Pages: 365
Publication date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

How I got the copy: Won 

Rating:  4 Stars
  

     

From Goodreads:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).
Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

    There was this void in me ever since I read The Immortal Rules that was dying for another kickass heroine that didn't need saving from any guy.  Reboot finally filled that void and did it while providing laughter and suspense too.  

    Wren, One Seventy Eight, was such a fun character.  She's this short blonde thing, but she's also deadly lethal.  She was really complex because she was dead so long before she rebooted that she's hardly human anymore.  Yet when she does start feeling more emotions it was so easy  to connect with her and like her.  Although it was hilarious when she didn't get why Callum, Twenty-two, thought she was strange/funny at times.  Here's an example:

"Try not to scream when I break your bones. It bothers me. You can cry if you want; that's fine."
He burst out laughing. I didn't realize that was a funny statement.
"Got it," he said, trying unsuccessfully to cover his grin. "Screaming, no. Crying, yes.".  -Reboot

   Their chemistry was palpable.  Callum was adorable in a...I want to pinch your cheeks...kind of way.  There were times I wished he wasn't such a wimp, but I like that the author stayed true to his character.  He was from the richer part of town so it made sense that he might not have had to fight much in his human life. Their dynamic reminded me of Allison and Zeke from The Immortal Rules so much.  It was exactly what I was looking for.  

   The world building wasn't necessarily lacking, but I just wished there was more of it.  I wanted to know about what happened when the virus spread.  It seemed very rushed when it's explained and I didn't really understand how the world went from what we live in today to her world.  Hopefully book two goes more in depth.

    My only annoyance was that all the main reboots had different numbers and that seemed oddly convenient.  No one else woke up at the same time? I understand that would be confusing...just sayin'. 

   If you're looking for lots of action, a little humor, a strong chemistry, and an original concept this is definitely a book for you.  Even if none of that sounds appealing I'd still recommend it that's how much I enjoyed it.    

“Want to dance?" He scooped me into his arms before I could reply. "We have music this time. And I don't have to punch you when we finish."

"You don't have to. But if I step on your feet too many times you can feel free.” 
― Amy Tintera, Reboot

Pages: 336 (ebook)
Publication date: September 3, 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury

How I got the copy: Netgalley (thank you!)

Rating:  3 Stars
  

      

From Goodreads:

Dane Washington is one suspension away from expulsion. In a high school full of “haves,” being a “have not” makes Dane feel like life is hurtling toward one big dead end. Billy D. spends his high school days in Special Ed and he’s not exactly a “have” himself. The biggest thing Billy’s missing? His dad. Billy is sure the riddles his father left in an atlas are really clues to finding him again and through a bizarre turn of events, he talks Dane into joining him on the search. 
A bully and a boy with Down syndrome makes for an unlikely friendship, but together, they work through the clues, leading to unmarked towns and secrets of the past. But they’re all dead ends. Until the final clue . . . and a secret Billy shouldn’t have been keeping. 
As a journalist, Erin Jade Lange is inspired by hot button issues like bullying, but it is her honest characters and breakneck plotting that make Dead Ends a must-read.

     If you're looking for a realistic, male pov contemporary, with an unusual bromance, some laughs, and a heartwarming message this is the book for you.    

    Did I love it?  No, but I didn't dislike it either.   While I'm glad I didn't DNF, I also feel I could have not read it and been perfectly content with life.  It had a nice message about treating people who are different from you equally and bullying, but it was kind of cliche in that way.  

    The mystery.  That's what kept me hooked.  I just wanted to know where Billy's dad was and why his family wasn't together anymore.  His mom was all sorts of shady so it was making me think they shouldn't find the dad.  Dane doesn't know who his dad is so I thought that was an interesting twist and a great way for the two characters to connect.  And I really felt the friendship between these two.  I loved that the story was solely about their friendship.  When Seely is introduced I thought oh here we go with a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised when the romance didn't overpower the real story.

    It was really refreshing to read such a realistic story.  Lately I'd been reading lots of fantasy, dystopian, and paranormal so it was nice to read something that I felt could actually happen with such authentic characters.  While Dane made me angry with his ignorance, I did like that he felt real.  And Billy was hilarious at some times.  He was good at manipulating Dane into doing what he wanted and I loved when he made Dane speechless.

    I think if the characters had been a little more dynamic I might have enjoyed this more.  They just felt very one dimensional. Dane was just the kid with anger management problems, Billy the boy with Down syndrome, and Seely the tom boy girl who skateboards.  I know that sounds contradicting because I just said they felt like real people.  Let me clarify.  Their conversations were realistic, but their actions and thoughts was what felt flat.  While I liked their character growth, I just felt if they'd had more depth I would have cared about them more and wanted to continue reading for more than just solving the mystery.

    This isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone I meet, but I will tell those of you reading this review that you should put it on your tbr.