This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

RATING : 3.5 STARS

I've been seeing a lot people raving about This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales and that made me want to read it. I managed to snag a copy from my library although a lot of patrons placed a hold of this book. It's one of the perks of being a good friend of a librarian. I returned home with excitement to devour the story. Well, I felt the book was over-hyped for me and I was little let down after finishing the book, nevertheless Sales writing was good. Although I wasn't greatly impressed, some parts of the story punched me right in the feels and brought back memories of my past.

The story opens up with Elsie Dembowski starting her sophomore year of high school. Elsie has grown up as a different person from others. She spent the entire summer trying to change her herself-to learn all the latest bands, to get into latest fashion by trying on new clothes. It is a perfect coming-of-age novel. Elise was ignored by all in her school yet she manages to fit in a small group of friends. The one which I'm able to connect is that during my high school years I've been trying to teach myself something or other just to keep up with the people around me. Elise lives in messy family with divorced parents and she keeps shunting between her dad's and mom's place. With all these around her, she finds the real serenity in music. 

Elise stumbles upon an underground club and soon she learns to DJ. With her love for music, it has become her ideal spot. Elise meets Vicky, a carefree girl at the club and slowly their friendship grows stronger. I found the story to be little dragging until Vicky's introduction. Elise meets char, at the underground club and soon he teaches her to DJ and becomes more than a friend to her. As far as romance in this novel, is completely different from many other contemporaries.

This Song Will Save Your Life would be an emotional journey for a lot others, but to me I couldn't phrase it either as something special or run-of-the-mill contemporary, it's something in the midway of the two. If there's something I liked about this book, it definitely should be the secondary characters: Vicky and Pipa ( Vicky's friend) and their progress through the story, and then those bullies in school are utterly true.

I certainly had issues with This Song Will Save Your Life. It lacked the spark which I expect in every novel. Let me put it this way, a teen angst with the infusion of nuances in romance. Quite frankly, I felt that Elise's life was  a humdrum and reading her story, began to have somewhat soporific effect on me. Well, I still would recommend this book to Sales fans and contemporary books clique. 

Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

RATING : 5 STARS

ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) provided by NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA

Release Date : 24th September 2013

First let me start by saying tons of thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for providing me a copy of Where the stars still shine by Trsih Doller. I, first came across this book on Goodreads when they were doing a Giveaway. I did enter the giveaway but didn't win *sad face* . As an avid reader, I try to find every possible ways to read book and that is how I found Netgalley. I found this book on Netgalley and immediately made my request. It was a day long wait until I got an email from the publisher that I have been given access to read Where the stars still shine *throws confetti*. I couldn't put this book down, I just whipped through the pages. I have fallen in love for Doller's flair. I have read many contemporary novels with cliched concept, but never read a such a refreshing contemporary in a very long time. A poignant, refreshing and extremely heart-breaking novel. It is near impossible to write a review for the novel you love. I would try to do some justice to this adorable book.

Let me start by introducing the characters in this book. Protagonist Callista or Callie,Veronica Quinn- Callie's Mother, Alex-Callie's swoon-worthy boyfriend, Kat-friend/family member of Callie, Nick-Kat's boyfriend, Greg-Callie's Dad, Phoebe-Callie's Stepmother, Tucker and Joe-Callie's half-brothers, Georgia-Callie's Grandmother.

How would it be being stolen away from a large, loving family and not having a normal life for more than ten years for a seventeen year old girl? Well, our protagonist Callie has the experience of being stolen from her loving family by her mother, Veronica. I can see you gasping. The story begins with Callie and her mother moving from one place to another. Callie has never stayed in one place as long as she can remember. Callie has not been to school since kindergarten. Her education comes from libraries and sale books. Callie enjoys reading books. Callie has been molested by one of her mother's boyfriend. Since then her view on men has been totally different. She feels dirty and tainted. Doller's writing is so beautiful that she puts Callie into the reader's mind and make sense for her flawed character. 

When Callie's mother is arrested for kidnapping her, she's to live her father and his family. It's from there Callie's life takes a turn. Although Callie's new family welcomes her with love, she pushes them away because of her past living pattern knowing what she does is something unwise. Since her mother leaves her unattended for days or weeks together, she is used to being alone at night and started to hookup. Even after moving in with her father Greg, she hooks up with the hottest guy in town, Alex Kosta. What I really loved in this part was Callie's narration that she feels settled and safe for the first time in years. Where the stars still shine is about figuring out what Callie wants in life and how she deals with her new family and her decisions. 

