Review: The Art of Feeling

The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book breaks your heart and mends it up again. Samantha Herring has been in constant pain, emotionally and physically, since the unfortunate passing of her mother. Being in the car crash alongside her mother, she is just beginning to piece together who is to blame. After shutting herself out from any social life or friends she previously had, Sam has receded into a fog of depression.

One day, Sam meets Eliot, a loner with a carefree attitude with a secret: he cannot feel any pain. Sam is initially jealous of Eliot's capability, but she soon realizes more about his medical condition and his self-inflicting injuries as a result. In fact, Eliot seems to be careless about everything- except maybe, just maybe, Sam.

"It'd be so easy to dislike him. Liking him has to be against the rules"

As Sam and Eliot grow closer, Sam begins to confront her most painful memories- but memories nonetheless that can help to discover the truth of her mother's passing. Awkward at first, Sam and Eliot are a contrast of personalities that ultimately help in understanding one another. It is not until Eliot meets Sam that he realizes how pain can affect an individual, and because of this, he becomes an endearing and empathetic character in the novel that dramatically aids in Sam's recovery.

"'m noticing how pieces of Eliot's hair curl over his ears, how his face is both sharp and soft, and I'm happy, I'm ecstatic, because neither of us is on the wrong side of normal anymore We didn't fit in by ourselves, but we fit together..."

I was somewhat disappointed by the fact of using drugs as a coping mechanism on Sam's brother's behalf, and the constant making light of drugs and alcohol, but I enjoyed the contrasts of Eliot and Sam and the blossoming of their romance. I thought the ending was a wonderful send-off for the characters with happiness and a new sense of clarity for Sam and Eliot. I would definitely recommend this novel!! :)


(Me at the end of the book!! :))

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Review: Night Music

Night Music by Jenn Marie Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ruby has always been Ruby Chertok, daughter of renowned composer Martin Chertok and heir to the family legacy. After Ruby's horrendous audition at prestigious Amberley where her father is on faculty, it is clear that music does not love her as much as she loves it. Now Ruby is just Ruby, and she is searching for a way out of classical music and out of the orbit of her impressive family.

Oscar Bell is a classical music genius, and while he might say his favorite composer is himself, he will make you somehow love him more for it. Ruby's father sees a lot of talent and potential in Oscar's classical music composure, and for the summer, he is living with the Chertok family. However, being an African American 17-year-old in the Amberley programme, he will not risk his chances to study under the great Martin Chertok- not even for a crush.

"The he turned and saw me, and I could swear, his whole body ignited, a machine revving to life. Genius or no, the guy had excellent manners"

"I like you, Ruby. More than I probably should."

It seems as if Ruby and Oscar fell for each other at the same moment and their playful banter brings them closer together. As Oscar becomes more comfortable at Amberley's programme and he is officially dating Ruby, his presence as a composer at Amberley is being turned against him since he is a black guy. There are scandals at Amberley that push Oscar to his limit. This is a great coming of age novel in which relationships blossom between many of the characters.

"I like him, he's everything I'm not and I should resent the very fact of him, but I like him so much. He's brilliant and hot and vivid and funny and.."

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the relationships that grew stronger between Oscar and Ruby, Ruby with her father and her friend Jules. This book is beautiful, heartfelt, emotional, raw, and everything a book should be. Night Music is a melody I never want to leave my head!

"I could recognize Oscar in every lilt, every strain, every unresolved chord... his humor, his heart, his pain, the way he split himself, the way he tried and blustered and suffered and hid it behind a smile- his courage. I heard all of him because I knew him but there was even more there than I'd ever imagined"



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Review: Attachments

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lincoln is a 29-year-old man who lives with his mother, plays dungeons and dragons on the weekend, is crippling awkward, and is unable to recover from his breakup with his high-school "sweetheart" 9 years later. For being a nerd, an awkward one at that, he is quite handsome and seems to be a quiet and respectable individual. Lincoln O'Neill works the night shift as an internet cop, which only adds to his awkwardness. His job consists of flagging emails that are not on topic for the jobs of the individuals. Lincoln's boring job compels him to amuse himself by reading the emails between two friends, Beth and Jennifer.

Without ever actually meeting Jennifer or Beth, Lincoln seems to know them better than he knows others his sees in person. He knows of their relationship mishaps, their comedic emails, and every aspect of their personal lives.

"Lincoln couldn't explain, even to himself, why she mattered to him. She and Jennifer were both funny, both caring, both smart as whips. But Beth's whip always caught him by the ankle..."

Fast forward a few months to mid-2000, Lincoln yearns for a change- he moves out of his mother's place to rent a place of his own, and finally meets Beth in person...

