finn is in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

They might be perfect together, but in a city of eight million people, will they ever find each other?

My Review:
Jessie Hearts NYC follows Jessie and her best friend Emma as they head across the Atlantic to spend time with Jessie's mother in New York. The girls soak up the city whilst Jessie tries to put her ex-boyfriend Tyler behind her. Meanwhile, New Yorker Finn must deal with his feelings for his best friend's girlfriend.

I loved this book. Really loved it. Read it in one afternoon kind of loved it (and I never read books in one afternoon). It was exactly the kind of fun, escapism that I needed, with a brilliantly clever plot that kept me hooked to the pages.

Firstly, I love books that transport you to new places. Reading Jessie Hearts NYC felt like I was getting on that plane with Jessie, and when she was seeing the sights and exploring, I was right there with her. I finished the book and wanted to plan my own trip to NYC right away! What I loved was the inclusion of references to films and TV shows set in New York. I'm a huge Friends fan so obviously I was waiting for those mentions (and I wasn't disappointed!) but I just loved how it incorporated all the pop culture stuff. It really helped me feel like I was escaping.

The book is told in third person and flicks between Jessie and Finn's perspectives. Their stories start out quite separate and they're brought together by being in the same place at the same time. One minute you're with Jessie in a coffee shop, the next you're with Finn in that same coffee shop. There are little interactions between the two characters and you end up rooting for them to finally meet properly and get a chance to speak to each other. I loved how the book played with the idea of fate and being in the right place at the right time.

One of my favourite things about the book was Finn himself who is so just so loveable! When we meet him he's head over heels for his best friend Scott's girlfriend Sam and he just dotes on her all the time. He's caring and sweet and you want to bash Sam over the head for not seeing that. At the same time he's still a great friend to Scott. He's definitely up there with my favourite male YA characters.

Both Jessie and Finn are at a time in their life where they're having to make decisions about their future. I really related to that and how they're spending the summer discovering more about themselves and what they want. For Jessie, that means deciding whether her heart lies in New York with her mum or back in Manchester with her dad, and for Finn he must decide what he truly wants to study as opposed to what his parents want him to. As well as being relatable these decisions also really drove the plot forward and kept me hooked to find out what the two characters would end up doing.

Jessie Hearts NYC is definitely a book I wish I'd read when I was younger (or a book I wish I'd written when I was younger!). It encapsulates a lot of those fears you have as a teen about relationships and family. I loved the relationship between Jessie and her mum and how they have to overcome that tension between them caused my her mum's work and the distance between them. I also loved getting inside Jessie's head as she worries about boys.

There's so much more I could say about this book but for now I'm just going to urge you all to go out and read it. It has everything you could want in a YA novel from friendship and family to a wonderful love story and some great humour. I can see it being a book I go back to year on year to take with me whilst I go on holiday or something. And I can't wait to read more by this author!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton
Books like this: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Review: Anywhere by J. Meyers

Anywhere by J. Meyers 

Author: J. Meyers Website|Twitter
Published: 25 August 2013
Format: Kindle e-book
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo|Smashwords

Source: Received free copy from author in exchange for an honest review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Skye Whitcomb is running from her troubles, and where better to run than Europe? Fresh out of college, she makes quick plans with her best friend Paige and hops on a plane.

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned—at least not for her. First, Paige has to bail, and Skye’s left to travel alone. Then she meets sweet and sexy Asher Benedict in Paris, and sparks fly after a night together on the train to Rome. He’s all kinds of perfect for her, but the timing couldn’t be worse since she was running from the altar when she left—so the last thing she wants right now is a relationship.

But Skye’s about to discover that no matter how far you run, love can find you anywhere.

My Review:
I absolutely loved J. Meyers' other books Intangible and Imaginable, so when I heard about Anywhere - which is a completely different genre to the Intangible series - I was really excited to dive in! Anywhere follows Skye as she embarks on her travels across Europe. When her plans with best friend Paige end up falling through, she finds herself in the company of the oh-so-lovely Asher.

It is so rare that I read a book with a constant smile on my face, but that is what happened with Anywhere. Like I'm writing this review straight away after finishing the book and I still have this ridiculous grin on my face. I adored this book. Completely and utterly adored it.

Firstly, I love a good road trip novel. Anything that involves travelling has me interested, and Skye's travels in Anywhere made for the most beautiful backdrop to her story. Along the way she visits, Paris, Rome, Venice, Bern and so many more gorgeous places. It was the perfect bit of escapism! The writing had me itching to be in Skye's place and be the one visiting all these incredible cities, because the descriptions of the places were so exciting! I read large parts of this book on my train journey to and from the beach, which was probably one of the most perfect places to read it.

