Review: Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

My rating: ★★★★☆
Book: Epic Fail
Author: Claire LaZebnik 



In this modern take on "Pride and Prejudice," Elise Benton, who has just moved to California, is a junior at an exclusive prep school where, in spite of her initial bad impression, she finds herself attracted to the moody and handsome son of Hollywood's most famous celebrity couple. 

“I got lost in him, and it was the kind of lost that's exactly like being found.”

It says in the Synopsis that it's a modern take on Pride and Prejudice, which is obviously a classic, but as I haven't read it yet, I wont comment on that. Maybe this will be an excuse to read Pride and Prejudice now.

I have to say that I really liked this book. I don't know why in my mind I kept comparing it to Not that kind of girl by Siobhan Vivian which I read earlier this week. Even the covers used similar colours, I think both books just explored similar themes like boys, high school, relationships, and then you have the tall muscular guy who is actually a total sweetheart but you wouldn't expect him to be, and then the female protagonist who is to quick to judge and is blind to the truth...at first.

But more than Not That Kind Of Girl, I really did enjoy this book. I felt more sympathy for Elise the protagonist, she was so likeable had her values and stayed true to them through the book but while she managed that, she doesn't see the truth, over thinks too much and doesn't realise she may be wrong.

As you may know, I am really big on endings, if the ending isn't right it can kill the book for me, and i have to say I wasn't too happy about the ending, not about what happened because everything was the way it should have played out, that was fine. But, I felt like there was something missing in the ending, the way it was written didn't seem right to me. That is my own personal opinion, though I do think the rest of the book was lovely and Claire LaZebnik is a very talented writer.

It just was a great quick easy read that I loved. I didn't initially think I would like it much but I was pleasantly surprised.

I grew to like Derek and Even the rest of the characters were so likeable, Juliana and Chase, and obviously what's high school without the beautiful self-centred mean girl, Chelsea and her Sidekick Gifford.

Another thing I think I should mention is the cover. One of the things that drew me into the book was the cover, but to be honest I didn't feel like the cover had anything to do with the book, I don't quite get it. Anyone? I mean even the title, to me was irrelevant to the book itself. From what I can remember the word 'Fail' was mentioned twice in the book and 'Epic Fail' was mentioned Once and even that seemed like it was pushed in there just to link to the title.

So overall this was a great easy quick read but I would have liked to see the romance developed a bit more.  I would totally recommend to anyone who likes light YA Contemporary Romance. I think I'm going to give Claire LaZebnik another shot, any suggestions?

I am really confused about what rating to give the book, it's somewhere between 3 and 4 stars but I'm not sure how much I liked it, or how much the ending put me off. I'm going to be nice and put 4 for now.


Oh oh oh. and  I don't think I mentioned this, I fell in love with Derek, once we found out about what he's really like

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: ★★★★☆
Book: Divergent (Divergent #1)
Author: Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

I have heard nothing but great things about this book, and rightly so. The book was amazing. I loved Divergent, I feel bad for giving it 4 stars, because i really really do want to give it 5 stars, but i just don't feel like it's a 5 star book.

Tris lives in a futuristic Chicago, where the city is split into 5 Factions, each faction believes that one human characteristic was what caused the downfall I guess. I can't really say much about the world itself, what the history was because we don't really find out. Tris chooses Dauntless as her faction.

Dauntless. The Brave. They believe cowardice was was brought them down.

I didnt personally feel like the world building was perfect in this book, it wasnt totally believeable.

The book starts a day before the aptitude tests which tell you which faction you belong in. It then follows through the choosing ceremony and the whole initiation process in the new faction. I don't know about anyone else but i actually felt like this book had a teeny tiny hints of The Hunger games, Harry Potter and Delirium. What do you think?

I loved how Tris is so stubborn and brave, shes not like the normal female characters in books, she doesnt let the world see her vunrability. Although I dont think I would ever make the decisions she made, I wouldnt be brave enough to, it was great seeing this world through her. She doesnt see her bravery, she doent feel it, yet thepeople around her can see. Through the book Tris changes, maybe not in the best way possible, but she changes in a way thats important for the book, she comes to realise that you cant survive by just beeing selfless, or just being brave or whatever, you need to be a bit of both. She bocomes tougher and she becomes selfish.

Then there is the gorgeous Four, I loved the quiet mystery around Four for most of the book you know hardly anything about him, theres this unspoken strength, he wasn't like the other Dauntless. I loved him from the moment he helpted Tris off the net, you could tell there was something different about him. I love romance, so for me the romance needed a bit more, there seemed to be something missing; but then again this isnt a book primarily about romance.

I did love Tris and Fours relationship, and how their relationship built up through the book, it wasnt that love at first sight thing. But also how, Four helps Tris slightly during initiation no favouritism ofcourse, but the big thing was how Tris was the stronger one, she helped him face his fears, she has the strength; that was really empowering to see a female have such a role in a book, so hats off to Veronica Roth.

The storyline was great, I could not put the book down, I read it in one sitting.

Review: Hana (Delirium #1.5)

My rating: ★★★★☆
Book: Hana (Delirium #1.5)
Author: Lauren Oliver
This story goes side by side with Delirium, i am...astounded by how amazing this book is. Hats off to Lauren Oliver, her books are amazing, even her short stories are amazing.

This book fits perfectly with Delirium, at first i was slightly scared that this book was going to a be repetative of Delirium, but it wasnt. You learn so much more about the characters, how they think and how they grow.

Being written from the POV of Hana, Lenas best friend gives us the chance to see how Hana thinks and how Hana sees Lena, how the rest of the world around Lena sees her. In Delirium we got to BE Lena and see how she sees the world. After reading both books, we get a chance to see the full picture.

I have to be honest with you, i started off reading Delirium and loving Hana's character, and near enough hating Lena. Yet after reading Delirium and Hana, i have to say the tables have turned, and i dont know why i really do not like Hana, maybe its because she's jealous of Lena, which even i would be if i was Hana. Or it may just be the ending of this book. I hate spoilers so I wont give anything away. But Aaaghhhhhh!

On that note...Endings! I love big endings, not cliffhangers but just those big BANG endings that make you want to scream, who knows what I'm talking about? 

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