"There are moments when you can't believe something wonderful is happening. And there are moments when your entire consciousness is filled with knowing absolutely that something wonderful is happening. Lincoln felt like he'd dunked his head into a sink full of Pop Rocks and turned on the water..."

I rated this book 4 stars because I didn't feel fulfilled by the ending of the book. The book started off a bit slow, but I am glad I read it because it is a Chick Lit by a male's perspective and provides insight that interested me. I do love the dynamic between Lincoln and Beth, and I am happy that they got together at the end!!

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Review: Cold Day in the Sun

Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holland Delviss wants to be known for her talent as just a hockey player, not as a girl hockey player on the boys' high school varsity team. She continually has to work hard to prove herself worthy of being on the team. To keep her spot on the team she sets 2 rules for herself: practice harder than anyone else on the team, and no dating anyone on the team (no matter who it is). Wes "Hot Sauce" Millard is the bossy team co-captain of the hockey team, and although they argue and bicker at each other till their wit's end, Holland seems to be noticing Wes more, as does Wes her.

"...the strangest thing happens as we switch spots. As I lower myself onto my rightful seat, he puts his hand on my back to steady me, pressing his strong fingers against me, warm and confident. I feel the heat through my Hanson jersey, a zing that courses all the way down to my toes"

When the boy's varsity team is selected for Hockeyfest, a televised statewide event, Holland becomes the lead story. Not everyone is thrilled with Holland's new fame, but there is one person who fiercely supports her, and its the last person she least expects- witty and bossy Wes. Wes keeps on surprising Holland with all of his charm and similarities. Wes shares her passion for 1980's glam metal, and touch is strangely electric to Holland.

"I'm about to say something snarky when Hot Sauce slides his arm around my waist, his fingers pressing lightly into the space just above my hip bone. I suck in a breath at the sudden warmth of his touch..."

With the cameras set to roll with Holland's interview for Hockeyfest, Holland is dangerously close to breaking her rule of dating a team player, but when she expresses her rule to Wes, their relationship experiences a stumble in the road.

"This. You and me. Being friends or whatever we are, I like you, Dutch. A lot. The time we spend together- it's the best part of any day. I like being with you as much as I like playing hockey. And playing hockey with you- it doesn't get any better than that"

The Hockeyfest pushes Holland to her limits and shows her how much her dedication and passion have led her to her achievements and spot on the boy's varsity team. The ending of this novel is so poignant and heartfelt and their dynamic made me smile A LOT. Anyone will enjoy this wonderful summer read!

"Life is kind of like one big search for meaning. We look for answers and try to make sense of the world around us. You need a decent soundtrack for all that s***"

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Review: The Opposite of Innocent

The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My only request for those who read this book is to NOT read a summary or the inside cover of this book because it will take away from the suspense of the book. This novel is written in prose and the characterization of creative and innocent Lily reflects the writing style insurmountably. The topic of this novel is one that is written frequently, but Sones's take on the issue provides a new insight and depth of emotion that no other author has achieved. This book is simply magnificent and I will highly recommend to any reader of any age to learn from and enjoy the heartwrenching story.


When you say you haven't read The Opposite of Innocent yet...

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Review: Hearts Made for Breaking

Hearts Made for Breaking by Jen Klein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lark Dayton strings along any boy that comes her way, and is the queen of breakups. When she ends things with a boy, there are never any hard feelings, because she deliberately says something for the guy to have doubts about their relationship. Lark does not want to hurt anyone, nor does she want to hurt herself over a boy. Her best friends, Cooper and Katie, though, dare her to have a bad breakup with someone that actually matters- meaning she has to have feelings for a guy and then she would be able to break up with him directly.

"I'm determined to make it happen. After all, Ardy might not be like the boys I usually date, but... I don't know how to say this... there was something about the way he almost smiled at me. That tiny tension around the corners of his mouth did something to me, To my insides. It's like I got tense, too. But in a good way..."

Lark chooses "undateable" Ardy Tate, a mysterious challenge that transferred to her high school for his senior year. He has a bad reputation when it comes to breakups, and soon Lark is drawn to him like she has never been with any other boy. Ardy is different from any guy she's ever dated, for this is the first guy who does not seem interested in Lark like her ex-boyfriends were.

"But with Ardy, I'm oddly shy, maybe because I feel more like myself. Like who I really am, way down deep. The girl who someday could have the courage to use her voice to express real opinions... Ardy makes me want to be that girl right now..."

Ardy first just wants to get to know Lark and take everything slow (contrary to Lark's usual relationships). Ardy takes her on a spontaneous trip to Lark's utter surprise, and by the end of the night, she finally gets her first kiss with Ardy. Cooper and Katie have heard rumors of Ardy's previous relationships, which sparks Lark's curiosity. Will her curiosity completely break their relationship? Or will it allow Lark to uncover the truth about herself and Ardy?

