{Review} The Art of Wishing


Number of Pgs.: 314 
Publication date: March 21, 2013
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA, Supernatural
How I got the copy: Library
Rating:  3 stars
From Goodreads:

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.


Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?

But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.
Plot: 4/10
Characters: 8/10
Setting: 5/10
Pacing: 4/10
Style: 6/10
Cover:  This cover caught my eye a while back and I instantly wanted to read it.  I love the clouds in the background and the two people lounging on the bed.  Are they friends or together?  The red guitar contrasts nicely and the font is so cute!
27+50=77 (3 Stars)

I hate when I am highly anticipating a book and then it's nothing that I thought it would be.  Unfortunately, this was the case with this book.  I was expecting a girl to find a genie and wish for something, have it turn out terrible, and spend her last two wishing trying to get the wording right so she doesn't mess it up.  It's called the ART of wishing so I figured that meant it was about the way she wished.  The plot was kind of flat until about 2/3 through the book where suddenly everything gets really complex and then my interest was finally sparked.  I stayed up really late to finish the book after that. 

I loved how Margo and Oliver interacted.  It felt real.  And Margo herself felt like the most realistic High Schooler I'd ever read.  The way she spoke, thought, acted was all very authentic.  The bad guy was a little too...typical villain...at first, but like the rest of the characters he gains depth as the book progresses.  I loved the minor snark and many book/tv references Margo uses.  

Waiting on Wednesday #22


Jill from Breaking the Spine hosts this meme.



No one has ever believed that Mo and Annie are just friends. How can a guy and a girl really be best friends?

Then the summer before senior year, Mo’s father loses his job, and by extension his work visa. Instantly, life for Annie and Mo crumbles. Although Mo has lived in America for most of his life, he’ll be forced to move to Jordan. The prospect of leaving his home is devastating, and returning to a world where he no longer belongs terrifies him.

Desperate to save him, Annie proposes they tell a colossal lie—that they are in love. Mo agrees because marrying Annie is the only way he can stay. Annie just wants to keep her best friend, but what happens when it becomes a choice between saving Mo and her own chance at real love?
 October 15, 2013
When I was graduating college one of my friends was joking about marrying her friend because he had to move back to Korea when school was done.  Of course she didn't, but I think this could be such a cute book.  I have a feeling they'll fall in love like the movie The Proposal, but YA.  Can't wait for this one!
Don't forget to check out my review of The Art of Wishing

Top Ten Tuesday #22


Brokeandbookish provides a topic each week and bloggers list their top ten within that category.
April 2:  
Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character 
(22)

I've always been hard core crushing on Noah from Pushing the Limits ever since I read it.  He's so sweet to his little brothers and he really cares about Echo.


If you're surprised Daemon Black from Obsidian made this list then you obviously haven't met me before.  He's is my number one book boyfriend!  



I've only read up to book two in the series, but for once I'm not in love with the main character.  I'm in love with the sidekick/best friend Simon from City of Bones!  He's so adorable and so loyal!


Kaiden from Sweet Evil is irresistible.  He's dangerous and seductive and so freaking attractive.


Tucker from Unearthly makes me sigh.  He's the perfect southern boy I've always dreamed of.  He's someone you can take home to your family and spend the rest of your life with.

{Book & Movie Review} The Host


Number of Pgs.: 619 
Publication date: May 6, 2008
Publisher: Stephanie Meyer
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian
How I got the copy: Bought (for $6 at B&N!)
Rating:  4 stars
From Goodreads:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.
Plot: 6/10
Characters: 7/10
Setting: 7/10
Pacing: 5/10
Style: 5/10
Cover:  It's typical Stephanie Meyer's black cover with one focal point.  It's kind of boring, but I love the reflective eye!
30+50=80 (4 Stars)

Yesterday I saw the movie so this is going to be a joint book & movie review!

Reading this book involved using a lot of imagination because some of the concepts were really out there and if you really thought about them (which after 600 pages--that's a lot of thinking) you'd realize that some of the concepts don't make sense.  So there's these Souls that inhabit the species on the planets they take over.  And they don't use any force or violence ever yet they've managed to take over 12+ planets?  I think she did a great job getting the reader to think about how the human race has really turned violent without making it too obvious like in the Hunger Games.  But she also showed how when disaster strikes everyone helps each other like during natural disasters.
The Movie: This world seemed more Sci Fi then in the book and I'm not sure why they did that.  I didn't picture it that way at all.

Wanda is such a weak character at first and Melanie is so strong, but over time I grew to love both of them.  I was glad Wanda didn't let her emotions rule her and do stupid things (like Nora in Hush Hush), but she was too compassionate which was hard to relate to.  Jamie was adorable and pulled at my heart strings.
The Movie: I felt like it was too plot focused and there wasn't enough time to get emotionally attached to the characters.  And since they couldn't show Wanda and Mel talking in their head she had to turn around and speak out loud every time they had a conversation.  And the voice overs were a little stupid at times.  Jamie was hardly in the movie at all which I also hated, but I will say that the movie was well cast.

March Wrap Up 2013


These wrap up posts are inspired by Katie's Book Blog 

Posts:
Blogaversary GIVEAWAY!
Review and Recipe #2: Mexican Lettuce Wrap and Article 5
Harley's Hall of Bookish Fame: Author Leigh Talbert Moore
Random Thoughts Thursday: Weird Names in YA
The Harley Bear Post (epaper)

Harry Potter Readalong

Reviews:
The Madman's Daughter

Pivot Point
Wait For You
Splintered
Code Name Verity

Books Read But Not Reviewed:
Thirteen Reasons Why

Ender's Game
Shadow and Bone
The Host


Pg Count Challenge-goal: 10,000 pages
2,900 pages

Seriously Series & Sequel Challenges- goal: Seriously Spectacular Series Star  
Pivot Point

Splintered
Shadow and Bone
The Host

Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

2013 Reading Challenge

2013 Reading Challenge
Melissa has read 5 books toward her goal of 100 books.
hide

2014 Reading Challenge

2014 Reading Challenge
Melissa has read 0 books toward her goal of 100 books.
hide

2015 Reading Challenge

2015 Reading Challenge
Melissa has read 16 books toward her goal of 50 books.
hide

Flickr Images