Reading Rainbow: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Holy WOW, ya'll. I just devoured Forgotten by Cat Patrick. Literally in less than 24 hours! I even picked it up in the middle of the night when the babe woke me and needed to be rocked back to sleep. I never do that (because I love to sleep), but this book was calling to me.

From Goodreads:

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

Okay, so based on the synopsis, I was a little worried that the whole "no memory" thing might be confusing in a book, but I wanted to give it a try. Not only was it not overly confusing, but it was also just the perfect amount of a supernatural twist to make this whole story fascinating. In addition to forgetting her past each day at 4:33 am, London can "remember" the future. It is such a great concept and really makes for a suck-you-in story.

There are so many twists and turns within this book, and many that I was not expecting at all! I loved it and was happily surprised throughout. I am not going to say much more for fear of revealing too much, but I will say that YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK! I've been telling everyone I know about it since I finished. Even non-YA readers. It's that good. So, trust me and go read Forgotten by Cat Patrick. Just be ready to stay up late at night if it sucks you in like it did me!

Harry Potter: The Memories!

Good Morning! Happy Harry Potter 7.2 Day! I'm assuming some of you are sleepy today after braving the midnight showing! If so, I'm a little bit jealous. But, I'm also excited because I'm seeing it this weekend with my husband. This is one of the things that we always do together, so I have to wait for him. And I'm okay with that because it's fun that he actually gets into Harry Potter with me.

Since this is The End *sob*, we thought it would be fun to share our favorite Harry Potter memories. And this includes you all as well! We definitely want to hear yours.

I know I've already shared my favorite here - reading the 7th book on the way to meet my son in Ethiopia. And then holding his tiny, sleeping hand while I finished the book. But, I now have a second favorite Harry Potter memory to go with that! Just in the past two weeks, I have allowed that baby, now 4 years old, to start watching the movies. Just the first two, mind you, but it has been such fun. I got all misty-eyed seeing him engrossed by the magic of Harry Potter. He and his owl Hedwig (yes, I helped him with the owl-naming :) sat and watched the whole thing. And since then, there have been chopsticks turned into wands and bats turned into broomsticks around my house. I cannot wait to share the books with him! Thank you, JK Rowling, for giving us Harry Potter to discover magic ourselves, and again through our children.

This is where I got misty-eyed. He loved it.

I have a confession to make: I'm not upset about this being the last Harry Potter movie. Not because I'm a heartless wench (well, okay, probably a little bit because of that) but because I went through my stages of grief after the last book. The movie is more like reminiscing about how much you loved that crazy uncle who died in the rock climbing incident. It's been long enough that you can enjoy the stories of his life without tearing up.

To increase my heart-of-stone reputation, I have another confession: unlike Stacie, and probably a lot of you, I don't have any specific warm-fuzzy-moments from Harry Potter. This probably has something to do with the fact that as each book would come out I would grab it, ignore everything else, and devour it as quickly as possible. It's hard to pick out particular moments when your day went "feed those responsible for you, read, dress, read, more food, read, say goodnight, stay up and read." That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing the books through my kids eyes. Reading them together will force me to slow down and savor them. But I can't promise special moments. I may not be a special moments kinda girl.

And that, my friends, is why I love Leigh. And why we balance each other out. I'm getting all teary writing this post, and she's all, "Whatever, last movie, what?"

Okay, your turn to share with us! Whether you're a raging sentimentalist like me, or a cold-hearted-bitch like Leigh (she likes it when I call her that), we want to hear your thoughts on The End. Your favorite memories of reading or seeing Harry Potter, or even your favorite moments from the books, we want to hear them!

Waiting on Wednesday: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Okay, so this post is actually a cross between a Waiting-on-Wednesday and a Reading Rainbow. Why? Because I was lucky enough to win an early copy of Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer so I have already read it! (Thank you Andrea and Editor Jill!) And, I have to admit, I was super excited to be receiving a copy with the original cover.

That's me being super excited.
Okay, maybe this was taken just now and not when I received the book, but multiply this by 1000 and that's how excited I was.

Anyway, here is the actual cover of the book...

From Goodreads:

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

One thing I really love about this sequel is how much detail we are given. The book is not just about Calla and her own personal struggles (I'll get to that...), but also delves more deeply into the history of the Guardians and how they came to be. It's certainly not easy-reading and that is why I really got into it. I want to hand this book to anyone who claims that YA is easy, or "fluff," because Andrea Cremer really makes you think.

And Calla. Oh, Calla. She faces many important decisions in this book, as well as much heartache, but she stays true to herself, which I liked. I have to be honest and say that I was somewhat annoyed by Shay and am now totally leaning towards #TeamRen, but that was something I liked about the book. Sometimes people, even seemingly-perfect-boyfriend-types, turn annoying and insecure. It rang true, even if I was frustrated with his character.