I really enjoyed this book, and it is a perfect short summer read! I love the characters and their relationships, and the dynamic of Ardy and Lark. I love how the end of the book ties in with the beginning and I am anticipating reading another of Jen Klein's novels!

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Review: Since We Last Spoke

Since We Last Spoke by Brenda Rufener
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"My sister Kate told me love was glue, a strong adhesive holding people together. She swore it worked as a protective layer of bulletproof glass, something shatter-free... But if unprotected, love will shatter, too."

It took Aggi Frank 17 years to fall in love with Max Granger, and when they finally admitted feelings for each other, the unthinkable happened. A fatal car accident involving both of their older siblings turns their lives upside down. And with a restraining order in place between the two families, Aggie and Max's seemingly endless love runs cold. Even though they share the same driveway, simply just talking to one another seems like a distant fantasy.

"[Aggi is] every time period of art mixed into one masterpiece. Sharp edges in one spot, rounded corner in another. Eyes I can't figure out..."

Both Max and Aggi cannot rid of the guilt they feel from their older siblings taking their last breaths as they were on the roof of the college science building, their bodies intertwined for the first time. Their guilt is insurmountable, as they are unable to help each other over this tremendous loss. But Aggie and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party, but as they begin to rebuild their relationship, Aggie's little sister Grace flees from home after their father spirals into a fit of rage.

"When you want someone so bad every inch of your body aches, you'll stop at nothing to get them. You'll dive into freezing lake water, shovel already-shoveled snow, sit on the porch and watch for a shadow in the window, long for a wave..."

"My heart wants her. My brain wants her. Every cell in my goddamn body wants Aggi, and it's time for me to bulldoze through my fears and tell her exactly how I feel."

With the support of friends, Max and Aggie must confront each other and their families in the hopes to rekindle the beautiful love they share for one another. It takes grief and longing to finally reunite Aggie and Max, as well as their families. This book is an uplifting novel of teen love in the face of grief, and the beauty that it creates. This novel is a perfect read for anyone, I believe, because it is not a cliché romance novel- it is a story of how two people can come together again in the face of grief.

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Review: The Rescue

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For as long as the town of Edenton has remembered, Taylor McAden is driven to take terrifying and heroic risks to save lives. But the one thing he cannot bring himself to make; he cannot fall in love. Whenever he is in a serious relationship, he inevitably leaves them as soon as they dream of a future with him. A record-breaking storm hits a small town, and Taylor comes across Denise Holton, a single mother trying to find her missing son after a car accident. As a volunteer at the local fire department, Taylor finds Kyle within hours, and from that point on, they seem to have a connection. At almost 5 years old, Kyle suffers from a delayed speech disorder and so many people ignore him and do not interact with him like they do with other children. Taylor is different, however, and sees Kyle as an ordinary cute 5-year-old boy.

"Taylor couldn't help but watch her. The lovely, almost mysterious face accented by high cheekbones and exotic eyes, long dark hair...a shapely figure... Taylor..wonder[ed] how he could have overlooked her beauty that night..."

As Taylor spends more and more time with Denise and Kyle, he realizes how adoring and caring and beautiful Denise is as a woman and a mother. Taylor is different from other men that Denise had known. The way Taylor looks at Denise is so romantic and endearing, and Denise cannot help but fall for Taylor too. Denise also realizes how patient and caring is to both herself and her son Kyle.

"His face was tan and lean... his waist was narrow, and his shoulders were heavily muscled... his arms looked as if he'd pounded thousands of nails..."

Taylor continues to battle with his demons from childhood, and he is left at a standstill when it comes to Denise. He truly and deeply wants to have a future with Denise, but is unable to express his desires, as his dark experiences hold him back. Taylor has a lot of guilt from his experiences and is not open to share his past with Denise. Once he acknowledges, though, that his hesitancy is tearing their relationship apart, he overcomes his past and decides to live a life where he can be content- and that life includes Denise and Kyle.

Fortunately, the Sparks novel has a happy ending, but that does not mean I did not cry... The characters in this novel have so much love and devotion for one another, it is hard not to fall with them. The storyline of this book is based on real events, which also adds a sense of realness to the novel and characters. This book is a must read!!

"She knew intuitively the meaning of Taylor's touch, the words he'd left unspoken. Not because she'd come to know him o well. She knew because she'd fallen in love with him at exactly the same time"



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Review: Lovely War

Lovely War by Julie Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This masterpiece of a book braids together two love stories set in WWI and the inseparable bonds that war can create on two passionate couples. Hazel Windicott, a pianist, and James, a builder-turned-soldier, are acquainted at a London dance in 1917, on the eve of James's departure to the trenches. Hazel is not fully aware of the glances James is throwing her way as she is immersed in playing the piano. But Aphrodite cannot help but give James a nudge to ask her to dance. This single dance sets in motion the beginning of their unacquitted love for one another...