The plot in Anywhere follows Skye and Asher, who meet at a train station in Paris and suddenly wind up heading off together to Rome. Skye's best friend has disappeared back home after some life-changing news, but Skye knows she needs to stay and finish her travels, as it's something she's so longed to do. I adored the way Skye had to spread her wings and find some independence. You could really feel that as a theme throughout the book. She's just narrowly escaped being tied down to a man she doesn't really love, and so the freedom to explore the world on her own terms is exactly what she needs.

And now we have to talk about the chemistry between Skye and Asher, which was just incredible! They hit it off straight away, but it never felt rushed or forced. The relationship between them just felt so natural and they fit together perfectly. They have the same sense of humour and the same outlook on life and thirst for exploration. As the relationship develops you get some pretty steamy scenes, but unlike other NA novels I've read, they never felt overdone or tacky. The tone was spot on, and I just swooned throughout the whole thing. I love Asher, okay? Can I have him?

I thought the two of them were wonderful characters, and I loved their individual back stories and how you get to learn more about them as the story went on. I think the relationship between Skye and her brother Julian was one of my favourite parts, and I particularly loved their text conversations. In fact, the use of text conversations between both Julian and Skye, and Skye and Paige really added a little something to the story. They were so fun. I thought the phone calls between Skye and her mother were a nice touch, too, even if their relationship is somewhat strained!

I devoured Anywhere in the space of a day, and it's a perfect summery read that will sweep you away. I got so carried away in Skye and Asher's story and their wonderful adventures that I just didn't want the book to end. And the ending - well, that had me practically jumping up and down! I really hope Meyers writes more books in this genre, because her writing is phenomenal and Anywhere just reinforced that for me. Now excuse me whilst I got and plan my travels around Europe and dream of finding my own Asher...

Rating: 5*
Books like this: One Week by Nikki Van De Car, 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Review: One Week by Nikki Van De Car

One Week by Nikki Van De Car

[Goodreads page] 

Author: Nikki Van De Car Website|Twitter
Published: 31 July 2012 (Booktrope)
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 176
Amazon: Paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: Paperback
Book Depository: Paperback

Source: Free Kindle download

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Reluctant celebutante Bee had everything that second tier fame could offer—and hated every bit of it. In search of an identity of her own, not some media creation, she takes off from LA with nothing. Bee discovers that one week can change everything. She may even have a chance at love. But is it real or just another illusion? 

My Review:
I was drawn to this book partly by the cover, partly by the fact it was free on Amazon and partly because it involved a road trip. Especially the road trip! One Week follows Bee, who after being set up with a totally inappropriate boy by her rich film producer father, decides the only option left is to run away from home.

Okay, I really loved this book. A lot. Where to start?! Straight away I felt for Bee. She may come from a privileged background and seemingly have everything, but you can tell how disruptive her life (and especially teenage years) have been because if it. Her dad is all about the fame and celebrity life and so tips off photographers as to his daughter's location which is creepy, and trying to set her up with a celebrity with a date rape accusation hanging over his head is the final straw. I kind of admired her for not putting up with it any more (even if running away never really is the answer, it made for a good story!). All she really wants is a loving father who actually cares about her. I don't know if her spoilt ways will put some readers off, but for me it made for a really interesting character because I wanted to see how she coped with these unfamiliar situations she'd found herself in.

I loved the road trip element of the book because it had absolutely everything. Bee has to catch a train - something she's never done before and is totally useless at. Then there's buses and hitchhiking so Bee herself gets the full experience.I loved all the characters Bee came across and the places she travelled. The journey is taking her from one side of America to another so you get to see a bit of everything.

As the title suggests, the book takes place over the space of a week and I really loved that. I adore books that manage to cover so much in such a short space of time. What's really key in a book like this is the pacing and this book had that spot on. It didn't feel quick or rushed, and you got enough drama in that short period of time.

One of the main parts of the plot is Bee's relationship with Jess, a "goth geek" she meets on her travels and ends up stuck with for the rest of her journey. Obviously spending so much time together they have to learn to put up with each other and eventually a friendship develops as they come to rely on each other to get by. I really loved how their relationship played out over the course of the story. Both Bee and Jess are really well developed characters and had their own stories and problems in their lives. I think they both taught each other a lot throughout the book and it was nice seeing their relationship change over the course of the week. The getting to know each other was done so perfectly in that time, as well. It's so gradual as they transition between strangers, to friends, to more than friends.