Greg is an amazing father every girl would wish for. I adored Greg for being a protective father and at the same time being friendly to his daughter. There are certain things which can't be spoken openly between father and daughter, and I could see the awkwardness Greg faces when he speaks with Callie regarding certain issues. Doller has portrayed Greg-Callie relationship so well. Basically Greg wins by planning to build a big bookshelf for Callie. Callie's half-brothers are the cutest kids of this book. Although Phoebe loves Callie, there were moments that she acted as Step-mother. Don't get me wrong, Phoebe is not an evil character. It's really hard to put in words but the writing was fantastic to show Phoebe and Callie's relationship. 

For the first time ever Callie has a chance to make real friends and Kat becomes her best friend. Kat is little pushy but she is the right person to pull Callie out of her shell. Although Kat annoyed me a little in the beginning, she made me cry towards the end. Kat and Callie work in a gift shop near the sponge dock and  since Alex works at the sponge dock, Callie easily hooks up with him every now and then. The book is set in Tarpon Springs, Florida and I get to see Sponge diving and what types of sponges are available through Where the stars still shine. As the book progresses layer after layer is revealed. 

Where the stars still shine deals with pretty heavy topics- mental illness, sexual abuse. But it has been handled perfectly and never overdone. It had all elements what I expect from a realistic novel. If you wish to read one contemporary this year, let it be Where the stars still shine. 

Trish Doller, wonderful story and phenomenal writing. 

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

   RATING : 2.75-3 STARS

I have been meaning to read an Aussie book for a very long time and all of a sudden I came across Graffiti Moon on ivy book bindings blog and immediately added to my to-be-read list. I love to read about Australia and its culture so I managed to snag a copy of Graffiti Moon from my library. Just because all good reviews and rave comments my expectations were high enough but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectation. I'm a little hesitant to give a less than  glowing review, but it doesn't mean Crowley isn't an amazing writer. She is. Her writing style is good and that kept me reading till the end. 

The story is told in alternating perspectives of Lucy, Ed and occasionally Leo's point of  view. It starts out with Lucy pedaling on her bike to see Shadow, a Graffiti artist whose works she adores. Lucy thinks Shadow could be her dream guy and when she gets there she misses him by five minutes. Downhearted Lucy meets her friends Jazz and Daisy and they spend the night out to celebrate the successful completion of senior year of high school. Jazz assumes herself to be psychic and she says that they will hook up with guys who sits next to them. The girls meet Ed whose nose Lucy broke in tenth grade, Leo and Dylan at the same place. Daisy and Dylan have been seeing each other and there is not much of introduction needed to hook up with these guys. Daisy with Dylan, Jazz with Leo and Lucy is left with Ed. Ed tells Lucy that he knows where to find Shadow and the adventure and blooming romance begins not only for the girls but also for the reader. 

I loved to walk through the streets of Melbourne with orange late evening sky with Lucy and Ed. Crowley made it so beautiful with vivid explanation of the nature. When I read the story I found myself having late night adventure. The best part of Graffiti Moon is the artistic explanation of Graffiti art and Glass Blowing works. Alternating perspective was done flawlessly. Romance between Lucy and Ed is not at all overly done which is very rare to find in Young Adult books. Although Lucy and Ed had a rocky start, openness between them and their conversation about the art was beautifully written. I liked the small references to the classic books- Pride and Prejudice, To kill a mockingbird. 

Coming to the characters, Bert, owner of the paint shop where Ed works and Al, owner of the studio where Lucy learns Glass blowing techniques were wonderful people whom you would like to meet once in your lifetime. Though Ed's mom played a very teeny-tiny part, Crowley made her character so well and incredibly relatable. 

Although I liked Graffiti Moon, I had some issues with it. Now lets get to that. First off, I found the girls talk to be exasperating sometimes and same applies with the guys talk. Though they all are high school seniors, I found them to act like middle graders at certain moments in the book. Second, about half the story I could predict where the story goes. I found all these made the story drag a little bit for me. Though many readers loved the poems in Leo's perspective, I did not find it amazing. But trust me through Crowley's writing we can experience the beauty of Australia and the art works. 

If you're an artistic person and would love to read about Glass blowing techniques and adding colors to glass, Graffiti Moon is for you. I didn't fall head-over-heels with it but that doesn't mean Graffiti Moon isn't a good book. Overall it was a good read. 