"Hazel kept on playing, but she had seen straight through those brown eyes and into the depths behind them, and felt something of the thrill of being seen, truly seen..."

'She was so, so pretty. At first it was the music, and then her eyes, and her hair, but now he saw how entirely adorable she was..."

Aubrey, a Harlem ragtime musician, and Colette, a Belgian singer scarred by German atrocities, meet at a YMCA relief hut in Saint-Nazaire, France. Aubrey is a member of the Army Band of the National Guard 15th New York Infantry Regiment when Colette is first introduced to him. Colette has been scarred by the war, as her entire family and her Stephané were brutally killed by the German forces. Meeting Aubrey is a breath of fresh air for Colette, but she is not sure if she is ready to leave her guilt and past behind for a new lease on life for herself and Aubrey.

"She kissed him. Not a thank-you kiss. A kiss that said, there's more where that came from."

War, though, takes a toll on James & Hazel, as well as Colette & Aubrey. War is neither an easy nor lovely thing to endure, but the love experienced in this novel is something I have yet to read about, much less alone experience myself. The idea of the Greek gods retelling such a story is a bit awkward at first, but the insights that are accompanied with the story truly add to the love between the characters. This story of war and love is poignant and touching, as their love is inseparable, even when the worst happens as a result of the war. War can tear families and communities apart, but it can also bring scarred people together, in which they form unbreakable bonds. This novel tears your heart, but mends it up again- it is a MUST READ!

"If you think I can live without you, Miss Windicott... you don't know me at all..."


(me waiting for another novel as touching and heartfelt as this one...)

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Review: Safe Haven

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When you do not have any family to turn to and you think you are in this world alone, you have to muster the strength to continue thriving. A mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small town of Southport, and her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Katie is a beautiful yet self-effacing persona, she appears to remain focused on her job and nothing else, avoiding personal relationships at any costs. A series of events, however, tie her to her cheery neighbor, Jo, and another with Alex, a widowed store owner to two children. Katie begins to lower her guard and grows increasingly attached to Alex and his family. But Katie does not love him, nor will she ever, is her mindset...

Even as Katie begins to fall in love with both Alex and his children, she struggles with her dark secret that initially brought her to Southport (I will not spoil it). With Jo's support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose a life of safety or one that will make her content and feel loved. She comes to the conclusion that love is the only safe haven.

"It was suddenly easy for her to imagine that her fears were pointless. That he would love her no matter what she told him, and that he was the kind of man who loved her already and would love her forever..."

This novel by Nicholas Sparks has so many plot twists and emotional and heartfelt events that you can't help but feel like you are there with Katie and Alex. I love the dynamic of the characters and how much Alex was willing to give just to be with Katie, while also dealing with a loss of his own. Katie seems to be the missing piece in Alex's life, and once they were together, there is no separating them. What I also really enjoyed about this novel is that event though lex's wife had passed, she still plays a great role in Alex's and Katie's relationship. Even if you are hesitant about reading Nicholas Sparks book (which you shouldn't be), this novel is nothing like his other works!

“I’m in love with you. If you stay, I promise, there’s no safer place in the world than right here with me.”


Cheers to a beautful book!


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Review: In Another Time

In Another Time by Jillian Cantor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Another Time is a powerful and moving novel that emphasizes the power of love in the worst of times. In 1930s Berlin, Max Bessinger, a Christian bookshop owner, by chance hear the enchantment of Hanna Ginsberg and her violin. In an attempt to get her attention, he brings her what he loves most, a book. After his dedicated pursuit, he wins her over, and they fall in love. German life during the rise is not easy, and to make matters worse, because Max is not Jewish, Hanna's family is not supportive of their relationship. After Max disappears unexplained, Hanna becomes frustrated, angry, and heartbroken. Hanna takes a step back from their relationship, but the power of love eventually draws them back together.

"Her body was warm, and feeling her that close to him, he felt that same thrilling energy as when their fingers had touched...and that was the moment he realized that he was going to fall in love with Hanna Ginsberg"

So focused on her violin playing, she is unaware of the growing antisemitism around her, but Max constantly worries about Hanna and s friends. Hitler and the Nazi Regime are taking over and panic is starting to set in and his Jewish neighbors are in grave danger. Max's secret is the only thing that can save them from danger, but when his beloved Hanna is looking the Nazis in the eyes, can he bring her to safety as well?