One Week really had a little bit of everything. Great characters, a gripping plot with lots of twists and turns and a load of life lessons that will be relatable to so many of us. I saw on Goodreads that people had shelved it as New Adult. I think it could class as both YA and NA because Bee is in high school and Jess in college. It definitely reflects the trials and tribulations of both of those times in your life. It's so cliche to say the characters "go on a journey" but there's definitely that element of having to grow up and reflecting on your life up to now and wondering just what the future holds and I really liked that.

Like I mentioned earlier, this pretty short book (under 200 pages) and even though I finished in a few hours (I couldn't put it down!) it felt like so much longer. I was just so invested in the characters and what was going to happen to them. This is definitely a book to check out if you can. Even though I got it for free I would happily have paid for it. Even now it's pretty cheap on Kindle so I'd highly recommend you grab it.

Rating: 5*
Books like this: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads page

Author: Stephanie Perkins. Website, Twitter
Published: 4 August 2011 (Speak)
Pages: 372
Amazon: paperback|Kindle
Book Depository: paperback

Source: Borrowed from library.

Plot Summary (from Book Depository):
Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?

My Review:
This is a book I've been wanting to check out for a while, because it seems like one of those YA books that everyone tells you you have to read. The story follows Anna, whose dad has enrolled her in an American boarding school in Paris. She'll have to spend the next year adjusting to French life and coping without her best friend and crush who she's left back in Atlanta.

Okay, I loved this book. I think the thing that made me fall in love with it was the wit and humour. I love Perkins' writing style and how she's created these sharp, intelligent characters who made me giggle throughout. Anna is such a great lead! She loves film and writes reviews, and her complete hopelessness when it comes to speaking French or what to do with boys made her even more lovable.

During the story, Anna is torn between two boys. Back home there's her crush Toph, who she's worried won't still be around when she gets back. Then at her new school she meets St Clair, who shows her the ropes and makes her feel at home in her scary new surroundings. He has a girlfriend which makes him off limits, but they can't help but be close to each other. St Clair is the ultimate adorable male character who you just wish was real, and the friendship between him and Anna throughout is so cute. They have some hilarious banter and they're just such a great duo. They have their ups and downs and it makes for some great drama and tension when they're not making you laugh. I became completely invested in their relationship.

I loved the premise of the book. It may not be anything groundbreaking, but I loved the whole culture clash between the American school students and their beautiful Parisian surroundings. There's a great ensemble of characters, too. It's totally a book that makes you want to pack your bags and get on the next plane to Paris! (You know a book is good at setting the atmosphere when you can practically taste the French crepes as you read!) I was completely swept away as I got carried along with Anna and her journey.

I read this book in about a day which is pretty quick for me, considering the length of the book. I just couldn't put it down! Anna's adventure is one I loved and wanted to be part of. I think it was completely relatable in the way Anna struggles with her feelings and the friendship dramas she becomes a part of. I really cared about her and, more importantly, who she ended up with! The characters were so well written and believable. I didn't want the book to end.

I can see why there's so much fondness for this book, and it's certainly one I'll be recommending now I've finally gotten round to reading it!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, the companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss.
Books like this: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Goodreads page

Author: Jennifer E. Smith. Website, Twitter
Published: 24 May 2012 (Headline)
Pages: 240
Amazon: paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: paperback|e-book
Book Depository: paperback

Source: Bought from Waterstone's.

Plot Summary: (from Waterstone's)
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? Imagine if she hadn't forgotten the book. Or if there hadn't been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn't fumbled the coins for the toll. What if she'd run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else - the weather over the Atlantic or a fault with the plane? Hadley isn't sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it's the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver...Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

My Review:
I picked up this book whilst I was on holiday in London which seemed pretty appropriate! This book is all about Hadley, who misses her flight to London by minutes and ends up meeting Oliver at the gate whilst waiting for a later flight. She should be on her way to her dad's wedding, an event she's dreading, but suddenly she finds herself enjoying the company of her new British companion.

The book takes place over the space of 24 hours which was one of the things I loved about it. Despite the short time frame, the story manages to fit in a whole load of drama to keep it pacy and interesting. I felt for Hadley and the situation she'd ended up in. She's torn between her parents and dreading meeting her soon-to-be step-mother, is having to overcome the culture barrier between the UK and the US and then she meets Oliver and has all sorts of boy problems to deal with!

