Review: Things We Know by Heart

Things We Know by Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Publication Date: April 21st 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~ 

When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.

There are three things you need to know about Things We Know by Heart.

1) It will possibly break your heart.

2) It's not about moving on, or even moving forward, it's just about moving.

3) It's about learning to put it back together in a new way than it was. It's about evolving, reshaping, adapting to a missing piece that won't-and can't-be replaced.

Guest Review Amber: As I Wake

As I Wake

Author: Elizabeth Scott
Publication Date:  September 15th 2011
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Pages: 269

Rough estimate of time it took to read: 20 (Over a weeks period)

Source: Gifted by Kirsty (Because she also hated it, and she likes to pass on the torture, and she's probably evil eyeing me whilst setting this up) Yes, yes I am.

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

Well I don't know what to think of this book. It's complicated. On one hand the main character was interesting to follow. But on the other, the storyline was so scattered it made the entire book difficult to read. Although there are parts where the plot is good and strong, the majority of the book felt rushed and confusing. It's really messed with my mind this book and it kills me to say this but... over all when thinking about the entire book - story - plot - layout - characters ect ect, I have to say I don't like it. And i really wish I did for Ava's story sake.

Waiting on Wednesday (91)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Poppy

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

Because it is Jennifer E. Smith, and she's my go-to when it comes to happy and sappy.


What're you waiting on? 

DNF Review: Trouble from the Start

Trouble from the Start
Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Publication Date: April 28th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

One of two companion novels from beach-read favorite Rachel Hawthorne, this cute, romantic paperback original is about a good girl who falls for a bad guy.

Avery knows better than to fall for Fletcher, the local bad boy who can’t seem to outrun his reputation. Fletcher knows he shouldn’t bother with college-bound, daughter-of-a-cop Avery. But when their paths cross, neither can deny the spark. Are they willing to go against everything and let their hearts lead the way? Or are they just flirting with disaster?

Trouble from the Start releases simultaneously with companion novel The Boyfriend Project. These heartwarming paperback originals are the perfect summer reads, great for fans of Jennifer Echols, Lauren Barnholdt, and Susane Colasanti

If I talked about everything I hated in the first 50% from the Trouble From the Start (which is a lot) this DNF review would be way too long, so I'll get straight to the point with a list review. Also, warning, there's some swearing.

Review: My Heart and Other Black Holes

My Heart and Other Black Holes
Author: Jasmine Warga
Publication Date: February 10th 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner.

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince

After reading All the Bright Places last year, I was a little apprehensive about reading My Heart and Other Black Holes, because of the mess All the Bright Places left me in. So I am so glad I can say that I loved My Heart and Other Black Holes for some of the reasons why I loved All the Bright Places and for other reasons that All the Bright Places didn't give me. Hope.

Guest Review Amber: What Curiosity Kills

What Curiosity Kills (The Turning #1)

Author: Helen Ellis
Publication Date:  May 1st 2010
Publishe Sourcebooks Fire

Pages : 288

Rough estimate of time it took to read: 7 Hours

Source: Gifted by Kirsty

Nobody can know your secret.
Nobody can know your power.
But if nobody knows who you are to begin with...what's stopping you?

I whisper, "What's so special about me all of a sudden?"

Nick says, "The Turning."

Mary feels different, but can't explain why. The fainting, the strange cravings...and worse, the things she's noticed about her body.

Mary doesn't know where to turn. If she tells her parents or her sister, she'll risk losing everything. She has no other family, no way of knowing if what she's going through is normal. Everyone she's ever known and loved could reject her...

I found What Curiosity Kills easy to read even if some of the words tripped me up a little bit. It's fast paced, but paced well with the well thought out plot, and I thought it was executed just as good. Even though there isn't another, I would've liked to have read it.