"And it was strange, but Hanna almost didn't feel real to him when he wasn't with her. That someone so bright and beautiful and talented as her might want to be with him felt almost like a dream."

In 1946, Hanna finds herself in an open field with absolutely no recollection of the past 10 years. Hitler has died, the train station has been bombed, and she has no idea what has happened to Max. Hanna's sister brings her to her home in London where she begins to search for opportunities to play her violin in an orchestra. Her love for her violin and Max are the only things she can focus on to bring her peace, content, and joy. Will Hanna cross paths with Max?

This compelling novel is such a perfect piece of work. Told in alternating viewpoints, this novel is a beautiful novel about love and survival, passion and music, across time and countries. It is an absolute must read!

"If Hanna didn't want him, if Hanna wouldn't love him, then there was nothing for him here. he had nothing left"

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Review: The Longest Ride

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Longest Ride is one of the most beautiful and emotional romance novels I have read. As a Nicholas Sparks fan, I was NOT at all disappointed. The story gives two love stories- one just beginning and another ending- that eventually intersect. The old and new love stories compliment each other perfectly and you can't help but cry happy and sad tears (maybe I'm just emotional... ;))

The old love of Ira and Ruth Levinson is retold after he is left stranded and injured after a car crash, where he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image of his wife appears beside him, who passed away years ago. Ira continues to cling to her words and memories, even though he knows she isn't really there. Ruth and Ira reminisce about their marriage and love for one another as he is stranded in the car. Their love for one another is relentless and aspiring, as both Ira and Ruth would do anything for each other.

Miles down the road, college senior Sophia Danko is introduced to Luke Collins as her ex-boyfriend is stalking her. Through Luke, Sophia is confronted by an entirely new world in which the stakes are high- life or death. As a professional bull-rider, Luke is presented with life or death frequently, and by meeting Sophia, he learns what is truly important to him. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imaging a life far removed from her current plans- unless Luke's secret destroys their lives first.

"It wasn't long, it wasn't heated, but as soon as their lips came together, she knew with sudden certainty that nothing had ever felt so easy and so right..."

"He drew a deep breath, struggling to keep his emotions in check, knowing that he didn't love her simply in the here and now, but that he would never stop loving her..."

I would highly recommend this book who yearns for an innocent love story. The 398 pages flew by, as I finished this book in two days! This book has so much heart and emotion, you can't help but fall in love with them. I am proud to say this is one of my favorite books.


(My emotions as I finshed this book ;))

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Review: Denied

Denied by Jodi Ellen Malpas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"We were made to fit together. We fit perfectly together. You must feel it, Olivia"

This is the second book in the One Night series, in which we get to learn more about dark and beautiful Miller Hart. The book leaves off with a man named William Anderson, who plays a big role in Miller and Olivia's relationship by the end of the novel, and truly is the reason to which they are able to be in a relationship still by the end, as much as he hates Miller Hart. So far in the series, we have met Olivia Taylor, a seemingly ordinary girl with a painful, unconventional past. Who on an ordinary day, meets a less than ordinary Man; Miller Hart. Since the very first day they met, it has been an intimate, passionate, and intense relationship.
Everything between Olivia and Miller is perfect without outside influences, and when they do corrupt their relationship, their fallout is a remarkable disaster.

"We're more broken if we don't have each other. Let me put us back together again. I need you, Olivia. Desperately. You're making my world light"

In this book, there are so so many interferers that attempt to disrupt their relationship because if Miller's job, in which there is no escape. (The only escape would to run away...;)) I love their dynamic in their relationship because they balance each other out, for Olivia's darkness is balanced out by Miller's darkness, and they each supply light to one another.

I've been saved by a gorgeous, sweet girl, she makes my heart quicken and my senses slow"

I'm not going to spoil this book because this book is an emotional and heart-wrenching read, but Miller is able to conquer his fears when it comes to the love of his life Olivia. His dark life is represented by his paintings, and as Olivia begins to discover this harsh and cry-worthy truth, she will literally drop ANYTHING to help her amazingly gorgeous and sensitive Miller Hart.

"We're worlds apart but utterly perfect for each other. He's beautiful from afar, and he's equally beautiful up close. And beneath that external beauty, he's even more beautiful. It goes deep, and the deeper I look, that beauty only strengthens. I'm the only person who sees it, and that's because I'm the only person Miler has allowed to see it. Just me. He's mine. All of him. Every beautiful piece."

I am so so amazed that a book could be this emotional and real. I feel as if these people are real, and as I said, I do not want to spoil any of this incredible book. I love Miller's thing so much, and to be honest, Miller Hart is relationship goals! I hope you love this book as much as I do!!

