Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

"Turns out, my ability to see through paranormals' glamours to what they are underneath is unique. As in, no other human on Earth can do what I do."

My Rating: 9/10

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication: 10/10/2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-198584-3
Page Count: 352
Age Range: 12 and up

Kiersten White's Official Web page

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White is certainly a page turner! Evie is a teenager that possess a power no other human does; the power to see through their glamours.

Take a vampire, for an example. Through normal human's eyes...well, they're your usual Edward Cullen. Gorgeous, model-like person. But through Evie's eyes...she sees them right to the rotten bones. Eww!

Reth, a faerie that takes much interests in Evie seems to be on Evie more and more these days.

Also, there's Lend, the half-human and half-water nymph who shift shapes. Evie takes interests in him, the only one who she can't really quite see through. As in...she only sees water.

..Suddenly everyone around Evie seems to be dying. Attacked. Absorbed, to be exact. And Reth seems to know what's going on.

Evie can't afford to lose anyone else since she never had much to began with...especially Lend.

What I like about this book: It was very fun to read! A good page turner that I couldn't put down. It was hilarious--Evie was sarcastic (and a sarcastic person is always an interesting person!) and witty. The paranormal part of it just makes it funner! Pretty, pretty cover...

What I dislike about this book: It was somehow predictable to me, which is why it's 9 out of 10. But other than that...it's good! :D

Carrie Pilby by Caren Lissner

"1. List 10 things you love (and DO THEM!)
2. Join a club (and TALK TO PEOPLE!)
3. Go on a date (with someone you actually LIKE!)
4. Tell someone you care (your therapist DOESN'T COUNT!)
5. Celebrate New Year's (with OTHER PEOPLE!)"

My Rating: 10/10 <3

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication: 2003 (republished by Harlequin Teen on June 2010)
ISBN: 978-0-373-21010-7
Page Count: 330 Pages
Age Range: Young Adult

Caren Lissner's Official Web Page

Carrie Pilby is a 19 year old genius that graduated from Harvard at 18. Her mother died when she was too young to remember, and her father told her a Big Lie she still couldn't forgive him for.

Carrie guards herself too much and she doesn't have any friends--after all, being a genius doesn't necessarily mean that you're on top of the social ladder.

Carrie has a therapist--her father pays her to go to a therapist called Petrov. Petrov is sick of Carrie always closing herself up--so Petrov made the list so Carrie can fit in (or well, attempt her best to). Carrie doesn't really want to--she really thinks it's a waste of time and it's troublesome, but she tried to anyway.

So Carrie go and gets a job--she's proof reading for the lawyers in NYC. She meets different kind of people. She puts an ad on the Beacon--some kind of magazine that lets people put an ad for people who look for dates.

Mostly, Carrie considers a lot of people--okay, everyone--as hypocrites. Her father told her that when she skips 3 grades, she'll meet people that are like her in college (This is the Big Lie). She was 14 when she went to Harvard, she didn't know better--despite mathematical theorems, lots of literature, philosophical thoughts and pure curiosity and a very high IQ.

In Harvard, though, despite her having no friends (that lasts more than a week), she met Harrison, her English Professor. Harrison is smart, different and listens to her. He wasn't creep out by Carrie's constant usage of what others would call out as 'SAT words!' In fact, Harrison was amazed by her.

Carrie is young and smart. Carrie's learning about life in New York City, and she feels lonely on New Year's, on a tall building with at least 500 people underneath her on Time Square.

Caren Lissner's Carrie Pilby is sophisticated and full of pure curiosity. It's hilarious and simple--but also different.

What I love about this book: It's really funny! I've been having the same questions--but mostly feelings--what Carrie had felt. Even though I didn't skip 3 grades or went to Harvard at 14, I could definitely relate to Carrie. She deals with many emotional craziness that passes quite easily because she's been shutting herself out from the rest of the world--even though she wants to fit in. It's really hilarious and I love just even reading Carrie's thoughts.

What I dislike about this book: I didn't dislike anything! This book is a perfect ten! Even if you're not a curious person, reading Carrie Pilby will definitely be a very interesting experience!

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

"Why did every male believe that if a woman was upset, it was because of her monthly cycle?"

My Rating: 9/10

Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Publication: March 2010
ISBN: 9780578053394
Page Count: 280 Pages
Age Range: Young Adult

I joined Eleni's (from La Femme Reader) book tour for The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos.

The Emerald Talisman is a story about Julia. Julia who witnessed her mother went missing--but doesn't remember a single thing about it. Julia is also the girl who has the ability to feel others' emotions.