Golden by Jessi Kirby

RATING : 4 Stars

Golden by Jessi Kirby is the kind of the book that stays close to your heart forever after finishing the book. I read Kirby's other books last year and I enjoyed it but Golden was amazing. I wanted to read this book ever since I read the blurb on Goodreads. I managed to snag a copy from my library and devoured every part of the book. I'm totally devastated that I'm not able to find a word to describe the beauty of Golden. I had a bittersweet feeling when I read the last few lines. Loved the writing and the plot line and hated when the book ended. I have been on a book hangover for days after reading such a beautifully written novel. I could say Golden and I have a long relationship. 

" Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life " - Mary Oliver

The protagonist Parker Frost, a Valedictorian and an epitome of perfect good girl is about to graduate high school. Every year Mr.Kinney hands out journals to his senior students and asks them to write about who they want to be in future. He sends out their journals ten years later. Parker helps Mr.Kinney to return the journals of his senior students ten years ago and stumbles upon Julianna Farnetti's journal. Julianna and her boyfriend Shane were seen as Golden couple and died in a car crash after their graduation party. Parker decides to take Julianna's journal with her and unravels the mystery. 

Parker and I have something in common. Although it involves  mystery, the novel deals about friendship, love, and finding yourself who you are and what you want to do. Golden makes it difficult for me to articulate how I feel about it,well in a good way. I really wish I had such a wonderful English teacher as Mr.Kinney. I would actually love to see what I would have written on my journal during my high school after ten years. I had a wonderful experience reminiscing my high school days as I read Golden. I'm sure to tell you that you will think about your life and emerge as a new person after reading Golden. To add to the poetic flow of Kirby's writing there were references to Robert Frost poems. I have always been an admirer of Robert Frost ever since my high school. 

 Few of the quotes which strikes a chord within me are : 


" One often meets her destiny on the road she takes to avoid it" 


" We're all more than the person we show to everyone else " 


" Nothing could be left to chance, after all, can be dangerous. But what I didn't realize all that time, what I missed all along, is that chance is everywhere. It's also what life is made of. It's all around us, but most of the time we never see it working "


I really loved Kat, Parker's best friend and she reminded me of one of my friends. Most of the Young Adult romances makes you swoon, but I'm flabbergasted how Kirby could bring out the love very touching. Parker's crush on Trevor was done amazingly. I found myself gasping as Parker, Kat and Trevor unravels the mystery. I'm sure to pick up anything Jessi Kirby writes. Kirby gave a very hopeful and a true ending. Although Golden was breathtakingly beautiful something stops me falling head-over-heels with it. Hey, but it's really worth reading. Don't miss out. Golden will be a perfect head start to summer. 

THE SUMMER OF COTTON CANDY by Debbie Viguie

RATING : 5 Stars

Well, I needed something light and fun read after all my hectic deadline works. I was browsing through books in library and found this amazing book. I'll admit that I was drawn by its cover (I love cotton candy).  Yes, there goes the saying don't judge a book by its cover and this thought made me look up into Goodreads. I found out that this book had raving comments. Thanks to all the Goodreads reviewers, and I am glad that  I picked up this book. It is a perfect summer read when you want to sit back with lemonade and crack open a good book. But I picked it up  in the middle of winter. Regardless of what time of the year you read this book, you will completely enjoy the story.  

Candace Thompson expects to spend her summer vacation by hanging out with her best friend Tamara and shopping before she is a senior. She is dejected when her father forces her to apply for summer job at the local amusement park called The Zone. She takes up the job as a cotton candy machine operator. Candace meets new friends and the experiences at The Zone makes her love her job by the day. She experiences little friction with Tamara - I didn't like Tamara at certain moments. Candace meets a mysterious Lone Ranger at The Zone and love blossoms between them - this sounded cliched. She experiences little friction with Tamara and eventually  she learns the value of true faith and friendship.

This book clearly depicts what a teenager would go through. It's the first book in the Sweet Seasons series. Easy summer read. By Debbie Viguie's writing  you can  relate to the characters.  This book put a smile on my face when i reached the end of the book. It is full of fun and excitement. I loved taking the journey with Candace and her friends in the Amazing amusement park. Viguie's details about the park sparks you the idea of  taking  a trip to the local theme park with friends. This is first book of Viguie I have ever read and I can assure that it wouldn't be the last. I would recommend this book to all Teens and adults who prefers something light and fluffy read. I completely devoured it and can't wait to finish the series.