"She's the blood in my veins. She's the air in my lungs. She's the bright, hopeful light in my tortured darkness."


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Review: Five Feet Apart

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"For the first time, I feel the weight of every single inch, every single millimeter of the six feet between us. I pull my sweatshirt closer to my body... trying to ignore the fact that open space? It will always be there."

Even though her lungs seem to have a mind of their own and send her in and out of the hospital too many times to count since she was 6, Stella Grant likes to have control over her life. Suffering from Cystic Fibrosis, a simple sore throat or cold can be the difference between life and death for her. And as a senior in high school who organized the senior trip to Cabo, a simple sore throat caused her to miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend a week with her best friends, Mya, and Camila in Cabo. Admitted to the hospital, she is welcomed by the nurses who seem like a second family in the hospital that she views at home. After the initial welcome to the hospital, her best friend of 10+ years, Poe, is also admitted; for he has CF as well.

Stella and Poe are the types of best friends that you do not find every day. Suffering from the same illness, they both realize the simplicity and beauty that life has to offer every day. Poe and Stella both are strict with their medications and the single rule for all CFers; six feet apart at all times! In all the years that Poe and Stella have known each other, they have never hugged or even touched. And then Will Newman messes up Stella's entire routine! :)

"His tousled, dark-chocolate-brown hair is perfectly unruly like he just popped out of a Teen Vogue and landed smack in the middle of Saint Grace's Hospital. His eyes are a deep blue, the corners crinkling as he talks... He's so cute, my lung function feels like it dropped another 10 percent"

Also a CFer, Will has traveled all over the world for CF treatment, hounded by his mother 24/7. He wants to travel outside of the hospital every place he has been. As new clinical trials spring up for B. cepacia, he arrives at different hospitals in the hopes of a cure from the bacteria. He couldn't care less about his treatments, and in one week he'll be 18, and he'll be able to unplug from all of the machines and actually be able to live and see the world. And then he meets Stella Grant...

"I smile as I watch Converse girl for a second. I can't help but stare at her reflection, everything beyond the glass blurring as I look at her. She's prettier close-up, with her long eyelashes and her full eyebrows. She even makes a face mask look good..."

This review is long, so just hang on, but a spark between Will and Stella is imminent from the moment they meet, and you can't help but fall for them too. So Stella agrees to let Will draw her if he agrees to strictly abide by his medications and treatments for CF. Stella is an advocate for CF on YouTube (she even made an app for medication reminders!) and Will comes across all of her videos and watches them with an open heart. He notices that her sister vanished mysteriously from her videos a year ago, and when he questions her, Stella shuts him out. (I won't spoil it!)

Stella overcomes this obstacle with Will and they start to become as close as they can (six feet apart of course!). And when Stella's G-tube gets infected, pre-surgery, Will tells her that everything is going to be alright, and he promises her so. She recovers well but is still hoping for a lung transplant. Poe helps to get Stella and Will on a date in the hospital with none of the nurses/doctors noticing, and it goes without a hitch. (Again, I won't spoil this because it is too perfect and heartwarming given their condition).

"I did a lot of thinking about foot number six. And to be honest, I got mad... So, after all that CF has stolen from me- from us- I'm stealing something back"

So, Stella and Will decide that instead of six feet apart, the will be five feet apart, that still seems to be miles away from one another. They continue to hang out, skype, and Will draws her cartoons which is so so so funny and kind. When the unexpected happens with Poe, it drifts everyone apart, and Stella decides to seize the moment and live her life as a normal girl. Of course, Will accompanies her, and they have the times of their lives (they even tell each other they love each other!!!). When neither thought any worse could happen, it happens, and Will is at a standstill on how to save Stella. Will this be the end of Will and Stella or the beginning of what is yet to come?

"I smile at him, and take just that one more stolen step, until we're five feet apart"

OH MY GOODNESS!!! This book made me cry so much, and I am so so so excited for the movie!!! Will and Stella are unlike any book characters I have ever read and they are so perfect for each other and even each other out so well. This book is one of my favorites of all time, and I hope you feel the same way! Plus, I hope everyone has a love story like that of Will and Stella!!!!!!!



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Review: Dear John

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"What does it truly mean to love another?... I fell in love with her when we were together, then fell deeper in love with her in the years we were apart"

John Tyree on the outside seems like a normal crew cut soldier, an isolated and rebel teenager who enlisted in the army to get his act together for his future. His father is also a very isolated and particular man, in which persuades John to enlist as well. His father's only joy is his coin collection, in which John took great interest in as a child, but as he matured, he believed there were far more important things than bonding with your lonely father. During a furlough in 2000 when he returns for a week in his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, he spent his day surfing at the beach. While sitting on the pier, he said hello to a brunette and he "heard something friendly and understanding in her voice, something akin to coming home...". Her bag filled with all of her belongings fell into the ocean, and John made a darn good first impression by retrieving her bag in the ocean for her.