If you were like me and loved Nightshade, but wanted more of the history, you are going to love Wolfsbane. It's a worthy sequel in a great series so be sure to get your copy on July 26th! And I'll be honest, it does end with a slight cliff-hanger, but nowhere near as high as the cliff from Nightshade. That much I can promise you.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Happy Book Birthday and Informal LBC: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Today is the day! There have been so many great releases this summer (with more to come!) and today is the day that Forever by Maggie Stiefvater was released. I have it downloaded on the nook, but to be honest, I'm a little afraid to start. I am scared of what Maggie will do to my emotions! She revels in our pain, I tell you! (Kidding, sort of. But really, don't all the great YA writers like to mess with us just a little? It was makes their books worth reading.)

Anyway, since we did a formal (hah) Lazy Book Club on both Shiver and Linger last summer (that Maggie herself commented on!!), I thought we'd have an information LBC for Forever right here. So, after you've read, feel free to come back and post your thoughts in the comments - and feel free to post spoilers! (That being said, DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS until you've finished the book!) Since I haven't started yet, obviously I won't be posting yet, but I'm looking forward to hearing what you all thought of Forever!

Lazy Book Club: Paper Towns by John Green

It is FINALLY time to discuss our latest LBC, Paper Towns! Contemporary fiction was actually a little departure for me, as I tend to surround myself by misty-fairy-unicorn-alien-beings (actual term *grin*) but I loved it, as Stacie said I would, and I hope you guys did too! (And, since this is a book club, of sorts, this post will contain **SPOILERS**! If you haven't read the book, don't read this post!)

Our dear reader Picksee commented that, “this is one of the smartest and thought-provoking YA book I’ve ever read!” I have to agree with her. I also want to add that it is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Radar’s character alone made this book worth reading. The confederate flag tee shirt made me laugh so hard, I woke my husband up from a dead sleep. And the idea of the World’s Largest Collection of Black Santas is one of the best things ever. And, seriously, I’ve searched for Black Santas - they are not easy to find. I really wanted a black Santa for my son (who dresses like Santa in the summertime - obsessed), but perhaps someone is out there hoarding all of the Black Santas...

For those of you who don't know, Stacie's son was adopted from Ethiopia. But even if he wasn't, you have to admit that the Black Santas are pretty sweet.

Picksee also mentioned the banter in this book, and that was one of my favorite things as well. The verbal contests between Ben, Radar, and Q were so spot-on. I have to agree with Picksee again in her observation, “The language was really well written-all of the conversations and interactions felt sincere. The banter was funny and natural.” My favorite scenes are from the Road Trip, where I felt like Q was really beginning to understand himself and the quest for Margo, but at the same time, he was truly embracing the moment and the joy within.

I loved the whole road trip section of the book. I especially liked the interactions with Lacey. It would've been so easy to hate her on a basic, stereotypical level but she had a depth and likeability that I wasn't expecting. Like Picksee said, "I appreciated that this VERY EASILY could’ve been a typical 'popular kids are sooo much deeper than they appear and tortured by their popularity.' But then, it wasn’t. I mean, it was, but in a muli-faceted way."

I see we're moving on to the Smart and Thought-Provoking now. I’m a little scared because there is SO MUCH BRILLIANCE in this book. I know we won’t get to all of it, so please feel free to continue in the comments.

I’m going to start with the end. Because the end? It’s brilliant. I’ll admit, on my first read, I was a little crestfallen. I think this has something to do with my love of Pretty Endings with Bows on Top. But, reading it again has made me fall in love with the end. It reveals so much about both Margo and Q.

One thing that struck me that I’d like to put out there is that, in the end, Q seems so much braver to me than Margo. Yes, Margo is striking out on her own, and Q is seemingly taking the “safe” route with college, marriage, family. But Margo says something that made me question, and it is this: “...I go back to my room in the morning and I just miss you. I want to come over and hang out and talk, but I’ve already decided to leave, so I have to leave.” To me, this seems cowardly. She is almost as set in her routines as Q is in his. Maybe it’s my desperate want of the happy ending, but if she missed him, why not stay? Why not throw caution to the wind and give it a chance?

No, I don't think you're projecting. I think you're right. I think they are just polar opposites in that way. Q is going to do what Margo fears most: stay. And I think she fears it because if you stay then you might fail. I moved a LOT as a kid, and while it was hard to make new friends, it was also much easier to never have to deal with the fallout of friendships as they grow and change. If Margo is always leaving then she never has to adjust who she is. She can swoop in, be Margo, enjoy it for a while, and then start over before anyone expects too much from her.

