Pgs: 439 (hardcover)

Publication date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

How I got the copy: Library

Rating:  4 Stars
  

     
  

From Goodreads:

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

My favorite kind of books are the ones that make you think you're just being entertained until WHAM they throw a life lesson at you.  Winger was hilariously unique and yet it taught me something completely serious and real.  

Ryan Dean West was one of my favorite characters ever because he was such a jerk, but you couldn't help but love him because he didn't mean to be a jerk it just sorta happened.  He's only fourteen and he's only trying to figure out who he is, but he keeps making such stupid mistakes and hurting people he cares about.  It made him feel real...like I could have known him in high school.  And I loved the conversational tone of the writing style.  I will warn you that there is cursing every few sentences though. 

Format: Audiobook

Publication date: August 13, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

How I got the copy: For Review (Thank you S&S Audio!!)

Rating:  5 Stars
  

   
  

From Goodreads:

Sometimes in life, in order to move forward you must face the past…#1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover held readers spellbound with her novel Hopeless, the story of what happened when a troubled girl named Sky encountered a long-lost childhood friend, Dean Holder. With Holder’s help, Sky uncovered shocking family secrets and came to terms with memories and emotions that had left deep scars.

Hopeless was Sky’s story. Now, in Losing Hope, we finally learn the truth about Dean Holder.

Haunted by the little girl he couldn’t save from imminent danger, Holder’s life has been overshadowed by feelings of guilt and remorse. He has never stopped searching for her, believing that finding her would bring him the peace he needs to move on. However, Holder could not have anticipated that he would be faced with even greater pain the moment they reconnect.

In Losing Hope, Holder reveals the way in which the events of Sky’s youth affected him and his family, leading him to seek his own redemption in the act of saving her. But it is only in loving Sky that he can finally begin to heal himself.

Remember that time I read Walking Disaster and it felt like I was reading Beautiful Disaster all over again?  Yeah, well this was nothing like that.  This felt like I was reading a completely new book.  There was the same plot ARC, but many new scenes were added and Holder writes letters to Les adding additional insight into his complex mind.  Holder's POV answers all the questions I had after reading Hopeless.  It explained why Holder is the way he is, what happened to him prior to meeting Sky, and how he feels upon meeting Sky.  That last one is essential because in book one he comes off as a tad creeptastic.  But in Losing Hope we understand why he did/said what he did.  And now I live Holder even more than I already did.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much emotion the person reading for this audiobook was able to convey.  I'm glad I wasn't listening to this in public because the pain in the reader's voice was enough to bring tears to my eyes at parts.  And he did a wonderful job at reading the dialogue.  Sometimes guys reading in a girl's voice can be...interesting, but his was perfect.  His voice also perfectly matched my expectations completely.

I'd suggest you read or listen to Hopeless first because some of the mysteries were revealed too soon in Losing Hope.  But it's definitely not a companion novel to skip.  Be prepared for a fresh wave of feels!  And I highly recommend getting the audiobook version.

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