"Up close, she was more beautiful than I'd first realized, but it had less to do with the way she looked than the way she was. It wasn't her slightly gap-toothed smile, it was the casual way she swiped at a loose strand of hair, the easy way she held herself..."

After John's rescue of Savannah's bag, she offered him to eat dinner at their rented house right along the beach, in which he complied. She described to him that the 20+ college students living at the home were to build houses as she was for a club at her school, but Savannah simply had a heart for the family that desperately needed the home, where the other sum of college students wanted a spring fling of sorts on the beach. Savannah and John soon begin to fall for each other, and in the single week they were together, it was pure bliss for the two of them, and it was a heartache for John to return to Germany for a year. On the last night before John leaves, Savannah takes him to the house she is in the midst of building where she finally tells him she loves him. This part is the crucial part of their relationship because they both feel the same way about each other, oh and because there will be tears shed here as well. When Savannah herself brings up wanting to visit John's father, it is so sentimental and remarkable that you can't help but fall more in love with Savannah and John. (I am intentionally leaving a lot of there week together out because I do not do this book justice, their chemistry is so relatable and you can't help but fall in love with their relationship).

"She had the rare ability to be exactly what people needed when she was with them and yet still remain true to herself. I couldn't think of anyone who remotely resembled her in appearance or personality, and I wondered again why she'd taken a liking to me."

"One instant we were talking, and in the next she leaned toward me. For a second, I wondered whether kissing her would break the spell we both were under, but it was too late to stop. And when her lips met mine, I knew that I could live to be a hundred and visit every country in the world, but nothing would ever compare to that single moment when I first kissed the girl of my dreams and knew that my love would last forever."

On one of their final days together before John's leave is over, Savannah gifts John a book to help John on his relationship with his father. He totally flips out and takes her intentions the wrong way. She is simply wanting to help John with his troubles. On the way out, he punches Savannah's best friend, Tim, and back home he ventures. The best of him starts to read the book and he can't help but be aware of his father and his relationship. He apologizes to Savannah and leaves for Germany on a good note (Also, the letter Savannah leaves John with makes you cry uncontrollably, just an FYI)

While John is in Germany for the next year, Savanah and he exchange phone calls and letters nonstop, like every week, and each one is better than the last. After counting down the days, his leave is fastly approaching, and he can't wait to be in Savannah's arms. The day finally comes, and Savannah is waiting with open arms! However, since John has been gone, Savannah's life seemed to continue, and she is busy with school and all of her friends and appears to have no time for John. Fast forward, John returns back to Germany and they realize that they both still love each other more than any two people can.

Okay, so this is the heart wrenching and cry worthy part that will stick with till eternity... John is in the twin tower attacks of 9/11 and days after, he receives a letter from Savannah that she loves someone else, and she is unwilling to keep their relationship. She says its too hard on her and she is tired of waiting for something that is never going to be there. John is completely heartbroken (and so is the reader), and he decides to extend his time in the army. His father soon after dies as well, and he plays a crucial role in his life with Savannah at the end. John returns to Wilmington for his father's funeral, and instinct tells him to drive to Savannah's ranch. He finds where she lives, and sees that she is married. I am not going to say anything else except that this book is one to remember. The end is very unexpected and it will leave you crying as much as I did. I hope you treasure this read as much as I have!!



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Review: My Sweetest Escape

My Sweetest Escape by Chelsea M. Cameron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"A guy wearing a baggy hoodie and equally baggy jeans jeans over torn-up high-tops was looking at me like I was something he'd never seen before. He had darkish skin, cropped black hair, but the most astonishing green eyes. They popped in his face, especially since they were fixed on me"

Jos Archer was once the girl with the perfect life- she wore proper clothes and made good grades in school, and her whole life was ahead of her, until the night it came crashing down in flames. Nine months later, she is reckless, parties all the time, gets drunk, and does not have a strong well being for a 19 year old. She is hiding a secret she will not even expose to her older sister, Renee, who she is forced to live with after her dangerous lifestyle.

At the first moment she arrives at her sister's house who she shares with three different couples, she feels like the odd man out because of her transferring schools and not being in love, not that she wants to be anyway. On an occasion of tagging along with her sister's volunteer work at the hospital, she tumbles across handsome, smiley, and snarky Dusty Sharp. As fate as it, Dusty is a friend of Renee, and so he hangs frequently around where Jos lives. Her guilt and worry of her past resurfacing (which I won't spoil), causes her to not be interested in love. She feels as if she doesn't deserve it. However, as she spends more and more time around Dusty, and with the help of her new best friend Hannah, Dusty seems to pull Jos out of her shell.