I'm not dissing Margo for that, though, because I understand it. I think John Green did too. He let the characters just be who they were. They had flaws, and no one made any apologies for those flaws. Maybe we got some backstory here and there that explained why someone *cough*MARGO*cough* was maladjusted, but that didn't excuse him or her form it OR doom him or her to judgement. The narration felt, in some ways, documentary-like or journalistic (in a good way.) Sort of like, "Here are real people. You make your own call."

That is a really great way to put it. I kind of love that about John Green's writing in general. You're never expected to feel one way or another about the characters, but they just are, as you said. I think that says a lot about him trusting his audience. Or maybe that's just how he writes. Or both. He often writes characters that are deeply flawed, and even unlikable on the surface, but they end up being important to me in the end. His characters stick with me, and this is probably because they are more real.

And as Picksee said, she had to come around to empathizing with Margo - she didn't like her as a child, but by the end had come to understand her. I kind of felt the same way. I admired her bravado, but certainly didn't like her much until the end.

The characters aren't perfect. It would have been really easy to make Margo this Amazing, Fabulous Person, because you want Q to succeed and to get his dream girl at the end. It would have been easy for Margo to be that Dream Girl, but that's not the point. John Green didn't do the 'easy' with rainbows and puppies. Also, it would have been easy for Q to follow her in the end, but that would have been wrong.

Exactly. I don't think this book would have haunted me the way it did if it had ended with a Pretty Bow on Top (Q following Margo, or Margo coming home with Q with a Happily Ever After). The fact that it ended the way it did, with both Q and Margo leaving with a deeper understanding of themselves, made it all the more powerful and lasting.

Well, and that's really what the book is about, isn't it? Understanding and acceptance. Understanding who you are and accepting that other people, as Radar puts it, "aren't you."

And there is so much more to discuss - Paper Towns, Paper Girls, the string theory, the grass.... but rather than make this the longest post ever, we can continue those in the comments! We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Reading Rainbow: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Okay, we could gush over this book for hours. In fact, Leigh and I have been gushing over it for hours over the phone, over text, on chat. We both have a serious, undying, sparkly LOVE for Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. So, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank Libba Bray for this book.



While we realize our "thank yous" may make more sense if you've read the book, we hope they'll entice you to read it for yourself. Because, seriously. Any book with THIS COVER is worth reading:

Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for writing a book that reclaims the word FEMINISM. Thank you for reminding us that women have their own set of strengths, and it is more than okay to embrace them.




Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for making me laugh while also making me think. It's made me rethink my shopping habits and still not resent you even a tiny bit.




Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for allowing me to embrace my inner Taylor, and my inner Adina. And thank you for Wild Women.




Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for pointing out that it is okay to love lip gloss and kicking ass. At the same time. And for giving Stacie and I an excuse to yell "Sparkle Hips!" at one another.



Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for writing characters of color who were not just sidekicks or stereotypes. Thank you for letting them be real people.




Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for reminding us not to mess with Texas.





Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for not allowing the Pirates to save the day. Thank you for making me proud to be a girl. Erm, woman.




Dear Libba Bray,
Thank you for the snake and the spelling lesson. Every girl should know how to spell the word 'douche.'




Dear Libba Bray,
And thank you for pairing the word 'douche' with the word 'nozzle,' because we all need a stronger insult sometimes.



And, we're going to break our rules a little bit here and announce the next Lazy Book Club book before we've posted on our current LBC book (which should happen this week!). We just can't wait for you all to read Beauty Queens, so we're letting you know a little early that it will be our next LBC book! We'll formally post very soon so you have a place to leave your comments! And, we'd love it if you tell us which Beauty Queen you identified with, and why.

Reading Rainbow: Die For Me by Amy Plum

When I first heard about Die for Me by Amy Plum, it was described as a zombie love story. A love story WITH ZOMBIES? Hello, awesome. Admittedly, I was a little scared, because zombies can be scary, yes? But, I ended up falling into this book very easily and loving it.

From Goodreads:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

Okay, so the zombies aren't your typical zombies. In fact, they are quite handsome and dreamy zombies. I know at this point you might be looking at me like this....

source

...but, it works! Trust me! In fact, just forget about the whole "zombie" thing because "revenant" sounds so much more romantic. And, hello? This book is set in PARIS, so you cannot get much more romantic than that.

What I really loved about this book was the idea of the revenants and their particular talents. It wasn't something I'd come across before, and I really liked the way it was revealed. I also found the characters to be quite genuine. Kate felt very authentic to me, and I really enjoyed her as a main character.

And if all of that wasn't enough, well, I fell in love with the romance in this book. Lately, I find myself rolling my eyes when The Perfect Man shows up in a book, but for some reason it worked here. Vincent is sweet and endearing, and the love story was one that I could believe in.

So, if you're looking for a little summer romance with some undead characters to make things more fun, definitely pick up Die for Me. Don't let the dreamy zombies scare you off!