In the beginning of the book, Julia met with Nicholas in the woods. Julia had her work shift, and when her car broke down and her cell phone wasn't charged, she decided to just take a shortcut. The really crazy part was the shortcut is through the woods.

Julia fell for Nicholas quickly--either it's from kindness or from the way Nicholas is a bit harder to read. What she didn't know is that Nicholas is...well, half vampire. And Nicholas is a vampire hunter.

Then, there's Phil. Phil who brighten Julia's days sometimes. Phil who went missing.

What exactly is going on?

Pandos had brought a new story to the vampire section--one that involves the vampire hunter and even more danger to the public.

What I love about the book: The pace. It was hilarious--by now it's probably a bit obvious that I kind of like sarcastic remarks--and sophisticated. I like Julia's relationship with Jo and her family. It brings conflicts and also reveal them.

What I dislike: A bit cliche about how Julia was so attracted to Nicholas very fast and how Nicholas ignore them (no..not talking about Twilight. More about almost every other paranormal romance novels where the boys are dark and handsome and where the girls are clumsy and curious).

But it was good--not one-of-my-top-favorites-good, but good good. :D

The Emerald Talisman Official Website

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

"..Five minutes from now, when everything else had dropped away and I realized the full impact of what I'd done, I'd feel my heart breaking."

My Rating: 10/10

Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel, Hush Hush was phenomenal. Click here for my review on Hush Hush.

Crescendo, the second book that's coming out in October 19, 2010, will make fans dying for the 3rd book of the series.

Nora Grey and Patch Cipriano are now officially an item, but a bad boy is always going to be a bad boy, right?

Nora screwed it all up by telling him the three big words; "I love you." Patch left, without returning the affection.

Nora's mom disliked Patch, so she goes and invited the nightmare of Nora's childhood, Scott Parnell, to match him with Nora.

Plus, Nora is stuck with Marcie Millar as her chemistry partner. Marcie apparently hates her for no reason she knows.

When Nora broke up with Patch for stalking Marcie (though it was more of Patch not returning the affection), Vee (Nora's best friend) goes and date Rixon, the person who knows Patch best.

That's not all; Scott Parnell's a Nephil, too. In Crescendo, Nora will find more danger that awaits her, her dead father's secret and more about Patch Cipriano.

Becca Fitzpatrick has written a nerve-wrecking story, and I'm proud to actually say that I cried reading this.

What I love about the book: The conflict, and how the emotions felt real. As if I was Nora, and I was the one breaking, needing to be Patched up. :) And oh, that I got to read this 3 months and 11 days earlier than the real publication date.

What I dislike about the book: The cliffhanger at the end! The misery to wait another year for the 3rd book to come out!!!!!!

Thanks, Simon & Schuster for the advance copy!!

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

"Patch is the bad boy Edward wishes he was."

My Rating: 10/10

This book is one of the best books I've ever read!!! XD

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick to is what I believe to be the growing sensation. It might pass Twilight. LOL, yeah, I said it.

I first found this book in the middle of browsing the usual bookstore; Barnes and Nobles. I read the summary and I was hooked right off the bat, but it wasn't like I could just go to the bookstore right away, so I tried to kill some of the excitement to read the book by..you know, googling more about it (even though it makes me want it more lol) and somewhere on a review--now I can't find it--I read about someone going to Borders and had Hush Hush caught their eyes. Underneath the shelves was a slip of paper, saying, "Patch is the bad boy Edward wishes he was."

I've read Twilight long before, so I automatically cracked up. So I texted my friend and asked her to go to the store and buy me one and I'll pay her back the next day.

I finished it in 4 hours. That was my record. (No, I didn't specifically count, I just know that I got home at 5:30 and by the time I looked up to the watch, it was 9: 20 something..)

Many people would call this book a rip-off from Twilight, but in my opinion Twilight itself is already a rip-off from Romeo and Juliet. Just with vampires and humans instead of the Montague and the Capulet.

So anyway, this book is about a girl named Nora. She's a sophomore in high school and in the beginning of the book she was in Biology class with her best friend, Vee. On the board, written, "Welcome to Human Reproduction (sex)," and underneath it Barbie and Ken naked with their vital parts covered.

LOL. Then the teacher changed their seats and made Nora stuck with Patch. Patch is dark and tall and lean and handsome. He flirts with her in his own way--and telling you more than this or the reviews itself would make it...well...spoiling it..


Simon and Schuster Hush Hush description:

"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys ather school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life."

Overall? This book is worth reading. In fact, it is one of the best book I've read.