"He leaned, and I leaned and we leaned and my head was spinning and I was afraid I was going to go off balance, but I was falling just as much into his eyes...

For Jos in this situation, she is at conflicting attitudes. With her strict sister keeping her eye on Jos 24/7, how will Dusty and Jos become he couple they are both afraid to begin? Similar to Jos, Dusty hides a dark past that he hides with his optimistic and self-confident attitude. And also like Jos, he has never told a soul about his fears and not wanting to face reality of his past.

"This was only a completely different planet compared to all the there kisses I'd had before. Those had been... adequate. Serviceable. Good enough. Kissing Dusty was like.. quenching a thirst I'd been living with my entire life. And once I got one drop, one taste, I knew I wanted more. I kissed him like I was drinking him in, taking him and making him a art of me. This was a life-altering kiss."

Both Dusty and Jos share a connection they have never felt before, and when Jos finds a picture of Dusty with his brother, she flips out. (This is part of her dark past). However, once Dusty and Jos share their secret that they have been hiding for so long, they realize they having the shared experience brings them closer together than ever before.

"A beautiful mess I don't know how I got myself roped into..."

Jos and Dusty's story is so sentimental and caring it is not hard to sympathize with their heartaches and troubles. They seem as if they were meant for each other, and you can't help but cry tears of joy at the end because they had been through so much together. I truly hope the you enjoy this book as much as I did!




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Review: The Best of Me

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Everyone wanted to believe that endless love was possible. She'd believed it once, too, back when she was eighteen..."

Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole grew up in the same town during their childhood, but they couldn't be any different if they tried. Where Amanda grew up in a rich and supportive home, Dawson's life consisted of what seemed to be "the survival of the fittest", where he was beaten by his father, cousins, and his mother left early in his childhood. Dawson eventually began to live in the garage of a man named Tuck Hostetler, who soon plays a role in their love story. In the spring of 1984 though, Amanda and Dawson fall deeply and irrevocably in love, and their love seemed to defy the realities of their lives in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. After Tuck passed, both Dawson and Amanda cross paths 25 years later, where they both end up at Tuck's home where they spent time together as teenagers.

"He'd loved Amanda once and he'd never stopped loving her, and spending time with her tonight hadn't changed that simple truth.

After attending Duke University as Amanda was guided to do by her parents, she married a man that she wishes were Dawson instead. After 4 kids, 1 passed from cancer that separated her husband and herself further apart. Her husband, Frank, began to drink heavily, and it caused problems in the family with her kids and her relationship with Frank as well. At a point, it seemed to be two individual adults living under the same roof, with no connection. So Amanda and Dawson rekindle their love for one another during the weekend of Tuck's funeral. They separately plan to pay their respects for Tuck and leave, but the total opposite happens.

"With Dawson, she was reminded of what it was like to have her thoughts divined before she uttered them. When they were young, a momentary glimpse or the subtlest of gestures had often been enough to signal a world of thought and emotion."

Amanda nor Dawson have lived the life that had imagined, and neither of them can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. Over the course of the weekend, they both seem to realize that they are meant for each other, but they both respect the fact that Amanda is married with 3 children. Trouble brews around Dawson, as his cousins and family discover that he is in town and they plan to kill him any way possible.

"He still loved her, she was certain of that now, and the realization was intoxicating. She knew it was wrong, and she tried to force the feeling away, but Dawson and their past had taken root once more, and she could no longer deny the simple truth that for the first time, she'd felt like she'd finally come home."

The plot of this book is so unexpecting and I really do not want to spoil the real honest and true parts of the novel, but Dawson's past changed his life. While working at the oil rigs, an explosion caught him off guard, and he was supposed to be dead, but he miraculously survived. A ghost follows him around ever since the accident, but even more so while in Oriental. Near the end, this ghost directs him to a place that will forever alter his life, as well as Amanda's. After her time with Dawson is gone, she spends time with her unsympathetic mother, when the worst thing for a mother occurs, her oldest son and her husband were in a car accident (ultimately caused by Frank's drinking). So her son is on the rink of death, and the doctors need a heart transplant for him to survive. I'm not going to say it, but I bet you can guess who's heart it is... :'(.

My review does this book no justice! This book has so many elements in it that make it a masterpiece. Like most of the book I read, I cried, laughed, and was grateful that I read this book. The ending makes you uncontrollably sob, but this book is so so worth it. Dawson and Amanda's love for each other is so natural, and it is truly heart wrenching when they do not get to be together at the end. :)

"I gave you the best of me..."









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