The relationship between Hadley and Oliver is cute without being over the top. The humour and banter between them made me love the time they spent together and Oliver was a really interesting character in his own right. I like how the title sort of sums up the complete improbability of the two of them meeting. The fact it almost doesn't take itself too seriously made it more believable. I liked the elements of fate and chance, and that everything doesn't always go smoothly for the two of them.

It's a perfect holiday read with most of the book taking place on an aeroplane and the rest of it taking place in London, a city unfamiliar to Hadley. I read this on the train home from London which added to the experience! As a Brit, I loved the author's view of London and the humour playing off the differences between America and the UK.

If you're still looking for something to read on holiday or you love contemporary young adult romances then this book is a must. Funny, cute and wonderful writing, it'll have you glued to the pages!

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy.
Books like this: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Review: The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy

The Rock Star's Daugher by Caitlyn Duffy

Author: Caitlyn Duffy. Website, Twitter
Published: 5 July 2011 (Lovestruck Literary)
Pages: 319
Buy: (free downloand) Kindle, Smashwords

Source: Free download from the Apple iBooks store.

Plot Summary: (from Amazon)
When Taylor 's mom unexpectedly dies the summer before Taylor starts her junior year, she receives a crash course in fame. She has no choice but to join her father and his new family on their summer concert tour before she has even had a chance to mourn the loss of her mother. Life as the daughter of a rock star seems like it would be enviable, but Taylor can't figure her dad out. He seems like a supportive authority figure (even if he's kind of a fashion tragedy) , but she is collecting a growing pile of evidence that he's a liar and a cheat. Her stepmother, Jill, can’t seem to decide if she wants to treat Taylor like a girlfriend or a nuisance. Having had no time to grieve and say goodbye to her childhood before being thrust into the limelight, Taylor is suddenly finding herself in situations she could have never imagined before this summer.


My Review:
So I got this book after browsing the Apple iBook store on the lookout for freebies. This was available for free so I got it, scanned the first few pages and suddenly I was hooked! I couldn't stop reading.

This story is about Taylor who, after losing her mum, is forced to spent the summer with her rock star father. He's never been present in her life - only supporting her by sending money to her mum and paying for her boarding school fees, so their relatiosnhip is practically non-existant.

I really liked Taylor and despite the ridiculousness of the situation she finds herself in, you could still really feel for what she's going through. Her dad has remarried and so she finds herself with a new stepmum and stepsister to get to know. I loved her personality, though, and her view of the world. She was a really captivating main character.

The story was a lot more interesting than I was expecting, too! Taylor has to trail around with her dad's band as they tour the U.S which means visiting new cities and getting to know the only other people her age on the tour - including Jake, the token eye candy. Their relationship wasn't the main focus of the story but I liked that it sort of ran in the background.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. There's plenty of adventures and ups and downs along the way. With the rock star lifestyle comes the dilemmas of alcohol, drugs and boys and even the adults are battling their demons, but it's all written from Taylor's point of view and I think her views on these subjects are what makes it interesting. I loved the writing style which kept me gripped and I was really happy with how the charatcers changed and grew throughout. I'm really glad I stumbled across this book!

It's Y.A meets chick-lit - a perfect summer read for a bit of escapism into the celebrity lifestyle!

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Believer's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy, the second book in the Treadwell Acadamey series..
Books like this: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson.

Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Author: Maureen Johnson. Website, Twitter.

Published: 26 September 2006

Pages: 319

Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
When Ginny receives 13 little blue envelopes with instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she's soon on an adventure that will change her in more ways than one.

My Review:
This book follows Ginny (Virginia) as she follows her aunt's mysterious instructions, left in numbered envelopes, on an adventure across Europe.

Overall I did like it. I liked the main character of Ginny, and the sense of adventure. There were some extremely touching moments throughout thanks to a great little bunch of characters. It felt to me like it would make a great summer read and as Ginny travels, it really sparked the urge in me to get out and see more of the world!

So all in all it's a great little idea for a story, however I don't think it was quite pulled off in this book as well as it could have been. At times felt like a travel guide with bits of story squeezed in and as a Brit I found various flaws with the chapters set in London (inaccuracies which stand out to someone familiar with British life). The library copy I borrowed was also littered with spelling mistakes of place names (Leister Square?) which a previous borrower of this book had actually gone through with a pen and corrected. I don't know if these were corrected in later editions (hopefully they were).

If you like road trips, or are passionate about travelling in Europe, love a bit of adventure and dream of escaping then you'll enjoy this story.

Review: 3*
What to read next: The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson, the sequel to this book.
Books like this: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty.